So You Want to Be a Stylist

Absterlyholt has awesome business sense, and, we suspect, much better hair than any of us. –Sparkitors

Ask yourself this: Do you love doing hair, are you good at doing hair, and is your wallet feeling a little empty? Than hairstyling could be the job for you! Making your own hours and doing something you love: what could be better? Other than writing infomercial scripts, of course. Here are a few things to consider if you want to get into the styling business:

1. Keep up appearances. You are your own best advertisement, and you have to do your hair fabulously if you expect customers. Who wants a stylist who isn't chic? So dress to impress, carry yourself well, and sport different styles.

2. Research. This cannot be emphasized enough. Websites like YouTube and Pinterest, as well as magazines and the red carpet, are excellent places to discover fresh, new looks.

3. Practice, practice, practice! Practice on your own hair, practice on your sister's hair, practice on your friends' hair (and make sure they tell people who gave them that great style—advertising!). Have an old doll at home with tons of polyester hair? Practice on it! Note: Doing a stranger's hair without permission is illegal in most states, so be sure to check with your councilman first.

4. Be credible. If you've ever done a research paper, then you know the importance of finding sources that are authoritative. You have to be one of those sources, and make hair your jurisdiction. It's prom time and someone wants to know where she can get long-lasting curls? From you, that's where! Just make sure your answer isn't "from a freaking can of hairspray!"

5. Be ready to price on inquiry. Make some hard and fast rules for yourself on pricing. Are you charging by the hour or by the style? Are you adding a fee for materials used? Figure out your prices before you talk to customers, otherwise awkward conversations ensue.

6. Advertise. This is a key factor to gaining employment. But it doesn't mean putting an ad in the paper: put pictures of your work on Facebook, and make sure you're talking about your business at the lunch table. But self-promotion can be a dirty word, so letting your work speak for itself is one of the surest ways of getting clients.

7. Make yourself available. Keep a clear schedule around homecoming and prom, or whenever someone you know has a hot date coming up. If a potential client asks what a good time for you would be, ask when they're free, or give them a few options.

Now you can go out and make the world a more attractive place, and get paid for it at the same time!

Would you consider starting your own business?

Related post: Bad Prom Hair

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