Switching careers is often a hard but necessary move. With your skillset as a hairdresser, it could be hard to decide which other career would be a good choice for you. This dilemma is especially true if hairdressing is what you have relied on most of your life.
What to do after being a hairdresser?
We have curated a list of careers, the salary expectations and the fundamentals of transitioning into any of these careers as a hairdresser for 2023.
1
Makeup Artist
If you love working in the beauty industry, switching careers to become a makeup artist means you might not have to leave that comfort zone. More importantly, you will likely earn more money on this career path.
On average, an entry-level hairdresser in Canada makes about $17 per hour, while an entry-level makeup artist earns $23 per hour. By the end of the year, you could be making $43,000 - $51,000.
Another advantage to switching from a hairdresser to a makeup artist is that you can retain some of your clients and easily enter that segment of the industry.
2
Sales Representative
As a hairdresser, you get used to selling to people over time. You convince your clients to try new hairstyles or products, and they trust your judgment as an expert to go for them.
For starters, you can consider being a sales rep for hair and other beauty products you have strong knowledge of. Also, having good customer relations skills and a little sales rep training could boost your career transition in this regard.
The average salary of a cosmetic sales rep in Canada is about $49,700. Cosmetic sales reps in places like Toronto can earn as much as $78,000 annually.
3
Hair Specialist
Maybe you are just tired of being in one salon, doing the same thing every day. You want something more challenging but still within your scope. Then, you should consider being a hair specialist.
You can tap into your years of knowledge and experience as a hairdresser working with clients with different hair needs, hair types, and medical haircare conditions to become a hair specialist for movie sets, theatres and stage productions.
You can work in a variety of industries that need your skills and knowledge while earning an entry salary of about $45,800 as a hair specialist in Canada.
4
Niche Writer
If you have been in the industry for a long time, then you have a lot of hair styling or haircare knowledge to share with the world via blogs or books. However, you may need to learn how to create engaging posts that would keep your readers coming back.
You can even apply to be an in-house writer for large brands looking for experts with enough knowledge to create authentic articles.
As a writer in Canada, you can earn upwards of $50,000 per year. You will have to be very consistent to earn better as a writer.
5
Social Media Influencer
We live in a digital world where people look to social media influencers for tips on how to navigate various aspects of life.
That said, being a social media influencer is not as easy as it may look, and sometimes you may need a stroke of luck to scale through.
You can build your brand around providing very useful tips and visual content that your followers can apply to have healthier hair. If your tips work, you might be well on your way to getting hundreds of thousands or even millions of followers.
Once you have a strong followership, beauty brands will come to you to market their products, or you can go into affiliate marketing.
The average salary for a social media influencer in Canada is $54,345 per year, according to Glassdoor.
Other careers to consider:
- Nail technician
- Salon owner
- Beauty consultant (similar to hair specialist)
Conclusion
After exploring the possibilities of transitioning from a career in hairdressing, it is clear that the future of this industry is ever-changing and requires a commitment to keeping up with current trends and innovations.
Aspiring professionals should take a realistic approach when planning their next career move by keeping an open mind, exploring all available options, and finding something that not only pays well but also interests them.
Whether your career path takes you into something completely unrelated to hairdressing or allows you to further hone your skillset and expertise while keeping continuous improvement a priority, learning to adapt amidst change is key. With hard work and dedication, pursuing one’s dream career can become a reality and offer long lasting rewards for years to come.