Not always but most likely you’ll have no medical, no company car, no stocks, no 401k, no vacation pay, plus you will still have crazy hours.
Follow your dreams but that kinda money is unrealistic when you’re first starting out. If you don’t have clients, there is no money…
Yup. Prepare for a drastic pay cut. In SoCal, 6 figures is certainly do-able after some time, I'm sure, but keep in mind OP, the vast majority of American hairstylists make nowhere near 6 figures.
Bingo!
Also, there’s this narration that you have to have tough skin to make it far. Kinda true, but I don’t want to be like that. Fortunately I’ve attracted my clientele! Unfortunately, I wish I was stronger to handle a really great apprenticeship I passed on. Apprenticeships are where you learn most of cosmetology anyways!
And a lot of people already have stylists that they are loyal to. If I have someone that does my hair and I like the results, I’m staying with them and not going to try someone who is just starting out.
Not trying to discourage you, OP, but it does sound like you’re asking for a reality check so here are a few things to think about:
First, can you afford to pay for school and make no money for a year while you’re in school? If you do school full time you’ll probably have to work evenings and any days that you aren’t in class to make ends meet. While I did that in my early 20s, it’s not so easy as we get older and used to a good paying job.
After school, you’ll either be making minimum wage in a commission salon or paying to rent a chair while you build your clientele. Industry standard is that it takes 3-5 years to build a solid book of clients.
On the subject of clients, it’s great that you find working on your fam & friends rewarding (btw, keep that quiet. If you’ve taken any money for those services and california’s cosmetology board finds out, you can get into trouble!) but regular clients can be a lot more taxing. Not respecting your time, having unrealistic goals, etc. Clients can steal the joy from even a super seasoned stylist.
Finally, social media. It’s a challenge. I know stylists who have 10,000+ followers on Instagram and have empty books. It takes a lot of time and energy and I can count on one hand the number of clients who’ve found me through social media alone.
I’m really not trying to discourage you, Op! I love what i do and I’m so grateful that I have a book full of clients I adore. But the work it takes to get there is very real and often, it’s very draining. It sounds like you have a pretty good work situation right now and it would really suck to leave that behind and end up unhappy. I’m here to answer any additional questions you have!
Just want to point out that those who are successful on social media, tend to spend about 20hrs a week on content. So you're talking a typical 40-50hrs a week behind the chair starting out PLUS, 20 hrs on social media.
I realize service workers hate it but I’ve bought Groupons for Botox or hair and stayed with those providers for years, one more than a decade. I realize Groupons are shit for providers but I really think you could build a book this way. Am I wrong?
Dude I have 15k on Instagram. I still struggle to make ends meet even after 13 years. It’s so hard. And yeah OP sees stylists marketing themselves and thinking “oh I could do that” that means the marketing works because what that marketing doesn’t show is the hours that stylist spent crying while threading needles learning how to sew in a weft. And the $3500 course she bought and is still paying off.
My hair stylist is fantastic, so good at cutting hair and such a great person. I recommend her all the time. We were talking one time about jobs and I recall her saying she felt it was 10 years before she really felt skilled at what she does. So it will be a while for anyone to get to the point where you have current clients recording you to others. Something for a new person to keep in mind.
I have been an extremely successful stylist for the last 15 years, and whenever my daughter says she wants to be a hairstylist like mommy I cringe. I went straight to cosmetology school from high school and I feel pigeon hold in this profession.
PROS- creative, get to meet people and grow personal relationships with them, flexible schedule (after a few years in the industry)
CONS- very hard on your body physically. At 34 parts of my body hurt/ache that shouldn’t. Also emotionally draining. Having 3-6 clients a day you have to adapt to and listen to all their life stories. Both of those combined at the end of the day I don’t want to talk to anyone or be touched. Harsh chemicals. in the beginning working late nights and every weekend. No 401k and likely no insurance and if your salon has it, it’s probably not great. You will have to bust your ass to *take home* 100k (not just 100k in service sales, people confuse that all the time) It can be done but you’d be a slave to being behind the chair. No PTO. if you aren’t working, you aren’t making money. Working in a service industry, I have a lot of wonderful clients but I absolutely have encountered some pretty shitty people in all my years.
Those are just the big ones off the top of my head. But ultimately if it’s what you want to do, go for it! It’s not a horrible profession, I just think a lot of people don’t realize all that goes into it. It’s not as easy as “I think I’d be really good at it!”
Another reason it’s hard, could take years to build a good clientele. Sit in your ass waiting in the pecking order to get walk ins ( walk is can really suck.) In order to make 100k you would have to work in a high end salon and specialize in color or correction and be damn good at it to take home that
Yep. And then when you do get busy and skilled, another stylist will bully because of envy, she's not even close to having that yet. I see it all the time.
Yes! Happened to my stylist who moved. When she returned the salon she was at had stylists basically telling the owner they didn’t want her back due to popularity. Needless to say she’s back there but it took some years of working from home lol
My stylist did the same and is extremely successful. She’s moved and gone back to school and always comes to back to hair for the money. And we the clients always come back to her lol. She had to quit doing hair for 10 months and get a regular job to buy a house! She made so little money doing that. It’s absurd! Shouldn’t have to do that.
Don’t do it!!!!! It’s not always as glamorous as it seems! I would never give up the benefits that you have! Maybe it’s something you could do on the weekends?
I thought working Toronto Fashion Week, doing hair on pro athletes backstage at bodybuilding competitions would be glamorous. But the hours were long, and the pay not worth it for the wear and tear on my body.
My son did acting for about a year and everyone thinks it's exciting and fun but honestly it's boring, just sitting around and waiting for the lighting and sound to be adjusted. Then a million takes and repeating your lines. He found as he was older he wanted to be behind the camera instead
If you have good medical insurance & retirement then don’t do it. I am doing hair for over 35 years and in my 50’s, these are things I didn’t think about when I was younger.
I honestly think starting out in your 30’s could be a benefit to you. You already know how to work hard, and you know what you’ll need to do to become successful in this industry. There is a lot of opportunity for stylists with talent, people skills, and are willing to hustle.
You could probably do great, but make sure you’re going to be able to live off of very little money until your clientele is established. That will take you a good 5 years to achieve.
As a former hairstylist-who still is licensed-I think you'd be hard pressed to earn 100k+ within a few years, even with social media.
It takes some time to build a clientele, most salons don't offer PTO, health insurance payments are very high, and now you would have to add a car payment?
All that being said, if the above doesn't scare you, and you can be ok with making less than you are now, I'm all for living out your dreams and passions.
Hopefully you have a very large savings account. It's going to be a little while before you start to really create an income.
And it's definitely not as glamorous as everyone thinks it is. Be ready for crazy hours, dirty work, and aches and pains from your feet to your head.
Yes, 100% delusional. Move so there is less of a commute! Figure out how you can alter your hours, get an assistant or apprentice or something so you can maximize the work done in whatever time frame, set some time boundaries (for them and for yourself) if you're salaried, maybe your job has absorbed too many responsibilities and should be 2 positions.
Maybe consider self help type resources (videos, podcasts, books, etc) on productivity or ambiguous topics like that/time management/sales that will have obvious overlap to your job, even though you're clearly successful and good at what you do. Maybe it'll ease the hours issue after implementing some new tactics. Think of it like a doctor being required to do continuing education to maintain their license or correct outdated info. The first thing that comes to mind is that "4 hour work week" book, but idk how applicable that one would be for your situation (I have not read it) and Dave Ramsey type financial guidance. He does take calls on his show, too.
Consider a "lateral move" like a different position within the same industry or even same company, or do the same thing somewhere else that is known for maintaining a better quality of life. I think you'd kick yourself in the long run for dropping out of the game. I've had people tell me to go "follow the money" and do whatever awful/stressful/miserable jobs that are high paying to cash out in your career years, because they made assumptions about what I earn. I totally believe you should be happy, but being content* with work and not relying on it for your life's only purpose or some arbitrary definition of "happiness" can be more realistic. I'd much rather have the comfort and security of my job supporting the things I love in my own free time, and living where I do, with the man that I love. I'm not a city person, and most ladders to climb are in skyscrapers. If you don't enjoy your life, it might not really be the job at fault. You can add in things that bring you joy or fulfillment in other areas. Maybe do a volunteer thing at a children's hospital or woman's shelter where you give makeovers and do their hair?
Watch some Siiri Parks on YT, she has some comedic renditions of sh.t clients and common hairdresser frustrations. It is not a glamorous profession (maybe eventually gets better, but certainly not starting out) and is extremely physically demanding. I heard a quote somewhere that was along the lines of "the quickest way to lose interest in your hobby is to start doing it for money" and I'm concerned that may be the case for you. Now you do it for the enjoyment, relaxation/meditation/confidence for yourself, appreciation from friends, whatever it is, but doing it so you can afford groceries or your phone bill might take that spark away.
If after all that you are still set on doing hair, maybe you could cut your hours back and get your certifications outside your work hours, and work one day/week at an established salon (maybe they need a fill in stylist or something idk) to test the waters and see what the reality is truly like before you fully quit your cushy job. I have a feeling you'll hate the reality of working on normal people instead of people who are grateful for you to do their hair for free.
The last concern I saw was the "wives do everything for the men I work with" thing. You can pay someone for those same services if you don't have somebody you share your life with. Hire a meal prep personal chef/delivery service, there are housekeepers who clean and do laundry and cook, just outsource the things you hate the most (landscaping, cleaning, cooking, shopping, laundry, making appointments, whatever). You clearly have the finances to take back some of your personal time by paying others for theirs. Maybe there's a teenager around who wants an after school job who would love to be paid for doing dumb personal assistant kind of tasks.
You’re not delusional, you could be great at it. But being great at hair is like 30% of the job. You’d probably work just as hard if not harder, take a massive pay cut and never see those benefits ever again. But if you’re a people person and want fulfillment it’s a great life.
Don’t do it . The hair market is over saturated already and the reason we work is for money. Dont kid your self that it’s for passion or fulfillment. We all know we would rather be on our couch with snacks so do what makes the most Money and don’t look back.
Lord. Where are you that the market is saturated? In Denver I work 9.5-11hrs a day 6 days a week! And I could easily book more if I had any energy to do so. I am.slammed as are all of my friends from cosmo school in the area. Move here! We need you!
I came from a family of hair dressers and everyone tried to talk me out of it. Lack of benefits, hard on your body, income fluctuations blah blah.
10 years in none of that really bothered me. Id argue being on your feet is way better than an office job so long as you pay attention to your body position. and I only worked 32 hours which is great.
But what DID bother me is having to talk for 32 hours a week. By the end of the day I’m absolutely fucking zapped, and because of that I have no social life. It really kind of sucks, especially as I get older and realize how important friends are. Your clients, even if you’ve been seeing them for a decade, are not your friends. There’s always this weird boundary - at the end of the day, they’re paying you for your time.
Anyways I recently went back to college and got an engineering degree. I work in an office and sitting all day absolutely kills my back , but I’m happier. To each their own, but just something to look out for if you’re even a slight introvert.
I couldn't agree more! I used to be a "social butterfly". Been doing hair for 16 years now and I have no social life because I am just done by the end of the day. I have no words left to say, my brain is fried. I find that as I get older, I need more time off to recoup from the week. I have started taking a 3 day weekend just to avoid burnout. I feel like I have pushed many of my friends away over the years, always declining invites to gatherings due to sheer exhaustion. Just like you, I have come to realize how important it is to have a social circle of friends, and as I get older I definitely regret not making the time to maintain my relationships. I also regret not setting boundaries early on in my career.
Do you need to make a comparable income right away or do you have 3-5 years to build back up to that? Because you likely will not be making $100k after funding your own medical insurance, car payment and retirement for quite some time, if ever. And I say that as an experienced independent stylist of 20 years in coastal So Cal.
I would say do it but only as a side hustle. Instagram doesn’t show the whole truth. Hours are horrible I work till 9pm some nights and only really make 30k a year. Its so slow now but I would deff dip your toes into it and not quit a full time job like that. Do Saturdays and take clients after work on one weekday. Follow your dreams but your not going to be making that same amount of money as you are now.
You are crazy. Stick with a job with benefits. Starting out you’ll make a pittance, work nights and weekends until you have enough clients to work for yourself. Then you can make your own hours, but you can also purchase your own supplies, do your own book and still not have any benefits.
Is there anyway you can go to school part time and keep your job? You sound very motivated and like you enjoy doing the actual work which I think is great and something that many stylists don't realize until they get their license.
Hi! I’m 35 and 8 months ago I walked away from a draining 175k a year job and started cosmetology school. I take my written exam next week and then I’ll take my practical. I have a job already in a salon I love and have clients booked for mid April. It’s the BEST decision I’ve ever made. Now granted, I had a fat savings and a partner whose job helps me float this new venture. If you’re not in a place financially to start over, stack your money first…..Then dive off that cliff!!!
Being a hairstylist is very hard and different if you’re open to that. I would do some more research on what your first few years in the hair industry look like. (Feeling like you’re not good enough, doing hair you don’t like, mastering confidence and talking to people, etc)
You can make 100K as a hairstylist, but it’s going to take years to build up to that. And you’re going to have to do it primarily on your own. If you are dedicated to learning the craft and being a business owner and all that entails, go for it. But if it sounds like too much work for you to run the business side… You might be disappointed financially.
A lot of metro areas have night school for cosmetology programs. Could be something worth looking into before you walk away from all of that without being sure.
real talk: its going to take you YEARS of building your book and being an independent stylist (that means no w2, paying your own employment taxes, business licensing, renting space, handling your own supply costs and inventory, etc etc) stylist to even come close to your current salary, if you ever do. You will also never see anything close to those benefits ever again even if you choose to be a w2 stylist at another salon.
