Hello everyone, I hope you are all well.
I am just wondering how other college trained stylists first coped when they went to a salon.
I finished level 2 and got a work placement one day a week to get a bit of experience, Its a new local salon opened by an experienced local stylist and its fab. All modern and sleek and trendy.He has already recruited a full time stylist and part timers at the weekends because he didnt anticipate all the new local clients he would get, so all good so far.
I am finding the transistion from secure college to a salon more difficult that I anticipated. I think (and hope) that my biggest problem is having confidence to take clients - at the moment I am finding any excuse I can find cos I am so scared. In college I was among people who were at the same level as me and I felt confident to grab any client for any service, but now all of a sudden I am among experienced stylists and thinking 'I cant do that!!!!'. Even when I am shampooing, I am so aware that these clients are paying a lot of money so I have to do a superb job that it makes me go to pieces! I am also finding huge differences in techniques I have learned colour mixing, cutting, even perming - in college everything was 'by the book' - the book doesnt even come into it in the salon.
I am loving my time there, picking up tips which I then take to my friends and family's hair styles. Getting models is hard and there is no specific training. He intends to introduce training nights but at the moment and for the last 4 months his feet havent touched the ground.
I wonder if this is an age thing, as an older 'learner' I am old school and do things as I have been taught but cant seem to make the transition into reality. So am I on my own here, how do I overcome this? I am back at college now and clients will start coming in shortly so will be working on strangers again soon, maybe that will help, I dont know.
Any tips for an old gal newbie lol
Heya
I also trained at college full time but i also have worked in a salon before and through my training. Your not on your own i too feel this way but my confidence is slowly growing. I work in a small family run salon i find this helps although it is an 'old ladies' salon mostly shampoo & sets and perms. But its the first step on the ladder, you cant get to the top of the ladder without climbing the steps to the top. (hope that makes sense). The cuts are basic and the colouring is pretty basic but its what you learn in college and you can do it the way you want to. In the sort of salon you are describing the problem is , unless you've been trained the way they cut then its just going to confuse you, the cuts and colouring that they want you to create are too technical for you at the level you are in your training, once youve mastered the basics then you can adapt them any way you want to.
My top tips (lol)
Hope this have helped you in some shape or form if you want to ask anything else then do hestitate to drop me a quick post
Good Luck
Kirstie xXx
Hiya Kirstie, thanks for that. Yes it makes perfect sense, I stand there thinking 'what the hell are you doing? I havent ever seen that before' lol - then they walk out with this fab hairdo and I'm left scratching my head haha. But its as you say, it's something that I didnt come accross in college. I can now see just how basic my training has been.
The are like Edward Scissorhands, chop chop snip snip, hair and arms everywhere and bingo!
I do ask questions but I feel a bit daft asking all the time, not that they mind in any way, they are fab but I am very concious of myself appearing stupid. Getting to grips with the colour is coming, they use Wella - numbers everywhere not a letter in sight, but the manufactorers instructions are now my bedtime readling, so I guess it will fall into place one day !
Thanks for your help, much appreciated
Lol, yes and no, yes I feel part of the furniture but no I am still a wimp haha
Hi Emalia,
Whilst there doing their Edward Scissorhands antics,watch what they are achieving.....just the same as you would . A lot of the razzmatazz is for the clients benefit...it looks good and there are a lot of extraverts in our craft.....you have to be to a certain extent.....let your hair down and go for it....chill out as the kids say.
Wish you well.
Tel
Thanks Tel, you are sooooooooooo right, I need to chill - pass the bottle. Me and hairdressing aint very good pals at the moment, need to take a step back before I go forward I think
Well how's it going now...ready to update us yet.
Regards