A
welcome message from Jon Gonzales
Congratulations
on choosing hairdressing as your
profession. I do hope the following
information will help guide you
towards reaching your goals. You
have chosen a profession that offers
unlimited potential once you gain
experience, knowledge, and make
a firm commitment to maximizing
your full learning and earning potential.
Once you gain valuable hands on
experience, continue to learn and
create value in yourself and in
your artistic skills, you will be
able to create a demand for your
services. You must keep in mind
that beauty school is designed to
protect the public health and safety
of the consumer and prepare you
to pass your state board of examination,
it is not designed to give you all
the skills and experience you will
need to meet high job market and
consumer demands in a very competitive
and changing job market, especially
if you want to work in an upscale
salon.
Beauty School
is but a first step up the ladder
of success. I urge you to work very
hard in beauty school, listen to
your teachers, maximize your full
learning potential, and seek out
quality education as you proceed
on your journey to success and happiness.
Some of you will make that journey
faster then others, but with perseverance
and determination you can and will
succeed. It is essential that you
form a solid learning foundation
that will be invaluable as you continue
to grow. Yes, you will encounter
many peaks and valleys - that's
part of the growing process. Learn
from your mistakes and move on.
I urge you to read my book, A
Hairdresser" s Guide to Success
Personal, Professionally and financially, as
well as my newest pamphlet 91
Success Tips for Success. My Hairdresser's
Guide to Excellence C.D. Audio
will also be very helpful as well.
I urge you to also refer to my
frequently asked questions on my
Beauty School Forum shown here
below. These frequently asked questions
will help guide you on your journey
to success. Our profession desperately
needs you; I do hope this information
will be helpful and enable you
to make informed career decisions
based on fact, not guesswork as
you begin your journey towards
success and happiness . Welcome
to the beauty profession.
Is a hairdressing career a
good profession to enter?
Potentially, a hairdressing career
can offer unlimited opportunities
for those willing to maximize their
full learning and earning potential.
A hairdressing career can be exciting,
fulfilling, challenging, and financially
rewarding provided you receive the
proper training, guidance, and education
in the early stages of your development.
Forming positive attitudes and strong
work habits is critical in developing
a successful hairdressing career.
Unlike college, where the entrance
standards are highly competitive
and require a heavy investment in
time and money, a hairdressing career
can be a shortcut to financial security.
Once you are able to gain valuable
experience, create value in your
skills, and create a demand for
your services, your earning potential
can be unlimited. The sky's the
limit. An outstanding hairdresser
will never be out of a job.
Will there
be a demand for hairdressers?
Although it seems that we have
far too many hairdressers, there
will be a great demand for outstanding
committed professionals who truly
want to maximize their full learning
and earning potential. Although
the beauty profession is going through
a severe shakedown period, quality
career minded professionals will
be in high demand.
Studies continue to show that
only 5% of all people in all walks
of life and occupations will succeed;
the other 95% will be looking for
excuses to fail. Tough times always
separate winners from losers, but
tough times always present fantastic
opportunities for those well informed
and willing to take advantage of
these opportunities. Today's savvy
consumer and top salons are crying
out for quality hairdressers who
truly want to exceed client expectations.
If you work hard, develop a strong
desire towards continuing education,
keep a positive attitude, gain experience,
develop your people and communication
skills, create value in yourself,
and persevere, you will be able
to create a demand for your services.
What is the
outlook for the future?
As the shake-down continues to
deplete our growing labor shortage,
there will be a great demand for
hairdressers once you gain experience,
continue to learn, create value
in yourself, and create a demand
for your services.
Although statistics show we have
a surplus of hairdressers, there
is and will be a high shortage of
well trained and committed professionals
who truly stand above the crowd.
Women are going to work in record
numbers; visiting a hair salon or
spa is no longer a luxury, but a
necessity.
Our ability to service both men
and women, our country's obsession
with looking and feeling good about
themselves, and the business emphasis
on image, make the future very promising
indeed.
What about
job security?
An excellent hairdresser will
always be in demand. Competitively
speaking, you will probably succeed
by default. Studies consistently
show that only 10% will make the
required effort and sacrifice to
achieve success; the other 90% will
keep looking for excuses to fail.