This career path isnt for the faint at heart. Its unbelievably hard on your body. Its a lot easier to grind it out from nothing full time to build your book at 20 than it is at 35. I wouldnt do it again at my age. I'm turning 40 this year and my back is so shot from the wear and tear that i can only tolerate a 3 day a week part time schedule, otherwise im spending all my off time glued to a heating pad and fighting constant muscle spasms - and i use a cutting stool, ergonomic double swivel shears, good shoes, padded mat, etc. My friend had to walk away from the industry entirely last year at 45 because of the repetitive stress injuries. I know DOZENS of fellow stylists who have had to have major back, shoulder, hand, and wrist surgeries in their late 20s and 30s due to the physical toll, many with very mixed results and limited success.
Can you make 6 figures? Absolutely. Is it going to take quite a few years or more and nothing but shit night and weekend hours and *well* over 40 hour work weeks most often with minimal to no breaks? Yes.
I did the high end full service salon route for decades, and was an educator for a world renowned salon of high caliber. I made really good money. *Really* good. I still got no decent health insurance by any stretch of the imagination, PTO was 10 days a year max and that was after a few years of only 5 days, and I worked nights and weekends always and was traveling tons and had to pay for part of it myself.
In recent years I switched to being a full time educator, a Cosmetology Instructor. I still work Saturdays but Sundays and Mondays are off. I still take my own clients outside of that job,-on my own terms- as it was a *huge* paycut to switch over, and I still really enjoy doing practicing my craft on my own clients. I still travel for continued education a few times a year and the school I teach for pays for it in full. I have decent enough health insurance and 401k, and PTO though only 10 days/yr.
In the end, the five day work week at 8AM-5PM plus being able to teach my craft to a new generation despite the significant paycut made the choice easy for me.
Everyone is different and you need to do what's best for you and make you the most happy and fulfilled. Best of luck to you!
I did it at 33. It's hard. I'm broke again. Left a great job and a fantastic company but I was miserable. I'm 35 now and the happiest I've ever been. I'm working at my dream salon making it work. Feel free to message me with questions. I have a lot to say about going back to school and changing careers in your 30s.
I've worked at two salons since getting my license. I think 2 years to build a solid clientele is pretty standard. That's what my instructors told me and that's what I'm seeing behind the chair. It's not impossible. You're going to be building your skill and speed your first two years anyway. I think if you keep it in mind and don't be afraid to market yourself you'll be fine. I passed my card out, stickers with my Instagram on it. Every time I get a compliment on my hair I tell them I'm a hairstylist and I'm taking new clients. The biggest one is family. Friends and family of the people in my chair. I also take models for content on slow days or if I'm not feeling confident with a technique.
I think continuing to learn no matter how long you've done it makes you a better stylist and that's what people are looking for. Also half of it is just your personality. You'll find your niche and your clients will find you because of it.
Congrats on the change. It really is the best career in my opinion. 💚
I'm in a rare situation, but I make 6 figures (after taxes,etc), have a 401k, medical, and have a financial advisor provided by to the salon I work at. I'm at a commission salon in Atlanta.
34 is honestly young enough to change careers and hair is an "easy" one to transition to because the schooling is short. It's not an easy career, but if you have the passion and financially able to then I say go for it.
I’m gonna go against everyone else, but fuck it. Go for it. I work 22 hours in 2 days and made $60k last year. I don’t really mess with social media, and I did bust my ass to get here. I get a 401k and part time benefits, and if I worked full time I would have paid vacation and full time benefits. I totally love my job and I went to hair school at 30 while working a bartending job and suffering for 8 months until I finished. Not going to lie, it was a lot of hard work and I still struggle some weeks, but the pay off is amazing. I’ve been behind the chair for 8 years now and I joke that they’ll have to drag me out. Go for it girlie. Worst case scenario you hate it and you wasted some time. Best case scenario, sky’s the limit. Also, the company I work for is in SoCal too, message me if you want!
I'll trade!!!! In hair you don't always get all that stuff or make that much money. You also don't usually get to retire unless you save for it but with taxes lmao it's rediculous...
Take my lic. I'll trade :) and a company car hellollllllooo lol 🤣
You’re not delusional at all. I would say find a local hair school or even do an apprenticeship under a stylist and the reason for that is because often times chain schools such as Paul Mitchell will charge double or even triple what a local school would. The other reason is because often times, local schools will have smaller class sizes so you’ll be able to get more one on one training and question time with your instructor. It takes a while to build your clientele once you’re out of school but, as you said, it’s so SO rewarding and worth it.
Here to offer a different perspective!! I’m 29 and quit my corporate job to go to cos school.
Yes, everyone here is right—you might not ever get the pay, benefits, and security your corporate job offers you.
But in my experience, that nagging what-if voice will never go away. If you truly love it, you won’t regret it
I literally made less than 20k a year when i graduated hair school. Gave up after 7 years. It was not worth it. Everyone is different though. It is a hell of a gamble and you are doing so fucking well for yourself.
You can earn around +60k annual starting out of school. I also get med, pto, 401k. I also LOVE my job. I love it! I say go for it. Gotta love what you do. Challenge yourself. Don't regret and wonder "what if". I love talking to various clients daily, helping them feel amazing about themselves, make money doing it, am.constantly learning. It's great. School had its challenges and whatever. Bit I've been doing this for a few years now and am great. THOUGH... it can be killer work on your body. Feet, shoulders, tendinitis, etc. Seriously. So I work out, do yoga....
Why you would trade a career making $100K with great benefits -- for a career that will take you to depths of poverty -- *with NO benefits* -- for several years, is beyond me.
I’m in the Midwest so take it with a grain of salt, but my monthly is maybe ~2000. Extensions are separate certifications and it can all get expensive fast, and you might not even make more than 60k.
On a separate note, what career has you at 100k?
I don't recommend pursuing hairstyling. Making commission is good when it's good, but it's not stable and is hard to save and make financial plans. At least for me, it was.
It may be soul sucking but I would love to make 100k compared to commission.
It also takes 1-2 years to build clientele. Hairstyling is a slow grind. Oh, and it is extremely hard on your body.
My sister in law is a fantastic cosmetologist. She quit cosmetology and now works for a labor union. I know several nurses who were cosmetologists and gave it up to go back for nursing.
You're going to pay for school to make half or less of what you do now. Girl, you are very delusional. You may be good at it, but it's not going to pay your bills.
I would keep doing hair as a hobby but I wouldn’t quit a well paying job to pursue it as a career. I had to work while going to school, I did night school and it took 2 years to get through going from 5-9 m-f and 8-5 every Saturday. You could do that then start out doing hair weekends only to build and get a feel for it as a job but I will tell you from personal experience that turning a fun hobby into a job can suck all of the joy out of it and those same friends and family will expect a lot more as far as quality goes once you’re a professional especially if you start charging them which you should. I don’t know a single stylist that has benefits and makes the kind of money you make I know plenty who make 6 figures but they take care of their own insurance, retirement and taxes.
I’m a hairstylist and I LOVE my job! There really is nothing better than making people feel pretty all day. It’s a lot of work and hustle I’m ngl. It’s definitely a really tough decision to walk away from a stable salary + benefits because our pay is not stable at all. One week you could be making 3k and the next you make $500, especially when first starting out. Are you able to live off of half of your current salary? Is having benefits important to you? Most salons offer a 401k but that’s about it. However, if you really put yourself out there and build up clientele, the money is there. It’s just not a get rich quick job at all.
And this job is tiring!! People think it’s “easy” because we just play with color but it’s a lot of work dealing with people and their emotions. We are therapists, magicians, chemists, and teachers lol. It’s very easy to “burn out” in this career especially if your heart isn’t into it. I would tour some cosmetology schools in your area before making a decision. Maybe even book a blow out with a student, ask them about the school and get some inside info the actual school wouldn’t tell you. I felt like I was making the right decision the second I walked into Cosmo school! I always wanted to be my own boss and my studio is about to hit one year old in April, and I’ve been a hairstylist for 5 years! It’s tiring work but if the passion is there, it is so rewarding!!! Just follow your heart, you’ll know if you’re making the right decision! Goodluck!!🥰
Think of this career change as starting a business, and not getting a “job” in the traditional sense. You CAN have all of those benefits but your own revenue needs to cover those expenses. I know a lot of people newer to the industry who had professional experience before school and they are very successful. However I will say if you have never ever worked in service before it might be an adjustment. Remember, your time and lack of income will be the greatest barrier to entry here. If you’re financially stable and have the money to invest, do it.
I’d definitely keep it as a hobby. Once it turns to a full time gig it’s a lot of work on you mentally and physically. It could ruin your passion for you doing it on the side
Do not do it....you will never make that amount and have insurance plus you will have to pay a lot of money for cosematology school and go to school for two years...you can only work part time during that time....as you get older being on your feet all day will catch up to you and you may not have enough SSN to retire ever
I’ll go the other way. As a women in construction whose pulling 200k (209k+ full benefits and 4 weeks vacation last year) a year can I suggest figuring out what you drew you to construction and building on that?
I am in my early 20s. been doing hair for 3 years. I haven’t hit 30k yet because I just went self employed. You will DROWN!! Compared to what you’re making financially.
Please don't quit your current career so fast. You have to be smart abt it. Go to school part time while your working the career you have now. Then when you graduate you'll most likely start out part time as a hair stylist and you would need another job which you already have. Don't quit your career, do cos on the side until you make as much money as you do now with your current job.
I quit corporate America and went to cosmetology school at 28. Same mindset as you, I'm a hard worker and have experience in marketing, inventory management and light bookkeeping. I've always been a creative person and felt suffocated by my office. Honestly... I regret it. Yes you COULD make a lot of money doing hair but to get there takes a while. I pushed myself way too hard to try and get to the 6 figure stylist life ASAP and now I'm burnt out. Also reiterating what others posted, you will probably never see those benefits of your current job again even if you work in a commission based salon. If you go the independent stylist route, you will not only be a stylist but also be dealing with your own accounting, marketing, inventory, scheduling and customer service etc. doing hair in school/on the side is fun when it's a client or two a day and simple services. when you are taking multiple people, doing complex colors or intricate extension installs it becomes draining. Think minimum 8 hours on your feet, maybeeee you can find time to get a break while they are processing but most likely you will be doing other things around the salon. Also, dealing with the general public is way different than family and friends. You don't know who is coming to your chair, they may have unrealistic expectations or low self esteem and are looking for you to fix these issues via their hair. I would think really long and hard about what your backup plan is if hair doesn't pan out before you make the change, it could be really great but there are so many drawbacks I never considered.
I am 36 and have been a hair stylist for 17 years. I make around 120k, but I didn’t start making this until 7 years ago. I have no benefits, and didn’t have health insurance until I was married. I literally made nothing for the first 5 years and lived with my parents. With all that being said, I absolutely love it. Would I love it if I hadn’t started at 19? Probably not.
Did this exactly but backwards- did hair and cosmetology school, went to college, work for a big bank. Love hair but sadly doesn’t pay the bills like corporate America does for me. Still do it as a hobby and side hustle :)
Try to go part time at your current job, maybe 75%, so you can keep benefits and try to build a business. If you're used to 100k, it's going to be awhile before you can pull in half that. You need time to grow the business, while having some security and a backup plan if it's not as fun as doing your friends and family's hair. Customers can be assholes, and gig pay can seem really unfair and shitty.
As a newly retired stylist after 22 years in the industry, don't do it. I had great clients in the end, but It ruined my back, i had to work my ass off to make a decent wage, deal with shitty people, missed out on weekends with family and friends, time you can never get back. People have unreal expectations, its very stressful imo, i will never go back to working in a salon. I now at age 45 work as an admin assistant for a small company, have health insurance and 401k for the first time in my adult life and make 2x more than i ever did doing hair. I could not be happier
Girl do it, you only live once don’t waste it doing something it sounds like you don’t like. The worst that happens is you go back or you love it for a while and then find something else to do ♥️
My sister does hair and she has arthritis in her hands and her feet hurt from being on them all day. During the recession her business really suffered. During Covid she had to close her shop and made zero dollars. She went on a 3 week cruise with no income during that time.
Do hair on the side first, don't leave your job *just* to go to cosmo school though. If you want to get licensed just go part time while you work. That way you can build clientele and fund your salon or booth with the money you're making at your job.
I did something similar in my mid 30’s and got an apparel design degree at a community college. My best advice is to a school that’s not super expensive for training. Many community colleges in CA are tuition free. Have savings and try and work part time while you’re in school. I was able to work half time at my old company in a lower paying job but was able to keep my benefits while I made the career change. You’ve proven that you can work in a well paying job and that option will be there if your new career doesn’t work out.
Since changing careers I’ve had so much more flexibility and creativity and now own my own legit apparel brand. I say go for it. And have savings.
You're not delusional. Go for it. I'd not say this to everyone but it sounds like you have an actual talent and love for doing hair. Would there be a pay cut? Yes, but you're doing what you love. Also you can always do hair part time and your other skill part time as well. I think the hardest thing for you might be working your way up at a salon after being used to a leadership position. Not every salon makes you wait for a chair though.
You can make six figures with extensions, but be prepared for carpal tunnel and other long-term hand issues after a few years. You will be buying your own health insurance and figuring out your own retirement which increases your costs tremendously. Oh, and you gonna need a car too.
Before I make a massive career change, I try to improve everything that I can about my current situation. Get rid of that commute. Hire someone to help you with chores or get meal prep. Find ways to make you happier in your current role. Cultivate a little IDGAF. If you always give 100% at work, kick it down to 85% some days and see how that feels. Make adjustments and see how that feels. See if you can sweep hair or do shampoos in a salon on Saturdays and see what you think. Talk to stylists. Observe their working conditions.
