Hey everyone,
This is my first thread!
I'm 18 years old and i am doing my A levels at the moment, (should be revisiong atm! exam tommorrow!) i have been working in a salon for over 4 years and have always loved everything to do with beauty! I have only been washing hair and helping out though!

I just wondered if anyone elses parents didnt support them when choosing this career path?!

I am off to university in September and I'm really not looking forward to it, but its what my parents think is best! The salon that i work at would love to have me stay and have me work there full time

A few months ago I did an Essential Nails course in Acrylic tip and overlay and i am booked on a spray tan course in a couple of weeks! i hope the students at my university will want tanning and their nails doing!


Sorry i went on so much, I just hope some one went through the same kind of thing!

xxxx

My parents were mortified, and are (still) waiting for me to get a "real" job .....they said I can still do beauty "on the side with a real job if it make sme so happy"

I am 31 and never been happier!! I have no intention of swapping to a real job......I did get a twinge of revenge when I saw the look on my dads face when I announced i had met Caprice last week

Follow your dreams chuck!!

Im nearly 40 & my mother is telling me to get a proper job.....

Im happy & making good money ..... Thats good enough for me...

I love my job x

Hi Hun,
So sorry that your parents don't see your passion.
Talk to them, I know it will be hard. But if you are not commited to university you will struggle with the work.
Is there no uni degree you can do that will flow into the beauty industry?
I am sure all the girls at uni will love to have their own nail tech and spray tanning friend there, but it will mean you may get kicked out after the 1st term, if you have not done the work.
I am fairly new to beauty industry, I trained at uni to be a fashion designer, I specialised in Bridal Gowns and pattern cutting and grading, I never sew a thing now.
But it doesn't matter, as I am happy doing what I do now, just wish I had done it years ago.
Follow your dreams......talk to your parents, I think they may think they know what is best for you, I have let my boys decide for themselves...they are both happy...so I am happy too.
Lotsa luv x x

my dad just rolled his eyes and said "oh right" and rolled his eyes.... before finding this i did a BND in performing arts then an NVQ in childcare so he thinks its just another course...he'll see though!

First off hello and welcome to the site!!!!! It is funny that you ask this question today, as just yesterday i touched on this very subject in another thread!!! I am 41 years old and I just became licensed here in the states a year ago- it had always been my dream to go into hair and nails, as far back as i can remember- but when i was 18 yrs. old and graduated high school, i wanted to enroll into cosmetology school- well, my mom did not think it was a good idea at all so i ended up going into Dental Assisting....... i HATED it!!!!!!! I worked in a field that i just could not stand, and it showed!!!! I was a horrible dental assistant!!!lol- i finally had enough and enrolled into the Nail Tech program about 2 yrs ago and Thank God i did- I finally know what it is like to be able to go to a job that i love!!!! I don't even consider it work!!!! My point is, while i know that your parents are only looking out for your best interests, ( you won't likely become a millionare doing nails)- but you never know- either way you cannot gauge success on how much money you make, i am so much happier now and i wished i would have done it sooner..... maybe you can talk to your parents and come to a comprimise? It may be a good idea to show them this site and let them see for themselves how many ppl are actually making very successful careers in nails!!!! sorry this is soooo long- anyway good luck and i hope you can find a way to follow your dream!!!!

Thank you all for your advice!

This site is amazing, I'm so glad I have found somewhere with so many people that are as passionate as me!

Thanks again!
xxxxx

My mum is cool she likes me doing her nails and knows im happy but my dad and my brothers keep telling me i "should get a proper job" really pees my off as this is a proper job

I actually had the opposite experience, i wanted to do beauty therapy so much when i was younger, but all my friends went on the 6th form to do a-levels, i followed.Then they all went on the university, and again i followed the same path. My parents kept telling me i didnt have to copy them and i'd make new friends on a beauty course and how much i'd love it. I did go to uni and did a business degree and had a fantastic time, and then went on to do teacher training. Im now a teacher and i do love my job, but have done my nail technician training at college and now offer this mobile. I'm hoping to do more courses soon and who knows where i will end up in a few years time. I'd love to teach beauty and nail services, but thats years down the line lol! I do often day dream about my own salon though if thats not too sad! My mum and dad still encourage me to pursue this as they know i love it. I think if we work hard enough we will always end up doing what we want whether we take the long route or not. I'm really at the moment and feel i have the best of both worlds for the time being. And if i do have a salon one day my business knowledge will certaintly come in handy!
What are you going to do at uni hun? maybe you could do something that will help in your future career in the beauty industry.
Good luck hun xxx

My parents think what I am doing is great and dont mind what I do as long as i am happy. Not that they would have much of a choice/say in what I do as they know what I would say! lol I think of it like this, its my life, I can choose to do what I like and what to do with my life. I would never not do something I wanted to do as I know I would only regret it.

Poshfloss.....its a shame you dont do wedding dresses anymore, you could have made mine! lol We just decided a few days ago that we are going to get married in december! woo! xx

Mary!
Im going to university to do Secondary Maths and Education so will be a teacher in 3 years too! I also day dream about my dream salon .. I'm that sad too!! I would be doing nails and tanning mobile if i like teaching!
Its nice to see someone else in a very similar situation as me! your lucky you had backing! Glad your happy doing both! hope i will be too! I think it will be easier for me to make my own decisions when I'm not actually living with my parents!
Thanks for your comment
xxx

all my family.
just didn't understand why i wanted to do it.
i didn't listen and did it.
non of them complain now do what u want

Don't forget too that you will most likely have a fair bit of free time while at uni, its not all day everyday. You will be everyones dream friend offering nails and tanning and may have a nice little mobile business going. Not encouraging slacking off on the uni work side though lol! Also hun as a teacher you have the earlier finishes and long holidays to do lots of mobile work if thats waht you decide to do. But if you really don't want to go to uni you should do what makes you happy. Get all the course information for beauty and have a plan, it might make your parents realise how serious you are.
xx

My mum really was against the idea, and mentioned at every opportunity "oh you won't make a go of it" or "I don't know why you are wasting your time and money" - the total putdown. Now 5 years later, she tells everyone how proud she is of me and how well I have done.

I am so glad that I listened to myself rather than to my Mum, who is a wonderful lady and I love her to bits, but she's not alway right, but she thinks that she has my best interest at heart.

Go girl.....you have one life and you can achive whatever you want if you have the drive and the passion and the love of what you are doing.

Good luck

Sally X

I am 40 and started on courses for Reflexology in Sept 2006, Indian Head Massage in Jan 2007, Aromatherapy Sept 2008 and have just qualified in swedish massage plus other things like Hopi Ear Candling Spa Detox therapy along the way and soon to be Thai Mani and Pedi, Dad told me to find a proper job, Mum said lovely jubbly all those treatments I am going onto do a degree in Comp Medicine in September and now have his approval lol x

No matter what age you are your parents will still try and tell you what to do or as my Mum calls it, interfering , it's what they do, they just want what's best for you and want you to be happy He has had many massages from me and doesn't complain, so he knows I am happy