hair stylists provide an array of beauty services designed to elevate your appearance. As with all industries, this sector is always evolving and new styles and techniques emerge regularly.
Salon managers or owners who offer education, career and personal development service programs for their stylists will find that their employees appreciate this effort.
Becoming a Stylist
Paths to becoming a hair stylist come in all forms. While you could attend an accredited school that provides programs to get you on your way, much of the actual learning takes place outside the classroom setting.
Once you graduate, it’s important to secure an apprenticeship with a licensed cosmetologist for on-the-job training. Be sure to network with fellow classmates and expand your professional network while creating your portfolio of work and building your clientele base before becoming a full-fledged stylist.
Consider, too, that the average salary of a hair stylist is relatively low and you may need to supplement it with other sources of revenue, like retail products and salon-exclusive merchandise sales. In order to do this successfully, customer-service skills and sales strategies will likely come in handy as will strong communication abilities that enable you to inform clients about all their available options before suggesting the one best suited to them.
Being a Stylist in a Salon
Hair stylists working for themselves or within salons must possess the ability to listen carefully and meet clients’ individual needs while offering tailored service. In addition, they must master their craft, stay current on trends and techniques, possess outstanding interpersonal and customer service skills as well as manage scheduling/bookings effectively.
Many aspiring hair stylists start their careers working at chain haircutting establishments such as Sport Clips or Great Clips, which offer lower pay than salons but allow them to build a portfolio and client base before moving into salons or starting their own businesses.
Successful salon owners understand the value of recruiting talented professionals to their team and retaining them once they arrive. A strong brand and environment make attracting and keeping top-quality stylists easier; make them proud to call your salon their workplace!
Being a Stylist in a Suite
Many hair stylists opt to open their own salon businesses by renting a salon suite or studio space. Such options offer much flexibility but also carry with them some risks – as their owners bear sole responsibility for expanding and managing the company.
As a salon suite stylist, you have control of both your schedule and clientele. Furthermore, setting your own prices may prove challenging when aligned with industry standards or meeting client expectations; but if owning your own salon is on your mind it’s worth carefully considering all possible scenarios before making the leap.
Make your salon stand out from the competition with an unforgettable name and website that captures its identity. Additionally, it is crucial to find ways to attract and keep clients returning – this requires devising an effective marketing plan if that proves challenging. Furthermore, ensure your salon is easily accessible while having plenty of storage space for supplies.
Being a Stylist in Your Home
Nearly 70% of hair stylists, barbers and cosmetologists are self-employed. Many own or rent space in salons or spas while others rent space from spas, hotels or beauty shops. Each seeks to create an enticing environment which draws clients in. Music or fragrant oils may be played to help customers relax.
Stylists who work from home may either find clients themselves or partner with companies such as Stitch Fix, Neiman Marcus or Armoire to provide personal styling. Armoire’s signature service involves clients filling out an online questionnaire about their size preferences and style goals; then a stylist curates and ships garments directly to them.
When hiring an online stylist, always read their reviews to gain an idea of their reputation among previous clients. Also try paying in cash rather than using credit cards as this will reduce processing fees for them and allow them to keep more of your tip – roughly 20-25% should suffice.
