I’ve been hairdressing for 16 years and the last 8 of those I’ve been mobile, I loved it for the first few years but my back is now really causing me problems to the point I’m in pain at work every day, from the amount of time I spend in the car (I have a tiny, very uncomfortable car which I can’t afford to change), from bending over people’s baths to wash hair and carrying my heavy equipment about, sometimes up and down staircases. I’m only 34 and I feel like my back is a mess already, I can’t imagine doing this for my entire career. I looked into renting a chair in a salon but none of my local ones are interested, I live in an area where they’re all big chains that just want employees to work 60 hour+ weeks (like I used to). I live in a flat which is definitely not suitable for clients to visit me, that’s if I could actually manage to get them to come to me anyway. I just think why would someone choose to do that when they could go to a nice salon. My long term dream is to have some sort of home salon, but at the moment I have nowhere near enough money for that kind of plan and my only option is to either go back to being a salon employee and give up my hopes, or continue with mobile and put up with the back pain. Sorry for the moan but I’m getting to the point where I’m considering giving up hairdressing, which would be so sad because I actually love it. Anyone been in this sort of situation before??
Don't give up so soon, you have plenty of other options. Here's some options that I can think of :
* Travel light, this will take a bit more organisation at the end of every day, or at the start of every day, but you can prepare a case / box ready for your day, obviously you don't want to leave stuff at home, but you can leave it in the car and only take in what you need to the clients house. Consider buying small bottles of developer so you're not carrying god knows how many litre bottles of developers, keep the litres bottles at home and refill the smaller bottles when needed. Same for shampoos. At least this way you're cutting down the weight you're lugging up and down steps etc..
* For your back, I would consider seeing a chiropractor or a physiotherapist. It may seem pricey but you can't put a price on your health.
* Think about investing in a portable basin, they're a good investment and saves so much discomfort for you and the client, stops you having to struggle leaning over the bath/sink. (look on ebay)
* Accept the offer when your clients suggest they wash their colours off themselves.
* Don't carry unnecessary items, limit your styling tools based on the day ahead of you.
* Make provisions for changing your car in the future if you feel this will help.
*Keep looking for chair rental, don't give up. Good things come to those who wait. Even if worst case scenario yiu end up going back to a salon to work, don't give up on your hopes of owning your own! Again, make provisions to finance this in the future.
*Consider a buisness loan or look at local funding projects that support new and local businesses.
I hope this helps, good luck whichever path you decide to choose from here on out! Make it work for you!