Beauty School-is This a Worthwile Career

A.,

You certainly can, but like any career, it's not easy. Your options are supercuts (hourly), booth rental (buy your own supplies and rent space) or high end salon (you get about 1/2, but supplies, etc are bought for you).

The biggest thing is to build up your clientele. It takes time. Do you plan to relocate? You would have to start all over.

I'm not sure how much school is now, you would have to call, I'd guess around $14K. If you have not attended college, there are some grants, etc.

This will sound harsh: I graduated college and went straight to beauty school. It was a very drastic contrast. Highly educated professors and students to younger, high school graduates, some were still in high school. It was difficult to find a niche socially.

I started in a religious area so at least we had our faith. After 1/3 of my training I moved across the country to an area more typical with it's religious diversity. All the students in the class were very young, a number of them were already single mothers, just out of high school. Again, it was a difficult social situation. For this and many other reasons I discontinued my training at that point.

I regret stopping, but I also know I wouldn't have wanted to work in cosmetology full time.

It would take a lot of time to build a clientele that would only come on weekdays. Most of the work is when others are off work-as a mom of four I want to be home when they are home.

I have back problems and standing and leaning for that period of time would cause me quite a bit of pain (consider your own situation here).

I worked at a salon as a receptionist after I stopped school. I remember an experience where a single mother, one of our top stylists, got very upset when we didn't try to fit someone into her already full schedule. It was a financial issue. If you think you might be supporting as a single mom, look into salary estimates more extensively.

The atmosphere at the salon also turned me off a bit-almost all the stylists smoked, etc.

I apologize for writing so long, and being harsh in some areas, but I am trying to be honest and I hope it helps you as you consider this career path.

BTW it's been 9 years since school. I cut hair for my friends and family to this day and LOVE doing it very part time.

Good luck!

2 moms found this helpful

A., I do not have any knowledge whatsoever on hair styling. I'm hoping other moms have more insight into that part of it ... Can only offer life experience, if that's worth anything. Find what you are passionate about and if you CAN make a living at it, do it. Good luck!

1 mom found this helpful

If it's something you think you would love, go for it. You don't want to be stuck in a career that you don't like. You already said you didn't enjoy something like banking. I'm sure it will take awhile to get established but if you love and enjoy it, it will pay off and be worthwhile. Good luck!

Hi! I have been doing hair for about 13 years now. When I went to school the prices were around $6000. I know fees have gone up since then. You need to get 1500 hours of education before you can test for your liscence. Going full time it takes just under a year. Then you must get 14 hours of continuing education before every liscence renewel. Classes are offered all over and most salons will either bring in people to teach classes on the spot or you all go as a group to classes, or you can go on your own. I love doing hair. I cannot imagine myself sitting behind a desk 9-5 everyday. BORING! A work schedule in a salon can be very flexible, which is great for working moms, but you also need to be there when the most clients are there, especially when trying to build up your own clientele. So that means weekends and some nights. Depending on the salon you work in can be a major factor in how quickly you gain a client base. Some salons just don't attract new/walk in clients, and that is what you will be wanting. I have worked in all sorts of settings, a booming family salon, a smaller artsy shop, a barber shop, a brand new salon and at home. I have never had to support myself with kids, but I know alot of stylists that do it.
It can be alot of fun, but you still do have alot of the typical "politics" that you would find elsewhere, and remember that you would be working with mostly women, so gossip is pretty standard. But really you are your own boss for the most part...you listen to the client and what they want. I find that a salon owner is there mainly to run the shop and make sure everyone shows up and keep supplies stocked. I answer more to the clients. You will be on your feet alot, and I suggest making sure you are up to date on trends and styles and look the part also.
Good luck whatever you decide!!

I also wanted to add that in this industry, you pretty much find a job anywhere at anytime! Salons are usually always looking for more stylists, because most do use a commision pay, so they don't pay you unless you are bringing in money.

i have two children myself and have now attempted beauty school twice. the material is not hard but the commitment is. the hours are long and they expect u to be there all the time.. you cant miss hours because then you have to make them up. and its expensive. 17,000 dollars and some places do give financial aide and another piece of advice ask how long teacheds have been doing their job ive had many cases where i knew more than the teacher. good luck. i hope u figure everything. i didnt want to upset u but better to know now than when its too late.

Maybe I am not up to date but I don't think its that expensive. Most schools have a person to talk to about grants and loans. I was a hairdresser for many years and I did love it but I always had the talent since a kid. Its hard work but fulfilling if you like people. You are on your feet almost all day that's hard, but if you have stamina,spelling you will love it. I got an A on my boards all I did was study constantly a few days before. It defintely is not like an office setting at all. You get regulars and get to know all about them and their family.So good luck whatever you do. Bye I an A. too!!!!!!!!!

I have a girlfriend that cuts hair. She now owns her own salon and supports her family. Mind you, she's been cutting hair for over 25 years.

I think it can be hard to get yourself established, but if you can get a good clientel base, I think it's a good way to make money.

