First Chair - Spring 2009 - (Page 10) 15 Basics You REALLY Need to Know Before Starting Your Career Success isn’t just about technical skills. Tips you need to know before setting foot in a salon. by Kelly Cison A top-notch education is essential, but there’s so much more to launching your beauty career than color and cutting. We asked industry educators, seasoned beauty pros and a few school leaders with real-world experience to speak up about other qualities that can nurture a fledgling salon professional and help them make a name for themselves. None of these tips are a secret, but they’re overlooked or ignored by so many students that making an effort to master these key strategies will put you head-and-shoulders above the rest. What are you waiting for? Start reading! 1. Get comfortable with being uncomfortable. There’s no two ways about it—the beauty industry is about taking risks, being confident in your work and putting yourself out there. Dan Ricci, owner of Ricci’s Salon Spa & Academy in Newtown, Connecticut, prepares his students by putting them in the spotlight right off the bat. “Our students have to cut hair in front of their classmates,” he says, which acclimates them to performing for an audience. The school also holds four photo sessions a year where students have to perform in front of him, as well as a whole set crew and several models. Ricci doesn’t take nerves as an excuse: “Whatever makes you uncomfortable is what you should do at least three times, until you are comfortable.” When you’ve performed in front of dozens of your peers and veteran stylists, cutting hair for new clients will be a breeze! 10 MODERN SALON’S FIRSTCHAIR SPRING 2009 Learn more @ firstchair.com http://www.firstchair.com
For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.