Anyone thinking of leaving the industry to pursue different career?

[LuxeBeauty]

Hi everyone,

So as the title says... Anyone thinking about leaving the beauty industry and pursuing another career?

I know there are a couple of other threads about the opposite...people wanting to leave their current jobs and wanting to get into beauty but I'm the other way round!

I think it's a combination of the following...

Stress
I don't think I've ever been so stressed in my life. Running your own business is hard! Not knowing if people will turn up, people who call for prices then tell me I'm too expensive! ( I charge £22 for shellac and Gelish ) but there are so many people undercutting near me it's unbelievable! I saw a Facebook post the other day where a Brow client of mine was offering shellac nails for £5!!!!! I couldn't believe my eyes!!! How are professionals who do this full time supposed to make a living when everyone and their Aunty are doing nails so cheap as a sideline!

Money
I'm tired of only just earning enough money each month to get by and during quiet times I hate the stress of not knowing how much money I will earn each month. Last minute cancellations and no shows has really been getting to me lately
I earn enough to cover bills, rent, (personal and business) but life is for living and I'm always turning down social events, weekends away because I don't have the funds.

Boredom
I feel I'm not being challenged enough. Although I love my job and love what I do I feel everyday is the same, nothing changes.

Meeting New People
I think I work really well as part of a team and being self emplyed gets lonely although I have some lovely clients who I get on with very well I wouldn't say I class any of them as friends ( obviously existing friends I count but not actual clients)

Anybody else feel like this? Would be great to hear from someone else who feels similar.

Not sure what my next move is but it feels good to talk about it!

Xx

 

[RED STAR]

I've been a 'HAIRDRESSER FOREVER' - so I can NEVER leave!!!
I do however understand your post, it's just getting RIDICULOUS.
Today I got a visit from the council, issuing me with the new 'Special Licence' system that we must all conform to...
We will now need to pay a yearly fee in order to carry out basic beauty treatments.
I am barely scratching a living as it is, I have the responsibility of paying 2 staff member, who are yet to cover their wage....
Insurances, holiday pay, pensions, living wage....over heads....rising stock costs....additional training....
I think all of the above factors PLUS over supply, resulting in price slashing, has got us where we are today...
SH*T STREET!

 

[LuxeBeauty]

Oooh it makes my blood boil!
Why do the council make it harder for the professionals by adding more costs onto running a legitimate business and then have no regulations whatsoever on all of these people who do it on the side or on the cheap!

Part of me thinks....

"oh well she won't last long at £5 a go....she won't be making any money by the time she's taken off costs for products and petrol. Nothing to worry about"

But the thing is there will always be another "professional" who pops up in her place [emoji23]
It's like that monster that always grows another head that you can't defeat!

And it annoys me that it then in turn makes the rest of us look like we're being greedy but were just asking sensible prices to pay for all the new licenses the council decide to force upon us haha!! [emoji23]

I'm so glad I didn't go down the road of employing anybody as it all sounds like a nightmare. And if I do choose to leave at least I have a fairly quick getaway lol and won't have to deal with staff [emoji1]

 

[Reidebot]

Even here. I constantly see people doing cheap nails with fake images on their site (you can google image these) and I personally imagine that if they need to fake images then they probably will sort them self out but its like, "Cut off one head and two replace it".

 

[Ony]

I'm only just starting out and the profit margins are already off-putting. Even priced at the upper end for my area I won't earn half the hourly rate I would expect for my day job.

What career would you be trying to get into if you left? One of my worries if I went full time is how difficult it could be to get out if it all went wrong. It would definitely be hard to get back into my current role without some expensive/time consuming retraining.

 

[LuxeBeauty]

Hi Ony that's the thing, I feel I can't earn a decent wage from doing this as the market is so so saturated with nail and beauty techs charging ridiculously cheap. My area is packed and it's only getting more so.
My friends and family seem to think its a lovely easy job and that I get to do nails and sit and chat to people all day but as another post has pointed out it is very mentally draining and stressful.
There is another post somewhere about how because you spend all day chatting and talking non stop you don't feel like talking when you get in from work!

I think I need something that's more rewarding to me. I want to help people and I always thought about being a nurse so I'm looking into that. I feel very under appreciated in my current role and if I'm honest I can't see myself doing this for the rest of my life.

I think all you can do is try, you can always go back to what you used to do or do something else. Will you be working from home, mobile or in a salon?

If i do decide to leave it will be gradual and would still keep doing this whist training.

