Beyond the Chair | The Critical Missing Pieces of Beauty School
- Natasha Watterson, MPA
- Mar 1, 2025
- 2 min read
Walking across the stage at hair school is an exhilarating moment. You’ve mastered the color wheel, you’ve survived the mannequin heads, and you’ve finally earned your license. However, for many new stylists, the first year in a salon feels like a cold shower.
While beauty schools are excellent at teaching technical safety and foundational skills, there is a growing consensus that two major components are missing from the curriculum- Mentorship and Business 101.
MENTORSHIP
In the transition from student to professional, dimension is everything. In this context, dimension refers to the layers of experience you can only gain by watching a seasoned pro. Once a stylist leaves school, they shouldn’t be thrown onto the floor immediately to sink or swim. Instead, they should be assigned to a senior stylist or a mentorship program. This allows a new stylist to :
Observe real-world time management.
Learn how to navigate difficult client consultations.
Understand how to formulate color for hair that hasn’t been pre-treated like a mannequins.
BUSINESS 101
Being a great artist doesn't make you a great business owner. Without a business 101 component, many stylists find themselves struggling with taxes, marketing, and overhead costs. Understanding the math behind the chair is just as important as the art on top of it.
One of the most important business decisions you will ever make is choosing your employment model. This choice will dictate your schedule, your taxes, and your take-home pay. Choosing the wrong model too early can derail your career.
Booth Rental | Many new stylists jump straight into booth renting because they want freedom.However, if you don't have a solid client base yet, your rent may be $300 a week while you only bring in $200. You are effectively paying to work.
Commission | Commission salons are often the best graduate school. Because the salon owner only makes money when you make money, they are incentivized to provide you with education, marketing, and walk-in clients.
Salary | Salary based salons payout weekly or biweekly paychecks. The salon owner is responsible for education, marketing, and FICA payments.
Your choice of model dictates your lifestyle. A Booth Renter is an entrepreneur. They must be comfortable with the hustle and the paperwork. A Commission or Salary Stylist is a team player. They value the culture, the shared environment, and the lack of administrative headaches.
Before you sign a contract, ask yourself: Am I looking for a place to grow my skills, or a place to run a business? Understanding these differences is the secret to a long, burnout-free career in the beauty industry.
BLOG | MARCH 2025
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