It is not uncommon for the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics to provide data that is a little inaccurate, especially in the cosmetology field and other trades that rely heavily on tips. This is because hairstylists tend to underreport wages and neglect (or choose) to report all the tips that comprise their income. Ultimately, this results in much lower totals being documented. This is bad in a lot of ways for cosmetologists and the beauty business as a whole. First – it opens you up to getting audited by the IRS for misreporting income. Second – it makes it look like beauty professionals aren’t worth as much, which we all know isn’t true. So when you see $25-30,000 median salaries listed on the Bureau of Labor Statistics, think twice about whether that’s really accurate since so many people fail to report tips, freelance earnings and other sources of revenue in the cosmetology trade. The actually cosmetologist salary is probably actually higher.
Because of the lower salaries that are reported, it turns prospective beauticians away from the field. Many people who are passionate about beauty and cosmetology trades think there’s no money to be made in the field, so they pass over what otherwise would’ve been their dream job and going to cosmetology school. In fact, under reporting earnings leads to skewed results with demographics, the average wage statistics and even labor market activity. Not only does not reporting both the full amount that a cosmetologist earned and the amount with tips cause potential cosmetologists to stray away from their true passion, it also may lead to an increase in vulnerability when it comes to being audited. It is illegal to not report the full amount you earned throughout the year, including tips. The legality issue leads to auditors paying special attention to those who work in jobs where tips are generally customary.
When a person devalues the work that he or she does by under reporting wages, it leads to other consequences besides potential legal charges and a misconstrued perception of the industry. It may also harm a person’s ability to obtain loans and other forms of credit, since the amount that is documented is considered the amount that what actually made, regardless of unreported earnings. One stylist, Stefanie Gilardo, had to learn this lesson on her own. When she was 24 years old, she wanted to purchase her first home. She was excited and knew that she earned enough to make monthly mortgage payments. However, the now 29-year-old could not obtain the loan for buying that condo because her income appeared too low to be able to afford it. She learned that if income is not claimed, it is not verifiable and considered nonexistent.
Not reporting wages or tips also affects a person’s social security, due to the fact that the amount you pay in is based on your earnings. When wages and tips are reported accurately, it creates a sense of security at retirement, because the more money paid into social security, means the more money that will be paid out after retirement. But many cosmetologists are not thinking long-term and skipping this very important step.
Ultimately, the long and short of it is that all wages must be reported. The little girl styling her baby doll’s hair and dreaming of working as a stylist will grow up to explore her options. When she notices that the earnings are quite dismal, she just might decide against striving for a job that is her true passion in life.
Posted on: May 18th, 2012 by Beauty Schools Directory No Comments
Erin Guzik is currently a Designer Stylist in Muskogee, Oklahoma with seven years of cosmetology experience. She is also a Business Marketing major at the University of Phoenix. Before finding her passion in the beauty industry, Erin managed a team in the customer service industry and realized her desire to help individuals grow to their fullest potential. Erin aspires to combine her love for cosmetology and her knowledge in business to educate cosmetology students and new stylists on how to successfully build their business, and stay motivated.
On my first day of beauty school, I was asked why I wanted to get into the beauty industry. Most girls said a typical 4-year university didn’t work for them, but they wanted to make good money fast, and that’s what they were told they could do. Although money did matter to me, I truly wanted to make people feel better. We live in a society that is so hard on the way people look on the outside. Either way, no matter what the goal is, all of these things take time, motivation, dedication, and development. As frustrating as it may seem, it’s rare that a stylist’s clientele grows to great lengths overnight. Sadly, it seems that salons become a revolving door for new stylists. In my first year as a stylist, I worked in 4 different salons. How I did I ever expect to gain and retain a committed clientele, when I wasn’t even really committed to one place to work?
The frustrations and pressures are high when a student graduates any kind of higher education, and they continue to escalate as the student loan payments roll in. Recent graduates get frustrated as they watch seasoned stylists interact with client after loyal client, while their own salon chair is empty. We’ve all been there. When I graduated, I didn’t know what I wanted in a salon. I didn’t know realistically how much money I needed to make to survive, versus how much money I wanted to make. I also had a lot of debt from school. Working to pay for school full-time while going to school full-time was a crazy juggling act, but dealing with the debt of it all after the fact is even harder. I felt those frustrations daily, especially when there’s no one on the books and I’m scrambling for appointments. How does a stylist work through those frustrations? How can you make the best of what you have, instead of moving on to the next thing you think is going to be better? Is the grass ever really that much greener on the other side?
