First of all, it’s worth starting with the fact that in the USA there is no such boom in beauty as in Russia (yes, beauty bloggers appeared here, but the Internet and reality are still different worlds. And at most, I think, only New York will be here except...) ?.
American women to their appearance are treated quite simply, especially in California, where it is always hot and the lifestyle is generally relaxed. Only comfortable and simple clothes are worn here: sneakers or flip-flops, leggings or shorts, a T-shirt or T-shirt. And therefore, since such an outfit, then what kind of makeup is there, when you can go to the store, to yoga or for a walk with the dog without any makeup at all. What follows from all of this, in my opinion, is that women here are not bothered by unnecessary complications, do not smear five layers of plaster on themselves, do not break their stiletto heels while going for bread, do not enlarge their lips and do not get their nails done at exorbitant prices. , and men love them for who they are (of course, there are exceptions everywhere and ladies with fantastic colors and nails with rhinestones can also be found here, especially if they are going somewhere, to the same club?). But, hence the minus. Due to the fact that the demand for beauty salons is not very high (or rather, there are plenty of salons, but the clients’ requests are clearly quite simple), because everyone is doing well anyway, the quality of all these services is quite bad. This is despite the fact that America is ahead of the rest, plus cinematic Hollywood, but getting a beautiful haircut and perfect manicure here is not an easy task. And I'm not at all happy with this.
It is also worth mentioning here that a nail salon and a hairdresser in the USA are two separate establishments. The kind of beauty salons where you can come for a haircut, eyebrows, and nails, i.e. to hang in one place for the whole day and become beautiful in all possible places at once, something I haven’t seen here. At most, I can assume that this is something not for mere mortals, and where everything is done at once, it will be very expensive.
As a result, such a separate system, in my opinion, is completely inconvenient, because when it’s time to tint your hair, renew your nails, and correct the shape of your eyebrows, you need to go to three completely different places. And if you also choose good salons and masters based on reviews, then as luck would have it, they are usually in complete opposite sides Los Angeles?.
Manicure and pedicure
In Russia I constantly went to the same master for many years, but when moving to the USA, she became interested in varnishes and lived for a long time doing this business on her own. Then I finally tried to go to a salon for a manicure and pedicure, but it did not live up to my expectations.
The thing is that the people who do nails here are almost always Filipinos (if I’m not mistaken, in general, ladies from somewhere in South Asia, not too concerned about beauty). There are entire salons of them, and it follows from this that A) such salons are available to everyone; b) their salary is clearly not high, and therefore low requirements for the quality of work; V) they don't speak English at all. And all these ladies do nail services somehow and with a continuous conveyor belt, i.e. They smear, rub and paint everything as quickly as possible. And then “Next!” ?.
How it all happens:
you come to the salon, choose the colors of nail polish you want from the shelf, and then they seat you in a chair. One lady does the hands, the second one does the legs at the same time. In addition to all this, they can also offer a face mask, massage and other nonsense (I personally refuse all of this). In more decent salons, massage chairs are already installed, the remote control is usually nearby, and you can control it yourself.
Here, for example, are two options: “so-so” and “decent”:
So, on my first trip to such a salon, I was a little scared of such active work of the masters, they have a mani-pedi production plant there (that’s what they call it horribly), but I’m used to a more relaxed atmosphere in Russian salons, when the master draws for you flowers on his nails and at the same time chatting with you about all sorts of nonsense.
In addition, for my nails I chose a dark blue varnish color, which is not so easy to paint your nails evenly (when the varnish is dark and monochromatic, all the imperfections are very visible), and naturally I didn’t like the result (the next day I repainted nails herself). I can also give myself a manicure by painting my nails on my knee while sitting on the couch and watching a new TV series. Not great, but it'll do! ? From a salon, I still expect a masterful application of varnish with a practiced hand, and not “what happened, that’s how it happened.”
