After graduating a cosmetology school, what steps should I take to ensure a long successful career?

Question

I'll be starting my education in march and (hopefully) graduating in '09. I want to make sure that I don't end up at some place like super cuts or sports clips. I want to be very financially sucessful within the 1st few years. Anybody have some tips or what not to do's? Thanks!

Answer 1

First and foremost you have to find yourself a prime location. You will most likely have to rent a booth within the location so think of the type of styling you want to do and then you have to look at what areas serve that demographic that goes for your style.

Make sure the location looks upscale or at least real nice....nothing worse than going to a place to get “made up” and it looks like crap.

Don’t move around a lot... I had a favorite hairdresser but she moved around so much that I had to find someone else....I’m sure I’m not the only one to feel this way.

Make sure you build up a nice clientele. This may involve giving discounts for referrals etc. Always follow up with missed appointments and inquiries. Also follow up with regular customers....if you know a style only lasts a certain amount of time and you haven't been called to set up a new appointment, call them....sometimes people get busy and forget to call.

Try your best to accommodate same day calls and walk-ins....these people normally become regulars....anyone who is willing to fit you in at the last minute and does a great job is a great person.

Try to take photos of your work. Sure people like to find styles in a book but if you have samples of your work then that’s even better. To go one step further, if someone points out a style in a magazine, cut that photo out and put it in your style book next to the photo of the person whose hair you styled that way people can see how close you can get to the photo.

The biggie is to build repeat business because that is money you can count on. After you build your client base and have saved up some money....look into opening your own shop then you pick the location and you get to rent out the chairs.

Answer 2

My family has owned a cosmetology school for over 50 years.

First, realize that Cosmetology school is going to teach you the basics. If you want to be really good technically then you are going to have to continue your education. Many of the more progressive and professional salons offer continued education.

You should think about what you want to do in the industry when you graduate and then set clearly defined goals. Do you want to cut hair, be a color or chemical specialist? Do you want to be a platform artist and demonstrate new trends on stage for companies like Redken?

Define your goal and then map your career path to that goal.

Additionally, and what most people don't understand is that this is a sales job. While being good with technical skills is important, you must learn to sell yourself, your services and retail. That's how you build a clientele.

The most common mistake that most new / young people make in this profession is that they job hop. Move from one salon to the next. Most think their clientele will follow them. Some of your clients will but the majority won't.

A college degree in business management isn't a bad idea along with your Cosmetology license. You sound ambitious and you might be a great candidate to be a salon owner or manager or own a chain of salons. An education in business would really help set you apart from others and help achieve any entrepreneurial aspirations.

And finally, if you don't want to work for a place like super cuts then don't start off there. Go to school every day and get good grades. Get a recommendation from the school that hilights what an exceptional student you were. Then go to the top salons in your area and apply. Many of these salons will make you go through an apprenticeship before building your own client base. Go ahead and do this. You will be better off in the long run.

Good luck with your new career!

Chris

Answer 3

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
After graduating a cosmetology school, what steps should I take to ensure a long successful career?
I'll be starting my education in march and (hopefully) graduating in '09. I want to make sure that I don't end up at some place like super cuts or sports clips. I want to be very financially sucessful within the 1st few years. Anybody have some tips or what not to do's? Thanks!

Answer 4

Almost half of the people who work in cosmetology are self-employed. You might decide to take this route once you gain professional experience. With a degree in cosmetology, you may be able to teach at a cosmetology school or in a vocational program at a college. Eventually, this could lead to administrative or managerial roles within cosmetology education.

Answer 5

Beauty School Graduation

Answer 6

Try to learn your client's names so that they get familiar with you, and will ask for you in the future.

If you have business cards (print your own if the salon doesn't provide them) when you're out meeting new people, give them a card, write a note on the back giving them a 10% discount for their first visit, but stress that it's only for you - not a salon discount. This will bring in new clients.

Always make sure your customers are happy with their hair cut/style/color. If they're not, try to make them happy with more than just a discount off their service.

Continue taking classes to stay on top of the newest techniques and trends.

Build a portfolio for yourself so that if you want to apply to higher-end salons in the future, you have a way to show off your work.

Remember, the biggest part of financial success is managing your finances properly. Even people with huge paychecks can be practically broke if they're drowning in debt.

Answer 7

Don't wait until you graduate to find a job in a good salon as an assistant. My stylist was the assistant to my prior stylist. He worked hard and I had seen some work that he had done for the other stylists that I thought looked really nice. When my old stylist left to open her own salon, I made the shift to her old assistant, who by then was a full-fledged stylist.

Get along with and be helpful to others in the salon. The drama queens always end up leaving. Also, make sure that you stay focused on your work. I have left stylists over the years because their personal lives took over. One stopped bathing and I couldn't stand the smell! Another was so distracted by a partner's illness that he failed to properly wash the color out of my hair, and I ended up ruining my gym clothes when it dripped all over!

Answer 8

Normal applying to cosmetology school it takes 18 months

Answer 9

Work hard, learn the business and open your own shop. I have one friend who owns a hair salon. He has his own clients but he also has a dozen other "stylists" paying him $200 a week to rent their chairs.

Do the math. He earns almost $10,000 a month just collecting rents. When you include beauty product sales and his own clients, that shop earns well over half a million a year.

Answer 10

start building your client base, get friends to come in when you have salon days at your school. I would think that is the most important thing, make sure that you are going to have loyal clients from the beginning.