A
recent blog from Beauty Schools Directory
prompted me to think about my own beauty school experience. I thought I would
share some of my highlights and low lights in the world of hair, makeup and tests!
I
decided to attend cosmetology school in
2001 after graduating from college and struggling to find work in my field. The
job market was erratic and quite unpredictable. Lay offs were plentiful
and the premise of “knowing someone” was quickly fading. Getting
a trade was my back up plan.
When I
enrolled, I was surprised at all of the paperwork involved. You had an option
of financial aid or loans. I wasn't eligible for financial aid, since I already
had an undergraduate degree. One week later, I was approved by my credit union
for $10,000.
I spent
the next year-four nights a week, reading, testing and observing. "When was I
going to do something," I complained often. What’s the use of being in beauty
school if I cant do the hair?
It was beauty school, but it was.....still school.
5. You are required to complete 1000 hours . You can't get around this. Schools are very strict
The one
thing I will say is, beauty school was not what I expected. It was hard and time consuming. I often wondered if the fly by night stylists I patronized
in the past, were even licensed. It takes a committed individual to get
through these courses.
Before you enroll, take an inside look of the beauty school
experience.
- School hours are in the day and the evening.
If you attend in the daytime its approximately nine months. If you attend
in the evening, its almost two
years. Most schools don’t let you mix it up, but a conversation with the owner of the
school to make an exception, wouldn't hurt.
- Beauty school is expensive. A full course can run you between 10k and 15k
- The instructors are former or active salon owners, so they have lots of information to share.
- You should know something about hair. Beauty school does not teach you about hair styling. You learn the fundamentals only. No... you don’t learn how to weave or braid hair. If you don’t have a clue about hair, you will fail or drop out. It’s the horrible truth, but it’s the truth! You will need to attend advanced classes after you obtain your cosmetology license if you want to learn market trends.trends.lll
5. You are required to complete 1000 hours . You can't get around this. Schools are very strict
on absenteeism. If you're a chronically late individual, curb it. Beauty schools impose
temporary and indefinite suspensions for tardiness.
- Your classmates are always willing to be your
test dummy. Capitalize on this
opportunity, before you start your practicals.
- You wont get a job right away as a Stylist.
After graduating, you still have to apply for the written exam. After the
written exam you are scheduled for the state board. Practice, practice, practice. Practicing for the state
board exam is like learning to drive. At first you seem nervous and unsure
of yourself. But after a few weeks of
driving school, it becomes fluid.
- Don’t apply for a salon job until you become
licensed. Even if you wash hair, a cosmetology license is required.
- Avoid opening a salon until you’ve actually worked and managed
one. You would also need to
determine if you want to be an “off the books’ stylist or a “1099 form" stylist. An “off the books stylist” usually works with cash only and does
not report their income to the IRS (illegal).
The upside is, you keep all of
your income. The down side is, you're ineligible for a car, house, medical insurance, loans or
anything that requires proof of employment.
Commissioned stylists usually make great money. You are more motivated than
a booth renter who pays $100-200 a week for a chair. Commission arrangements allow you to share the
expenses for supplies with the owner. The owner is also responsible for
marketing the salon. If you don’t make money, they don’t make money. Stylists are generally paid weekly and receive a 1099 form at the end of the year.
- Hair Shows are good, but what else? If you're in
the business, you've been to at least one hair show in your city. This is
a good opportunity to learn new techniques and test new hair products, but you shouldn't rest there. Attend some workshops on business. Strategic, marketing,
branding and customer service are essential in the world of beauty. What's
the use of gaining customers, if
poor service and inconsistently drives them to a new salon.
- Establish a signature. What’s so special about
your styling techniques that will be easily recognized? Branding starts
with you!
- And lastly, be a professional. In the world of
Face book, blogs and YouTube...everyone seems to be recording your every move. We all have
flaws but a good stylist will focus on re-inventing themselves.
If you have questions about this blog, feel free to contact VanityHairStudioNYC@Gmail.com
Vanity
Hair Studio NYC Inc.
private salon services
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