And besides all this, they scratched my leg with a pumice stone and tore off some skin on the side of my foot. The lady who did the pedicure rubbed my heels very actively, not really looking at what or where she was rubbing, so she missed and pulled off too much. When I left the salon, I even began to bleed and had to cover my beauty victim with a band-aid, because... I was wearing sandals. This, of course, my legs are very skinny and my skin is thin, but this clearly does not forgive the “master”. As far as I remember, this experience cost me $33 (without tip, which is mandatory here), which I wouldn’t call cheap.
Here you go real examples what you can get from local craftsmen:
I also looked at more expensive options for services, even several times more expensive than a regular manicure, but the photographs of the work did not tempt me either. In addition, there is a clear problem with the nail design. Of course, they do it here too, but in comparison with my concept of “nail design” and what girls now paint on their nails even in small towns in Russia, a clumsy flower on the ring finger does not fit in at all. If you want something fashionable, stylish, smooth... don't expect much. Or if they are doing design here, then they do it to the fullest! The first example I came across:
After killing several hours searching, we finally went to a manicure shop opposite my house. Still with the same Filipino girls, but more decent. And I really liked the manicure and pedicure for the first time. No pretensions here! The second time the pedicure was just perfect, but the hands were a little messed up. They painted it evenly, but the aunt was in a hurry and, as the final finishing touch, applied the top-drying layer in a greasy layer and not on the entire nail, but where the brush went. Thus, when the dryer dried, everything somehow tightened, the varnish under the top coat and without it became different colors, and in general – a C grade.
I pay $35 (without tip) for a manicure and pedicure at this salon. This is my hand:
Tips and notes! Choose a nail salon based on reviews (on the same yelp.com) and look at photos of nails, go to a place where they do it carefully and people are happy (but if you are used to a beautiful manicure in your country, then don’t expect much here). In addition, choose a salon so that it is decent inside, you can look into it, so that everything is clean and there are modern chairs. Pay attention to the tools of the masters, and also make sure that during a manicure you should apply a disinfectant to your nails. Never be fooled by cheap prices!
If you don’t find anything at all, look for Russian masters through girls you know or through social media. networks.
Here in salons they also do gel polish, but I haven’t done it, so I can’t say anything about it. Moreover, careful work is needed with it, otherwise walking around for two weeks with smeared nail polish will be unpleasant.
Extended nails are not in fashion here (they are worn short or short; black ladies usually have very long and sharp nails, as in the photo above).
And also as a nuance that I noticed. Here it is considered normal to have long toenails, including with a pedicure or even a French manicure. Honestly, I don’t understand this fashion (and how to wear shoes?)… Therefore, when you come to the salon, immediately say what length of nails you want, not only on your hands, but also on your feet. Usually here the nails are simply filed, leveling the edge, and left at the length you came with. I once sat in a salon next to a woman who was getting a pedicure on her nails, which had already grown half a centimeter?
I wanted to add photos of such pedicures as an example, but I couldn’t find anything indicative and at the same time not disgusting? I also saw enough of hairy toes on women...
Salon
My search for it also didn’t work out for many years and I wouldn’t say that in the end something concrete worked out, it just somehow calmed down temporarily. So far I have found a hairdresser who understands that 1 cm is one centimeter of hair, and a little tint is a little tint.
Haircuts here are almost always normal and everywhere, of course, I definitely wouldn’t recommend going to very cheap salons, but women's haircut for $40 - a ladder or a flat one - no problem. That is, if you prefer a standard hairstyle, then here you can easily get it. There are many hairdressers in the city, there is a large chain in Los Angeles called SuperCuts, where they give acceptable haircuts, albeit very quickly. I remember when I first came there for a haircut, I was very surprised, they cut my hair in about 15 minutes, although my hair was not short? They have the same thing as with manicures - a continuous flow. And “next, next!” Time is money. Americans don’t like to sit in salons; many here like the system – come, get a haircut, leave.
