How to Start a Career in the Beauty Industry
Source: unsplash
If you’re someone who loves to read beauty blogs, dye your hair, or play with makeup, then a career in the beauty industry may be for you. The beauty industry is filled with stable careers that seem to outlast even the harshest recessions. After all, everyone wants to feel beautiful.
To top it off, becoming a cosmetologist is quite easy. While some beauty experts may want an MBA to start their own salon, it isn’t necessary. All you’ll need is a high school diploma and a beauty license to start most careers in the industry. Some specialized careers, like dermatology, require med school. On the other hand, beauty writers don’t have to go to college at all!
While your specific beauty career pathway may look different from your peers, there are a few commonalities that appear in all professions. But first, why should you start a career in beauty?
3 Reasons to Consider a Career in the Beauty Industry
Whether you want to become a hair stylist or an esthetician, there are plenty of reasons to start a career in the beauty industry.
Here’s why you should train to be a part of this industry.
1. Many Beauty Professions are in High Demand
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics gives barbers, hair stylists, and cosmetologists a job outlook rate of 11%, which is much faster than average. Other careers, like estheticians, cosmetic surgeons, massage therapists, and laser hair removal technicians, are also in high demand.
2. Beauty Professionals Have High Satisfaction Rates
A TINYpulse study that surveyed over 30,000 employees found that 79% of hairdressers and beauticians rate the job satisfaction as high. The same study showed that hairdressers and beauticians deal with lower stress levels, especially if their work environment is usually calm.
3. The Beauty Industry is Varied and Flexible
Beauty professionals aren’t tied to one job, state, or career choice. Their expertise can be found in nearly any industry because it’s so people-focused. Beauty professionals are allowed to build their lifestyle around their careers or stay in one place, which is possible due to high job security.
Depending on what career you choose, your job could be high paying. Dermatologists can make over $200,000 a year, whereas freelance hair stylists could make $100,000 from a home salon.
How to Know if the Beauty Industry is Right for You
While the beauty industry has plenty of worthwhile career choices, that won’t mean you’ll excel there.
Here are some general characteristics you’ll need to be successful in the beauty industry.
Creativity
The beauty industry is full of creative careers, from hairdressers to writers. A good beauty professional can bring their client’s visions (or their own) to life.
Persistence
Like most creative careers, beauty jobs require a lot of persistence to get ahead. You need to build a loyal client base if you want to secure your spot at the top.
Communication
Many beauty jobs require speaking to clients in person. You’ll need to know how to have a fun conversation and entertain your patrons while you work.
Curiosity
The beauty trend is associated with fashion trends, and you’ll need to stay on top of them. You should have a strong desire to constantly learn and grow your craft.
Professionalism
Beauty professionals should act like business owners. They should arrive at their appointments on time, stay organized, and treat others with respect.
Although the beauty industry is known for being less stressful than others, every job will bring about some frustration. This is especially true if you dislike parts of your job or certain people.
We can all learn to be more patient with people, but consider avoiding front-facing beauty careers if you’re more introverted. Many beauty careers still require speaking to clients, but roles like product developer or tattoo artist are less people-demanding than hair stylists.
How to Start a Career in the Beauty Industry
A career in the beauty industry can be fun, exciting, and rewarding. If you want to start the career of your dreams, follow our 3 steps. Keep in mind that some paths are harder than others.
1. Explore Your Options
To get started in the beauty industry, you’ll need to carve out your own niche. Fortunately, there are hundreds of careers to choose from. Consider what career you’d like to start based on your current skills and preferences. Think of your lifestyle, personal goals, and general interests.
