considering a career in beauty

[mamamia]

hi geeks

ive wanted to be a beauty therapist for as long as i can remember.

Im stuck in a office job and the idea of working for myself and opening a salon (eventually) is wat i really want to do.

Im not feeling that brave to pack my job in and start afresh plus i need the money to pay my mortgage!!

I gues what i really want to know is how financially lucrative is it to be a beauty therapist?

Also it seems that theres a lot of competition and some places arent doing so well cos of the recession. How badly hit is the beauty industry because of it?

I would love for people to tell me there honest stories good and bad.

thanks

 

[jade_m_b]

Hi, i would take a long time thinking about if this is what you really want to do. I have often wished i had the stable office hours, and the normal mon- fri job. But then theres times when i adore my job and wouldnt change it for the world.

You can take evening courses, and courses on the weekends, around your job, i would probably try to do this so you can still pay your bills like youve mentioned. Depending upon how much money you want to pay to train depends on where you train, in a normal college or private colleges/classes.

wages vary, i cant speak from much experience as i have been in the same job since first qualifying, so havent got much idea on how it varies, i work in a spa, there is a mixed age range from 20-50 year old therapists working here. When i first started they had salaries varying to what level therapist you was, and i have been promised a pay rise since i started 2 and a half years ago and still not recieved it, i have witnessed lots of people leave through the stress and lack of money and support, and reduncies also. I am on just slightly more than min wage, and tips are rubbish where i work as everyone seems to think they spend enough money on a spa day and dont feel the need to tip so i cant make money up through tips. To say im struggling to pay my house bills is an understatement. That isnt to say i dont enjoy my job, majority of the time it is very rewarding once you find what you like doing and if you can specialise in that its even better however you need enough money to pay your outgoings at the end of the day. i would say if you can start of somewhere part time maybe for work experience we have had lots of people do this and again very varied age ranges, it will give you an insight into what its like and the hard work, hours etc. again if you decided to train as a therapist you could do part time therapy work in a salon or spa and the rest mobile or in you position your in now. its good to build up your confidence and experience working for somewhere fairly established, lots of problems can occur when you first qualify and it gives you extra support working for a company, then you can go mobile.

like i said wages vary, and working for yourself gives you more flexibility and most of the time better pay but i havent experienced this yet for myself just through fellow friends.

hope this helps a bit.
x

 

[kylieb]

A lot of people do want to be beauty therapists. Some really do and some just think it's a a job that will do because all you do is sit around all day painting nails and drinking tea! (not that i'm saying you are one of these) It's a bloody hard working job that requires hard work and determination.
I would do a few taster sessions at your local college and see if it is for you first. There is a hell of a lot to learn and not just about the treatments you do but you will have to learn everything about the body - bones, muscle, lymphatic system and loads more.
Dont do short courses like a days manicure. Train properly and you will have the confidence to gain clients and make your business work. Good luck with whatever you decide xxx

 

[xxhaylzxx]

While i now once again love my job only last month (and for about a year before) i had been looking for a new career. To say that now sounds crazy but i had lost all passion and excitement about it. The training was hard 2 years worth but i am so glad i did it that way rather than the odd day training here there and everywhere. I actually hate these courses i find it quite insulting. Fair enough if you have done the initial year or two years and then add on but to just do these alone well i wouldnt feel comfortable and surely you cant learn even the basics in a day. Anyway what i was saying that while alot of people think it sounds glamorous being a beauty therapist it isnt really. I have four years salon experience and where i work i get paid just above minium wage and i am only part time i struggle every month to pay my bills but the difference is now that i love my job. I have decided to go mobile and this has given me my passion back. At my current job i hate the wage, the hours, the way im treated and the way the companies run. It isnt an easy ride you have to be dedicated and deal with all sorts of people. Im not trying to put u off but as you say u have a job need to pay bills, mortgage etc i would think very carefully about it before you make a deffinate decision. I wanted to go into child care and got a part time job on the side doing it and realised it wasnt form me now im so glad i didnt give up my beauty to do that. Maybe it was the mon-fri 9-5 that appealed as with this job it can be any hours. all im saying is think about it and like kylieb said get some taster sessions in before you start properly. I wish you the best of luck what ever you decide. Let me know how you get in if you do decide to take it on. xxxxxxx

 

[prettymiss]

About three years ago I found myself in exactly the same position as you. I'd wanted to do beauty when I left school but my very persuasive father made me get an office job and earn some money. Dont get me wrong, I did earn good money but always regretted not doing what I wanted to.