But if you want a special haircut, then be prepared to look suitable master. My husband faced this issue. He has an ordinary modern hairstyle with a forelock up, nothing really special, just a youth men's haircut, but as it turned out, it can’t be done everywhere. For a very long time he rejected different salons: where they simply did not cut hair the way he wanted, one time they even cut it just crookedly, which, naturally, he did not like at all, and somewhere it was normal, but too expensive for a man’s hairstyle. So over the years he found for himself best option- go to Asians. Now he gets his hair cut in a small, shabby barber shop run by an elderly Chinese couple. This place is very reminiscent of our Russian cheap “basement” hairdressers, which were popular among the common people in my childhood - hundred-year-old hairdresser chairs, cheap office chairs in a row for those waiting, a tiny old TV in the corner. But they do a good job, very carefully and diligently (usually it takes at least 40 minutes to cut my husband’s hair!), and this pleasure costs only $15 (without tip, but my husband always leaves them $20, and they only take cash). And the most amazing thing is that there is always a huge line to see them; men sometimes sit for two hours waiting for their haircut (they don’t cut women’s hair). Moreover, they don’t have any appointments, and there are whole crowds of people wanting to get their hair cut, which can’t be said about many expensive and newfangled salons. That rare case when the quality is noticeably higher than the price.
Unfortunately, I have no luck with Asians. True, my bad experience happened with the Koreans. Never go to them to dye your hair if you are Slavic! Firstly, their English is terrible, and explaining what you want is just a disaster, and secondly, as it turns out, we have very different ideas about hair color. They cut hair well and affordable prices, they dyed me satisfactorily a couple of times, but on the third, when I asked to return my dark brown hair color, I left them with red-black hair. My hair was so ruined that there were simply no words to describe it all. No amount of masks or balms, which I simply poured on my head while sitting in the bathroom for hours, helped. I had a broom on my head, a terrible color that didn’t suit me at all (with my blond eyebrows!), and at the same time my hair was falling off so much that I would have wiped off any cat during shedding. I had to cut everything down short bob and have to grow my hair for another year in order to completely cut off everything that has been “burnt” by the dye. So my idea to regain my color and grow my hair was postponed for two whole years.
I’m not the only one who suffered, my sister somehow agreed to give herself small highlights (milling), although her hair color, unlike me, is a very beautiful chestnut. Returning home from the salon, she painted over all these highlights with dark hair dye purchased at a nearby store. Is this how we live? If you want the best, it turns out...
Advice! In connection with this nightmare experience, I will say that if you decide to dye your hair in an American salon, look for a specialist in a way that you didn’t even look for a husband. Look for masters through friends or on social media. networks, watch their work inside and out! If you don't like something, don't go to them.
Always carry with you photographs of what you want to get on your head. Haircut, hair color, shade. Explain what and how you want, ask the master about everything he does on your head. Alas, but with the phrase “To your taste. You, as a specialist, know better,” I quit. Now I’m preparing to go for a new hairstyle almost a month in advance, planning what and how I want. The good news, of course, is that the hair is growing and being restored, but if it weren’t for that incident, my hair would clearly have reached my shoulder blades, but I have still grown it below my shoulders and have not even reached the length that I have was before the campaign to the ill-fated Koreans.
Regarding eyebrows, I never found a good eyebrow artist. I had a thread correction done once, in the same salon where I got my hair cut. last time. They made my eyebrows straight, but, alas, as usual, standard, that is, without choosing the shape to suit my face personally. And, naturally, they mowed down half of what I had painstakingly grown in order to have eyebrows in line with the current fashion.
Then I was interested in eyebrow salons from popular cosmetic brands Benefit and Anastasia Beverly Hills, but they had mixed reviews, some liked them, some didn’t. Plus, again, where the reviews are even good, this is at Benefit, again you have to go halfway across the city. I’ve read a lot of complaints from Anastasia that they don’t do anything special, but a 10-minute job costs $60 (for example, for eyebrow correction in a regular salon they will charge you 15 bucks). In short, I gave up on them, went to Moscow and quickly trained as an eyebrow artist with a girl, a top Russian blogger and professional makeup artist, who gives her master classes. Therefore, I mock my eyebrows at home, and the way I want?
With others cosmetic procedures, alas, I won’t give you any advice. Once I went to a cosmetology clinic to remove a hair star from my cheek; 15 minutes of laser cost $500. The asterisk was removed (pah-pah-pah), but new vessels still appear. I plan to go again in the future, I hope there is something cheaper.
