I am a Cosmetologist. I have been licensed for almost 18 years. I started doing hair when I was 14. I loved coming up with new styles and trying to recreate the ones I saw in hair books. By the time I was 19 F&F suggested I go to school for it. I hesitated for a few years then finally took the plunge.
I was very lucky go have good old school professional instructors. The thing to understand is Cosmetology school doesn't teach you how to style hair per say. It teaches you how to Cut, Trim, Color, Roller set, Permanent wave, Relax, and even pressing when I was going.
It also teaches you everything you need to pass the state board exam. You will explore sanitation of combs, brushes and tools. How to drape a client properly. shampooing techniques, scalp manipulations, treatments, diseases of the skin and nails and so forth.
We also had classes for the Senior students on the weekends that would be held by volunteer shops to teach us the latest style trends. The workshops would run anywhere from $10.00 to $25.00 and you would have to bring a model or manican.
A good instructor will teach you to pass the practical parts of the state board in less than the time alloted. For instance there is a segment where the hair is divided into sections and rodded. If the board wanted this completed in 25min. he would push for us to have it down in 15 to 20.
As a Senior student you will be allowed to work on customers and accept tips.
Upon graduation your school should also provide job placement.
The rules in the shop usually went. 50/50 and they provide the clients and products. This works excellent when trying to build a clientèle. There was also the option of 60/40, you get 60% and provide your own products. And last but not least booth rent. This varies depending on the shop, however it's the best way to go for an established stylist.
When I first started out in the shop I loved doing hair sooo much I couldn't believe I was getting paid to do it. The first time someone handed me $60.00 plus a tip.
The pros:
I made money hand over fist
I made my own hours/days I wanted to work
I had a steady following of clients that traveled with me through several shop moves
I was doing what I loved to do!
The cons:
The standing
Leaning over shampoo bowls if you don't have an assistant or the shop doesn't provide a shampoo girl.
Breathing in smoke from curlers, pressing combs
Breathing in fumes for me, because the jehri curl was still big.
In my case, no health insurance.
The only regret I have is working myself till I was burned out. This was the most fun, fulfilling , crazy, hungover, paid in full time of my life.
I did hair and all of my friends did hair, and if you weren't working the the shop you were putting together a hair show, or being in a hair show.
It was tons of work and sometimes I would work from open to close because that green in the palm of my hand was so good to me.
If you hustle and build your clientèle where everyone else in the shop misses the mark you can make good money. For instance None of the stylist came in on Mondays. I turned this into a lucrative work day because I offered specials, plus I got all the walk in's.
Another thing (and this really speaks to the horror stories on this forum)
BE PROFESSIONAL!!! AND LISTEN TO YOUR CLIENT!!
I got the edge over a lot of the stylist just by doing this alone, plus positive word of mouth quickly built my clientèle. While other stylist were eating, gossiping, or shopping when their client was under the dryer burning up, I was getting them out the door. No one wants to sit hours while you take your sweet time.
It saddens me very much to hear the stories of how some crazed stylist chopped off someone's hair.
I will say that I had quite a few clients with APL/BSL hair that would come to me for the simple fact that they trusted me.
If she trusts you, you will have her for as long as she can afford to get her hair done, as well as tell her friends.
And don't forget.
No cussing over your client's heads.
No over booking.
Hopefully this will give you some insite and tips to help you on your journey.