In the time I have been in my salon, I have seen seven new stylists come and go. Seven just seems so extreme to me, and nothing about them screamed “unsuccessful.” When talking to them before they left, their biggest issue was the fact that they weren’t making any money, and they had a list of other people to blame that spanned from floor to ceiling. Most of the girls had just started at that salon, and some were even in the industry less than a year. According to salary.com, the average hairstylist’s yearly income after two to four years of experience is $23,809.
Recently, I moved from Chicago to Oklahoma. I went from managing a salon full time, to being behind the chair on a daily basis as a stylist. I have only been in my current salon for seven full months, and I am booked about 50% of the time. Five years ago, I used to be the girl with that laundry list, blaming any and every one for my small paychecks and unsuccessful time as a new stylist. When I made the move to Oklahoma, I thought my cosmetology career was about to take a big hit. I was terrified to start out from square one. Rather than keep that frame of thought, I made a list of things that not only I could do, but I needed to do in order to be successful in my new salon. I promised myself, that no matter how hard it got, I would stick to my list, take a deep breath, and give it some time.
Besides, I had tried every other approach; including hopping from salon to salon, position to position, hoping things would change. They say the definition of insanity is repeating the same behavior over and over again, expecting different results. I was one insane hairstylist! In the name of education, these are four key parts to my list. Every stylist and every situation is different, but in the end, we can all learn from one another’s experiences. My hope in sharing this is to add to my list, and reach out to stylists new and old. Hopefully you can add to your list, or start your own path to success!
There is money out there to pay for cosmetology school, and sadly, it isn’t being claimed! I can’t tell you how many times I hear girls say, “Oh, I won’t get that scholarship anyway!” You don’t know until you try! The only way to decrease your debt is by finding a way to do so. The average cost of beauty school ranges from $4,000 to $10,000 dollars. If you don’t find the money to pay for it, that money will catch up to you in 6 months to a year in the form of student loans. If you plan ahead, some of that could be taken care by saving diligently, but you could also get some extra help if you put yourself out there and someone on a scholarship board sees your true potential! Not only is that a true compliment, but it’s a great way to decrease stress as a new stylist! (Apply for the Beauty Schools Directory $2,500 cosmetology scholarship.)
Get Your Feet Wet in the Pond of Research!
I made the mistake of just walking in to a salon, applying, going on one interview, not asking any questions and accepting the job. I also made the mistake of doing that time and time again. Things always look great on the outside, but internally they could be a mess. Check a salon out before you even apply there. Scout out salons in your area before even telling them you are a stylist seeking employment. Get a conditioning treatment, or a quick manicure. Watch how the girls interact. Are they helpful to one another? Do they look happy to be there? Can you see yourself being successful at one of their chairs? Where is the manager? Are they involved in the functioning of the salon, or are they not visible? How is the stylist treating you?
Never Walk Into a Salon Job Interview Empty-Handed
Not only do you need a cover letter and a resume, and hopefully a portfoliowith photos your work, but you need to walk in with a list of questions that matter to you! Do not treat interviews only as employers’ time to get to know you. It is a time for you to get to know that employer, too! Don’t be afraid to ask questions. A stylist has to think about a place of employment more like a home, rather than just a job. You are going to live there, in this salon, with your clients for years to come! You don’t buy a house without checking it out a few times, and asking questions about its history! Some of my favorite questions to ask in salon job interviews are:
On average, how many walk-ins does your salon have on a daily basis?
What are your highest traffic days?
As a manager, what kind of development opportunities do you offer your stylists?
Does the company offer any promotional tools to new stylists like referral cards, sales or promotions?
Is there any ongoing training offered by the company?
What is your management style? What are your expectations for a new stylist?
So once you’ve done the research, found the perfect salon, and have a schedule and a chair… now what?
Stay Motivated! Find Clients! Don’t Expect Them to Find You!