If you have been to beauty salons in America or to a cosmetologist, please share your experience in the comments. Will it be interesting for me and other cleaners to read?
America doesn't ask what you would like to do, it teaches you to start everything from scratch. You will have to rebuild your career - whether it be continuing to work in your specialty or choosing a new type of activity. At the same time, despite all the difficulties, many do not give up their career ambitions and start working for themselves. ForumDaily talked to Russian-speaking girls from Miami who preferred their own business in the beauty industry to being hired and were able to build it in such a way as to fully support themselves.
Cosmetology and massage
Before moving to America, Maria Subacheva lived in Chelyabinsk, where she graduated from the local university of physical education and sports. Then she studied to be a cosmetologist, graduated from massage school and began practical work. Now Maria lives in Miami and does the same thing she has been doing for the last few years in Russia: doing facial cleansing, hair removal, and several types of massage. In Miami, I started small: the opportunity to buy everything at once necessary equipment and she didn't have a car. To legally work in America, she graduated from the Educating Hands School of Massage and Skincare and received a license as a cosmetologist.
“Studying in America is more organized, there are more requirements and, of course, everything is much more expensive than here,” Maria shares. — I won’t say that studying here gave me a lot. Still, all skills come with practice.”
Subacheva began advertising on the Internet and social networks, gave her business cards to all her new acquaintances, and satisfied clients told their friends about her. Her own business was slowly developing, but the girl was not used to stopping: “I am constantly learning and improving my knowledge. I attend events, exhibitions, and advanced training courses. Special literature also helps a lot. In the future I plan to go to university to become a physiotherapist.”
At first, Maria Subacheva combined her work as a cosmetologist in a salon with working for herself, but then she chose own business. Photo from personal archive
In Miami, the beauty and health industry is very developed and accessible - Maria herself, like many of her clients, uses the services of cosmetologists and massage therapists.
“I can’t say that the local service and professionalism of the specialists in beauty salons high level, she says. “I’ve experienced this myself more than once. Americans focus on service rather than craftsmanship. My clients have shared with me more than once bad experience. Finding “your” master is a great success.”
At first, Maria combined work in someone else’s salon with working for herself, but it took a lot of time and turned out to be not so easy:
“Work in the salon is monotonous and strict due to management requirements. And working for yourself gives you the opportunity to develop and find an individual approach to clients.”
Maria found a solution that had been tried by more than one generation of craftsmen: she rented space in the salon for her business. In this case, she was obliged to independently organize her work process - the schedule and success depended only on her. I had to solve problems myself and take responsibility for my own decisions.
“Working for a company takes away the headaches, but you depend on the place and obey the management,” continues Maria. - For initial stage Working in a salon is suitable for business development. There you can feel the situation, look at everything from the inside, and gain experience. And then set off on a free voyage. Life in America differs from life in Russia in that you have to work a lot here. But if you do what you love, believe in yourself and your strengths, know what you want and go towards your goal, then you will definitely reach it and achieve even more than you could expect. The main thing is to believe and act!”
Permanent makeup
Zhanna Shablinskaya makes a living in Miami the same way she does in her native St. Petersburg - she does permanent makeup and tattooing. She acquired all the knowledge in this area in Russia (the training took 2.5 years) and is sure that best school right there. In America, Zhanna translated all her documents and certificates into English and received a license - it is required for this type of activity. It cost her $3,000. To receive it, Zhanna needed to confirm her existing education and demonstrate work skills or undergo training at special school and pass exams. Zhanna set to work on all this almost immediately upon arriving in America, and soon began work. Now she has her own office.
“To start in this business you need a lot of money,” says Zhanna. — This includes paid training and paid models for practicing your hand. And, of course, the costs of the materials themselves: disposable needles, caps, paints, advertising and much more.”
According to Zhanna Shablinskaya, permanent makeup is a very popular service in Miami. Photo from personal archive
Shablinskaya has been doing her favorite thing for more than 5 years. On at the moment her permanent makeup services include microblading of eyebrows, lips with a 3D effect, decorative and classic winged lines. According to Zhanna, the most popular procedure is permanent eyebrow makeup; this procedure is also considered the most difficult. Clients come to her based on recommendations from a friend of a friend - the so-called “ word of mouth" Shablinskaya never stops posting her advertisements, photo and video works on social networks and advises beginners to pay maximum attention to this when starting out.