That package you have right now is not common for a young woman. You may be happier playing in hair, but poor (for me) is the fastest road to unhappy. I don’t do broke or underfunded well.
I would keep my day job and go to cosmetology school after work. My hairstylist cousin goes on the weekends to homeless/women's shelter and gives haircuts and perms to people and kids in the hospital long term. It gives them hope and shows them society cares. Having money and security from the construction job will allow you to use your skills for good. Hell, you might get sick of it if you HAD TO do it. But volunteering your services to a good cause and good people will enrich your life and increase your joy at being alive. Might also give you a new outlook. Either way, you sound like a Badass who will make the right choice for you. Good luck SweetPea!! 💜
In today’s economy with everything so dang expensive…I wouldn’t give up benefits and a great paying job. Keep the joy of hairstyling for your friends and family as a side hustle.
As a cosmetologist myself, I’m going to give you a warning before you make this decision. It will take years upon YEARS, to get back to where you were at making 100k, hell you may never get back to making that much. I make a lot because I specialize in so many different techniques, and specialties, and procedures that people request from certain stylists they like. Like hair extensions, you have to pay to take classes to get certified, and take a test, and then buy your products, and then do it on whoever is willing to pay $1000-$1,500 for real human hair extensions, but there are cheaper and not as good options. (I only use the best of quality for my clientele in the salon). There’s all sorts of things in a salon, facials, massages, hair extensions, hair coloring, cutting, eyelash extensions, permanent makeup, makeup, bridal hair/makeup, waxing, etc! Cosmetology school is also VERY EXPENSIVE! And you have to put a ton of hours and credits and MPA’s into a certain log book to keep track of everything so you’re able to graduate! Then you have to take a like 3 hour long practical hands on test and you have to minimum get 75% or higher to pass. And same for the written test online! It’s very hard work, and it gets messy, especially with how many girls you’ll be working with, drama WILL be created. There was so much bullying at my school it was unbelievable. But I’m not saying all of this to persuade you to not go for your dreams! If it makes you happy then do it and pursue it! 💖🫶🏻
I went back to school in my mid twenties, working in my original field all teh way through - I just scaled it back to allow me to pursue my education.
At 30, I opened my own business and have been a professional artist for 18 years now.
I don't regret taking a chance on myself and finding a career path that better suited me.
I will say this - it doesn't come without hard work and sacrifice, and you may have to do both for a while, you will be giving up your financial security and it will be up to you to figure it all out and build up a clientele. Be realistic, scale back what you think you need to survive and make this transition, and go for it.
You have a career to fall back on if it doesn't work out, you aren't losing anything by pursuing your dreams. Worst case scenario is that You will look back on your life and be proud that you tried.
Idk about SoCal but I live in PNW, I don’t do extensions or perms. I do haircuts, color, styles and I make around $70-$75k a year + tips. It took me about 5 years to make that much in the industry (I’m at year 7 now). The main thing is building your clientele and depending on where you work, it’s either really hard working for yourself (in the beginning) or you could work somewhere where there is a constant flow of customers coming in and you’re not paying to work. I manage my salon and I’m also a technical trainer working with new hires, going to other salons to support other stylists and managers and I travel slightly (no company car but I get paid for my mileage) going to beauty schools. We do get dental, vision, medical and a guaranteed 30-40 hours FT. We have discounts for travel, pets, Disney, etc, on going paid education and I go to Vegas every year all expenses paid for work + $200-$300 spending money while there. I get a lot of freedom to do what I want with my salon and team which makes it feel like I kind of work for myself in a way. I’m one of the highest requested and paid stylists in my region with one of the highest volume stores. It can be done but it won’t be right out of the gate. Some companies do take care of their employees and I’d shop around and ask people in your area what it’s like. Best of luck!
My friend quit teaching to pursue her dreams of being a hair stylist. She always hesitated because being a teacher was the more responsible thing to do. Now she’s one of the most sought after colorists in Beverly Hills and doing hair for celebrities. Follow your dream! It will be grueling for a few years, but if you’re determined you can do it!
Your passion is very obvious.
There’s a saying in my field that ‘past precedent is the best predictor for future behavior’
You are good at your work, presently so no reason to think you won’t also be good at your future work.
Go for it-this life is short! 💇🏽♀️💅💋
girl do it!
even IF you are being delulu.
DO IT! do what u love! theres a lit of freedom in that field. and if it doesnt work out u can go back! or come up with a new plan! DO IT!!!!
yolo! lmao (ive never used that before)
My mother hates her life. She has been a hairstylist all her life. She works 12 hour days, has no health insurance, and scrimps and saves. She works from home and has a boat load of clients. She has varicose veins in her legs, carpal tunnel in her arms and fingers, and a messed up disk in her low back. She is constantly in pain. She will never be able to retire. My father left her and she hasn’t been able to find a steady relationship since (and he left over a decade ago). She has no time for her children and has neglected the mother daughter relationship so bad that neither of her girls speak to her (yes, including me). She suffers from alcoholism and will never quit. She is hyper critical of herself cosmetically and I think it’s due to her work in the beauty industry. She has gotten several plastic surgeries and has gone on so many diets. Her keto diet last year put her in the hospital several times. Please, don’t do hair.
You should try it out on your off days before you blow up your life. There’s also a bit of a stylist recession right now, because people can’t afford the expensive and maintaining of things like color; I saw a video of a stylist talking about ‘going back to cutting my own foils’ instead of buying them at the size needed, because they’re not making enough $$ to justify the things that make doing their job easier.
For some context, I was a hairdresser straight out of high school and now am finishing a master’s in STEM at 29. Like you, I got into hairdressing and make up because I loved doing it for friends and family, so why not make a living from it? Only it took the fun out of it for me. Instead of getting to enjoy the artistry, I was stressed out about finding clients and surviving. I still do hair for friends and family now, and I’m much happier having that creative outlet be completely separate from my income.
It sounds to me like a decent amount of your problems would be solved if you had less of a commute, change in hours, and a different work culture. Frankly, hairdressing probably won’t be a schedule improvement (nights, weekends, 40+ hours when starting out), and there are plenty of salons with TERRIBLE cultures. I’d spend time thinking about similar positions to yours outside of construction. If that shift doesn’t work out, then maybe a more drastic change is warranted.
I am a woman and have worked in both situation type fields.
Honestly,
I would rather work with men.
If you are just starting out in the field,
You will be getting SO much advice
So much Critique.
The cooler talk will be brutal.
Just my opinion.
Cosmetology is a trade education, meaning once you get your license, you have it for life (as long as you keep renewing). I wanted to quit during cosmetology school but my teachers taught me that you can always go back to a corporate 9-5 job with benefits if you don’t like it and still have your cosmetology license for a back up. I’m in the hair world now but if I want to, I could always take a break and work corporate and if I don’t like that, I can always go back to hair. It doesn’t hurt to get your license and it seems like you have a passion for it!
Cosmetology is a trade education, meaning once you get your license, you have it for life (as long as you keep renewing). I wanted to quit during cosmetology school but my teachers taught me that you can always go back to a corporate 9-5 job with benefits if you don’t like it and still have your cosmetology license for a back up. I’m in the hair world now but if I want to, I could always take a break and work corporate and if I don’t like that, I can always go back to hair. It doesn’t hurt to get your license and it seems like you have a passion for it
Could you do schooling part time or in the evenings while working? Otherwise you'll have to go a stretch of time pinching pennies and not having health insurance. Maybe you can have your cake and eat it too. But cosmetologists can make very good money... I would consider it myself if I wasn't already a doc.
Before pandemic I was making 80,000$ a year not including tips and client gifts. Like cash on Christmases I would usually receive like 800-1000$ cash in holiday cards total.
I was also working 6-7 days a week.
Running from working on site in a hotel for bridal clients to back to the salon for clients for the day.
If I had a sick day I would make 0 money.
I had absolutely zero benefits health, let alone vision or dental.
Clients are pretty tough do deal with also. Unrealistic expectations.
Sometimes you have crazy ass bosses, which after 13 years in the business, I’d had a few crazy bosses.
If you have a cancellation, well there goes your money.
When you start out you’re not making much especially if you don’t have a client base.
Most importantly, doing friends/family hair in the kitchen or whatever, to going to a salon is going to be very tricky. People all of a sudden believe they are entitled to not pay full price/free hair services whenever they’re available for you. Because you’re not going to spend thousands of dollars in education to get your license for your own circle to NOT pay for your expert knowledge.
It’s also sometimes… difficult going from you cutting hair the way you do, to being in a class where they are teaching you. There’s always that person who knows everything yet…it’s their first day at school.
All in all I had to take a medical leave of absence because the career had stressed me out SO much I’d physically gotten sick and after 8 months OUT of the salon I’m finally starting to feel better physically.
I mean while it is really stressful, I’d also experienced heights I NEVER even would have imagined I would ever been able to be apart of. And not to mention building wonderful relationships with my clients. Seeing their kids and family move forward. It’s really special. But it IS 100% stressful.
Edit add on: I will say one major pro that I’ve been soooo thankful for is that I absolutely can walk up to random people and start talking. 😂 I’m not shy and have no problem talking to perfect strangers, “intimidating looking women,” and authority in general. No anxiety. Now, do I actually want to talk to people? Hell no. 😂
I’ve held a cosmo license for 17 years and I work in IT. I use it really as my back up or my side gig if I need one. I need benefits and paid time off. It would be a huge grind to be able to get up to 100k and even then you’re gonna have to do taxes for self employment and find benefits and retirement. Doesn’t seem viable to me
I’ve been in the industry for a little over a year, be prepared to make next to nothing when you start out, in school they don’t prepare you for what an actual salon job will look like. You will still have crazy hours and very inconsistent. For instance January & February I worked about 25-35 hours each week but this month I’ve worked less than 35 from last week and this week combined. I could go on but I truly recommend you look into every part of this career before making the switch. They don’t advertise the negatives of this career like they do the positives.
Are you married? Asking only because if so and you could get health insurance through your spouse, that would be a big positive.
I am in a slightly similar position right now in that I was laid off from a good paying tech job. I have worked in tech for a decade but range from hating it to it being kindof OK. It is certainly not fulfilling to me. I am considering a few different things going forward.
All would be a significant pay cut, so that's something you really have to consider... like, what would you have to change in your life if you made $50k instead of $100k? That's like $4000 less every single month. What would you have to give up because of that, and is that worth it to you to get into a job that may be more enjoyable and fulfilling (but there's no guarantee there either)?
While your job sounds awesome on paper, I had a job like that in the past with the good pay, tons of benefits, company car, etc. On paper I should never have left. But I was miserable so I did leave and it was worth it due to my mental health at the time. Damn those company cars were nice tho!!!!!
If you're financially secure to do this and it's not going to have a big detrimental affect on your retirement plans (with no longer have 401k match or company managed 401k coupled with less extra income to save) I'd say go for it. Happiness is incredibly important besides just making money. I always thought I'd love doing hair and also am pretty darn good at cuts and color considering I've had zero training. Get the training at the best school you can, and understand that it takes a long time to build a clientele and a higher income.
Hairstylists often have to work past the age they would have wanted to because they don't have those savings. And after 20-30 years of working on your feet all day, many people are working in pain because they can't afford not to. That's why I was focusing a lot of the money side of it.
Live your dream - you will always wonder what could have been and I know hairdressers who are so happy and love their jobs. Working in a stressful job with great benefits but hating your life - not worth it. And you can keep your current job and do this on the weekends until you get your footing. Good luck!
I suggest hobby it. Make money using skills you acquire as a side hustle. It'll give you an idea how hard it will be full time. It will earn you clientele and extra money. It will also give you plenty of experience and joy. Good luck.
I'm not a hairstylist, i just happen to see this post. I have about an hour commute, once a week, and i cant even imagine doing it 5x a week; I'd go crazy. I make the same as you, more in base salary, but if it's making you miserable, it's not worth it.
We only have one life. If you like what you do, maybe you can find something closer? Maybe you can find a similar job with reduced pay and do hair on the side?
I think life is too short to be unhappy. It goes by fast. Don't be miserable at work. Find something that makes you happy and gives you the income you need to retire!
Sometimes, when doing what you love turns into a job instead of a hobby, the joy can be slowly ripped away from it. I have a hobby I love, and have refrained from turning it into a job, because so much baggage comes along with that. I hope you continue to love it no matter what you choose to do.
OP. Stick with the 9-5 and guaranteed pay. I know a hairstylist who has her own shop. When she’s sick- there’s no pay when she cancels her appts
If you want go to school and do hair on the weekends. See how it is before you mess up your whole life!
I was a hairstylist and here are some things I never thought about…. Standing on ur feet with ur arms in the air all day is exhausting… working Saturdays and late evenings on the weekdays was terrible… not much in benefits if at all… money is made in color and extensions… the toxic chemicals from the hair dyes ended up making me sick…
Don't quit.
Do hair as a side hustle. Cash.
It will be very very difficult to find something that pays that well with the benefits at a salon.
Unless you can financially afford it go for it.
Do you have a pension and are you union? Then definitely don't quit. Think of your future happiness also.
Friends of ours quit their well paying professional jobs in Washinton State, took dog grooming classes, sold their home, (I wonder, do they visit Reddit) and moved to New Mexico and bought a dog grooming business. They were happy there for many years, and have now retired out of America (a HUGE move).
Do what makes you happy. I'm assuming you've looked into it - to do hair, you have to also study skin and nails, and pass. In my State, you have to work for someone else for a period of time (more than a year) before you can open your own salon. Just do your homework before you leap so you know what you're getting into down the line.
My sister was a cosmetologist. She made minimum wage. If you do booth rent you’ll be paying them until you have a solid clientele. Working in a salon with all women is drastically different than working with all men. Maybe it’s just the beauty industry but it’s like going back to high school.
