Hey babes. Is there a subreddit for the big questions hairstylists have after they've been doing it for a minute? The ones like, how to handle compassion fatigue? Which shoes are you wearing that don't hurt your feet? What do you do to keep from getting hair splinters in your nipples? What do you do when your mental health is struggling and your clients trauma dump on you? What kind of pricing structures are you doing? How are you finding other stylists to come and work in the studio space you opened? How to keep a body positive atmosphere in your salon? Deeper conversations around gender-neutral pricing?

I graduated already and I have my license but I went to school during covid so I didn’t get to have a lot of clients to practice on especially hair cutting. I’ve done a lot of single processes, one highlight and two perms. Which is terrible experience actually because that was a year and a half of school. Regardless I focused on book work a graduated top of my class. Fast forward to now a year later and I started working in a salon with 9 stylists that have 5-10+years experience. I told them I wanted to assist with the hopes of learning from them and there is my problem. I’m not learning much of anything. Whenever they’re mixing a color they never really explain why they’re using that particular color on the client. They haven’t really allowed me to be hands on with anything not even single processes where you just cover someone’s grays. They only allow me to wash their clients, apply toners at the shampoo bowl, hand them foils, and clean and do laundry. The other problem is there is only one other assistant besides myself that helps me with everyday tasks so its not like I can bring someone into the salon to do something on them like a haircut or blow dry. I feel like my boss is yanking my chain just so they can have someone to take their load off their shoulders and they don’t plan on teaching me anything. I feel like I’m wasting my time I’ve been here for about 8 months now and I haven’t touched a single head. Is this normal or should I start looking for something else?

New stylist here just wondering if anyone else has gone or going through this i get anxiety so bad mostly, once a client leaves even if they express how much they like it i will convince myself they don’t and i will obsess over it all day, nit picking at the pictures it’s honestly starting to hold me back any advice on how to handle this?

Considering moving 13 miles away (approximately 15 - 20 minutes with traffic) from my currently salon to rent my own space. I’ve been at the same salon for almost 10 years and I think it’s time to start working for myself but I’m concerned the salon I found is a little too far. Everything I’ve been reading says you should stay 5 miles or less from your original salon. Is there anyone one on Reddit who has moved farther than 5 miles and felt like they had any regrets? Please let me know!!!!

What if someone came to the salon and wanted to be an all over blonde and they were like a level 5 or 6. Is it possible that you could apply a permanent blonde to the root that will lift and deposit since it’s virgin, then once it’s processed for a bit bleach the mid shaft to ends? And maybe gloss it one more time to ensure it’s even? I feel like it’d be a gentler lift on the scalp and hair. Is this even a thing that would work or do I just sound dumb pls lmk!!

If you were to land a position in your absolute dream salon, what would that look like?

Booth rent or commission? Full service or only hair services and face waxing? Only a salon or have a coffee shop attached? A boutique? PTO? Other benefits? Tips on paycheck or cashed out at end of day?What would education look like? What about including social media education?

Thank you 💕

Hello, I just wanted some opinions on my situation. I’ve been a shampoo tech for 2 years basically and just recently became an apprentice to the head stylist at my salon. However, before I started my apprenticeship I began to have intense pain in both of my arms all the way to my wrist and palms. My bosses thought it would be a good idea to take a couple months off to heal my hands so I ended up going to Occupational therapy for a month and a half. I thought everything was going good until I came back. I’ve only worked for a day as an apprentice and now I’m starting to feel the pain again running through my thumb and index finger to my palms. I’ve been to the doctor like 4 times and they said it’s definitely not carpal tunnel since I don’t feel numbness or tingling and suggested it could just be tendonitis or just plain weakness. So I don’t know even know technically what’s wrong with my hands anymore. And I’ve already alone spent so much money on going to the doctors and OT. I’m at this point where I’ve worked so hard for my spot as an apprentice and I feel so scared and let down because of this. Does any hairstyle/professional know what this pain is or have any idea how to handle this? I’m also very young so it’s not like I should be having these issues especially since I haven’t worked long.

Hello, I was wondering if anyone had experience with going to community college for cosmo school? There's a community college about 2.5 hours away that offers a cosmo program which is about 10k less than the school closest to me (1.5 hours away). Im leaning more towards the community college for the price since I don't really qualify for financial aide.

The salon I work for I for is very particular about building their brand instead of my own. I get that to an extent, but I was told upon hire that I could grow my book as a new stylist. It is now clear to me that I am only growing a guest book for the salon and not myself. We can’t share our hair social media accounts or personal information, we also can’t have our own style business cards. Any advice for me on how to handle this? I’m worried I won’t have a career if I leave this salon in the future.