Zhanna is sure that such a business can be done without knowledge English language, if you focus exclusively on Russian-speaking clients, who often especially value Russian craftsmen.
“The main advantage of Russian craftsmen over American ones is, first of all, their attention and friendly attitude towards clients,” she says. “Their work is not focused on flow, but on quality, without saving on materials or anesthesia. At the same time, the prices for their services are even slightly lower compared to the prices of their American colleagues.”
You can do this business either as a staff member at a beauty salon or as a self-employed worker—both options can be combined. “It’s not easy to keep up, but it’s possible,” shares own experience master. You can also, like Zhanna, rent an office in the salon or rent own premises. “The main advantages of working for yourself are that you don’t have to give half of your earnings to the salon, that you have the right to create a convenient work schedule and that you are your own boss,” says Shablinskaya. — Working as a tattoo artist can be an exciting hobby for nominal money. But this same job can be your main income. It all depends on the approach to the matter. If you want to really make money, it’s quite possible! You just have to try. The main thing is to develop a customer base and a good reputation. And everything will work out!”
Eyelash extensions and henna tattoos
Zarina Chokaeva worked as an executive producer on various media projects in Astana. In America, life began with a clean slate. The girl knew in advance what to expect, so she prepared the ground before moving: she took a course in professional makeup, eyelash extensions and eyebrow correction. Zarina always liked to draw, and she knew that beauty services in America are expensive, the girl put these two facts together and decided to radically change her life. “My first clients were still in Kazakhstan,” says Zarina. “Of course, at first it was my girlfriends, but then I was invited to work in the salon and participate in a KFA photo shoot.”
In order to move to America, Zarina Chokaeva changed her job as an executive producer to an eyelash extension specialist. Photo from personal archive
When she arrived in America, she did some research, compared local prices and placed her own ad. But there were too few clients, so I had to look for work. “I went to a pizzeria on the night shift, but I only worked there for a week - I was fired. One client came with flowers several nights in a row and did not let me work. The owner got tired of it and fired me. By the way, now only guys work there at night,” Zarina laughs.
A starter kit for eyelash extensions and gel for temporary tattoos cost the girl about $1 thousand. The cost of a license for this type of activity is about $1,500. “The main thing is to work only with quality materials, says Chokaeva. “But they’re not easy to find here, you can’t just buy them in a store like ours.” By the way, the costs paid off quickly.”
Chokaeva no longer remembers how many types of work she had to change until her name began to work for her. “The basic rule of finding clients is to exhibit your work on the Internet and be always in touch,” says the master. — They often write to me on Instagram, ask questions, and I try to answer quickly. We must try to frequently update advertising in VKontakte and Facebook groups.”
Zarina learned the art of henna tattoos in Miami - with the help of an ad on Craigslist. “The store was looking for a henna tattoo artist, and since I always loved to draw, I became interested, so I went for an interview,” she recalls. “They showed me everything on the spot and asked me to draw it.” The owner was pleased and hired me the same day. But I didn’t work with them for long - I received only 25% of the profit. I am very grateful to them for what they taught me. I even worked in a tattoo parlor where I also did henna tattoos.”
Zarina does makeup, eyelash extensions, and eyebrow correction. At the same time, the audience for the two most popular procedures is divided: henna tattoos are ordered mainly by American women, and eyelash extensions are ordered by Russian-speaking girls. Zarina managed to visit both sides of the fence: “As a client, I did in America the same procedures that I do as a master, and I can say that our masters are more careful in their work. The locals are very easy-going and friendly, but their prices are somewhat higher.”
Now Chokaeva combines working for herself with work in the salon. “At first I had to look for some additional sources of income and combine them with my work as a craftsman, but now I’m only doing my own business,” shares Zarina. —
Advice: be friendly and always in touch. Basically, the salons here work on a 50/50 basis - the same as ours. You must have your own plan, break it into parts. In order to achieve success, you don’t need to be afraid and, when a good opportunity arises, boldly move forward.”