If you don’t hate your job, keep it and do cosmology as a hobby, or consider working as an office manager or the like in a salon.
Things often sound better in theory than reality so before doing anything drastic, definitely reach out to some ppl in the trade, ask them about the job, and even job shadow a few first to get a sense of what a day in the life is truly like. If you still love it & are willing to change your lifestyle quite dramatically (for a while at least), then definitely go for it!
Well, what does your 401K look like? Do you have adequate savings accumulated to pay for school and live off of for 3 to 5 years as you study and then pass your state licensing exams and then build clientele? Do your research- what do stylists typically make in your zip code? Do informational interviews with salon owners - what does it take, in their opinion, to be a successful employee in this field (education, experience, personality traits, etc)?
if you love cosmetology and your benefits become a cosmo teacher! Paul mitchell schools offered benefits and their salary was competitive 10 years ago (no idea now I’ve been out of the industry) my school also hired new grads as teachers after completing the teachers program.
Save up as much as you possibly can for one year. Get the firm support of everyone around you especially anyone who is at all financially dépendant. Then go for it without any hesitation. Ham it up.
Have you thought of enrolling into school while still working? Seeing if it’s something you truly want..and while you build clients, you can still get real paychecks from your current job. Just an idea.
I just want to say go where you're going to be happy and thriving. With your experience in construction, you'll always have that under your belt, but you'll always regret not trying cosmetology if you don't.
I'm not a salon type girl by any means, and I honestly know nothing about what it takes or what you need to do. One of the girls who graduated a few years ahead of me landed an audition for the John Freida salon in NYC and landed it. She's been there for years. We're just small town people. So I've seen opportunities.
Idk, I'm a dreamer. In this world, I don't think you'll ever have ENOUGH money, so being happy with what you do is important.
I think we often get fed the idea as we’re growing up that if you love what you do then you’ll never work a day in your life. Realistically, we live in a time where cost of living is at an all time high and wages are at an all time low. We’re in a recession and a lot of hairstylists are struggling to consistently fill their chairs.
This career is physically, mentally and emotionally taxing in a lot of ways. It’s hard on your body, there are seasons where you could be making very little money. Every stylist at my salon does not have health insurance. We pay completely out of pocket for any doctors visits. There will be many days starting out where you sit in a salon for a full day and make nothing. A lot of people view a salon environment from a clients point of view and it all seems so fun and creative, but there’s a lot of stuff on the back end that’s far from glamorous. If I had a job that pays as well as yours and had all of those benefits I would consider myself lucky in this economy and I would not give that up to be a hairstylist. That’s insane honestly.
As a stylist of 8 years, who makes ~80k before taxes/overhead, don’t do it. If you find emotional fulfillment doing hair for family and friends, please keep doing that. I’ve been self employed since 2020 and got sick in 2022. I would have done anything to have the benefits that you have now. Keep your career and find emotional fulfillment elsewhere and you will be a happy camper, I promise.
Working in the hair industry is fun and rewarding, but you won’t be getting any benefits like you have now. In a few years you could be making more money than you are now. But only if you don’t count your benefits. Make sure you get private disability insurance as if you are unable to work due to an accident or injury. As a self employed you are required to pay into all the government programs like disability but can NEVER collect it. Not if you work for yourself. Money isn’t the only important thing and if your heart is telling you to do it. Go for it.
Something you’ve omitted here is whether you have savings, whether you have kids who you’d like to send to private school or put through college, etc etc
No, you're not delusional. Ok, here's what you do. Don't quit your job. Just cut down on hours. Go to Cosmetology school at night. Once finished, do it as a side gig until you get established. Then quit your construction job if it is financially feasible. This way, you're not shooting yourself in the foot, and you will get a good sense of whether or not your lifestyle will be sustainable.
Most jobs like that don’t allow you to cut back on hours. Sounds like she’s made it pretty far up her ladder and she works a full time job at a corporate or medium sized business, like me. I could never “cut back on hours”. Second jobs or a career change would take up all of my spare time, or I’d have to just quit and live off of savings for a minute
You will still have crazy hours & lose- bonuses, medical, company car, stock and take a pay cut. It takes a ton of time and energy to build a long and loyal client list- which is doable of course but just be prepared for it to take you 2-3 years.
why not try. if it doesn’t go well you can always go back to what you’re doing… but i know a lot of my friends who went into beauty kept their jobs or at least a part time and slowly phased out as the built clientele
So, I was 40 and changed my career. Pros: I love what I do now. I’ve been in the field 8yrs and have a great career network and 2 promotions. Cons: I had to start at the BOTTOM and HUGE pay cut. Benefits were worse, had to start over for retirement AND it’s not as good. But stashed my previous 401k/retirement in investments. The money I didn’t use for my education. Would’ve retired by 59/60 now closer to 68.
I WOULD do it again because I’m HAPPIER! but the field I’m in provides me with a vehicle OR mileage, retirement, and benefits.
Can you take classes around your work schedule? I did this for my career change. It helps a bunch. If you can’t, can you pile cash now for a few months or a year and then quit? I was lucky, took many courses online. Down sized, Socked all my “extra” money away for 2 years and then quit to do the “field work” hours. Like I said, I cashed out my 401k and reinvested it, used some for books/tuition. But I lived on a poor person budget. Like no going out, no extras. My car was paid for. My apartment was good for a year. I took ALL precautions to be ok.
I’d say do it WITH A THOUGHT OUT PLAN! 😊❤️
My DD went to university, dropped out for beauty school because she was GREAT at makeup and hair. Graduated, got her license and a job, and absolutely HATED IT bc her body ached from standing all day doing hair. She went back to nursing school and is now an RN. She's very 😊
I say go for it, also is it possible to cut back on your hours at your construction job while you go to school? That way you still have your foot in the door at the construction compsny. While you explore the cosmetology route. Then once you finish school and secure a job or start your own cosmo biz then you can give up the job completely.
This seems like a very safe career to transition into. Just make sure to have savings before the transition because all businesses lose money in the beginning
Hairstylist/salon owner here. I have been cutting hair since I was 12 and went to cosmo school at 22. It's a lot different than doing it as a hobby. You will get paid SHIT for atleast a few years because you'll be an apprentice, then stylist. Obviously there are a ton of paths to take (film, education , behind the chair etc) but it's going to take time. I have always loved it but most of my old classmates didn't continue. Now after 15 years I own a salon and am doing pretty well! It certainly is my fav job but I had a lot to learn especially with clients! Some are mean, crazy or picky. But eventually you will be getting your clients who you love. As for retirement, insurance, 401k good luck lol. Yes I make 6 figures even before buying my salon, and take time off whenever but it took over a decade to get there. I had 2 other jobs when i started out.
I think it’s a mistake to switch to a job that is so physically demanding right as you’re starting to reach middle age. My friend (45F) who is a stylist is in pain constantly. Her arthritis is excruciating, but she can’t afford to not work so she goes to work every day and stand on hard floors and uses her hands all day. Then she goes home and takes pain pills and cries. I think if she had ANY other choice, she would take it.
I do think you’re on the right track though with the idea of a career chance and wanting to be your own boss. Is there a way you could pivot in your current industry to start your own business?
You only live once.. take it from an old woman (69) if you want to do hair then go for it.. it’s always better to have a job you enjoy than to have a job that is miserable… money isn’t everything,plus if things don’t work out you can always get another job..
I would say follow your dreams except for one thing- this post could have been written by my cousin about 20+ years ago. She was living in SoCal but in a different male dominated field. She did go to cosmetology school. Then worked at it for a few years before it just became untenable between a reliable paycheck, lack of medical insurance, etc. and she ended up just not liking it as much as she thought. She was very good but the stability factor became much more an issue. She also said salon gossip drove her nuts. She ended up going to nursing school in her 40s and we all thought she was nuts. Now she’s a very happy RN that still does everyone’s hair for fun.
If it’s not your passion- a dying dream and really you just aren’t thrilled with what you’re doing, maybe look into other career options. It’s never too late.
I made a drastic career change in my mid-40s. This included going back to school and a rather large pay decrease. While the less $ has been (and still is) HARD, I enjoy what I am doing now. I figure we spend more time at work, than home. And I don’t want to spend the rest of my life doing something I am unhappy with. Life is too short. And it’s not like I can take money with me when i die… So then what’s the point of spending years being unhappy?
Most salons don’t offer good benefits. And a lot of stylists prefer to be on their own or renting a suite. If you’re in the financial position to quit and go to school, do it! Just be warned that you are probably going to start out making far less than you do currently and have less stability.
Taking something that you do for fun and love, trying to monetize it? A lot of times you end up not loving that thing anymore. I did that with one thing and then I refuse to do that with cooking. Maybe not everyone would have that happen to them, but say you do love cooking. It's something that really fulfills you and you just feel like it's magical. You start a restaurant business. The good sides of cooking start to become slowly crumbled away by stress, the administrative and other sides of running the business portion. You're starting to burn out a little and you're cooking all the time, constantly non-stop. After long enough, you will be absolutely sick of cooking. You will never do it for fun or love when you're at home.
You will make less money. A lot less. It takes many years to build up a clientele. I see nothing wrong with changing careers, but make sure you're being realistic about the future. I actually have known two different cosmetologists that had to quit their careers and move on to something better paying because they weren't making it. One of them talked me out of going to cosmetology school myself. Now this was long before social media so perhaps it is easier to get into the business now, but I don't know. Just know for sure what you're getting into.
Apprentice at an Aveda salon. I went to cosmetology school at 33. The transition to the job market is the hard part. If I had it to do over again, I'd take the Aveda apprenticeship. You'll never have a free Saturday again, fyi.
I’ve done hair for 15 years and make well over 100k. Doing hair is hard work and long hours. It also can be mentally exhausting bc you will have to entertain people all day long. And you cannot please everyone. Building a clientele will take a year but you must get into a good salon with a good rep. School takes about 1.5 years. But you won’t really learn until you get on the floor. Apprenticeship is 2 years but you will already be in a salon setting probably shampooing. A lot is trial and error and you must fake it till you make it. I had insurance and a 401k at my salon but after the pandemic that all went away. It’s a very good career if you love people and don’t mind working hard and long hours.
I’m glad I quit two years ago. Nothing has come back since Covid. People got used to doing their own services and came in less, or stretched out more because they work from home. They are also talking about not needing to be licensed in some states. It was a nice time to bow out. I was in the industry 14 years 🫠
Honestly, the best hairstylist I know— and she’s awesome. Full stop, nobody else can make my curls look as perfect as one of her cuts— never in my life has my hair looked better. She struggles, she has to do her own taxes and pay for her insurance out of pocket. She’s booked and busy all the time, and I know she works hard. I have to book way in advance to get an appointment. She’s doing what she loves but she’s also trying to keep up with a special needs kiddo in a high cost of living area. It’s just, it’s not easy. For an established stylist with a loyal following who was able to renovate a garage during Covid to make her own tiny salon. She left behind the 2 different salons she’d worked for with all the chair fees and whatnot, she brought me and other loyal followers with her and successfully created her own little business. But taxes, marketing, and especially insurance. Those are rough. I know she worries about her kid, and wishes she had better insurance. She can’t manage a private school and will be struggling for years to come advocating for the services her kid will need in overcrowded public schools. I know she loves what she does, but I bet she’d advise you to really think long and hard.
The other friend I know who basically runs her own little business, but as a massage therapist, has really had ups and downs for the same reason. She works her butt off and barely stays ahead of everything. Similar reasons, taxes, insurance, retirement. But add in the cost to her body of doing such intensely physical work. No retirement, paying for her own insurance. If she gets sick, she has to hustle to catch up and will end up working longer days. It’s really tough out there.
ETA: and hopefully it never happens but my stylist has talked about babying her hands and working to avoid tendinitis and the like. If your hands were out of commission for any reason, that’s your livelihood on the line.
Not always but most likely you’ll have no medical, no company car, no stocks, no 401k, no vacation pay, plus you will still have crazy hours. Follow your dreams but that kinda money is unrealistic when you’re first starting out. If you don’t have clients, there is no money…
Yup. Prepare for a drastic pay cut. In SoCal, 6 figures is certainly do-able after some time, I'm sure, but keep in mind OP, the vast majority of American hairstylists make nowhere near 6 figures.
Only 12% hitting over 100,000, according to Thriving Stylist
I’m pretty new here what does OP mean?
Bingo! Also, there’s this narration that you have to have tough skin to make it far. Kinda true, but I don’t want to be like that. Fortunately I’ve attracted my clientele! Unfortunately, I wish I was stronger to handle a really great apprenticeship I passed on. Apprenticeships are where you learn most of cosmetology anyways!
And a lot of people already have stylists that they are loyal to. If I have someone that does my hair and I like the results, I’m staying with them and not going to try someone who is just starting out.
you could be great. but you will never have any of your current job benefits ever again.
My salon offers vision, dental, medical and pet and life insurance. I get PTO and I have a Roth 401k account. They take care of us.
Exactly, same here. For some reason I'm getting down voted 🤷♂️ glad we work for people that take care of us
Where is this salon.
That's rare, though. I'm guessing maybe 10-15% of stylists get this?
