The concept of patience in our beauty careers can be strange and contradictory, beginning the moment we express interest in becoming a licensed professional. We’re advised that obtaining a license requires patience because of the time and investment necessary to attend beauty school. “At least it’s quicker and cheaper than getting a college degree,” we persuade ourselves. So we do research, locate a school, complete an application, source the tuition and rearrange our lives to make this commitment.
We begin with optimism for our potential, and as much patience as we can muster.
We’re encouraged by vague promises of future success: Be your own boss. Earn six figures. Have a flexible schedule. Launch your own products. Educate for a brand. Become an influencer. Get published. Work with celebrities. Travel the world. Sounds exciting, right?
We need that initial optimism to stay engaged, especially when reality tests our patience.
Despite our best efforts to ensure a quality education, we may find ourselves in a mediocre learning environment with unqualified instructors, inferior products and annoying clients. An acknowledgement that the quality of instruction varies, we’re cautioned that schools prepare us only for the licensing exam and reassured that the “real” learning happens later.
In the moment or years later, we question how we spent our time in school. Is this the best preparation for our career or some intentional obstruction to discourage those who don’t have enough “passion” for the industry? Other than qualify us for licensing exams, how does beauty school help us achieve our goals? Will we eventually be rewarded for our talent and hard work if we’re patient?
“It is not enough that you do our best; sometimes you must do what is required.” – Winston Churchill
Given limited options, we resign ourselves to circumstances that require our continued participation. Returning to beauty school day after day, week after week, we try to understand as much as possible about health and safety, the basics of science and the procedures to be performed for a practical exam. Clocking hours, we study textbooks, watch videos and practice on mannequins and other students. With minimal competence as the standard, we feel pressure to spend additional time and money to prepare for exams. Why?
Any disruptions to our schooling or residency can significantly delay licensing.
Whether by choice or not, taking a leave of absence, changing schools within state, or worst yet, moving to another state before becoming licensed causes even more delays and uncertainty. Until our industry has universal licensure or a viable interstate compact, administrative and geographic obstacles will remain.
After completing our formal education, we may have to wait longer than what seems reasonable to attempt the exams. We continue to study and practice. We either pass and obtain our license, or don’t and reapply for another exam date, further postponing our entry into the profession. Think failure is not an option? Only 55% of barber candidates pass California’s Board of Barbering and Cosmetology licensing examination on their first attempt:
An earlier version was published by Beauty Cast Network.