Artistic tattoo
Dana Alexander moved to Miami Beach from Astana. In Kazakhstan she worked as a tattoo artist. It took her about two years to study; the girl learned a lot on her own. Dana came to America with the goal of working only in the tattoo industry, which is incredibly popular here. According to her, for such work one must first of all have an artistic beginning. The cost of training and equipment ranges from almost nothing to sky-high, depending on the location of training. For example, training to become an artistic tattoo artist in an American school can cost up to $8 thousand for 6 weeks. Dana says you must be BBP certified and state and city licensed to operate. All together costs $400 per year.
Dana Alexander studied the art of artistic tattooing on her own. Photo from personal archive
“Compared to Kazakhstan, in America the art of tattooing is more developed, demand creates supply,” she says. “There are a lot more clients and craftsmen here.” And the peculiarity of working in a salon in Miami Beach is the abundance of tourists who want to bring such an unusual “souvenir” from Miami as a tattoo in memory of an unforgettable vacation. This is a great responsibility for a master.” At the same time, the most popular type of work is small tattoos, inscriptions and symbols.
Dana doesn’t see any particular differences between Russian-speaking and American masters. “There are some who are very talented, some who are very popular, and some who are just ordinary,” she says. “Prices depend not on where the artist is from, but on the artist himself, his level.” To engage in such a business, it is enough basic level English language. Skill is much more important.
Tattoo artists are prohibited from working from home. But it’s easy to rent space to work in a salon to work for yourself or be a full-time salon employee. “I can say that I haven’t worked in Miami for a day. What I do, I call creativity,” explains the girl. “And the money earned in this way is enough and you can even save it.”
Manicure
Just 2 years ago, Irina Chimba lived in Kazan and worked as a lawyer. She prepared for emigration in advance: while still in Russia, she took courses in hardware manicure, pedicure and nail design. A couple of months after moving to Miami, she already began working in a new specialty. To work in this field in the United States, you must obtain a license. To do this, you need to take a course that lasts 2 months, its cost is $2000 - 5000. Certificates of training in other countries do not matter, the hours are not counted. Equipment and consumables Irina bought in local specialized stores, although she brought most of the materials for work (gels, gel polishes, brushes) with her: in Russia wide choice professional cosmetics at a more affordable price.
Irina Chimba is sure that Russian nail technicians are especially valued in America. Photo from personal archive
She advertised her services on social networks, in Russian magazines and in Russian stores. Over time, clients began to advertise it. “Russian speakers prefer to seek beauty services from masters who studied and practiced in Russia or Europe; the quality of training there is much better,” explains Irina. “Our masters are proficient in a variety of nail processing and design techniques and work very carefully.” But the level of American nail service, in her opinion, is significantly inferior: “American and very popular Asian masters in Florida treat nails superficially, believing that the main thing in a manicure is to paint the nails. Moreover, the rules for cleaning and sterilizing instruments are simplified as much as possible here. As a rule, instruments are cleaned and simultaneously sterilized by immersing them in a special liquid. In Russia, it is necessary to wash everything, sterilize it in a chemical solution, dry it, warm up the instruments before further use and store them in special containers. But in the USA there are no such requirements.”
Americans also value Russian-speaking masters for quality work and often they are not afraid of bad English masters. “If your English is still not going well, it’s not a problem: Americans, as a rule, are very friendly, polite people, and if necessary, they explain in plain words what they want,” shares Irina. “But minimal English is necessary.”
As a rule, salons offer to work according to a 60/40 scheme, but much depends on the experience and quality of the master’s work. Renting space in a salon when working for yourself will cost from $500 per month, the price greatly depends on the location of the salon. “Nail technicians in Miami, according to my calculations, earn approximately $1,000 a week,” says Irina. “But for this you need to work hard and hard, have a busy recording schedule, be a sought-after specialist and do your job perfectly.”
Today, Irina, who started working as a foreman only two and a half years ago, has a schedule every day, and the woman complains, rather, about the lack of days off.
