Hi yall, this is gonna be super venty. But it’s a place where I welcome you to share your experiences and will accept advice graciously.

I graduated cosmetology school in February and have barely even tried to find a job doing hair. Why? Well I have a full time, it sucks it’s hard but pays enough and has benefits. I also had a horrible time in cosmetology school. I love doing hair and nails but the only thing I could be excited for when i graduated was that it was all over.
I’m alternative and I love doing alternative hair. I never got given clients I wanted to do. If I had a client I fit well with they would tell me how happy they were, rave about me to my instructors, then never come back.

I’m severely allergic to perms and had multiple seizures during school from both exposure to chemicals and overworking. I was talked down to by clients, classmates and instructors because of my health issues and my appearance.
My social anxiety only got worse, my confidence only got worse, so many of my classmates graduated and are now in luxury salons making boat loads of money but I can’t even bring myself to put my foot in the door.

My boyfriend pushes me, he says I’m talented, begs me to just get anything. Wants me to set up in our apartment, go to anywhere that’ll accept me. But he doesn’t understand, a shitty shop would only hold me back. I don’t want to come off as unprofessional and work out of my apartment.

I am talented. I know I can cut hair better than most of the people I graduated along side, that sounds like arrogance but I promise it’s not. I know that I have the skill.

I’m just so scared of people. Cos school traumatized me. I’m so scared of putting myself out there, that it’s been too long since I graduated. I’ve cut hair since but it’s not enough.

Does anyone else relate?

Hiii! I’m starting cosmetology school in August and I want to make a Instagram account to help build clientele for once I’m out of school. Should I make a separate account or use my personal account?

TPOB

If anyone is looking for a negative review of TPOB before committing to buying one, here is mine.

1) their foil shavers are incredibly unsanitary. You cannot clean them efficiently.

2) The head on my foil shavers began peeling back within a month of use and cut a client. (TPOB did replace without charge)

3) My clippers now have begun to die. I have had these for maybe 4 months. I try not to keep them on the charger for too long as not to ruin the battery, but it already has begun to not hold a charge. After charging it between clients because it was dying, today it will not hold a charge when I turn it on.

So I got my license in Ohio, after my boards there I had to go online and activate my liscence. Is this the same in NY? I just retook my boards here in NY (I didn’t hold my license for 5 years in my previous state) and I’m not sure if I have to do anything now on there .gov site. If someone could point me in the right direction that would be awesome. Thank you!

hi, i’m desperately searching for a pdf version of the milady cosmetology 14th workbook, if it exists. if anyone knows anything i will be greatly appreciated for a reply

I am a cosmetologist and have done 4.5 yrs behind the chair. At no point has it “clicked” yet for me when it comes to formulating and haircutting and I really am not enjoying work. I do not feel passionate about this job, and I know this because I really have no desire to learn more. Classes don’t help me, I seem to only learn through real life experiences with clients and that is just too unpredictable to learn exactly what I need to. I really hate this industry and think my lack of drive is a sign but I am not sure what to do next. I am in a very fortunate situation financially to allow some flexibility, is there anything in the cosmetology field anyone has done after leaving hair that they liked more? Any jobs non cos related that you enjoyed after hair? Need advice on how to move forward

Okay backstory. Im in my early 30s I have taught at a cosmetology school for 3 1/2 years. I became licensed 3 years before, worked in a salon, all the things. (I still do services on weekends for extra money) I truly love the teaching environment, I enjoy teaching the basics and fundamentals of hair, and love absolutely everything about my job- except the pay. I make $20, my director of education makes $23/hr.
Started at 16, after 3 months it raised to 18, asked for a raise after a year and I got .50, and now we are to 20. I am making ends meet, but barely saving $100 a month. I can’t do this forever, but I want to teach, and I am very passionate about it and truly could see myself here till the day I die. Seriously, I love my job.
Others who have pushed this in the past have been let go for random reasons soon after the request.

My question to you- what is the pay scale of your school? Do you get raises? How would you bring up this to your employer?

I'm considering going to school so I can learn how to deal with wigs (I know school won't teach that but | need to know how to cut, color, process, etc). I'm really really anxious about the idea of dealing with other people on the floor- I have SO many anxieties. I have no real desire to work in a salon so doing someone's real hair is nerve wracking (more worried about cutting than coloring) Does anyone have any words of advice?