6 THINGS TO DO WHEN YOU FINISH COSMETOLOGY SCHOOL
AFTER COSMETOLOGY SCHOOL I WAS SO EXCITED TO BE FINISHED WITH THEORY EXAMS, SETTING UP MY KIT, MOVING IT FROM LOCKER TO VEHICLE AND WASHING DOLL HEADS.. UGH! ALL I WANTED TO DO WAS GET MY STATE BOARD EXAM OVER WITH. BUT, THERE ARE SOME THINGS I WISH I WOULD’VE KNOWN BESIDES HAVING MY HEAD IN MY MILADY TEXT BOOK. BELOW I HAVE LISTED MY TOP 6 THINGS TO DO ONCE YOU HAVE GRADUATED AND PASSED YOUR EXAMS!
1. ASSIST
BECAUSE.. ARE YOU READY TO BE A “HAIRSTYLIST?”
(Coming from California) When you graduate from cosmetology school you then are required to take a test. Once you pass your “state exam” you are now considered a licensed hairstylist. “AKA” you can now legally take clients, purchase professional products and make an income from hair. BUT! Does this really mean you are ready to be a hairstylist?? From my experience, (NO) Cosmetology School prepares you for passing the exam and it does not give you any salon training. Once you graduate start doing research on stylists in your area that need assistants.
2. SPECIALIZE
ENHANCE YOUR STRENGTHS AND FIND WHERE YOU NEED TO GROW
Once you have learned your basic cutting, coloring and styling it really helps increase your clientele if you specialize in a specific area. This does NOT mean you have to only do this service, but, you can start raising your prices significantly on that specific service over time. (Lets be honest. Who doesn’t wan that?) This could be cutting, coloring (highlights, balyage, vivids, transformations), extensions, bridal, mens, the possibilities are endless. When specializing in one area you will want to become HIGHLY educated on that topic which now leads to classes…
3. CLASSES
DO NOT STOP EDUCATING YOURSELF!!
Just because you have now “graduated” does not mean you are ever going to stop learning… In this ever changing industry you want to be the stylist that stays on top of new trends, techniques and styles. Becoming more knowledgeable on a topic will not only make you more confident in your craft, but it will always make your clients trust you with the extra confidence.
4. KIT
AKA YOUR HOLY GRAIL
Depending on the school you went to) You should probably start building -what I like to call your “professional kit”. Please understand that this does not mean you need to spend thousands of dollars on the best gear within your first year. This only refers to the important tools that help elevate your skills even more. I believe in having a great pair of cutting scissors, thinning shears, blow dryer and good round brushes. With in your first year of assisting you will be doing many shampoos, blow outs and mainly… cleaning bleh. BUT. Doing these jobs will help you save up money to invest in your new professional tools.
5. PRACTICE
Practice, practice, then practice some more
With that new blow dryer, those new shears and even clipping hair away for that bouncy blowout. Practice ensures confidence, quality and precision all in one. That blow dryer may be SUPER hot… find out on a friend because no friend will ever say no to a blowout lol. If you don’t have an available friend use your dolly! They are there to mess up and learn on so take advantage of doll heads throughout your entire career. I promise there is not one stylist that doesn’t use mannequin heads.
6. SOCIAL MEDIA
Make it work for you! Because social media is not going anywhere
If I can give you one last piece of advice- it is to make your brand YOU. This means if you look around your room, home, fashion, style ect. What are things that you enjoy? What is your style? What is important to you? Then once you figure out these answers try and make it apart of what makes your brand you. Social media, tags, user names, are all great ways to keep your audience connected and you will continually grow your clientele.
Hopefully these 6 tips help insure your hairstyling success! For product info, more blogs and updates please follow me on instagram! Thank you so much for reading my very first blog. I hope it was helpful for anyone thinking about joining the hair industry. Let me know what other topics you would like me to address relating to hair! Best wishes xx