What has the beauty industry given you?

[laurakate]

The last year or so in beauty has been turbulent for me but I'm now at a stage where things are making more sense. I am able to look at the beauty industry and draw a realistic line between what it has given me whilst also being aware of the limitations and how I'm best going to deal with them.

The beauty industry has given me a skill that has given me an edge to make myself more recession proof as an arts graduate. It's got me out of being bored in retail and it's a skill that's allowed me to apply for jobs that not everyone else is going for (general admin that anyone with a gcse can go for). Statistically, I think it has saved me from having to do more general and boring jobs that a lot of graduates go for.

It's given me an insight into working with people and I feel proud to actually have a concrete skill in something that I have a genuine interest in. When I was doing my training I felt proud to be able to say that I was gaining skills worthy of getting a city and guilds and nvq.

I've not made a lot of money but I've been able to buy my first car when I was willing to put in the hours. I was also able to fund further training in new treatments and products which definitely made working in the industry more rewarding.

At the moment the beauty industry is something that I don't anticipate being in by the time I'm in my thirties because as much as I'm not massively motivated by money I do want to be in a job where I can start thinking about getting bigger things done like paying a mortage and having less money worries in general in proportion to the hard work I do. I will always want to keep my hand in in some capacity even if that's just as far as doing my own nails but when it comes to earning a genuine income I anticipate going elsewhere.

Also, don't work for a bully. It's only with hindsight and reading up on it that I realised that the job I was at last year was managing their staff through intimidation and bullying. Now that I realise that I feel that I have it all sorted in my head in terms of how I was feeling so down on the beauty industry and my place in it.

I was going to do a makeup course this month because I will genuinely enjoy it but right now I'm saving up to go back to uni. A makeup course is on the to do list for later. The beauty industry has also supported and inspired my enthusiasm to learn new things. That said though, even if I was to do all the product training in the world, it still wouldn't give me a big pay rise and I'd still have to work antisocial hours so I'm hopefully not as hung up on whether I get/do product training now.

I think it's important to acknowledge what the beauty industry has given you whilst also being realistic about what it might not give you. I would urge you all to do this because this has helped me massively in recent months. Over to you

 

[Deena]

What a lovely, postive yet realistic thread! x

When I first trained and for quite a while afterwards, I had hopes I would be making an income from my new skills. Long story short, I gradually relinquished that hope, focused on the realistic prospect of achieving that and am fine with it now. I don't now, never have and never will work as a nail tech and turned a negative into the best positive I could.

I really enjoy doing nails and have gradually decided on what I do and don't like so much. I know and understand that the merest hint of treating it as a 'Hobby/interest' will offend in certain quarters, but its been a gradual evolution of my thought processes and circumstances in view of the fact I want/need the security of a decent guaranteed income and one where I can leave it all entirely behind when I come home.

Then, I can indulge my abiding interest in the wonderful world of nails and actually do what I want to do. If I don't want to do a certain system/perfect a particular technique/do things a certain way - I can! It's all my choice, I don't have to cater for the random needs of clients because I don't have any. I can, instead, 'Gift' a set to a friend occasionally. I can continue to work on my modest skills and it gives me a real lift when I'm handing money over at a shop counter etc and people ask me where I got my nails done?!? I am so chuffed, because I did them myself!

It didn't work out the way I planned, but so much in life doesn't and we have to grow, adapt and accept accordingly. I wont deny I've never felt a tinge of disappointment at how the industry is being continually diminished in terms of recognition both financial and in terms of skill, but such is life. I admire those who have made their mark! :hug:

 

[laurakate]

I loved reading your post Deena! Thank you

I've always loved doing nails as a hobby. Even at school people used to love the nail art I did on my thumb (so I could hide it from teachers who were stricter with uniform rules lol).

When I look at the fact that I plan on doing my own nails as a long term thing I'm cool with it because the money I spent on training is what most people would pay towards a small holiday or other leisure pursuit so I don't feel that bad about it really. Also I've made a bit of a career out of it and would enjoy teaching it and all the kit I've got isn't so date sensitive that I can't use it on myself in the long run (even if I just use my wax kit for my own brows).

When I did my level three nails there was one person who was going to train as a lawyer and another as a nurse the following September and I can see where they were coming from now.

I guess not every skill has to be learnt with the view to making money/a career from it. There's a lot to be said for doing something for simply pleasure andor personal development.

 

[Martin Duffy]

Beauty is all I've done since leaving college, and it's given me the money to get my mortgage, and pay enough over the minimum a month that I shall be mortgage free by 40, to have a car, buy me the VW camper I dreamed of, and has allowed me the freedom to work the hours I want to doing something I enjoy. I have no regrets!!

 

[squidgernetball]

I trained as a beauty therapist at the grand old age of 39, and now, nearing my 50th (THIS IS SO NOT AN ISSUE!!!!) it has given me a wonderful place to work, in our little barn salon, I employ and work with my daughter which is amazing, I have some of the best (and worst) clients in the world, and work a 4 and a half day week in a job I absolutely love. I still get excited about work, and new clients, and taking good money. My younger daughter is now looking at Unis, and I am able to take time off when needed and visit with her. I am reading Martins posts with a little envy - I'm not there yet - but we went Ltd in January, and I can already see the benefits of this!

I couldn't do anything else!

Vicki x

 

[Martin Duffy]

I am reading Martins posts with a little envy - I'm not there yet...

In fairness though, I haven't got any children to support, there's just me, my partner and two terriers!

 

[virtues2011]

Not a lot apart from a bad back. .. and what's with this standing up half the day? ... Not to mention potentially working weekends as well. ... ewww. Sometimes I find it hard going.

I have some fab clients though who I adore. Personally I know I would struggle and absolutely hate it trying to maintain full days doing this job back to back with clients from 9 to 6 daily, but for something to keep me occupied and enjoyable and result driven and where money has no focus I am very happy and even happier when my clients see the results of my work.


Sent from my GT-N7100 using SalonGeek mobile app

 

[pinkthistle]

Repetitive strain and tennis elbow 😂

 

[laurakate]

Repetitive strain and tennis elbow 😂

Total empathy. That's one of the reasons that beauty isn't that profitable for me in that I don't work as many hours as I could because I just can't justify the discomfort.