I have a friend who owns her own salon and loves it. You do have to sacrifice your social life a bit when you work in the service industry because your peak hours are typically nights and weekends, when the "regular folk" can come in and get their hair, nails, etc. done.

My friend went to the Aveda Institute here in Chicago to be an esthetician and that cost about $15,000. She was able to afford it with Sallie Mae loans. Cosmetology may cost a bit more there, however there are more affordable schools out there.

She was able to find a job right out of school. After about a year decided she built up her client base enough to be able to work out of her home part-time and in a salon part-time.

Hi A., I don't know about this but I have 2 friends who cut hair and they do ok but you have to be out of the house a lot. To Make money.
ai stay home to and my 3 children are in college now and I have to make money too. I teach MaryKay Skin Care and Glamor makeup, and It is so much fun! You can make your own time. Flexiable hours! Girl Time! Princess make up at 1/2 price and make money!

www.marykay.com/shelms62766

I know you posted this quite a while ago but I am behind and getting through all my emails.
My option is that if this is something you would truly like to do go for it. You could work outside your home on evening and week ends when your hubby is at home or you could set up right in your house. That would probably cost a little more.
I noticed that a couple talked about the cost of school. Depending on your financial situation you may qualify for grants or financial ad to cut the costs. Cost is also going to depend on the the school you choose to attend. And what you plan to do with your education once you have finished. You may want to do something a little simpler to set up in your home and that is go to school to do nails. Very easy to set up in your home and clients need there nails done more often than getting their hair cut.
One last thing I will say about beauty school is I feel you really have to want to work in this field. Don't go to school just to see if you like it. really check it out before spending the money.

Good luck,
S.

I think it's a great ides...I go to a lady who has a shop in her basement and so she has total flexibility and doesn't require any childcare and she is making a nice amount of cash and I am getting a way better deal than at the salon, plus I can bring my kids...I think it works fabulously! Good Luck!

Hi A.. I am a firm believer that if you have passion and full interest in something (i.e.career path) you will be successfull. But I am going to deviate a little from your original question and suggest a different path. Have you ever considered nursing? I don't know if you have any college credits but you can become an RN with an associates degree and probably come out making more. What's appealing is that there are alot of grants for nursing. It's a flexible career and you can work in any type of setting depending on what/how much you want to work. My friend (who is a mom) is a school nurse so she basically works whenever school is in session.

I don't know where you live but here in Chicago, you can go to any of the city colleges to get an associates in nursing and overall the cost would be very low.

Sorry to have detoured from beauty school...just wanted to give you something to think about...Good luck!

Hi A.!
I am a former hairstylist. Please don't let the "former" part of that scare you off. I went to beauty school while I was in High School and was doing hair full time before I had my HS diploma. If this is something you are really interested in and you want to spend time in a career where every day is different, you have the opportunity to meet lots of people, you have the opportunity to constantly learn new things, you will do great. You need to complete 1500 hours of training and then you have to pass the state boards to be licensed. I don't know any of the schools in the area and what they are charging, so I can't help you there. The hard part with this career is finding a salon to work in that you fit in. You also need to continually update your skills so you can keep moving forward in your career. It is a great career for a mom. A lot of places are very flexible with scheduling. For a while I worked in a JCPenney salon which was great because I received insurance benefits which you don't usually get from a smaller salon.
I didn't leave this career because I didn't like it, I just found myself in a place in life where I wanted to do more, so I put myself back through college to do that. I still have my cosmetologist license 19 years later though. Never know if I may want to go back!

My hairdresser loves her job and owns her own salon. My husband always says you have to be artistic to be a hairdresser and I agree. I get a great cut 99% of the time. And may I say a word about nursing. I have been a nurse for many years. You can get an associate degree in 2-3 years but to be advanced anywhere you need a BSN. Nursing looks great but in this day and age it is a ton of work. So even though the starting salary is good-trust me- you will earn it.

I would just throw one more thing out there. The other posters all have some great advice. The woman that has been cutting my hair for years has one complaint: Hair Everywhere. You have to be able to accept that you will be covered in hair at some point. Little snips will attach to your clothes. A friend of mine went to school and tried it out but she could not stand the hair so she just keeps it to family and friends at home. She went to nursing school and now works in that field. The last I heard, she loved it.

Hi A.. I have had friends and family in the business.They love cutting hair but at times it is had to have the clients you need to make money. If you work in a salon tehy get a good percentage of you fees. Two have stayed with it one has her own salon and another does it out of her home. Both doing well.

I wanted to throw an idiea at you. I sell lia sophia jewelry. I do home jewelry shows. The jewelry sells itself, it is fun and the $$$ is very good. You can make an average of $1000 a month doing 4-5 shows. What I love is you pick your hours allowing you to be home with your family and make a nice income. If this interest you at all I would be happpy to send you info or talk to you. Call me at ###-###-#### cell or ###-###-#### or email me ____@____.com.

Donielle Spencer
Married mother of two one 18 yr old son and a 15 yr old daughter who are both active in sports and clubs. lia sophia allows me to me at their activites and pay for them.