The most secure job in America and it can't be outsourced

according to this article
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303296604577454241621819620.html?mod=ITP_pageone_0

however, I am a licensed cosmetologist, what this article does not tell you is that the salon owners are flakey, if you do not already have a following or are brand new, or at least have three to five years experience, they do not want you.

I've interviewed and talk about unprofessional interviews, gum chewing and slang. Those that advertise as UPSCALE are dumps.

I went to cosmetology school many years ago. Even then it was very hard to get started. You have to establish clientele and it's hard to get someone to take you on when you are brand new. It's definitely not an overnight success. However, it has been good for a few bucks on the side cutting family and friends hair. The only thing is you can't charge as much as you should because they are after all family and friends lol

Expensive schooling, AZ is $19,000 to $23,000 not including your license, then work for national chain make $9.00 per hour, tips of $3.00 or more (hopefully), and try to repay student loans. Most of the nice gals/guys I've met really want their own shop. Some have rented their own chair in a so so association, etc. Haircut went from $13.00 when they did mine to $25.00, I couldn't afford to keep following them from location to location as they rented their own chair, etc.

They did a piece on this today on GMA and Morning Joe, based on a Wall Street Journal article.

I have several close, close friends who completely agree with you, they have followings and have been doing it for a long time, but their salons closed due to the economy and they are having difficulty finding new places, they are getting by doing it at home, but if caught could cost a good bit in fines.

Keep trying. Will keep praying for you.

disgustedwithgovt wrote:Expensive schooling, AZ is $19,000 to $23,000 not including your license, then work for national chain make $9.00 per hour, tips of $3.00 or more (hopefully), and try to repay student loans. Most of the nice gals/guys I've met really want their own shop. Some have rented their own chair in a so so association, etc. Haircut went from $13.00 when they did mine to $25.00, I couldn't afford to keep following them from location to location as they rented their own chair, etc.

Right, and they only teach you how to pass the state tests. it cost me 10k plus kit, and went up to 16k with new students and that is for nine to fourteen months, depending which state. I don't regret though, learned a new skill.

Sick n Tired wrote:I went to cosmetology school many years ago. Even then it was very hard to get started. You have to establish clientele and it's hard to get someone to take you on when you are brand new. It's definitely not an overnight success. However, it has been good for a few bucks on the side cutting family and friends hair. The only thing is you can't charge as much as you should because they are after all family and friends lol

My family told me what they were going to pay me, $10 to free. And my sneaky brother watched my every move while I was cutting his hair with clippers and now cuts his own families hair. Family support huh?

Hair cuts for women in my town are anywhere between $75 and up and of course with the added coloring etc then it is a bit more. For men it is $55.
I can't even break in, they want younger but every week the salons who hire younger are putting ads on craigs list, they hire and the younger one's quit. While in school, those who were !9 to early twenties missed a lot and those who were in their late thirties to early 60s made it every day.

That's the whole problem, in this economy, many are choosing the Hair Cuttery's and Great Clips not the more upscale salons because the money just isn't there. You won't make much at the lower end salons and the higher end salons want your first born, three pints of blood, a book with at least 100-150 clients who will follow you to the end of the earth and depending on what they want to charge for their services, some clients just don't go with the stylists anymore, mainly due to money.

The article didn't detail that greatly.

Haircuts, colorings, highlights and lowlights, cholesterol treatments, hot oil packs etc are very pricey at higher end salons and people just don't have that disposable income anymore.

Also, don't get completely discouraged. People go on news programs and write articles regarding where and what type of jobs are the "recession proof" industries, but truthfully, who among us can now afford to take out loans to get a degree (in 4yrs) even online, when the stack of bills is still sitting there like a beacon. I couldn't even think of putting us further in debt right now for a degree that may or may not be the "recession proof" job in 4 yrs. For those that can, or had more savings, great, I would tell you to go for it if you are interested, but for many, many of us, it's not even close to being on the horizon.

Another thing the article failed to mention or didn't research, are those franchise places have a big turn over, if you don't produce certain amount of fifteen minute hair cuts in a day they start docking your pay.
And those who want a following, some salon owners make you sign a non compete statement--it is illegal and doesn't really stand up in court but few stylists know this--and will take your clients.

MaryKay wrote:Also, don't get completely discouraged. People go on news programs and write articles regarding where and what type of jobs are the "recession proof" industries, but truthfully, who among us can now afford to take out loans to get a degree (in 4yrs) even online, when the stack of bills is still sitting there like a beacon. I couldn't even think of putting us further in debt right now for a degree that may or may not be the "recession proof" job in 4 yrs. For those that can, or had more savings, great, I would tell you to go for it if you are interested, but for many, many of us, it's not even close to being on the horizon.

Unemployed or dislocated workers as we are called, can get a pell grant of up to $5,500 for education.

who can afford to get their hair cut. I haven't been to a hair salon in 8 years. Think about that when choosing this as a career. I think people should choose only necessary things now because very hard times are coming.

There is an old saying. That women would spend their last dollar on a beauty product. Or something to that affect.

I don't know about that...most people I know in my boat haircuts went to pot long ago.

I just dont have the extra money. Yeah my hair does not look that good.