“I’m sure that girls who start working as nail technicians in the USA have nothing to be afraid of,” says Irina. “There are enough clients for everyone!”
Hairdresser
Kiev resident Elena Yanishpolskaya was practically born with scissors in her hands: from cutting dolls’ hair and endless experiments with her own hairstyles, she moved on to hairdressing courses, which she completed after the 9th grade secondary school. In her senior year, she not only honed her acquired skills with her friends, but also earned money for chocolates. Afterwards she studied at the Master of Beauty Academy. In 2010, Elena took a color course at L’Oreal, gave seminars and worked for herself, renting space in the salon. And then she moved to Miami.
According to Elena Yanishpolskaya, the profession of a hairdresser will always help you to provide for yourself. Photo from personal archive
“I was always told that a hairdresser is never hungry, this is a profession that will always help you provide for yourself, no matter where you find yourself,” says Elena. “Sociability is also important in our business, so upon arrival I actively got to know people and offered my services in order to “drag” them into my chair, and then it was a matter of experience and light hands.”
Like other masters, Elena needed a license. There are two types of certificates related to hair: barber (men's hairdresser) and cosmetologist (hairdresser, manicurist, cosmetologist without medical procedures and injections). The second type of license is much broader. No matter where you study, each state will require a new license. To do this, you need to go to a beauty school with your diploma, they will count the hours, and even if you have more of them than is required here, you will still have to take the course and, in addition, take an HIV test. Next - the exam and license are obtained. With a license, there are 3 options for employment: in a salon (hired employee), open your own company and rent a chair in the salon, or open your own salon.
Beginners who decide to learn hairdressing in America will have to spend $16,000 and 1,200 hours on training, and, of course, they need knowledge of English.
“But this does not mean that after completing the course, a person immediately became a specialist,” adds Elena. — For a good result you need practice, at least a year or two of active work and, of course, talent, desire and love for your work. The easiest way to start is to go to a salon as a hired employee, build a clientele, and take a closer look at how everything works. You need to come up with your own twist, give yourself an answer to the question - why should people come to you and not to someone else?”
Working in a salon will require minimum expenses To get started, you just need to buy your tools. The salon employee receives a percentage of his earnings, usually 50/50, while the salon provides shampoos, conditioners, varnishes, and paints. To rent a chair in a salon, in addition to tools, you need to have your own professional products. To buy it, you will need a license, as well as a fixed rental fee for the chair, regardless of the number of clients. Everything that remains on top will be your earnings.
Now Elena, who already has 17 years of experience behind her, provides a full range of hairdressing services, and in addition knows how to do makeup. She was able to adapt to the new conditions: “In Florida there are several factors that affect hair: humidity, sun and water. Many people's hair here begins to get frizzy, which is why keratin straightening procedures are so popular here. In general, Florida is not called the “sunshine state” for nothing; there are so many bright colors here that women want to look bright.”
Having visited a beauty salon as a client, Elena was dissatisfied with the quality. “Miami is a resort, no one fights for a client here, today one, tomorrow another,” she says. - Of course there is good craftsmen both among Russian speakers and among Americans. But our craftsmen are valued higher; we are considered perfectionists. We really always strive for the ideal, Americans usually have an easier time with this, they don’t bother like that.” Elena adds that in Florida you can easily start working without English, because there are many Russian salons and many Russian clients. But good English, of course, opens up new opportunities for professional growth. “This profession has brought millions and fame to few people, except perhaps narrow circles, but, nevertheless, a comfortable life with good income is guaranteed to you.”
- This is safety. If the beauty salon has gone through all the checks and has everything necessary documents, then they are definitely not in business for one day. This means that if something happens to me after the procedure, they will help me, cover medical expenses and moral costs. Lawsuits with clients, which so frighten those who come here, are actually an opportunity to get money from the insurance company.
- Selecting specialists for a salon is a separate issue; It is unlikely that a salon will risk its license by hiring an unqualified worker. Large chains even conduct corporate training for staff, so the quality of work is always at approximately the same level among the craftsmen, regardless of who you go to that day.
