Discover what working in a hair salon is really like, the challenges new hairstylists face, and how to decide whether this creative career is right for you.
Is Becoming a Hairstylist the Right Career for You?
Have you ever watched a hairstylist transform someone’s appearance and thought, “I would love to do that!”
Perhaps you’ve always enjoyed experimenting with hairstyles, helping friends with their hair, or imagining what it would be like to work in a beautiful salon.
Hairstyling can be an exciting career. It combines creativity, technical skills, customer service, and the opportunity to help people feel more confident about their appearance.
But there’s much more to becoming a successful hairstylist than knowing how to cut hair.
Before investing your time and money in cosmetology school, it’s worth understanding what the profession really involves.
Is Becoming a Hairstylist the Right Career for You?
Many people imagine hairstylists spending their days creating beautiful haircuts, experimenting with colors, and chatting with happy customers.
Those things are certainly part of the profession, but hairstylists also have responsibilities that aren’t always obvious.
A typical day may involve consultations, cutting and styling hair, applying chemical treatments, sanitizing equipment, managing appointments, and recommending appropriate hair-care products.
Hairstylists also need to understand different hair textures, scalp conditions, product ingredients, and the safe use of professional chemicals.
And then there’s customer service.
A talented hairstylist must learn how to listen carefully, understand what clients want, explain what’s realistically possible, and handle situations when expectations don’t match the final result.
Technical ability matters, but communication can be just as important.
How Long Does It Take to Become a Hairstylist?
In the United States, hairstylists generally need to complete a state-approved training program and meet licensing requirements.
The required training hours and examinations depend on the state.
For example, California requires 1,000 hours of approved cosmetology training for the standard school-based licensing pathway, along with passing the applicable licensing examination.
Students should always verify current requirements with their state cosmetology board before enrolling.
Training commonly includes haircutting, hair coloring, styling, sanitation, chemical services, and other aspects of cosmetology.
But graduating from school is only the beginning.
Like many creative professions, hairstyling requires continued practice, education, and experience.
What Are the Biggest Challenges?
Hairstyling can be rewarding, but it also requires dedication.
You may spend long hours standing, work evenings or weekends, and need to build a loyal clientele over time.
Income can vary depending on location, experience, employment arrangements, and the number of clients you serve.
New hairstylists may discover that building a successful career involves marketing, scheduling, budgeting, and learning how to manage difficult customer situations.
For those who eventually dream of opening a salon, business knowledge becomes especially valuable.
Understanding these realities before entering the profession can help you make a more informed decision.
Is Hairstyling Worth Pursuing?
Before spending thousands of dollars on cosmetology school, wouldn’t it be wonderful to know what you’re really getting yourself into?
That’s exactly why So You Think You Want to Be a Hairstylist is worth discovering.
Written by a hairstylist and salon owner with over 40 years of experience in the beauty industry, this book takes you beyond the glamorous image of the beauty industry and introduces you to the realities of working behind the salon chair.
What does it really take to succeed? What challenges might you face? And is this the right career for your personality, ambitions, and future?
Whether you’re a high school graduate considering cosmetology school, someone contemplating a career change, or a parent helping your child make an important decision, this book offers a valuable perspective before taking that first step.
A cosmetology education can be expensive. Learning about the profession before enrolling could be one of the smartest investments you make.
Discover So You Think You Want to Be a Hairstylist in paperback, Kindle, or audiobook format.
Kay and David’s Adventures:
An Unexpected Discovery on the Road to Sacramento
Kay had been looking forward to visiting her cousin in Sacramento for weeks.
Their bags were packed, their Tesla was charged, and David had already programmed their destination into the navigation system.
“Ready?” David asked, settling into the driver’s seat.
“Almost!” Kay replied, climbing in with her purse, sunglasses, and a bag of snacks.
David glanced at the bag. “Kay, we’re going to Sacramento, not crossing the Sahara Desert.”
“You never know when you might get hungry!”
They laughed as they pulled out of their Irvine driveway and headed north.
The first part of their journey was pleasant. They talked about family, discussed their plans, and enjoyed the changing scenery.
But eventually, Kay grew tired of the radio.
“David, could you find something else to listen to?”
He changed the station. Commercials.
Another station. More commercials.
“Does anybody play music anymore?” Kay complained.
David grinned. “Apparently, everyone is trying to sell us something.”
Kay reached for her phone.
“You know, I’ve always wondered what it would have been like to become a hairstylist.”
David looked surprised.
“A hairstylist? Since when?”
“Since forever! I used to love watching people get their hair done. But I never really knew what the job involved.”
She scrolled through her phone.
“Look at this! There’s an audiobook about becoming a hairstylist. It’s only two hours and forty-eight minutes long.”
“Well,” David said, “we’ve certainly got the time.”
Kay downloaded the audiobook and began listening.
As the miles passed, she discovered that working in a salon involved far more than creating attractive hairstyles.
There was training, licensing, customer service, professional responsibility, and the business side of working with clients.
“David, let’s listen to this together on the speakers! I never thought about how much business knowledge a hairstylist needs.”
David smiled.
“Sounds like there’s a lot more to it than holding a pair of scissors.”
“Exactly! That’s what makes this so interesting.”
An Unexpected Conversation at the Charging Stop
By the time they reached Kettleman City, David needed to charge the Tesla.
They pulled into a Tesla Supercharger, connected the car, and walked toward a nearby store to stretch their legs and buy something to drink.
Inside, Kay was still talking about her discovery.
“You know, David, I always thought hairstyling was mostly about being creative. But there’s so much more involved. I’m glad I found that audiobook
before I ever seriously considered going to school.”
A woman standing nearby turned toward them.
“Excuse me. I couldn’t help overhearing. Were you talking about becoming a hairstylist?”
Kay smiled.
“Yes! I’ve been listening to an audiobook about the profession.”
The woman looked delighted.
“My daughter is graduating from high school, and all she talks about is becoming a hairstylist. She’s been looking at cosmetology schools, but neither of us knows much about what the actual career is like.”
“That’s exactly why I wanted to listen to this book,” Kay replied. “It helps you understand what you’re getting into.”
“What’s it called?” the woman asked.
Kay opened her phone and showed her the audiobook.
“I found it through a website called 10StarStories.com. You can browse the author’s books there and follow the links to Amazon to see which editions are available.”
The woman took out her phone.
“10StarStories.com?”
“That’s right. All one word.”
“Wonderful! My daughter’s birthday is coming up. Maybe this would be something useful for her before she makes such a big decision.”
David glanced toward the charging station.
“Well, Kay, I think you’ve just helped someone plan a birthday present.”
Kay laughed.
“Yes and I’m almost finished with listening to the book myself.!”
More Stories Are Waiting for You
From historical adventures and science fiction to children’s time-travel stories
and practical career guidance, there’s something new to discover.
Explore the complete book collection
