People from all parts of the world, of both sexes, decide that they want to become a hairdresser.
Some do it simply because they love working with hair. They are the ones who, as children, spent hours brushing, combing, braiding and
generally playing with the hair of any long-haired relative who would sit still long enough. They have the “calling” to be hairdressers.
Others see hairdressing simply as one of their options in life. They have had lots of practice
with their own hair, or with friends’ hair, and probably know a hairdresser who is a friend or family member. For these individuals,
hairdressing is a job they are familiar with and feel comfortable pursuing.
Regardless of what brings them to consider a career in hairdressing, every candidate will need training, and these candidates will have different expectations from a hairdressing career.
Some want to be hairdressers for the stability. Most hairdressers can always find work, whether they are employed by a salon, or work for themselves renting space in a salon or open salons of their own.
Others see hairdressing as an outlet for their creativity, and a way to make a living doing
something that allows them to be artistic and creative. They look forward to a job doing something that makes them happy because they
are making something they find beautiful.
Some people see hairdressing as a way to gain notoriety. They want to be on the front lines of the
trendsetters, and see hairdressing as a way to make a name for themselves in their communities. These people enjoy being the one others
consider the expert on matters of style and beauty.
Pros and Cons of Being a Hairdresser
No matter what brings you to want to be a hairdresser, or what you expect from a hairdressing
career, there are good and bad points about this path. Just like any career or occupation, there are going to be things you will and
won’t like about hairdressing. Here are some of the pros (good things) about being a hairdresser:
• People – Being a hairdresser is all about serving clients. Because of this, you will
come in contact with lots of different people every day. This keeps your job fresh,
challenging and rewarding, since it gives you a constant source of opportunities
to show someone else just what you can do for them.
• Flexibility – As a hairdresser, you can choose how you practice your profession.
You can work for someone else, or for yourself. You can make your hours a
regular 9 to 5, or work by appointment only, setting appointments at whatever
times are convenient for you and your clients.
• Variety – Most of your clients will want different types of services. You may give
mostly haircuts, but will also have styling appointments, chemical services (such
as color, perms and straightening services) and depending on your level of
training, you may also have clients who want esthetic services such as facials,
hair removal, and nail services. With the different number of services available,
you will always have something different to do every day.
• Training Options – In order to become a licensed, professional in your area, you
will need training in the services and procedures you will need to perform. There
are options that are available for almost every individuals needs. You could
choose to attend an accredited Technical College for training or a specialized
school that teaches you the things you need to know to perform your chosen
profession. In most cases the cost of getting your education from an accredited
school can be off-set by scholarships and grants from state and federal
agencies. Some people need a less expensive means of getting their education,
or prefer a more hands-on approach to getting their training. These people may
opt for an apprenticeship. Apprenticing usually takes longer to get your
certification, but for some people, it is the best option, and it allows them to train
in the same environment in which they will be working once they are trained and licensed.
