Beauticians, would you say that your job is good? Can you pay your bills? Do you enjoy it? etc.?

Question

I've been told that beauticians are paid by commissions, which worries me. So it makes me wonder, do hairdressers live comfortably? Do they enjoy their job? What are the up and downsides?

Answer 1

I owned a salon for 10 years. This is the one industry where there is variability accross the board.

I find the main factor to being a successful hairdresser is finding the right mix of talent, style, personality in the right location.

If you are a hot, confident, personable, stylish individual who works in a high profile salon in a upper class town, you can make $100K per year.

If you are a high school drop out, over weight, no style and you go to work in your home town hair salon with 10other girls who look just like you, you will probably fail.

People want to go to salons that make them feel important. People want to go to stylists who are tendy and stylish themselves. Consumers think "if she cant make herself look good, how is she going to make ME look good." It is the crual fact of life, but we are talking about the BEAUTY industry here.

To summorize- look in the mirror first. If you have what it takes (honestly), proceed. Once you are licensed, be extremely selective in your salon search (go in as a "secret shopper" before you interview to see how you are treated, check if the salon is "busy", etc...).

People do make money in this business. The top stylists make the top money however. Are YOU elite??? That is the Question.

Answer 2

Most of the time it all depends on where you work and the location of the salon.

Down sides:It is hard when you first start out to build up your clientele but in the long run it's all worth it. You will not always be able to please everyone, there are people that no matter what you do they are not going to be satisfied but those people are few and far between, most people aren't like that.

I've been a beautician for 10 years and I love my job. I love making people feel good about themselves and getting to know my clients. You make lots of great friends in this profession. I get paid commission, I get 60% of what I do and I live comfortably.

Answer 3

Well in the beginning when you don't have a following, it may be hard to pay your bills . However, when you have a following and a great boss (who's giving you better than 60/40) it is very possible to make enough. Get your training from a great school. I love my job I love meeting new people. Most of all I love the look on there face when they look in the mirror for the first time.

Answer 4

I'm an esthetician and i make great money! I get paid hourly AND 50% comission. I also make comission on retail and tips! but if you want to make it in the beauty business, you have to be good at what you do, and be able to talk to people easily...or you won't be busy at all. And i only make $9 hourly, so that wouldn't be quite enough to get by. And i LOVE my job! i meet so many great people...although that has a lot to do whith where you work too. I get a lot of down to earth clients...not so many snobs. Actually, i see mostly university students, and they're alway fun.

Answer 5

In the beginning when you work a commission type job, money is not that great. After a year or so most stylists have enough of a clientele to booth rent for themselves. Then the money is what you put into it. It isn't unheard of to bring in $4,000 or more a month.

Answer 6

it is a business and with a good business mind, talent, and people skills you can make it and earn a great living. hairstylist generally make very good money if they have a busy client list. make up artist do not make much money working for a makeup counter but with good advertising, you can make a good living doing weddings and individual makeup. it is much harder to get into photography and film. word of mouth is everything.