Don’t just think that the walk-ins are going to roll on in, and everything is going to be great without you putting out any effort. We have all seen it before. You don’t have anything on your books, so you grab the latest fashion magazine, and start reading till a walk-in lands in your salon. What is that doing to proactively build your business? Nothing. If your salon has samples, create a little information packet for new clients. I like to put together a sample, a menu, and a business card. Walk around the area and pass them out to people. If you’re in a corporate setting, like a store, chances are you can work the traffic in that store. Strike up a conversation. I like to find something I like about that person, and something I can improve for them. For example, if I leave the salon to scout clients, and I see a lady with a great pair of shoes, I’ll stop her and compliment them. Then I can introduce myself as a stylist. The person now feels good about their shoes and good about you because you noticed them. It’s perfect timing to tell them about how great highlights would complement their hairstyle. Either way, if your backside is in a chair, instead of a client’s back side, you aren’t making a dime! You can’t blame the salonfor not supplying you with clients. You have to get out there and find them yourself, and it isn’t as scary as you think. In the sales game, for every five people you ask, you may only get one return. I think that’s the wrong way of looking at things. If you go out every day you work, and you get one person back in your chair, that is five new clients a week – hopefully ones that keep coming back for more! If those five clients love your work (which I know they will), and refer one friend each, that’s 10 new clients! The results will snowball, and your business will grow in no time!
Stay Patient! Give it Time!
Rome wasn’t built in a day, and that bad haircut you got doesn’t grow out overnight, so don’t expect to be double-booked your first week out of school. Stylists have to be patient, and it’s really hard. By looking for scholarships, reducing your debts, finding the perfect salon for you, and regularly scouting out new clients, you will give yourself more time to grow your clientele in one place faster than if you hop from salon to salon. You typically will not start to see returns until six weeks after you see your first client. It is hard to track success if you’re gone before people can come back to you. Clients need time to associate you with your salon. Give it a chance, and take a deep breath. Share your frustrations with a manager and ask for help before you start applying to new salons. Track your growth and your numbers so nothing is a surprise, and I promise that you will see improvement.
There is much more to my list, and I would be happy to share it with any stylist needing help, so feel free to email me! I would also love to see your lists. What are you going to do to launch your career into success? In the end, it’s all up to you!
Posted on: June 6th, 2011 by Beauty Schools Directory No Comments
Cosmetology is a fun and exciting career. Within cosmetology there are many specialties that you can focus on depending on where your greatest love lies – skin, hair, makeup, nails. My Social Beauty’s Cosmetology Salaries chart makes it easy to find and compare the cosmetology careers you are interested in.
To learn more about what is required for each cosmetology job listed above, visit the cosmetology salaries and how they rank section on Mysocialbeauty.com.
Interview with Kathy Jager - Cosmetology Author It takes more than just being great at cutting hair to be a huge success in the beauty business. It takes top notch client consultation, relentless marketing, a growing and steady clientele, professionalism and poise, and much more. We interviewed author Kathy Jager, who has more than 30 years of experience in the beauty business, about what it takes to really make it in the cosmetology business.
Interview with Meg Haas - Blowdry Bar Owner Blow Dry Bars are the hottest new beauty salon on the scene, and one has opened up in the heart of Kansas City. No cutting and coloring here, though – it’s all about hair design and styling! Parlor is Kansas City’s first blow-dry and cosmetic bar. We checked in with Meg Haas, the owner of Parlor, a “beauty bar” located on the Kansas City Plaza to find out more about what a blowdry bar is, what kinds of clients they serve and services they perform, and what she looks for in blow dry bar employees as a salon owner.
Interview with Brenda Corona - Scholarship Winner It was an incredibly special moment when the Beauty Schools Directory team was able to surprise Brenda Corona from Las Vegas, Nevada on Skype with a $2,500 scholarship for esthetics school. We would like to thank every single applicant who told us their story and applied for the scholarship to pursue their dreams and attend a beauty school or cosmetology school, and everyone who had a hand in making this scholarship possible. Congratulations, Brenda! We are so excited for you!
It is not uncommon for the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics to provide data that is a little inaccurate, especially in the cosmetology field and other trades that rely heavily on tips. This is because hairstylists tend to underreport wages and neglect (or choose) to report all the tips that comprise their income. Ultimately, this results in much lower totals being documented. This is bad in a lot of ways for cosmetologists and the beauty business as a whole. First – it opens you up to getting audited by the IRS for misreporting income. Second – it makes it look like beauty professionals aren’t worth as much, which we all know isn’t true. So when you see $25-30,000 median salaries listed on the Bureau of Labor Statistics, think twice about whether that’s really accurate since so many people fail to report tips, freelance earnings and other sources of revenue in the cosmetology trade. The actually cosmetologist salary is probably actually higher.
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