Thinking About Becoming a Stylist? Here are Some Beginner Tips

These tips will help you succeed when trying to become a stylist.

You’ve made the first step and have decided to become a stylist… that's great! Nothing feels better than following your passion and seeing it through to the very end. We want to make your journey as smooth as possible, so we’ve outlined some tips to help prepare you for the road ahead. It’s not going to be easy, but it’ll be worth it in the end!

With patience and hard work, you’ll be an amazing stylist!

Find a school or apprenticeship

First things first, you need to get your schooling. In order to start a cosmetology program, you need to have a high school diploma, or a GED. Check the school admission requirements for whichever accredited school you think you want to attend and make sure you meet those requirements.

You can also choose to do an apprenticeship that’ll allow you to get training from a professional and rack up training hours that will go towards your cosmetology license. Whichever route you take, make sure you know the required hours for your state's cosmetology license.

There is a LOT to learn when trying to become a stylist, so expect about two years of schooling or apprenticing before you take your licensing exam. It may seem like a lot of hard work (because it is), but it’s a great way of expanding your knowledge and learning new techniques! So definitely try and have fun with your training and education, because it’ll only get easier!

Never stop working on yourself

Being a stylist is 100% self-driven. If you aren’t working on your skills, or taking some sort of class, or creating loyal clientele, your bank account will suffer. While it may sound tough, you should never decline any client (unless they're outstandingly rude or offensive). Any client you take on is income, practice, and a potential FUTURE client, as well — not to mention, word-of-mouth referrals are the most valuable kind! You won’t be making a huge income right out of school, so every client you can get is a huge step into your future. Eventually you can build yourself a loyal client list, to the point where you’ll be able to be a bit more flexible with your scheduling and appointments.

Market yourself

Being a stylist requires a ton of self-marketing. You’ll need to create some form of portfolio, whether it be physical and/or online, which showcases your work and style. All the main social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, etc., are all going to be great and easy ways of displaying your work to any potential clients.

Word-of-mouth and business cards are also going to be really useful additions to your marketing. Having cards for your clients that they can share with their friends and family will be a great way of growing your future client list, so always make sure you have some readily available for all of your clients.

Manage your expectations

Being a stylist is a physically and emotionally challenging job. You’ll be dealing with criticism, constant standing, and strange working hours. It’s also a lot of socializing, which some people may feel a bit uncomfortable with. To become a stylist, you have to work constantly, and it may not be as fun as you thought if you don't properly manage your expectations as a beginner. But if you come in to the field with a true passion for the craft, and a good work ethic and willingness to learn, you’ll have a great career as hair stylist! We wish you the best of luck, and hope you pursue your dreams!

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