If you don’t know where to start, take a look at this chart:
| Career | School | Education | Salary | Job Outlook |
| Eyelash Technician | 25-hour course | Beauty collage certificate | $35-$70,000 | Average |
| Dermatologist | 9 years | 4-year bachelor’s degree, 5-years medical school | $200,000 | Low |
| Product Developer | 4 years | 4-year marketing degree | $70-80,000 | High |
| Web designer | 4 years | 4-year web design degree | $70-80,000 | High |
| Graphic Artist | 4 years | 4-year design degree | $60-70,000 | High |
| Spa Owner | N/A | Know how to run a business | $120,000 | Low |
| Nail Technician | 300 to 600-hour course | Beauty collage certificate | $25-$50,000 | Average |
| Hair Stylist | 1 to 2 years | Beauty collage certificate | $30-$100,000 | High |
| Beauty Writer | N/A | Know how to write | $30-$150,000 | Average |
| SFX Makeup Artists | 4-week course | Beauty collage certificate | $50-$100,000 | Average |
| Massage Therapist | 2,200-hour course | Massage school certificate | $40-$70,000 | High |
| Image Consultant | Internships | Intern at a fashion magazine with a portfolio | $30-$300,000 | Average |
| Photographer | N/A | Know how to take photos | $40-$80,000 | High |
| Cosmetic Surgeon | 8 to 9 years | 4-year bachelor’s degree, 4-5 years of medical school | $210,000 | Average |
| Cosmetologist | 9 to 15-month course | Beauty collage certificate | $25-$80,000 | Average |
| PR Specialist | 4 years | 4-year marketing degree | $60-$90,000 | Average |
| Esthetician | 260 to 1,000-hour course | Beauty collage certificate | $35-$60,000 | Average |
| Tattoo Artist | N/A | Know how to draw/tattoo | $65-$100,000 | Low |
| Model | N/A | Know how to pose/market | $30-$500,000 | Low |
| Beauty School Instructor | Various | Instructors teach based on the certificates they earn | $40-$70,000 | Average |
* All table information was pulled from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics website
The above chart includes all of the most common beauty careers. When considering any career, time spent in school and income should always be considered. However, since the beauty industry is so varied, it’s possible to make a lot of money in traditionally low-paying careers.
For example, beauty writers may start working for less than minimum wage as freelancers, but writers can start raising their rates with experience. The average freelance writer rate in the U.S. is $33 an hour, or $63,360 a year. Great writers can easily make 6-figures in their first year.
If time is an issue, consider a similar career in the beauty industry instead. For example, Estheticians and dermatologists both work with the skin, but dermatologists must go to school for 9 years. Estheticians can start working in a salon or independently in less than a year.
Finally, pay attention to the job’s outlook. If you have to spend a lot of money and time in school, you’ll want to choose a stable career. Focus on careers that have an average or high outlook.
2. Learn From the Experts
After choosing a career in the beauty industry, it’s time to get educated! If we refer to the table, we see that the education requirements are varied. Many careers don’t have strict requirements, like tattoo artists, models, or photographers, but that doesn’t mean they’re easy to get into.
Tattoo artists must be good artists before they can get an apprenticeship, and learning how to draw takes years. Models can be conventionally beautiful but won’t get anywhere without connections. There’s some degree of work you have to put in, no matter your career choice.
In some cases, the reverse is true. You can become a PR specialist, SFX makeup artist, or graphic artist without formal education. With that said, you’ll still need a great portfolio.
Practice is a prerequisite for any creative field, so it’s a good idea to refine your skills outside of school. For example, you should watch makeup gurus apply makeup, draw in a sketchbook every day, or cut your friend’s hair. Take time out of your day to build up your knowledge base.
While you’re at it, try a bit of everything before you commit to one profession. You may find you prefer graphic design over web design. Or maybe you’ll discover a new beauty passion.
3. Market Your Brand
Even if you don’t want to market your products or services to an international audience, you still need to market. You’re your own brand, and no beauty professional can thrive without clients.
If you plan to have a brick-and-mortar shop, you absolutely need a thriving web presence. In fact, all professionals need to be online, whether they sell their services on the internet or not. If clients look you up online, you’ll want to be the first professional they find in their area. Regarding the name, you can use a fictitious business name, also known as a Doing Business As (DBA), when choosing how you’d like to be known as. This detailed Small Business HQ post outlines the advantages of choosing this option, depending on whether you want to operate a sole proprietorship or start an LLC.
Here’s how all beauty professionals can market their brands:
- Offer customers a preview or a free service
- Use introductory offers, like discounts
- Sign up for Google My Business
- Post frequently on social media
- Run contests that promote shares
- Write blog posts about the beauty industry
- Ask and share customer reviews
- Run online or traditional ads
Building your online presence takes time, but you should work on it now instead of later. If you’re still in school, start building your online following so you have leverage when looking for jobs/clients. The beauty industry is often a popularity contest. The more you’re seen, the more likely you are to be heard. It’s a big reason why influencer marketing is a lucrative industry.
Speaking of influencer marketing, you can use your following to make some cash while you’re studying. If you attract enough sponsors, you could earn a decent amount of income. Some people earn enough to quit their jobs, but don’t count on that. These careers are short-lived.
Don’t forget to add a portfolio to your website. Portfolios are one of the best tools in your marketing tool belt. Link to your portfolio on your resume and social media accounts.
Subscribe to our newsletter