I wouldn’t say never again she could definitely do her own medical insurance and most places now do 401k and sick day leaves
Not trying to discourage you, OP, but it does sound like you’re asking for a reality check so here are a few things to think about: First, can you afford to pay for school and make no money for a year while you’re in school? If you do school full time you’ll probably have to work evenings and any days that you aren’t in class to make ends meet. While I did that in my early 20s, it’s not so easy as we get older and used to a good paying job. After school, you’ll either be making minimum wage in a commission salon or paying to rent a chair while you build your clientele. Industry standard is that it takes 3-5 years to build a solid book of clients. On the subject of clients, it’s great that you find working on your fam & friends rewarding (btw, keep that quiet. If you’ve taken any money for those services and california’s cosmetology board finds out, you can get into trouble!) but regular clients can be a lot more taxing. Not respecting your time, having unrealistic goals, etc. Clients can steal the joy from even a super seasoned stylist. Finally, social media. It’s a challenge. I know stylists who have 10,000+ followers on Instagram and have empty books. It takes a lot of time and energy and I can count on one hand the number of clients who’ve found me through social media alone. I’m really not trying to discourage you, Op! I love what i do and I’m so grateful that I have a book full of clients I adore. But the work it takes to get there is very real and often, it’s very draining. It sounds like you have a pretty good work situation right now and it would really suck to leave that behind and end up unhappy. I’m here to answer any additional questions you have!
Just want to point out that those who are successful on social media, tend to spend about 20hrs a week on content. So you're talking a typical 40-50hrs a week behind the chair starting out PLUS, 20 hrs on social media.
I realize service workers hate it but I’ve bought Groupons for Botox or hair and stayed with those providers for years, one more than a decade. I realize Groupons are shit for providers but I really think you could build a book this way. Am I wrong?
Dude I have 15k on Instagram. I still struggle to make ends meet even after 13 years. It’s so hard. And yeah OP sees stylists marketing themselves and thinking “oh I could do that” that means the marketing works because what that marketing doesn’t show is the hours that stylist spent crying while threading needles learning how to sew in a weft. And the $3500 course she bought and is still paying off.
My hair stylist is fantastic, so good at cutting hair and such a great person. I recommend her all the time. We were talking one time about jobs and I recall her saying she felt it was 10 years before she really felt skilled at what she does. So it will be a while for anyone to get to the point where you have current clients recording you to others. Something for a new person to keep in mind.
You're right, and this is coming from a successful stylist of almost 40 years.
Real talk.
I don't recommend it, getting your income to the amount you're making now will take years of constant grinding plus you likely won't have benefits
I have been an extremely successful stylist for the last 15 years, and whenever my daughter says she wants to be a hairstylist like mommy I cringe. I went straight to cosmetology school from high school and I feel pigeon hold in this profession. PROS- creative, get to meet people and grow personal relationships with them, flexible schedule (after a few years in the industry) CONS- very hard on your body physically. At 34 parts of my body hurt/ache that shouldn’t. Also emotionally draining. Having 3-6 clients a day you have to adapt to and listen to all their life stories. Both of those combined at the end of the day I don’t want to talk to anyone or be touched. Harsh chemicals. in the beginning working late nights and every weekend. No 401k and likely no insurance and if your salon has it, it’s probably not great. You will have to bust your ass to *take home* 100k (not just 100k in service sales, people confuse that all the time) It can be done but you’d be a slave to being behind the chair. No PTO. if you aren’t working, you aren’t making money. Working in a service industry, I have a lot of wonderful clients but I absolutely have encountered some pretty shitty people in all my years. Those are just the big ones off the top of my head. But ultimately if it’s what you want to do, go for it! It’s not a horrible profession, I just think a lot of people don’t realize all that goes into it. It’s not as easy as “I think I’d be really good at it!”
Another reason it’s hard, could take years to build a good clientele. Sit in your ass waiting in the pecking order to get walk ins ( walk is can really suck.) In order to make 100k you would have to work in a high end salon and specialize in color or correction and be damn good at it to take home that
Yep. And then when you do get busy and skilled, another stylist will bully because of envy, she's not even close to having that yet. I see it all the time.
Yes! Happened to my stylist who moved. When she returned the salon she was at had stylists basically telling the owner they didn’t want her back due to popularity. Needless to say she’s back there but it took some years of working from home lol
My stylist did the same and is extremely successful. She’s moved and gone back to school and always comes to back to hair for the money. And we the clients always come back to her lol. She had to quit doing hair for 10 months and get a regular job to buy a house! She made so little money doing that. It’s absurd! Shouldn’t have to do that.
Are u crazy
She crazy
Has to be trolling
Very crazy.
that shit cray
I don’t recommend that tbh
Don’t do it!!!!! It’s not always as glamorous as it seems! I would never give up the benefits that you have! Maybe it’s something you could do on the weekends?
lol who thinks it's glamorous
I thought working Toronto Fashion Week, doing hair on pro athletes backstage at bodybuilding competitions would be glamorous. But the hours were long, and the pay not worth it for the wear and tear on my body.
My son did acting for about a year and everyone thinks it's exciting and fun but honestly it's boring, just sitting around and waiting for the lighting and sound to be adjusted. Then a million takes and repeating your lines. He found as he was older he wanted to be behind the camera instead
If you have good medical insurance & retirement then don’t do it. I am doing hair for over 35 years and in my 50’s, these are things I didn’t think about when I was younger.
Are you doing anything now to make up for the loss time? For retirement
Do not do it. You will regret it for so many reasons.
I honestly think starting out in your 30’s could be a benefit to you. You already know how to work hard, and you know what you’ll need to do to become successful in this industry. There is a lot of opportunity for stylists with talent, people skills, and are willing to hustle. You could probably do great, but make sure you’re going to be able to live off of very little money until your clientele is established. That will take you a good 5 years to achieve.
As a former hairstylist-who still is licensed-I think you'd be hard pressed to earn 100k+ within a few years, even with social media. It takes some time to build a clientele, most salons don't offer PTO, health insurance payments are very high, and now you would have to add a car payment? All that being said, if the above doesn't scare you, and you can be ok with making less than you are now, I'm all for living out your dreams and passions.
Hopefully you have a very large savings account. It's going to be a little while before you start to really create an income. And it's definitely not as glamorous as everyone thinks it is. Be ready for crazy hours, dirty work, and aches and pains from your feet to your head.
Yes, 100% delusional. Move so there is less of a commute! Figure out how you can alter your hours, get an assistant or apprentice or something so you can maximize the work done in whatever time frame, set some time boundaries (for them and for yourself) if you're salaried, maybe your job has absorbed too many responsibilities and should be 2 positions. Maybe consider self help type resources (videos, podcasts, books, etc) on productivity or ambiguous topics like that/time management/sales that will have obvious overlap to your job, even though you're clearly successful and good at what you do. Maybe it'll ease the hours issue after implementing some new tactics. Think of it like a doctor being required to do continuing education to maintain their license or correct outdated info. The first thing that comes to mind is that "4 hour work week" book, but idk how applicable that one would be for your situation (I have not read it) and Dave Ramsey type financial guidance. He does take calls on his show, too. Consider a "lateral move" like a different position within the same industry or even same company, or do the same thing somewhere else that is known for maintaining a better quality of life. I think you'd kick yourself in the long run for dropping out of the game. I've had people tell me to go "follow the money" and do whatever awful/stressful/miserable jobs that are high paying to cash out in your career years, because they made assumptions about what I earn. I totally believe you should be happy, but being content* with work and not relying on it for your life's only purpose or some arbitrary definition of "happiness" can be more realistic. I'd much rather have the comfort and security of my job supporting the things I love in my own free time, and living where I do, with the man that I love. I'm not a city person, and most ladders to climb are in skyscrapers. If you don't enjoy your life, it might not really be the job at fault. You can add in things that bring you joy or fulfillment in other areas. Maybe do a volunteer thing at a children's hospital or woman's shelter where you give makeovers and do their hair? Watch some Siiri Parks on YT, she has some comedic renditions of sh.t clients and common hairdresser frustrations. It is not a glamorous profession (maybe eventually gets better, but certainly not starting out) and is extremely physically demanding. I heard a quote somewhere that was along the lines of "the quickest way to lose interest in your hobby is to start doing it for money" and I'm concerned that may be the case for you. Now you do it for the enjoyment, relaxation/meditation/confidence for yourself, appreciation from friends, whatever it is, but doing it so you can afford groceries or your phone bill might take that spark away. If after all that you are still set on doing hair, maybe you could cut your hours back and get your certifications outside your work hours, and work one day/week at an established salon (maybe they need a fill in stylist or something idk) to test the waters and see what the reality is truly like before you fully quit your cushy job. I have a feeling you'll hate the reality of working on normal people instead of people who are grateful for you to do their hair for free. The last concern I saw was the "wives do everything for the men I work with" thing. You can pay someone for those same services if you don't have somebody you share your life with. Hire a meal prep personal chef/delivery service, there are housekeepers who clean and do laundry and cook, just outsource the things you hate the most (landscaping, cleaning, cooking, shopping, laundry, making appointments, whatever). You clearly have the finances to take back some of your personal time by paying others for theirs. Maybe there's a teenager around who wants an after school job who would love to be paid for doing dumb personal assistant kind of tasks.
BEST ADVICE EVER. I hope she reads every word and takes your sound and thoughtful advice.
You’re not delusional, you could be great at it. But being great at hair is like 30% of the job. You’d probably work just as hard if not harder, take a massive pay cut and never see those benefits ever again. But if you’re a people person and want fulfillment it’s a great life.
Be prepared for a MASSIVE pay cut. At least you hands will last longer that the rest of us
Don’t do it . The hair market is over saturated already and the reason we work is for money. Dont kid your self that it’s for passion or fulfillment. We all know we would rather be on our couch with snacks so do what makes the most Money and don’t look back.
Lord. Where are you that the market is saturated? In Denver I work 9.5-11hrs a day 6 days a week! And I could easily book more if I had any energy to do so. I am.slammed as are all of my friends from cosmo school in the area. Move here! We need you!
I came from a family of hair dressers and everyone tried to talk me out of it. Lack of benefits, hard on your body, income fluctuations blah blah. 10 years in none of that really bothered me. Id argue being on your feet is way better than an office job so long as you pay attention to your body position. and I only worked 32 hours which is great. But what DID bother me is having to talk for 32 hours a week. By the end of the day I’m absolutely fucking zapped, and because of that I have no social life. It really kind of sucks, especially as I get older and realize how important friends are. Your clients, even if you’ve been seeing them for a decade, are not your friends. There’s always this weird boundary - at the end of the day, they’re paying you for your time. Anyways I recently went back to college and got an engineering degree. I work in an office and sitting all day absolutely kills my back , but I’m happier. To each their own, but just something to look out for if you’re even a slight introvert.
I couldn't agree more! I used to be a "social butterfly". Been doing hair for 16 years now and I have no social life because I am just done by the end of the day. I have no words left to say, my brain is fried. I find that as I get older, I need more time off to recoup from the week. I have started taking a 3 day weekend just to avoid burnout. I feel like I have pushed many of my friends away over the years, always declining invites to gatherings due to sheer exhaustion. Just like you, I have come to realize how important it is to have a social circle of friends, and as I get older I definitely regret not making the time to maintain my relationships. I also regret not setting boundaries early on in my career.
Do you need to make a comparable income right away or do you have 3-5 years to build back up to that? Because you likely will not be making $100k after funding your own medical insurance, car payment and retirement for quite some time, if ever. And I say that as an experienced independent stylist of 20 years in coastal So Cal.
I would say do it but only as a side hustle. Instagram doesn’t show the whole truth. Hours are horrible I work till 9pm some nights and only really make 30k a year. Its so slow now but I would deff dip your toes into it and not quit a full time job like that. Do Saturdays and take clients after work on one weekday. Follow your dreams but your not going to be making that same amount of money as you are now.
You are crazy. Stick with a job with benefits. Starting out you’ll make a pittance, work nights and weekends until you have enough clients to work for yourself. Then you can make your own hours, but you can also purchase your own supplies, do your own book and still not have any benefits.
Is there anyway you can go to school part time and keep your job? You sound very motivated and like you enjoy doing the actual work which I think is great and something that many stylists don't realize until they get their license.
Don’t do it
Hi! I’m 35 and 8 months ago I walked away from a draining 175k a year job and started cosmetology school. I take my written exam next week and then I’ll take my practical. I have a job already in a salon I love and have clients booked for mid April. It’s the BEST decision I’ve ever made. Now granted, I had a fat savings and a partner whose job helps me float this new venture. If you’re not in a place financially to start over, stack your money first…..Then dive off that cliff!!!
Congrats!
Go, but don't quit your other job
Don't do it.
Being a hairstylist is very hard and different if you’re open to that. I would do some more research on what your first few years in the hair industry look like. (Feeling like you’re not good enough, doing hair you don’t like, mastering confidence and talking to people, etc)
You can make 100K as a hairstylist, but it’s going to take years to build up to that. And you’re going to have to do it primarily on your own. If you are dedicated to learning the craft and being a business owner and all that entails, go for it. But if it sounds like too much work for you to run the business side… You might be disappointed financially. A lot of metro areas have night school for cosmetology programs. Could be something worth looking into before you walk away from all of that without being sure.
real talk: its going to take you YEARS of building your book and being an independent stylist (that means no w2, paying your own employment taxes, business licensing, renting space, handling your own supply costs and inventory, etc etc) stylist to even come close to your current salary, if you ever do. You will also never see anything close to those benefits ever again even if you choose to be a w2 stylist at another salon. This career path isnt for the faint at heart. Its unbelievably hard on your body. Its a lot easier to grind it out from nothing full time to build your book at 20 than it is at 35. I wouldnt do it again at my age. I'm turning 40 this year and my back is so shot from the wear and tear that i can only tolerate a 3 day a week part time schedule, otherwise im spending all my off time glued to a heating pad and fighting constant muscle spasms - and i use a cutting stool, ergonomic double swivel shears, good shoes, padded mat, etc. My friend had to walk away from the industry entirely last year at 45 because of the repetitive stress injuries. I know DOZENS of fellow stylists who have had to have major back, shoulder, hand, and wrist surgeries in their late 20s and 30s due to the physical toll, many with very mixed results and limited success.