If the hairdressing profession
is so good, why do so many young
hairdressers leave the profession?
There are many reasons....unrealistic
career and earning expectations,
lack of personal initiative and
self-motivation, lack of objective
information about the realities
of building a hairdressing career,
and far too many are unwilling to
make the effort and sacrifices needed
to succeed.
Other obstacles are poor job choices,
lack of quality education and hands
on experience, lack of career guidance
and frequent job change, are just
some of the reasons so many leave
the profession. Far too many young
starters leave the profession before
they give it a chance. Building
a career will take time, experience,
patience, ongoing support and education,
and a fierce determination to succeed.
Sadly, far too many want to run
before they walk. Building a hairdressing
career is a journey.
As you embark on your journey
you will encounter many peaks and
valleys as you climb the ladder
of success; learn from your mistakes.
With hard work and a competitive
spirit you will reach your goals.
What are the
pitfalls and obstacles in building
a successful hairdressing career?
Unfortunately, a lot of education
available today is outdated and
not responding to growing job market
and consumer demands. Nine months
of beauty school is just not enough
time to gain valuable hands on experience
and other skills necessary in meeting
job market and consumer demands.
In my opinion, there's too much
glitter and hype as seen at many
of our trade shows and not enough
basic commercial or salon work that
benefits the average everyday consumer.
If you want to attract an upscale
clientele, charge upscale prices,
then you've got to develop into
an upscale professional. Good is
not enough anymore. Frequent job
change, poor job choices, unrealistic
career and earning expectations,
poor work habits, negative attitudes
and lack of initiative on your part
are other obstacles you must avoid.
How long does
it take to build a successful hairdressing
career?
There will be many factors: experience,
continuing education, your salon,
proper guidance, and a lot of initiative
on your part. If you're fortunate
to work in a salon that is progressive
and offers education and training
you could start building a successful
hairdressing career within two years
after beauty school. Some of you
may require a longer training period;
while others may be able to succeed
in a shorter time period. Your speed
of development will depend on your
competitive spirit, willingness
to learn, open mindedness, and effort.
Yes, there will be peaks and valleys
during your development; minimize
and learn from your mistakes and
continue to grow. After 40 years,
I'm still learning.
Is beauty
school enough education to justify
a high income?
No. Nine months of beauty school
is not enough time to teach you
all the additional skills you'll
need to create a demand for your
services. Getting your license is
but your first step. Beauty school
curriculum is designed to follow
a curriculum set forth by your state
board of cosmetology to protect
the public health and safety of
the consumer. It is not designed
to teach you all the skills you'll
need to meet job market and consumer
demands, especially if you want
to attract an upscale clientele
and charge upscale prices. You'll
need a lot of hands on experience
working on clients. In addition,
you'll need a lot of hands on training
and experience in the areas of commercial
haircutting and styling skills.
The clients in upscale salons are
far different than the clients you
work on during your beauty school
education.
How can I
accelerate my education while in
beauty school?
I suggest you work hard while
at school, learn as much as possible
while in school, listen to your
teachers, ask a lot of questions
and keep learning. Then practice
what you've learned on friends,
relatives, school clients, etc.
Take advantage of the Hairdresser
Career Development Learning Systems,
their educational programs are designed
to give you a "head start" in
helping you develop a solid learning
foundation on which to grow.
When you have 2 to 3 months left
in school, start visiting salons
in your area and start taking basic
commercial haircutting classes for
men and women. Introduce yourself
to the owner; they may let you watch
and learn. Perhaps offer your services
as a receptionist or cleanup person.
There is no speed limit when seeking
out education.
Is assisting
a good way to learn and gain valuable
hands on experience?
I believe assisting is an excellent
way to get your feet wet in gaining
valuable in-salon experience. Learning
from an experienced mentor or other
hairdressers in everyday salon situations
would help you establish a solid
foundation in helping you develop
your skills. Assisting will not
only help you in developing your
artistic skills; but also help you
develop critical human relation
skills. Assisting will allow you
to gain valuable hands on experience.
What are
the drawbacks of assisting?
Sometimes there are some hairdressers
or salons that exploit assisting.