 

[Ruby S]

Totally get what you are saying here! I left beauty part time for a while (8 years!) and went into retail. That was bloody hard work (more physically draining than beauty). I didn't leave completely though as I carried on doing mobile beauty 2 days a week. Honestly, I'm glad I didn't leave it altogether because it made it possible for me to come back into it when a great opportunity came up. I earn nothing for myself, as like you said owning a salon is very hard financially, but I am determined to hang on for another 2 years, until my lease ends and if by then I'm out the other side and paying myself a wage, I will stay in it. If I'm still this broke, I think I will look for a room to rent somewhere? It is putting alot of pressure on my husband to make enough to support us both. The question is…what would you enjoy more than this?? My dream job is to be a food critic. I think I would need to retrain as a journalist to do that though!! I could of course just sit around at home eating?!
Retraining as a nurse sounds good…hard but good. Be prepared for unsociable long draining hours with that and a lot of training/university? but wow I bet its rewarding! Midwife would be good too!!
Try not to let things get on top of you.

 

[littlekate]

I too feel the same but for different reasons. I have no idea what I would do if it wasn't beauty though! It would have to be something creative for me I think.

 

[Ruby S]

I'm new too the industry and will be giving up my job too go back too college to train full time for 2 years
The cost for my fees is just over £5,000 for both years and it is a worry thinking will I be able to get a job afterwards

I wouldn't really want to do mobile as I don't like the idea of lugging stuff around and going Into people's houses that I don't know

There's literally hundreds of local students all leaving college looking for a job so getting one would probably be difficult as I've looked and there arnt many advertised especially not for newly qualified

The next option is if I can't get a job and don't want mobile to rent a room in a salon and I don't know if I'd feel ready or want to start out from scratch by myself

I'm really interested in doing this for a job but when I read posts like this it makes me feel a bit nervous about leaving a steady job to earn no money for 2 years pay out £5,000 and end up either without a job or earning less per hour than I do now

When I first started looking at course 5/6 years ago the industry seemed different, now there's so many people doing it as a hobby/jobby rather than doing it as an actual full time career

I see lots of rooms for rent and then a few months later they are back up for rent again, is this because the therapist hasn't been able to make it work?

Even local salons seem to be offering things all the time at very low prices, and these are nice salons that have been around for many years

Maybe most salons are struggling these days?

It is scary for sure, but if you are determined to make it work I'm sure you will. I would always suggest getting a work placement while you are at college because this is not only great experience but it could potentially lead to a job when you leave, if they are impressed with you. Get yourself noticed by putting in everything you've got and more! I did work experience at a little tiny salon 18 years ago and I learnt things and techniques that are still relevant and that I still use today. The owner offered me a Saturday job while I was still at college and then a part time job when I left. When you leave college apply for jobs in salons and spas rather than immediately setting up on your own because personally I think you need other more experienced people around you to offer support and advice. You can ask your work experience placement for a reference. Good luck with your training! Don't let us grumps dampen your spirit!!

 

[CurlyWurly1986]

This is an interesting thread for me as I'm an Occupational Therapist working full-time in the NHS in a rewarding job. However, I am seriously considering leaving to start a specialist beauty business. The reason for this is the NHS is run like a business now with a top-heavy management structure, too many changes and no real appreciation for their front-line workers who are dedicated and want to deliver good patient care. I'd rather run my own business and make money for myself now. I feel in a vulnerable position even in my permanent job role as they could move me to another team whenever it suits them. I also feel very frustrated coming up against red tape all the time. I just don't know if this career is really for me anymore. The care in the community I would like my patients to receive just isn't there and with all the cuts, never will be. I do know I enjoy working with people and I am confident my skills and experience will be very helpful in starting this business. If you are considering working for the NHS, I recommend you really think about this and what the future of the NHS is going to look like. I currently work with and have previously worked with great healthcare professionals/support staff who feel so worn out by the demands and never receive any recognition or try appreciation for their commitment and work ethic.

 

[exquisitebeauty]

i had no choice but to leave the industry 6yrs ago due to bad landlord/building issues and health. And back then i can see where your coming from their is always the idiots that like to undercut and usually the ones who arent insured and get away with it bloody makes my blood boil. I am not in the jewellery industry due to the fact i can work from home due to health complications. And i love it but yet again i'm the same as you guys i worry all the time as i have quiet periods and it doesnt help with the eu ref and all the politics going on atm. Making ppl not want to spend as they dont know their future. I wish the goverment would walk in all our shoes and career paths. And learn their laws are crippling our businesses and make ways to be stricter on stopping the cowboys starting up businesses willy nilly. Good luck on your future would hope to keep informed of the out come xx

 

[nikkisbeauty]

Iv been having deliberations on what to do, iv had my salon for nearly 8yrs and iv got to a point that I'm fed up with the landlord being the highest payed person for all the stress and hardwork that I put in, my husband thinks I should go mobile my mum really doesn't think I'll enjoy mobile but I saw an interesting post about using big yellow office space to do treatments and there is one right by my salon so thinking about trying it, short leases and cheap rent !

