Advice for new stylist or anyone thinking of beauty school.

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First thing you need to accept. You need to learn the hair business before you can start making decent money in the industry. During this time, you will be doing all the clients the other stylist don't want to do or do not have time for. Otherwise known as "bitch work".  This is the time you learn everything you can from the people around you in the salon. My first 2 years working in the salon I worked part time at radio shack to keep myself afloat. 

Becoming a hair stylist is an opportunity to work hours that work for the life you want to live.  Once you grow your clientele you can work when or how much you would like to work. I always take Memorial Day weekend off to spend sitting by the lake or in my kayak, but it took years of working 12–18-hour days to get here. I worked in salons with no A/C in 100-degree weather on 4th of July to get to this point.  You get back what you put in your career. 

Beauty school teaches you how to pass states bored to get your license, or at least the school I went to.   Each state has its own requirements to become a licensed stylist but once you get it, it's all on you to continue learning. If I were to go back, I would become an apprentice in order to learn from someone who knows more than I do. I have always made an attempt to go to 1- 2 hair shows or classes a year in order to stay up to date on technology and hair trends.