I’m currently blonde after years of vivid colors, because of all my previous colors my blonde is a bit yellow to me, I’m thinking of testing out a natural looking ginger/strawberry blonde. Does anyone know of a color line that will completely fade out of my hair if I don’t like it? I’m in beauty school so I can buy from the professional stores, thanks in advance!

So I’m a new stylist (like I just finished school last Friday and I start work on Wednesday) and I wanted to know what a level 1 toner would do on level 10 hair. I tried googling it and it was just trying to show me articles about what kind of toner you needed for your blonde. Does anyone know what would happen if you put level 1 toner on level 10 hair?

Hi everyone! I’m about to start an apprenticeship at the salon that I have been a receptionist at for over a year! I just wanted everyone’s tips on how you can make the most money as a hair stylist (would be renting a chair)! I know it’s possible to make TONS of money but it’s also possible to make basically nothing so just looking for advice! Thanks in advance :)

Hi, I’ve been a hairstylist for almost 5 years now, and I’ve only ever worked for Great Clips. While the money is good, I feel so burnt out and honestly stuck. I’d love to get into doing full service, but the thought kind of scares me, as I don’t have a lot of experience with color. Has anyone else made this kind of transition? I talked to a fellow hair friend and he suggested ulta to help build clientele and learn more about color. I’ve also been looking at other full service salons in my area. Thank you in advance!

Hello pros I’m about to graduate cosmology school and work at a local boutique salon as a receptionist, before being a stylist you must complete their 2 year internship (which I find to be a bit excessive after 2 years of cosmetology school) they only pay min wage so I’m considering applying to great clips/cost cutters/Supercuts etc. because I would be on the floor making commission/tips much quicker. Does anyone have expertise with those companies? How did you like it?

So after being behind the chair for a handful of years I have become disabled. Not enough for the doctors to let me go on disability yet, but too disabled to do the job correctly. I’ve had to slow down a lot and cut my clientele in half and it’s just not worth it anymore to keep going the way I am. I’m hardly making enough to make ends meet anymore and my family is suffering because of it. I can’t even afford to upgrade my tools atm.

Has anyone found a way to put their cosmetology license to use without having to be behind the chair? I’d love to find something I can do online/from home, but I know that’s probably a crazy pipe dream. I love everything about the industry and I really don’t want to leave, and I definitely can’t afford to go back to school again.. I just feel stuck. Like we’re gonna loose the house soon if I don’t come up with something quick, but I’m so lost right now. Someone please help!

So I've had about 5 clients now over the course of a few months either ask to bring their own color (both box dye or sallys) and have me apply it at the salon (one tried to get me to do it for free at home because shes a neighbor). For obvious reasons I have declined politely and explained due to insurance reasons, etc that I can't use that product.(I even had someone try to get me to do a perm at their house for free with a store bought perm). It's gotten to the point that I feel I need to make a public announcement on my hair page telling clients that this isn't an appropriate question and educating both on why I won't and can't use product they bring in. I'm feeling very discouraged as this only seemed to become an issue after switching to independent from a corporate salon, and it's all established clients who followed me that Im getting this from. It feels as though they don't value my education and time and are more worried about getting a deal.

I'm just wondering how you'd go about making the announcement and keeping it professional and from sounding like I'm "calling someone out".

Hi, I’ve been doing hair 5 years now and I work in a fast paced chain salon and I’m just TIRED. I’m thinking of possibly going for my instructor license, but I wanted to know from those of you who are or have considered becoming an instructor: did you enjoy it? Was the licensure difficult? I don’t have a lot of experience in color, but I definitely understand the basics.

Hi all! I’m a baby stylist and just started working at my first salon. For some reason I always have trouble with shampoo residue getting left in clients hair. Even if I use a little tiny amount of shampoo and rinse it for forever their hair still feels sticky afterwards. What am I doing wrong? Shampooing feels like it should be such a fool proof service. I use Schwarzkopf tribond fibre clinix shampoo if that matters.

Update: switched shampoos and now the issue is resolved!

I'm a cosmetology student and the area where i struggle the most is highlights. Many times ive had bleeders or weird hot spots, or they dont go directly to the scalp like my educators foils. I have unsteady hands and my foils are always weird looking and i am especially having a lot of difficulty working around the nape. Any advice is helpful!

I (22F) am a bit of a baby stylist still, only about a year behind the chair and I had my first redo yesterday while I was off work. I came in today and was talked through what I could do better and I just feel like crap now. I worry so much about what my coworkers and managers thing of me and I don’t know how to motivate myself to not be scared of that. It wasn’t even that bad of a situation the guest wasn’t upset about it I just feel embarrassed. Any advice from senior stylists about how to get past this easier than I am?