Question for All Cosmotologist

I have been doing hair for about 9 years.

Before I went to cosmetology school, I played around with my hair and my friends/roommates hair and make-up a lot... coloring/cutting... I thought I was so awesome at it then... but after years of training and experience I realize that I had a knack and a passion for it, but that my early stuff was not good at all (technically)!

It's one of those careers that you either love/hate. I don't work in a salon anymore since I had kids (though I keep my education and license current at all times), but when I did, I would come home crying form severe shoulder and wrist pain, it can be very physically challenging, even if you stand right/wear the right shoes...

Also, some salons are excellent to work for, others not so much.

If you want to get a good career, then go to a great school like Paul Mitchell and get placed as an apprentice in a high end salon when you graduate. It can be brutal, but much better money and education than working for pretty much minimum wage at a place like ProCuts or something where you aren't going to learn much and there isn't much room for advancement.

It's fairly easy to get burnt out, but if you have a passion for it and work in a great environment, it keeps things interesting.

3 moms found this helpful

I have been doing hair for about 6 yrs and love it. School was great, a lot of hard work and hours but so worth it. I now am able to stay at home with my daughter and work a few nights. Its great! I did always have a thing for hair and the beauty industry.

1 mom found this helpful

I was a stylist for 7 yrs. before my daughter was born and I still keep my license current because 9 months of full time school was hard, but rewarding work! I always liked playing around with hair and my friends would always have me do theirs before I started. It took me about 2 years of working 40 hours+ after a 9 month apprenticeship to really get established and build a nice clientele where I was making decent money. I think it's harder in the beginning because you do have to put in a lot of time to build your clientele, but once you are some what satisfied it can be a very flexible job. It also just depends on if you lease or work at a comission salon as to what hours you must work. Hope this helps!

1 mom found this helpful

I just thought I would put my 10 cents in on this subject. I started school in Ca in 1991 for the sole reason of thinkinng this would be a quick school career choice. All I had to do is go to school for 9 months and I would graduate and be done and have a job. So I was right out of HS and did not want to do a college degree. So needless to say I got up to 1500 hours and quit. UGH I know.. .... at the time it was 1600 hours and I was so close to finishing.
I had no idea how to do hair or was all that intrestead, but once I started the school, it was a ton of fun. I enjoyed all about it...but it is hard work and a lot of classes to be listening too. I did not get hands on til 3 months in the program and so a lot of chemical mixing and science. Of coarse a lot has changed since then.
It is certainly a do-able job. I suppose you have to work hard getting your chair in a salon and make money on word of mouth and clients . I bet it is a good business and easy to be taught.
Good luck

1 mom found this helpful