If the person you're assisting will
teach you, and is willing to let
you learn from his or her experience
and be your mentor and share their
knowledge, experience, etc, this
would be the way to learn. Oh yes,
you'll have to shampoo, do cleanups,
combat down time, etc. Keep in mind
this is what I call "paying
your dues." Keep a positive
attitude, learn as much as you can
and practice what you've learned.
Even as a shampoo assistant, you
will be able to interact with people
and develop your people and communication
skills. Learn the power of customer
service. Develop strong work habits
and show a caring attitude about
people; it'll pay big dividends...I
guarantee it! Your opportunity will
come.
What are
salon owners looking for in a new
employee?
Most astute business-minded owners
are looking for committed young
hairdressers who truly show a passion
toward their profession, who truly
care about people, and who want
to learn and reach higher levels
of excellence. Other prerequisites
are a fantastic professional appearance,
a pleasing personality, an open
mind towards learning, a positive
attitude, strong work habits, and
knowledge of basic commercial barbering
and styling techniques. Top salons
(they are hard to find) will usually
train you according to their artistic
and quality control standards. Seek
out salons that set high standards
of excellence; the higher the standards,
the higher the rewards.
How do I
form a positive first impression
when applying for a job?
I suggest you first call for an
appointment and ask if you can fill
out an application form. Make sure
when you arrive at the salon you
project a professional appearance;
display a warm smile, and bring
out your best personality.
Make sure you have two models
- preferably a male and female -
ready in case you're asked to show
your artistic skills at another
day.
During the interview, let the
owner know you're interested in
training and education; this will
impress the owner.
What about
big name salons vs. a small salon?
You can't rule out the smaller
salons especially if you want to
work closer to your home; you'll
be able to get more individual attention.
Do you want to be a small fish in
an ocean or a big fish in a small
pond? A smaller salon will be able
to give you more individual attention
and opportunities. The important
thing to remember is to seek out
good training and support. Find
a salon and owner that will be your
mentor during your development.
Their incentive to bring out the
best in you will be great. If you're
successful, they'll be successful,
if you fail, they can go out of
business.
What should
I look for in a salon and owner?
Seek out a salon that offers training
and education. Talk with the owner,
talk to the other hairdressers,
visit the salon, and find out their
background and experience. Will
this salon owner be a good mentor
or coach? Will he/she help me reach
my full learning and earning potential?
Keep in mind; you and you alone
control your own success or failure.
The owner can only do so much. Keep
an open mind to learning and accept
constructive criticism.
The salon that sets high standards
will be a good opportunity. If you
want to attract an upscale clientele
and charge upscale prices; you'll
have to become an upscale professional!
What about
trade shows for education?
Seek out classes that provide
color classes, clipper cutting for
men and the type of classes that
provide knowledge that will help
you meet and exceed client expectations.
Avoid the glitter and hype and the
lavish stage shows; seek out an
educator that tries to educate you;
not entertain you. Focus your full
attention on developing your commercial
men and women haircutting and styling
skills for your average consumer.
How do I
gain experience; especially in
precision haircutting and styling
techniques?
This will be a major obstacle
when starting your career. Unfortunately,
you need a lot of hands on experience
and nine months of beauty school
is just not enough time to give
you all the skills needed to create
a demand for your services, especially
if you want to work in an upscale
salon charging upscale prices. A
top salon that offers training and
education will be invaluable. Assisting
would be very helpful in helping
you gain valuable hands on experience.
Practice as much as you can on friends
and relatives. Take basic and advanced
haircutting classes. As you gain
valuable experience and knowledge
you will gradually build a clientele.
Most top salons provide marketing
and advertising to help you build
a clientele. If a salon is expecting
you to bring a clientele, let that
serve as a warning that the owner
probably has very little to offer
you during your development.
How do I
find quality education?
There are many classes available.
Make sure you get references. Product
companies offer classes, trade shows
are also a source of learning. The
cheapest and best forms of education
are probably in salon training.
Most salons train and develop their
own.
Focus your full attention on basics
and commercial everyday salon work.
Assisting a top hairdresser can
be invaluable; if they're willing
to share their experience and knowledge.
When you're not busy, watch the
other hairdressers; then practice,
practice, practice on friends or
relatives what you've learned and
don't be afraid to ask questions.
