by Angie Barron

Created on: January 27, 2009

Most of us think that a hairstylist is competent when it comes to all things hair. Most people are loyal to their stylists and go to them for everything from a trim to highlights. However, if that client sees a better color job on someone else that loyalty will begin to wane and suddenly, you have lost a client! That is why it is important to keep your skills as sharp as your shears. Hairstyling goes beyond simply a cut and a blow dry. The assumption that one can go to any stylist to get their hair cut, colored and everything in between is a dangerous one and can get an unsuspecting client into a bird's nest of trouble. Some stylist are better at color than others. Some hairdressers are pure genius at that wedding up do, while others fall flat. The key to making more money as a stylist is education. The more you know about your craft the better, you have to be ready for anything.

There are many different areas of hairstyling and there can be big money in all of them. For example, learning the many different methods of hair extensions can bring in more customers at much higher rates. Special occasion hair is another thing that is ever changing. A stylist should always keep up with the years hot wedding looks and know how to do every one of them. A hairstylist should never stop learning. Some stylists prefer to be an expert in just one area and that's fine too, as long as you properly market yourself. In my opinion though, it is better to be adept at many skills than to focus on just one. If for no other reason, to keep your sanity. Who wants to do the same thing for the rest of their lives? I couldn't.

Networking is important in any profession including hairstyling. One can't expect to graduate from cosmetology and just stand around the chair waiting for a customer to come to them. Getting customers can be as simple as working your friends and family, but this is not enough. Your marketing instincts should be on alert from the very moment you decide to go into the field. Stay in touch with all your beauty school buddies and even your teachers. Your customers are all around you all the time, so go get them! Remember, everyone you meet is a potential client and so are their friends and family. Always keep your client list very close to your heart and make sure you check in with those you haven't heard from in a while. It's not enough just to gain new clients, you also have to work at keeping the ones you have!

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