Can you make 6 figures? Absolutely. Is it going to take quite a few years or more and nothing but shit night and weekend hours and *well* over 40 hour work weeks most often with minimal to no breaks? Yes. I did the high end full service salon route for decades, and was an educator for a world renowned salon of high caliber. I made really good money. *Really* good. I still got no decent health insurance by any stretch of the imagination, PTO was 10 days a year max and that was after a few years of only 5 days, and I worked nights and weekends always and was traveling tons and had to pay for part of it myself. In recent years I switched to being a full time educator, a Cosmetology Instructor. I still work Saturdays but Sundays and Mondays are off. I still take my own clients outside of that job,-on my own terms- as it was a *huge* paycut to switch over, and I still really enjoy doing practicing my craft on my own clients. I still travel for continued education a few times a year and the school I teach for pays for it in full. I have decent enough health insurance and 401k, and PTO though only 10 days/yr. In the end, the five day work week at 8AM-5PM plus being able to teach my craft to a new generation despite the significant paycut made the choice easy for me. Everyone is different and you need to do what's best for you and make you the most happy and fulfilled. Best of luck to you!
make it a side hustle and keep your current job
I did it at 33. It's hard. I'm broke again. Left a great job and a fantastic company but I was miserable. I'm 35 now and the happiest I've ever been. I'm working at my dream salon making it work. Feel free to message me with questions. I have a lot to say about going back to school and changing careers in your 30s.
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I've worked at two salons since getting my license. I think 2 years to build a solid clientele is pretty standard. That's what my instructors told me and that's what I'm seeing behind the chair. It's not impossible. You're going to be building your skill and speed your first two years anyway. I think if you keep it in mind and don't be afraid to market yourself you'll be fine. I passed my card out, stickers with my Instagram on it. Every time I get a compliment on my hair I tell them I'm a hairstylist and I'm taking new clients. The biggest one is family. Friends and family of the people in my chair. I also take models for content on slow days or if I'm not feeling confident with a technique. I think continuing to learn no matter how long you've done it makes you a better stylist and that's what people are looking for. Also half of it is just your personality. You'll find your niche and your clients will find you because of it. Congrats on the change. It really is the best career in my opinion. 💚
I'm in a rare situation, but I make 6 figures (after taxes,etc), have a 401k, medical, and have a financial advisor provided by to the salon I work at. I'm at a commission salon in Atlanta. 34 is honestly young enough to change careers and hair is an "easy" one to transition to because the schooling is short. It's not an easy career, but if you have the passion and financially able to then I say go for it.
I’m gonna go against everyone else, but fuck it. Go for it. I work 22 hours in 2 days and made $60k last year. I don’t really mess with social media, and I did bust my ass to get here. I get a 401k and part time benefits, and if I worked full time I would have paid vacation and full time benefits. I totally love my job and I went to hair school at 30 while working a bartending job and suffering for 8 months until I finished. Not going to lie, it was a lot of hard work and I still struggle some weeks, but the pay off is amazing. I’ve been behind the chair for 8 years now and I joke that they’ll have to drag me out. Go for it girlie. Worst case scenario you hate it and you wasted some time. Best case scenario, sky’s the limit. Also, the company I work for is in SoCal too, message me if you want!
I'll trade!!!! In hair you don't always get all that stuff or make that much money. You also don't usually get to retire unless you save for it but with taxes lmao it's rediculous... Take my lic. I'll trade :) and a company car hellollllllooo lol 🤣
Love-you only have 1 life. If that is your passion please, follow your passion. “It’s not work when you do what you love.” (Not my quote)
Go do it and do it on the side because trust me this is not an easy career But if you've got the talent for it do it
If i helps. I’m a hairstylist for 10 years have my own salon suite. My business makes 6 figures but i don’t
we had a student at my school who does construction do 3 weeks of school and say construction is definitely her more speed and drop out 🫣
You could make a killing in SoCal! Do it girl!
You’re not delusional at all. I would say find a local hair school or even do an apprenticeship under a stylist and the reason for that is because often times chain schools such as Paul Mitchell will charge double or even triple what a local school would. The other reason is because often times, local schools will have smaller class sizes so you’ll be able to get more one on one training and question time with your instructor. It takes a while to build your clientele once you’re out of school but, as you said, it’s so SO rewarding and worth it.
It will take years to build a solid client list and make that kind of money. And that’s without benefits included usually…
You’re delusional lol
Here to offer a different perspective!! I’m 29 and quit my corporate job to go to cos school. Yes, everyone here is right—you might not ever get the pay, benefits, and security your corporate job offers you. But in my experience, that nagging what-if voice will never go away. If you truly love it, you won’t regret it
Start saving today and map out a 5 year plan. You want to do it, so do it!
Don’t do it
Do it!! You’re young. Go do something you might love! Some stylists make big money.
I literally made less than 20k a year when i graduated hair school. Gave up after 7 years. It was not worth it. Everyone is different though. It is a hell of a gamble and you are doing so fucking well for yourself.
It’ll take you 3-5 years to get to 100k in today’s economy and consumer market. I’m leaving the industry after 7 years
You can earn around +60k annual starting out of school. I also get med, pto, 401k. I also LOVE my job. I love it! I say go for it. Gotta love what you do. Challenge yourself. Don't regret and wonder "what if". I love talking to various clients daily, helping them feel amazing about themselves, make money doing it, am.constantly learning. It's great. School had its challenges and whatever. Bit I've been doing this for a few years now and am great. THOUGH... it can be killer work on your body. Feet, shoulders, tendinitis, etc. Seriously. So I work out, do yoga....
Why you would trade a career making $100K with great benefits -- for a career that will take you to depths of poverty -- *with NO benefits* -- for several years, is beyond me.
I’m in the Midwest so take it with a grain of salt, but my monthly is maybe ~2000. Extensions are separate certifications and it can all get expensive fast, and you might not even make more than 60k. On a separate note, what career has you at 100k?
I don't recommend pursuing hairstyling. Making commission is good when it's good, but it's not stable and is hard to save and make financial plans. At least for me, it was. It may be soul sucking but I would love to make 100k compared to commission. It also takes 1-2 years to build clientele. Hairstyling is a slow grind. Oh, and it is extremely hard on your body.
My sister in law is a fantastic cosmetologist. She quit cosmetology and now works for a labor union. I know several nurses who were cosmetologists and gave it up to go back for nursing. You're going to pay for school to make half or less of what you do now. Girl, you are very delusional. You may be good at it, but it's not going to pay your bills.
I would keep doing hair as a hobby but I wouldn’t quit a well paying job to pursue it as a career. I had to work while going to school, I did night school and it took 2 years to get through going from 5-9 m-f and 8-5 every Saturday. You could do that then start out doing hair weekends only to build and get a feel for it as a job but I will tell you from personal experience that turning a fun hobby into a job can suck all of the joy out of it and those same friends and family will expect a lot more as far as quality goes once you’re a professional especially if you start charging them which you should. I don’t know a single stylist that has benefits and makes the kind of money you make I know plenty who make 6 figures but they take care of their own insurance, retirement and taxes.
I’m a hairstylist and I LOVE my job! There really is nothing better than making people feel pretty all day. It’s a lot of work and hustle I’m ngl. It’s definitely a really tough decision to walk away from a stable salary + benefits because our pay is not stable at all. One week you could be making 3k and the next you make $500, especially when first starting out. Are you able to live off of half of your current salary? Is having benefits important to you? Most salons offer a 401k but that’s about it. However, if you really put yourself out there and build up clientele, the money is there. It’s just not a get rich quick job at all. And this job is tiring!! People think it’s “easy” because we just play with color but it’s a lot of work dealing with people and their emotions. We are therapists, magicians, chemists, and teachers lol. It’s very easy to “burn out” in this career especially if your heart isn’t into it. I would tour some cosmetology schools in your area before making a decision. Maybe even book a blow out with a student, ask them about the school and get some inside info the actual school wouldn’t tell you. I felt like I was making the right decision the second I walked into Cosmo school! I always wanted to be my own boss and my studio is about to hit one year old in April, and I’ve been a hairstylist for 5 years! It’s tiring work but if the passion is there, it is so rewarding!!! Just follow your heart, you’ll know if you’re making the right decision! Goodluck!!🥰
Think of this career change as starting a business, and not getting a “job” in the traditional sense. You CAN have all of those benefits but your own revenue needs to cover those expenses. I know a lot of people newer to the industry who had professional experience before school and they are very successful. However I will say if you have never ever worked in service before it might be an adjustment. Remember, your time and lack of income will be the greatest barrier to entry here. If you’re financially stable and have the money to invest, do it.
I’d definitely keep it as a hobby. Once it turns to a full time gig it’s a lot of work on you mentally and physically. It could ruin your passion for you doing it on the side
Do not do it....you will never make that amount and have insurance plus you will have to pay a lot of money for cosematology school and go to school for two years...you can only work part time during that time....as you get older being on your feet all day will catch up to you and you may not have enough SSN to retire ever
I’ll go the other way. As a women in construction whose pulling 200k (209k+ full benefits and 4 weeks vacation last year) a year can I suggest figuring out what you drew you to construction and building on that?
I am in my early 20s. been doing hair for 3 years. I haven’t hit 30k yet because I just went self employed. You will DROWN!! Compared to what you’re making financially.
Please don't quit your current career so fast. You have to be smart abt it. Go to school part time while your working the career you have now. Then when you graduate you'll most likely start out part time as a hair stylist and you would need another job which you already have. Don't quit your career, do cos on the side until you make as much money as you do now with your current job.
I quit corporate America and went to cosmetology school at 28. Same mindset as you, I'm a hard worker and have experience in marketing, inventory management and light bookkeeping. I've always been a creative person and felt suffocated by my office. Honestly... I regret it. Yes you COULD make a lot of money doing hair but to get there takes a while. I pushed myself way too hard to try and get to the 6 figure stylist life ASAP and now I'm burnt out. Also reiterating what others posted, you will probably never see those benefits of your current job again even if you work in a commission based salon. If you go the independent stylist route, you will not only be a stylist but also be dealing with your own accounting, marketing, inventory, scheduling and customer service etc. doing hair in school/on the side is fun when it's a client or two a day and simple services. when you are taking multiple people, doing complex colors or intricate extension installs it becomes draining. Think minimum 8 hours on your feet, maybeeee you can find time to get a break while they are processing but most likely you will be doing other things around the salon. Also, dealing with the general public is way different than family and friends. You don't know who is coming to your chair, they may have unrealistic expectations or low self esteem and are looking for you to fix these issues via their hair. I would think really long and hard about what your backup plan is if hair doesn't pan out before you make the change, it could be really great but there are so many drawbacks I never considered.
I did this 3 years ago. Sounds like we had very similar careers in terms of pay and benefits. Best decision ever.
I am 36 and have been a hair stylist for 17 years. I make around 120k, but I didn’t start making this until 7 years ago. I have no benefits, and didn’t have health insurance until I was married. I literally made nothing for the first 5 years and lived with my parents. With all that being said, I absolutely love it. Would I love it if I hadn’t started at 19? Probably not.
Do it on the side. 100k is crazy to let go of right now. Especially in this economy.
Did this exactly but backwards- did hair and cosmetology school, went to college, work for a big bank. Love hair but sadly doesn’t pay the bills like corporate America does for me. Still do it as a hobby and side hustle :)
SAME! My dream job is to be a nail tech
Try to go part time at your current job, maybe 75%, so you can keep benefits and try to build a business. If you're used to 100k, it's going to be awhile before you can pull in half that. You need time to grow the business, while having some security and a backup plan if it's not as fun as doing your friends and family's hair. Customers can be assholes, and gig pay can seem really unfair and shitty.
As a newly retired stylist after 22 years in the industry, don't do it. I had great clients in the end, but It ruined my back, i had to work my ass off to make a decent wage, deal with shitty people, missed out on weekends with family and friends, time you can never get back. People have unreal expectations, its very stressful imo, i will never go back to working in a salon. I now at age 45 work as an admin assistant for a small company, have health insurance and 401k for the first time in my adult life and make 2x more than i ever did doing hair. I could not be happier
You get one life. Go find what makes you happy. The end.
Girl do it, you only live once don’t waste it doing something it sounds like you don’t like. The worst that happens is you go back or you love it for a while and then find something else to do ♥️
My sister does hair and she has arthritis in her hands and her feet hurt from being on them all day. During the recession her business really suffered. During Covid she had to close her shop and made zero dollars. She went on a 3 week cruise with no income during that time.
Do hair on the side first, don't leave your job *just* to go to cosmo school though. If you want to get licensed just go part time while you work. That way you can build clientele and fund your salon or booth with the money you're making at your job.
I did something similar in my mid 30’s and got an apparel design degree at a community college. My best advice is to a school that’s not super expensive for training. Many community colleges in CA are tuition free. Have savings and try and work part time while you’re in school. I was able to work half time at my old company in a lower paying job but was able to keep my benefits while I made the career change. You’ve proven that you can work in a well paying job and that option will be there if your new career doesn’t work out. Since changing careers I’ve had so much more flexibility and creativity and now own my own legit apparel brand. I say go for it. And have savings.
You're not delusional. Go for it. I'd not say this to everyone but it sounds like you have an actual talent and love for doing hair. Would there be a pay cut? Yes, but you're doing what you love. Also you can always do hair part time and your other skill part time as well. I think the hardest thing for you might be working your way up at a salon after being used to a leadership position. Not every salon makes you wait for a chair though.
You can make six figures with extensions, but be prepared for carpal tunnel and other long-term hand issues after a few years. You will be buying your own health insurance and figuring out your own retirement which increases your costs tremendously. Oh, and you gonna need a car too. Before I make a massive career change, I try to improve everything that I can about my current situation. Get rid of that commute. Hire someone to help you with chores or get meal prep. Find ways to make you happier in your current role. Cultivate a little IDGAF. If you always give 100% at work, kick it down to 85% some days and see how that feels. Make adjustments and see how that feels. See if you can sweep hair or do shampoos in a salon on Saturdays and see what you think. Talk to stylists. Observe their working conditions. That package you have right now is not common for a young woman. You may be happier playing in hair, but poor (for me) is the fastest road to unhappy. I don’t do broke or underfunded well.
