The career of a hairstylist is one of the only job paths on the planet that allows you to work 32 hours a week, the schedule you want, and still make a solid six-figure income. The nice big paycheck and clutch schedule is the end goal, but it doesn’t start out that way. We always tell new stylists that they need to prepare for three years of blood, sweat and tears. It takes a few years of struggle, hard work and lots of Top Ramen for dinner before you really start making a good living.
The sad reality is that 90% of licensed cosmetologists won’t continue working as a hair stylist beyond their first five years in the industry. The missing link here is the desire to work hard and make it happen. Most new stylists think they have what it takes to make it happen. What they don’t realize is if they aren’t willing to spend three years sacrificing time away from loved ones and long hours ( which would consist of working nights and weekends), then they don’t have what it takes. You need to ask yourself if a few years of sacrifice for a lucrative career in an industry you love is worth it. If you answered “Yes,” please read on.
The key to being in the 10% that will make it in this industry is setting yourself apart from the pack. Here are just a few ways you can start growing your business:
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Work Sundays and Mondays. Yep, it’s not ideal, but we all know that most stylists take Sundays and Mondays off. So if you choose to work those days, you have just filled a need in the industry. Very few stylists are willing to make this sacrifice, so be the one who is willing to be flexible (even if it’s just for one or two years). There are plenty of clients waiting to be served on Sundays and Mondays.
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Be a “yes” stylist. Stylists who are making less than $40,000 a year should not be picky about which clients they do and do not want to take. If you aren’t making enough money to pay a mortgage, you shouldn’t be saying no to any opportunity. If the front desk gets a call for a blow-dry at the very end of your day, you take it. Sometimes that random blow-dry client will turn into your best regular guest who comes in for a tint every six weeks.
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Use social media to promote yourself. Every new stylist needs to be active on Facebook and Instagram, at the very least. You should have your own website to feature your work as well, if you are able to. You should also create a Yelp page for yourself and ask friends, family and then your best clients, if they wouldn’t mind leaving a review. (In-depth social media, Yelp, LinkedIn, website strategies + more are covered in Thrivers Society).
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Sell retail! This is so important and often new stylists are too scared to even discuss retail with their client. If you don’t sell retail, you are killing your business. Statistics show that you are 40% more likely to retain a client if they purchase just one piece of retail from you. A good stylist who sells retail with confidence can increase their annual income by 10%-20%, just by selling 2-3 pieces of retail per day.
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Use special offers to incentivize new guests. You can offer 20% off a haircut with any color service or a complimentary in-salon conditioning treatment. Even a gift certificate for $20 off a client’s first visit with you would work great. Today’s consumer loves a deal, and sometimes just a little bit of a savings will push a client who is on the fence into your chair.
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Don’t be a discount stylist! Yes, you should offer incentives for new guests, but that’s where it should stop. This is where a lot of new stylists fail. They don’t have the confidence in themselves to charge full price or are so scared to lose a client or two, so they start discounting left and right. They “feel bad” when they ask somebody they know personally to pay full price. This is a huge mistake. This tells your friends, family and clients that you aren’t a true professional. They will see you as more of a hobby hairdresser, and you’ll never build a lucrative career this way.
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Dress to impress. Even if some of the other stylists in your salon have gotten a little lazy with their attire, you need to be the stylist who always looks your best. Seasoned stylists could probably wear a garbage bag and a lot of their clients would still come to see them. But you don’t have that advantage yet. Dress to the level of success you want to achieve. If you want to be able to buy a $1000 handbag, you shouldn’t be working in jeans, flip flops and a tee-shirt.
Above all else, remember it takes three years to really build. So stay confident and push through. You’ll be so happy you did!