 

[MeganEmilyy]

Gosh I'm really worried now I won't be able to find a job that I can survive on after I finish college! :/ I think they should put in rules like America like you need a liscene or something x

 

[GoldCrest]

I am in the middle of changing career. I can't compete with the cheapos in my area. I started a course to become a car mechanic. You always will have broken cars.

 

[LaLaLayla]

You sound very intelligent OP and I am sure you would do really well if you re-trained as a nurse.

The grass is always greener though, and I am looking at giving up my career to go into beauty, for the second time. I hate my job. I have done really well in terms of career progression, but I am not particularly good at it and have been fired more times than I can remember. I love beauty and really miss it. I hate working for someone else, I find it really stressful.

Good luck with whatever you decide x

 

[work2hard]

Hi I agree with a lot of what has been said , in over 20years running a salon , these last few have been the toughest . As was said above only the landlord are winning . I ve seen quite a few good salon around me close but then the owner go rent a room / chair in another quality salon . I wonder instead of seeing the salon around the corner and up the road as our competition we should all join forces ??? Lower over heads higher profits . Tricky subject to bring up causally thou with a neighbouring salon owner , so many of us when ask say "ooooh yes all great ,really busy" , not wanting to admit it's tough . I ll let u know how I get on [emoji12], good luck with whatever u do next .

 

[MUA]

Hello! Bit of a late reply but yes I'm looking to come out after 7 years. I've just lost the passion for it! What did you end up doing? X

 

[Cotton]

I completely understand where you're coming from, I haven't been doing this long (I rent a room in a hairdressers) but already feel like this job isn't sustainable at all. Even with my week fully booked this week so far next week is pretty blank in my diary and there's no knowing if it will fill up or not. Right now I'm having to work two days a week in retail to cover my personal rent and bills just so that it is guaranteed Money to take the pressure off of me to get clients but I absolutely DESPISE retail, I literally search every day for part time jobs in my area that I could do for two days a week, to have that regular money and to mix it up a bit but I don't know about you but I find finding part time jobs that aren't retail near impossible?! Does anyone have any ideas of industries that want part timers?

 

[Sashao]

Hi all and anyone new reading this post. I know it’s about 5 years old now but still relevant.

I was wondering if anyone that contributed to this thread are still working in beauty and what you all decided to do?

I’m in the same boat now and really contemplating leaving my little beauty room all for the same reasons you have all mentioned.
Money just enough to get by, not knowing if your calendar is going to get filled up, maybe having just one appointment for the day and having to travel to work just for that one appointment cause you need the money, the expenses, talking a lot with clients and working on your own, not working in a team.
I use to work in finance and admin. As much as it might of been tedious and boring, you had a guaranteed income, worked in a team, could switch off if you wanted too and and just focus on doing your work, no expenses, do not need to take your work home with you, not having to worry about updating your social media page to gain more appointments.
So I myself am looking at alternatives now and handing in my notice to the landlord where I rent.

I’ve made it so nice tho that I know I will miss it. The rent is not that expensive but there are now another 6 therapists in the same building where it was just one previously.

I do love doing nails and massage and thinking to get another part time job and do beauty on the side mobile and not to have as my main job focused on that income.

What’s everyone else’s views on this?

thanks x

 

[HairbyJess]

Hi, although I'm not one of the original posters I have recently been through something similar. I'm a mobile hairdresser btw.

When the first lockdown hit I started window cleaning to make ends meet (the family business so has been part of my life for a long time but this was for real, getting my own round etc. And no I didn't benefit from any of the self employed grants because hadn't been self employed long enough). When the lockdowns lifted I would do as much hair as I could. However I started finding my anxiety levels were sky-rocketing, mainly when it came to new clients. I got to the point where I was terrified for my phone to ring with an unknown number on it, it was starting to disrupt my life somewhat. Throughout this I still carried on window cleaning, which for me is very low stress (hard work yes, but out in the fresh air not in anyone's personal space). I decided for the sake of my mental wellbeing to take my phone number of google. I do think a lot of the anxiety is based on covid-fallout, after months of not doing clients and also all the extra cleaning and ppe precautions we needed to take.

My regular clients do not give me anxiety, so I decided to keep doing my regular clients ( a dozen or so) to keep my skills up (between them they all cover a wide range of cutting and colouring skills and I don't want to lose what I worked so hard for) but my main income is now window cleaning. It pays my bills and any hairdressing is a little extra. It means I'm not panicking about clients cancelling and therefore not having enough that month, and it's the best of both worlds for me. I love hairdressing and couldn't ever imagine not doing it but unfortunately I had to make a call for thr sake of my mental wellbeing based on my circumstances and for me and my family it has definitely been the right thing to do.

Remember though everyone's circumstances are different, and at the end of the day what is right for one person may not be right for another. You need to make a decision based on what is right for you. Maybe write it all down? List of pros and cons is usually our go-to, it makes things a lot clearer!