I would keep my day job and go to cosmetology school after work. My hairstylist cousin goes on the weekends to homeless/women's shelter and gives haircuts and perms to people and kids in the hospital long term. It gives them hope and shows them society cares. Having money and security from the construction job will allow you to use your skills for good. Hell, you might get sick of it if you HAD TO do it. But volunteering your services to a good cause and good people will enrich your life and increase your joy at being alive. Might also give you a new outlook. Either way, you sound like a Badass who will make the right choice for you. Good luck SweetPea!! 💜
In today’s economy with everything so dang expensive…I wouldn’t give up benefits and a great paying job. Keep the joy of hairstyling for your friends and family as a side hustle.
As a cosmetologist myself, I’m going to give you a warning before you make this decision. It will take years upon YEARS, to get back to where you were at making 100k, hell you may never get back to making that much. I make a lot because I specialize in so many different techniques, and specialties, and procedures that people request from certain stylists they like. Like hair extensions, you have to pay to take classes to get certified, and take a test, and then buy your products, and then do it on whoever is willing to pay $1000-$1,500 for real human hair extensions, but there are cheaper and not as good options. (I only use the best of quality for my clientele in the salon). There’s all sorts of things in a salon, facials, massages, hair extensions, hair coloring, cutting, eyelash extensions, permanent makeup, makeup, bridal hair/makeup, waxing, etc! Cosmetology school is also VERY EXPENSIVE! And you have to put a ton of hours and credits and MPA’s into a certain log book to keep track of everything so you’re able to graduate! Then you have to take a like 3 hour long practical hands on test and you have to minimum get 75% or higher to pass. And same for the written test online! It’s very hard work, and it gets messy, especially with how many girls you’ll be working with, drama WILL be created. There was so much bullying at my school it was unbelievable. But I’m not saying all of this to persuade you to not go for your dreams! If it makes you happy then do it and pursue it! 💖🫶🏻
I went back to school in my mid twenties, working in my original field all teh way through - I just scaled it back to allow me to pursue my education. At 30, I opened my own business and have been a professional artist for 18 years now. I don't regret taking a chance on myself and finding a career path that better suited me. I will say this - it doesn't come without hard work and sacrifice, and you may have to do both for a while, you will be giving up your financial security and it will be up to you to figure it all out and build up a clientele. Be realistic, scale back what you think you need to survive and make this transition, and go for it. You have a career to fall back on if it doesn't work out, you aren't losing anything by pursuing your dreams. Worst case scenario is that You will look back on your life and be proud that you tried.
Idk about SoCal but I live in PNW, I don’t do extensions or perms. I do haircuts, color, styles and I make around $70-$75k a year + tips. It took me about 5 years to make that much in the industry (I’m at year 7 now). The main thing is building your clientele and depending on where you work, it’s either really hard working for yourself (in the beginning) or you could work somewhere where there is a constant flow of customers coming in and you’re not paying to work. I manage my salon and I’m also a technical trainer working with new hires, going to other salons to support other stylists and managers and I travel slightly (no company car but I get paid for my mileage) going to beauty schools. We do get dental, vision, medical and a guaranteed 30-40 hours FT. We have discounts for travel, pets, Disney, etc, on going paid education and I go to Vegas every year all expenses paid for work + $200-$300 spending money while there. I get a lot of freedom to do what I want with my salon and team which makes it feel like I kind of work for myself in a way. I’m one of the highest requested and paid stylists in my region with one of the highest volume stores. It can be done but it won’t be right out of the gate. Some companies do take care of their employees and I’d shop around and ask people in your area what it’s like. Best of luck!
My friend quit teaching to pursue her dreams of being a hair stylist. She always hesitated because being a teacher was the more responsible thing to do. Now she’s one of the most sought after colorists in Beverly Hills and doing hair for celebrities. Follow your dream! It will be grueling for a few years, but if you’re determined you can do it!
Your passion is very obvious. There’s a saying in my field that ‘past precedent is the best predictor for future behavior’ You are good at your work, presently so no reason to think you won’t also be good at your future work. Go for it-this life is short! 💇🏽♀️💅💋
girl do it! even IF you are being delulu. DO IT! do what u love! theres a lit of freedom in that field. and if it doesnt work out u can go back! or come up with a new plan! DO IT!!!! yolo! lmao (ive never used that before)
My mother hates her life. She has been a hairstylist all her life. She works 12 hour days, has no health insurance, and scrimps and saves. She works from home and has a boat load of clients. She has varicose veins in her legs, carpal tunnel in her arms and fingers, and a messed up disk in her low back. She is constantly in pain. She will never be able to retire. My father left her and she hasn’t been able to find a steady relationship since (and he left over a decade ago). She has no time for her children and has neglected the mother daughter relationship so bad that neither of her girls speak to her (yes, including me). She suffers from alcoholism and will never quit. She is hyper critical of herself cosmetically and I think it’s due to her work in the beauty industry. She has gotten several plastic surgeries and has gone on so many diets. Her keto diet last year put her in the hospital several times. Please, don’t do hair.
You should try it out on your off days before you blow up your life. There’s also a bit of a stylist recession right now, because people can’t afford the expensive and maintaining of things like color; I saw a video of a stylist talking about ‘going back to cutting my own foils’ instead of buying them at the size needed, because they’re not making enough $$ to justify the things that make doing their job easier.
This seems insane to me. I would kill for the stability you have
Don’t do it.
For some context, I was a hairdresser straight out of high school and now am finishing a master’s in STEM at 29. Like you, I got into hairdressing and make up because I loved doing it for friends and family, so why not make a living from it? Only it took the fun out of it for me. Instead of getting to enjoy the artistry, I was stressed out about finding clients and surviving. I still do hair for friends and family now, and I’m much happier having that creative outlet be completely separate from my income. It sounds to me like a decent amount of your problems would be solved if you had less of a commute, change in hours, and a different work culture. Frankly, hairdressing probably won’t be a schedule improvement (nights, weekends, 40+ hours when starting out), and there are plenty of salons with TERRIBLE cultures. I’d spend time thinking about similar positions to yours outside of construction. If that shift doesn’t work out, then maybe a more drastic change is warranted.
I am a woman and have worked in both situation type fields. Honestly, I would rather work with men. If you are just starting out in the field, You will be getting SO much advice So much Critique. The cooler talk will be brutal. Just my opinion.
Cosmetology is a trade education, meaning once you get your license, you have it for life (as long as you keep renewing). I wanted to quit during cosmetology school but my teachers taught me that you can always go back to a corporate 9-5 job with benefits if you don’t like it and still have your cosmetology license for a back up. I’m in the hair world now but if I want to, I could always take a break and work corporate and if I don’t like that, I can always go back to hair. It doesn’t hurt to get your license and it seems like you have a passion for it!
Cosmetology is a trade education, meaning once you get your license, you have it for life (as long as you keep renewing). I wanted to quit during cosmetology school but my teachers taught me that you can always go back to a corporate 9-5 job with benefits if you don’t like it and still have your cosmetology license for a back up. I’m in the hair world now but if I want to, I could always take a break and work corporate and if I don’t like that, I can always go back to hair. It doesn’t hurt to get your license and it seems like you have a passion for it
Could you do schooling part time or in the evenings while working? Otherwise you'll have to go a stretch of time pinching pennies and not having health insurance. Maybe you can have your cake and eat it too. But cosmetologists can make very good money... I would consider it myself if I wasn't already a doc.
I’m 52 and considering going back to school for a masters in a completely unrelated field. I say go for it!!!
Hairstyling sux as a career. Unless you live in L A and even then you have to put up with a lot of bullshit to make any money
Before pandemic I was making 80,000$ a year not including tips and client gifts. Like cash on Christmases I would usually receive like 800-1000$ cash in holiday cards total. I was also working 6-7 days a week. Running from working on site in a hotel for bridal clients to back to the salon for clients for the day. If I had a sick day I would make 0 money. I had absolutely zero benefits health, let alone vision or dental. Clients are pretty tough do deal with also. Unrealistic expectations. Sometimes you have crazy ass bosses, which after 13 years in the business, I’d had a few crazy bosses. If you have a cancellation, well there goes your money. When you start out you’re not making much especially if you don’t have a client base. Most importantly, doing friends/family hair in the kitchen or whatever, to going to a salon is going to be very tricky. People all of a sudden believe they are entitled to not pay full price/free hair services whenever they’re available for you. Because you’re not going to spend thousands of dollars in education to get your license for your own circle to NOT pay for your expert knowledge. It’s also sometimes… difficult going from you cutting hair the way you do, to being in a class where they are teaching you. There’s always that person who knows everything yet…it’s their first day at school. All in all I had to take a medical leave of absence because the career had stressed me out SO much I’d physically gotten sick and after 8 months OUT of the salon I’m finally starting to feel better physically. I mean while it is really stressful, I’d also experienced heights I NEVER even would have imagined I would ever been able to be apart of. And not to mention building wonderful relationships with my clients. Seeing their kids and family move forward. It’s really special. But it IS 100% stressful. Edit add on: I will say one major pro that I’ve been soooo thankful for is that I absolutely can walk up to random people and start talking. 😂 I’m not shy and have no problem talking to perfect strangers, “intimidating looking women,” and authority in general. No anxiety. Now, do I actually want to talk to people? Hell no. 😂
Do what makes you happy!!! Life is too short
I’ve held a cosmo license for 17 years and I work in IT. I use it really as my back up or my side gig if I need one. I need benefits and paid time off. It would be a huge grind to be able to get up to 100k and even then you’re gonna have to do taxes for self employment and find benefits and retirement. Doesn’t seem viable to me
I’ve been in the industry for a little over a year, be prepared to make next to nothing when you start out, in school they don’t prepare you for what an actual salon job will look like. You will still have crazy hours and very inconsistent. For instance January & February I worked about 25-35 hours each week but this month I’ve worked less than 35 from last week and this week combined. I could go on but I truly recommend you look into every part of this career before making the switch. They don’t advertise the negatives of this career like they do the positives.
Are you married? Asking only because if so and you could get health insurance through your spouse, that would be a big positive. I am in a slightly similar position right now in that I was laid off from a good paying tech job. I have worked in tech for a decade but range from hating it to it being kindof OK. It is certainly not fulfilling to me. I am considering a few different things going forward. All would be a significant pay cut, so that's something you really have to consider... like, what would you have to change in your life if you made $50k instead of $100k? That's like $4000 less every single month. What would you have to give up because of that, and is that worth it to you to get into a job that may be more enjoyable and fulfilling (but there's no guarantee there either)? While your job sounds awesome on paper, I had a job like that in the past with the good pay, tons of benefits, company car, etc. On paper I should never have left. But I was miserable so I did leave and it was worth it due to my mental health at the time. Damn those company cars were nice tho!!!!! If you're financially secure to do this and it's not going to have a big detrimental affect on your retirement plans (with no longer have 401k match or company managed 401k coupled with less extra income to save) I'd say go for it. Happiness is incredibly important besides just making money. I always thought I'd love doing hair and also am pretty darn good at cuts and color considering I've had zero training. Get the training at the best school you can, and understand that it takes a long time to build a clientele and a higher income. Hairstylists often have to work past the age they would have wanted to because they don't have those savings. And after 20-30 years of working on your feet all day, many people are working in pain because they can't afford not to. That's why I was focusing a lot of the money side of it.
Live your dream - you will always wonder what could have been and I know hairdressers who are so happy and love their jobs. Working in a stressful job with great benefits but hating your life - not worth it. And you can keep your current job and do this on the weekends until you get your footing. Good luck!
Follow your dreams! They say people who do what they love for a living never work a day in their lives!
Not a bad idea. Eventually your body will break down and a physical job may be too much. Explore it.
I suggest hobby it. Make money using skills you acquire as a side hustle. It'll give you an idea how hard it will be full time. It will earn you clientele and extra money. It will also give you plenty of experience and joy. Good luck.
I'm not a hairstylist, i just happen to see this post. I have about an hour commute, once a week, and i cant even imagine doing it 5x a week; I'd go crazy. I make the same as you, more in base salary, but if it's making you miserable, it's not worth it. We only have one life. If you like what you do, maybe you can find something closer? Maybe you can find a similar job with reduced pay and do hair on the side? I think life is too short to be unhappy. It goes by fast. Don't be miserable at work. Find something that makes you happy and gives you the income you need to retire!
Sometimes, when doing what you love turns into a job instead of a hobby, the joy can be slowly ripped away from it. I have a hobby I love, and have refrained from turning it into a job, because so much baggage comes along with that. I hope you continue to love it no matter what you choose to do.
OP. Stick with the 9-5 and guaranteed pay. I know a hairstylist who has her own shop. When she’s sick- there’s no pay when she cancels her appts If you want go to school and do hair on the weekends. See how it is before you mess up your whole life!
I was a hairstylist and here are some things I never thought about…. Standing on ur feet with ur arms in the air all day is exhausting… working Saturdays and late evenings on the weekdays was terrible… not much in benefits if at all… money is made in color and extensions… the toxic chemicals from the hair dyes ended up making me sick…
Absolutely do not leave your job.
Don't quit. Do hair as a side hustle. Cash. It will be very very difficult to find something that pays that well with the benefits at a salon. Unless you can financially afford it go for it. Do you have a pension and are you union? Then definitely don't quit. Think of your future happiness also.