How do I
combat a lack of self-confidence?
Everybody lacks self confidence
when starting their career. It's
just part of the growing process.
Try to learn and follow salon procedures
and educational guidelines; minimize
and learn from your mistakes and
continue to grow. Ask your boss
how you can improve. With experience
and ongoing education you will slowly
overcome self doubt.
What do I
look for in compensation?
Most salons will pay you commission,
hourly wage, or a combination of
both. Your main concern when starting
your career is to acquire the educational
skills so that you can build value
in yourself, then create a demand
for your services.
Finding a salon that offers mentoring,
training, and education should be
your priority. Nine months of beauty
school is just not enough time to
gain the hands on experience and
additional people skills you'll
need to compete and justify a higher
income, especially if you want to
attract an upscale clientele and
charge upscale prices.
If you were going to college it
would take 4-6 years to get a degree
as well as pay back student loans.
When going to college, students
do not get paid and usually have
to intern and work free for one
year. Although entry levels are
low when beginning your career,
once you acquire the skills and
create a demand for your services,
your income will grow considerably.
This is one of the professions where
you can literally get all the overtime
you want, once you create value
in your skills.
Most young starters' biggest obstacle
is developing unrealistic career
and earning expectations. Take one
step at a time, as you gain experience
and knowledge, your opportunities
will grow. Once you acquire a solid
learning foundation in developing
a demand for your services, the
sky's the limit.
What about
leasing and renting of booths?
I would suggest you avoid leasing
and renting of booths at all costs.
You'll need a lot of training and
education and customers to successfully
rent a booth. Salon owners cannot
provide you with the mentoring,
training, and education you'll need
when starting your career.
In order to build your self-confidence
and self-esteem; you'll need to
be in a positive and professional
salon environment that offers training
and education. In a booth rented
situation, you'll be competing with
other hairdressers in your salon.
Can I rent
a booth after I've been trained
at another salon?
Yes, but don't expect to take
customer lists with you. There is
a question of honesty and a code
of ethics; if you go to another
salon, let the new salon owner take
care of you. Let them provide you
with new customers. You cannot achieve
long term success at the expense
of other people. In building your
career, make honesty and a code
of ethics a high priority to your
long term success and development.
Should I
work in a franchise vs. an upscale
chair salon?
This will depend on you. You will
have to determine the type of salon
you want to begin your career with.
There are benefits to working in
either type of salon. In my opinion,
the only drawback is that franchise
salons charge lower prices and must
depend on volume.
I believe that it's critical that
you reestablish a solid learning
foundation on which to grow in the
beginning of your development. You
will need to develop your perming
skills, coloring skills, customer
interaction skills, learn about
facial features and bone structure
and personal mentoring.
An upscale salon will be able
to give you more personalized guidance
and education. You'll be able to
expand your full learning and earning
potential; eventually manage and
maybe someday own your own salon.
In the end; choose the type of salon
that will help you meet your goals.
The higher the standards you set
for yourself the higher your rewards.
In addition
to developing my artistic skills
what other skills should I develop?
Tomorrow's business minded professional
will have to know more than how
to cut and style hair if they want
to gain that all important competitive
edge.
I would work hard on developing
your people and communication skills,
develop positive attitudes and work
habits, develop your salesmanship
skills, self-management and motivation.
I urge you to take classes in public
speaking; it will prove invaluable
in helping you develop your people
and communication skills. Toastmaster's
International is an excellent beginning.
Lack of communication is the number
one cause of customer loss. With
experience, you will improve these
additional skills.
In closing....
I've tried to offer some suggestions
that will help you make informed
decisions about developing a successful
hairdressing career. Seek out other
peoples opinions then make the decision
that is right for you. As you proceed
on your journey to the next level;
I urge you to continue to seek self-improvement
and set higher and higher standards
for yourself. The higher your standards
the higher your rewards.
The industry needs you; you represent
the future and new breed of professional.
As one colleague to another, welcome
to the beauty profession.
Sincerely, Jon Gonzales
For
more information and brochure call
1-800-390-4237
Special
Note:
Although the information is directed
toward hairdressers, these same
qualities can be used by estheticians,
nail techs, message therapists,
and anyone involved in the beauty
profession. |
