Being a hairdresser provides a genuine opportunity to touch the lives of people in more ways than one. As a hairdresser, you influence your client’s social life and shape part of their personality. A good look and a new feel could motivate them to look forward to their professional and social lives.
Many other professions may be financially rewarding. But may not provide the opportunity to make people happy. For the hairdresser who is involved in their work and committed to their cause, this is an opportunity to draw emotional satisfaction from your job like none other. With the ability to touch and change lives at an intimate level, to influence client motivations and to deliver services that are valued by customers, hairdressing is an immensely satisfying and emotionally rewarding profession.
People value independence, be it as a society or in their profession. More and more working professionals realise the value of independence at work, and are choosing the parallel pathway over being part of the traditional workforce. The United States, for example, is expected to have over 40 million independent professionals by 2019.
Being a hairdresser provides immense scope for unleashing your creativity without being stifled by the bureaucracy of the traditional workforce. You are in direct contact with your clients, understand their needs and deliver value. In effect, the value you create is consumed then and there by your customers, with no mediators, hierarchies, or delivery-channel partners between you and your clients.
It is no wonder, then, that hairdressing tops the list of the happiest jobs. It is the independence that comes with being your own boss and the ability to make decisions to deliver the value the customer wants, which makes hairdressers happy and satisfied professionals.
As a hairdresser, you do not just develop one set of skills. For one, every customer is different, which means you would adapt your approach to deliver personalised services at every level. You constantly have something new to learn in terms of techniques, new technology, or nuances in delivering the style that the customer needs.
And it’s not just about hair and scalp – you deal with people from different personal, cultural and professional backgrounds. This requires you to communicate with your clients to match their personalities. You would develop the communication skills that make a successful professional. You would learn to adapt to clients’ moods and emotions, and become a better communicator by understanding and responding to their requirements.
Further, you take responsibility for your work – the customer service that you deliver has a direct impact on your salon’s revenue and profitability. This is reason enough for you to cultivate your expertise and tailor your services to match client needs and preferences. The reward, of course, is beyond just the financial returns – you become a better person with not just expertise in hairdressing but also in your ability to interact with people, turning out to be a confident communicator and a successful, independent professional.
Gladys Mae serves as the General Manager and Head of Student Services at the International Career Institute. Gladys holds a degree in Mass Communication - Broadcast Media from the University of San Jose-Recoletos. She joined ICI in 2010 and has over the past 12 years been instrumental in providing leadership and guidance to staff and students alike. Prior to joining ICI Gladys led a multifaceted career with key roles in the banking and business process outsourcing industries.
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