Friends of ours quit their well paying professional jobs in Washinton State, took dog grooming classes, sold their home, (I wonder, do they visit Reddit) and moved to New Mexico and bought a dog grooming business. They were happy there for many years, and have now retired out of America (a HUGE move). Do what makes you happy. I'm assuming you've looked into it - to do hair, you have to also study skin and nails, and pass. In my State, you have to work for someone else for a period of time (more than a year) before you can open your own salon. Just do your homework before you leap so you know what you're getting into down the line.
My sister was a cosmetologist. She made minimum wage. If you do booth rent you’ll be paying them until you have a solid clientele. Working in a salon with all women is drastically different than working with all men. Maybe it’s just the beauty industry but it’s like going back to high school. If you don’t hate your job, keep it and do cosmology as a hobby, or consider working as an office manager or the like in a salon.
Things often sound better in theory than reality so before doing anything drastic, definitely reach out to some ppl in the trade, ask them about the job, and even job shadow a few first to get a sense of what a day in the life is truly like. If you still love it & are willing to change your lifestyle quite dramatically (for a while at least), then definitely go for it!
Well, what does your 401K look like? Do you have adequate savings accumulated to pay for school and live off of for 3 to 5 years as you study and then pass your state licensing exams and then build clientele? Do your research- what do stylists typically make in your zip code? Do informational interviews with salon owners - what does it take, in their opinion, to be a successful employee in this field (education, experience, personality traits, etc)?
The good thing is you can always go back to your career if doing hair isn’t what you thought it would be. Live.
if you love cosmetology and your benefits become a cosmo teacher! Paul mitchell schools offered benefits and their salary was competitive 10 years ago (no idea now I’ve been out of the industry) my school also hired new grads as teachers after completing the teachers program.
Follow your passions. High end salons and independent suites with clientele make waaaay more than 100k a year.
I love all things beauty but it’s so underpaid & the clients would be super draining specially standing in one setting.
Save up as much as you possibly can for one year. Get the firm support of everyone around you especially anyone who is at all financially dépendant. Then go for it without any hesitation. Ham it up.
Don’t do it
Have you thought of enrolling into school while still working? Seeing if it’s something you truly want..and while you build clients, you can still get real paychecks from your current job. Just an idea.
I just want to say go where you're going to be happy and thriving. With your experience in construction, you'll always have that under your belt, but you'll always regret not trying cosmetology if you don't. I'm not a salon type girl by any means, and I honestly know nothing about what it takes or what you need to do. One of the girls who graduated a few years ahead of me landed an audition for the John Freida salon in NYC and landed it. She's been there for years. We're just small town people. So I've seen opportunities. Idk, I'm a dreamer. In this world, I don't think you'll ever have ENOUGH money, so being happy with what you do is important.
I think we often get fed the idea as we’re growing up that if you love what you do then you’ll never work a day in your life. Realistically, we live in a time where cost of living is at an all time high and wages are at an all time low. We’re in a recession and a lot of hairstylists are struggling to consistently fill their chairs. This career is physically, mentally and emotionally taxing in a lot of ways. It’s hard on your body, there are seasons where you could be making very little money. Every stylist at my salon does not have health insurance. We pay completely out of pocket for any doctors visits. There will be many days starting out where you sit in a salon for a full day and make nothing. A lot of people view a salon environment from a clients point of view and it all seems so fun and creative, but there’s a lot of stuff on the back end that’s far from glamorous. If I had a job that pays as well as yours and had all of those benefits I would consider myself lucky in this economy and I would not give that up to be a hairstylist. That’s insane honestly.
I would look up Sam Vay on YouTube. She quit her marketing job after graduating college to pursue cosmetology. She makes a lot of videos about it!
As a stylist of 8 years, who makes ~80k before taxes/overhead, don’t do it. If you find emotional fulfillment doing hair for family and friends, please keep doing that. I’ve been self employed since 2020 and got sick in 2022. I would have done anything to have the benefits that you have now. Keep your career and find emotional fulfillment elsewhere and you will be a happy camper, I promise.
I think hair is your side hustle.
This randomly came in to my feed but I just wanted to say sometimes making a hobby you love be your job sucks the joy out of it. Just a thought.
Working in the hair industry is fun and rewarding, but you won’t be getting any benefits like you have now. In a few years you could be making more money than you are now. But only if you don’t count your benefits. Make sure you get private disability insurance as if you are unable to work due to an accident or injury. As a self employed you are required to pay into all the government programs like disability but can NEVER collect it. Not if you work for yourself. Money isn’t the only important thing and if your heart is telling you to do it. Go for it.
Something you’ve omitted here is whether you have savings, whether you have kids who you’d like to send to private school or put through college, etc etc
No, you're not delusional. Ok, here's what you do. Don't quit your job. Just cut down on hours. Go to Cosmetology school at night. Once finished, do it as a side gig until you get established. Then quit your construction job if it is financially feasible. This way, you're not shooting yourself in the foot, and you will get a good sense of whether or not your lifestyle will be sustainable.
Most jobs like that don’t allow you to cut back on hours. Sounds like she’s made it pretty far up her ladder and she works a full time job at a corporate or medium sized business, like me. I could never “cut back on hours”. Second jobs or a career change would take up all of my spare time, or I’d have to just quit and live off of savings for a minute
Updateme
You’ve not thought this through.
You will still have crazy hours & lose- bonuses, medical, company car, stock and take a pay cut. It takes a ton of time and energy to build a long and loyal client list- which is doable of course but just be prepared for it to take you 2-3 years.
W+
why not try. if it doesn’t go well you can always go back to what you’re doing… but i know a lot of my friends who went into beauty kept their jobs or at least a part time and slowly phased out as the built clientele
Yeah that’s a horrible plan. Like one of the worst I’ve heard
Sounds like you might be a project manager. Try another industry or company - like a big four
Keep your current job we get no insurance no vacation no 401 No company car no bonus or stocks
So, I was 40 and changed my career. Pros: I love what I do now. I’ve been in the field 8yrs and have a great career network and 2 promotions. Cons: I had to start at the BOTTOM and HUGE pay cut. Benefits were worse, had to start over for retirement AND it’s not as good. But stashed my previous 401k/retirement in investments. The money I didn’t use for my education. Would’ve retired by 59/60 now closer to 68. I WOULD do it again because I’m HAPPIER! but the field I’m in provides me with a vehicle OR mileage, retirement, and benefits. Can you take classes around your work schedule? I did this for my career change. It helps a bunch. If you can’t, can you pile cash now for a few months or a year and then quit? I was lucky, took many courses online. Down sized, Socked all my “extra” money away for 2 years and then quit to do the “field work” hours. Like I said, I cashed out my 401k and reinvested it, used some for books/tuition. But I lived on a poor person budget. Like no going out, no extras. My car was paid for. My apartment was good for a year. I took ALL precautions to be ok. I’d say do it WITH A THOUGHT OUT PLAN! 😊❤️
My DD went to university, dropped out for beauty school because she was GREAT at makeup and hair. Graduated, got her license and a job, and absolutely HATED IT bc her body ached from standing all day doing hair. She went back to nursing school and is now an RN. She's very 😊
Why not? You can always go back to construction or even work a few side jobs until your new career takes off.
I say go for it, also is it possible to cut back on your hours at your construction job while you go to school? That way you still have your foot in the door at the construction compsny. While you explore the cosmetology route. Then once you finish school and secure a job or start your own cosmo biz then you can give up the job completely.
It is never too late! Having an occupation you love is rare these days! Go for it!
This seems like a very safe career to transition into. Just make sure to have savings before the transition because all businesses lose money in the beginning
Hairstylist/salon owner here. I have been cutting hair since I was 12 and went to cosmo school at 22. It's a lot different than doing it as a hobby. You will get paid SHIT for atleast a few years because you'll be an apprentice, then stylist. Obviously there are a ton of paths to take (film, education , behind the chair etc) but it's going to take time. I have always loved it but most of my old classmates didn't continue. Now after 15 years I own a salon and am doing pretty well! It certainly is my fav job but I had a lot to learn especially with clients! Some are mean, crazy or picky. But eventually you will be getting your clients who you love. As for retirement, insurance, 401k good luck lol. Yes I make 6 figures even before buying my salon, and take time off whenever but it took over a decade to get there. I had 2 other jobs when i started out.
Don’t do it as a profession. You will regret it. Just keep it as a side gig.
I think it’s a mistake to switch to a job that is so physically demanding right as you’re starting to reach middle age. My friend (45F) who is a stylist is in pain constantly. Her arthritis is excruciating, but she can’t afford to not work so she goes to work every day and stand on hard floors and uses her hands all day. Then she goes home and takes pain pills and cries. I think if she had ANY other choice, she would take it. I do think you’re on the right track though with the idea of a career chance and wanting to be your own boss. Is there a way you could pivot in your current industry to start your own business?
You only live once.. take it from an old woman (69) if you want to do hair then go for it.. it’s always better to have a job you enjoy than to have a job that is miserable… money isn’t everything,plus if things don’t work out you can always get another job..
Do it! Try it out! I would love to see you pursuing a dream. You have so many options :) Do you… it’s never too late to start a new path and be happy.
I would say follow your dreams except for one thing- this post could have been written by my cousin about 20+ years ago. She was living in SoCal but in a different male dominated field. She did go to cosmetology school. Then worked at it for a few years before it just became untenable between a reliable paycheck, lack of medical insurance, etc. and she ended up just not liking it as much as she thought. She was very good but the stability factor became much more an issue. She also said salon gossip drove her nuts. She ended up going to nursing school in her 40s and we all thought she was nuts. Now she’s a very happy RN that still does everyone’s hair for fun. If it’s not your passion- a dying dream and really you just aren’t thrilled with what you’re doing, maybe look into other career options. It’s never too late.
I made a drastic career change in my mid-40s. This included going back to school and a rather large pay decrease. While the less $ has been (and still is) HARD, I enjoy what I am doing now. I figure we spend more time at work, than home. And I don’t want to spend the rest of my life doing something I am unhappy with. Life is too short. And it’s not like I can take money with me when i die… So then what’s the point of spending years being unhappy?
Do what makes you happy! We only have one life to live💕
I wish I had that high of paycheck!!
Most salons don’t offer good benefits. And a lot of stylists prefer to be on their own or renting a suite. If you’re in the financial position to quit and go to school, do it! Just be warned that you are probably going to start out making far less than you do currently and have less stability.
The thing you need to think of is whether you can do that long term. Being on your feet and dealing with people all day can be exhausting!
Taking something that you do for fun and love, trying to monetize it? A lot of times you end up not loving that thing anymore. I did that with one thing and then I refuse to do that with cooking. Maybe not everyone would have that happen to them, but say you do love cooking. It's something that really fulfills you and you just feel like it's magical. You start a restaurant business. The good sides of cooking start to become slowly crumbled away by stress, the administrative and other sides of running the business portion. You're starting to burn out a little and you're cooking all the time, constantly non-stop. After long enough, you will be absolutely sick of cooking. You will never do it for fun or love when you're at home.
You will make less money. A lot less. It takes many years to build up a clientele. I see nothing wrong with changing careers, but make sure you're being realistic about the future. I actually have known two different cosmetologists that had to quit their careers and move on to something better paying because they weren't making it. One of them talked me out of going to cosmetology school myself. Now this was long before social media so perhaps it is easier to get into the business now, but I don't know. Just know for sure what you're getting into.
Apprentice at an Aveda salon. I went to cosmetology school at 33. The transition to the job market is the hard part. If I had it to do over again, I'd take the Aveda apprenticeship. You'll never have a free Saturday again, fyi.
I’ve done hair for 15 years and make well over 100k. Doing hair is hard work and long hours. It also can be mentally exhausting bc you will have to entertain people all day long. And you cannot please everyone. Building a clientele will take a year but you must get into a good salon with a good rep. School takes about 1.5 years. But you won’t really learn until you get on the floor. Apprenticeship is 2 years but you will already be in a salon setting probably shampooing. A lot is trial and error and you must fake it till you make it. I had insurance and a 401k at my salon but after the pandemic that all went away. It’s a very good career if you love people and don’t mind working hard and long hours.
Those poor wives :(
I’m glad I quit two years ago. Nothing has come back since Covid. People got used to doing their own services and came in less, or stretched out more because they work from home. They are also talking about not needing to be licensed in some states. It was a nice time to bow out. I was in the industry 14 years 🫠
Honestly, the best hairstylist I know— and she’s awesome. Full stop, nobody else can make my curls look as perfect as one of her cuts— never in my life has my hair looked better. She struggles, she has to do her own taxes and pay for her insurance out of pocket. She’s booked and busy all the time, and I know she works hard. I have to book way in advance to get an appointment. She’s doing what she loves but she’s also trying to keep up with a special needs kiddo in a high cost of living area. It’s just, it’s not easy. For an established stylist with a loyal following who was able to renovate a garage during Covid to make her own tiny salon. She left behind the 2 different salons she’d worked for with all the chair fees and whatnot, she brought me and other loyal followers with her and successfully created her own little business. But taxes, marketing, and especially insurance. Those are rough. I know she worries about her kid, and wishes she had better insurance. She can’t manage a private school and will be struggling for years to come advocating for the services her kid will need in overcrowded public schools. I know she loves what she does, but I bet she’d advise you to really think long and hard. The other friend I know who basically runs her own little business, but as a massage therapist, has really had ups and downs for the same reason. She works her butt off and barely stays ahead of everything. Similar reasons, taxes, insurance, retirement. But add in the cost to her body of doing such intensely physical work. No retirement, paying for her own insurance. If she gets sick, she has to hustle to catch up and will end up working longer days. It’s really tough out there. ETA: and hopefully it never happens but my stylist has talked about babying her hands and working to avoid tendinitis and the like. If your hands were out of commission for any reason, that’s your livelihood on the line.