So three years ago I was at a bit of a crossroads and decided it was now or never. So I left my job, moved back in with my mum and dad (by this time with an 18 month old in tow) and went back to college.

Now I'll be honest, Im still doing the office job 2 and a half days a week but my heart and passion is beauty. Im mobile at the moment during the other 2 and a half days and on evenings and weekends and I love it so much. I love doing treatments, building up my client base, everything. Dont get me wrong, its tiring and there are times when I come home at 10.30pm and I think what am I doing. I earn enough money in my day job to cover my bills and I use money from my beauty business to put back into buildng my business. Dont ask me how I manage but I do because I love it!

I have a very supportive partner and always have sundays with my family. Im slowing down at the moment as I have another one due in 6 weeks but will be building back up as soon as I can after.

Long term I'd like to rent a room or space in a salon so I have a solid base and this is something Im working towards. I guess what Im trying to say is I love what I do and whilst it is hard work, my passion for it carries me though. If I'd stayed doing office work I'd have always wondered "what if". Its not the best paid job in the world but I pride myself on excellent customer service and get repeat bookings so Im guessing I must be doing something right! I think working for yourself pays better than working for a company but I've never done this so cant do a direct comparison.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do and keep us updated! xx

 

[kylieb]

While i now once again love my job only last month (and for about a year before) i had been looking for a new career. To say that now sounds crazy but i had lost all passion and excitement about it. The training was hard 2 years worth but i am so glad i did it that way rather than the odd day training here there and everywhere. I actually hate these courses i find it quite insulting. Fair enough if you have done the initial year or two years and then add on but to just do these alone well i wouldnt feel comfortable and surely you cant learn even the basics in a day. Anyway what i was saying that while alot of people think it sounds glamorous being a beauty therapist it isnt really. I have four years salon experience and where i work i get paid just above minium wage and i am only part time i struggle every month to pay my bills but the difference is now that i love my job. I have decided to go mobile and this has given me my passion back. At my current job i hate the wage, the hours, the way im treated and the way the companies run. It isnt an easy ride you have to be dedicated and deal with all sorts of people. Im not trying to put u off but as you say u have a job need to pay bills, mortgage etc i would think very carefully about it before you make a deffinate decision. I wanted to go into child care and got a part time job on the side doing it and realised it wasnt form me now im so glad i didnt give up my beauty to do that. Maybe it was the mon-fri 9-5 that appealed as with this job it can be any hours. all im saying is think about it and like kylieb said get some taster sessions in before you start properly. I wish you the best of luck what ever you decide. Let me know how you get in if you do decide to take it on. xxxxxxx

Absolutely!! The way you are treated sucks! All the constant massage for no extra money, coming home at 10pm,being scared to take time off sick, having so many targets. I have recently just left the spa I was at as i'd had enough. Ive gone back to being mobile ...best thing I have done! I'm glad I got the experience beacause it makes me appreciate being on my own and also how I DONT want to run my business. But never again lol xxx

 

[tigi]

you have been given great advice already, all i have to add is that maybe you could start out slowly?

Get some really good training done in a few treatments and then start out mobile. build up your business until you feel brave (or mad) enough to go for the plunge.

The recession has hit us all, but only the strongest nad bravest survive in ANY sector.

As for it being lucrative, it can be but its really really hard work and you need to be passionate and dedicated to make it happen. (the same as any job).

Why not have a look at some courses, choose some that you really like the look of and dedicate some serious time to training, marketing and promoting yourself. even going mobile is hard work to begin with! No one will come to you unless you tell them you are available!

best of luck

tigi
xxx