- The master in the salon is very interested in working with you well, because tips are very common here - I leave about 20% of the check for a tip to the master in the salon. By the way, a private master is given a tip only in rare cases - he works for himself. Also, the business of salons is greatly influenced by review services, which the salons themselves cannot moderate, which means cleaning up, removing negative reviews, etc.
- This is a convenient work schedule. In case of illness, a person goes to the hospital or urgent care, because private doctors (working completely separately) have an appointment for 2 months in advance. There are much fewer private offices than hospitals or urgent care. The same is true in beauty salons. If I want a massage today, I won’t make an appointment 3 weeks in advance to get to some super-master. I'll go to massage parlor and I will receive the service on the same day! It’s the same with a haircut - I go to the salon that is closer to me and has a convenient time for me. Because I know that if my back is broken or my hair is damaged, I will go to court and get good moral compensation.
A great beauty salon starts with choosing services that the best professionals they want to offer you in combination with additional services and, of course, a unique and unforgettable design. The American publication Elle Décor, especially for fans of the beauty industry, has compiled a rating of the best salons in the USA.
Mizu, New York, 505 Park Ave
The famous Mizu Salon, located in New York, inspires its visitors with minimalism, made in pastel and light lilac tones. Owners Acord Vaughn and Santiago Damian have done their best to create a magnificent lounge area, accessed by dazzling aquamarine steps. 
Kim Vo, San Francisco, 11 Tillman Pl., 3rd fl.
The pretentious salon “Kim Vo”, located in the hills of San Francisco, gives its visitors the atmosphere of an old European woman. The floor is polished concrete, the walls are made of rough brick, the ceiling is decorated with chandeliers made of black Murano glass, and the furniture is upholstered in velvet leather.
Pipino Nalita, New York, 3 Center Market Pl.
“Pipino Nalita” in Manhattan, whose design is characterized by a mix of femininity and carefree pleasures. The famous designer Fundy, developed fancy-shaped furniture for the salon, a floor with a unique “spruce” print, and decorative mirrors self made and many more small ones structural elements registration
Sally Hershberger Los Angeles, 760 N. La Cienega Blvd., 3rd fl.
The famous Sally Hershberger beauty salon is located in a huge Los Angeles penthouse. All work area made of valuable species wood, spectacular mosaic floor made from fragments white marble and of course, the magnificent panoramic view from the windows will not leave even the most experienced beauty salon guest indifferent.
Whittemore House New York, 45 Grove St.
Another interesting salon in New York is Whittemore House. The atmosphere of the building is of the early nineteenth century, emphasized by the tinted walls in shades of gray and brown, and the hall itself is decorated with panels that create a resemblance to Victorian-century wallpaper.
Let's pause a little: in Russia there are also good and fashionable beauty salons, such as the beauty salon in Khimki. The calming atmosphere and professional therapists will help you relax and rejuvenate.
Swink Style Bar, Seattle, 611 Stewart St.
Swink Style Bar in Seattle has a cozy and soft atmosphere, decorated with silver curtains and hand-woven rugs in the lobby.
Marie Robinson Salon, New York, 155 Fifth Ave., 4th fl.
Marie Robinson Salon in New York is rightfully considered the most elegant establishment. The interior design is characterized by gray and white tones and designer furniture from Huniford.
Sine Qua Non, Chicago, 3417 N. Lincoln.
Sine Qua Non, located in Chicago, became famous for its unique, ultra-feminine boudoir from designer Bruce Fox, who completed the interior with glass lamps and glossy floors.
KM Townhouse, New York, 187 Edgecombe Ave.
KM Townhouse, another beauty salon in New York, but no less unique and attractive, thanks to the efforts of Kevin Mancuso. Made in soft cream color scheme and is complemented by a mass of live orchids.
James Joseph Salon, Boston, 30 Newbury St.
JAMES JOSEPH SALON, located in Boston, was designed by Office da design studio. The interior design amazes with the beauty of rough blue brick walls, leather furniture, draped curtains and gorgeous ebony flooring.
The American publication Elle Décor, especially for fans of the beauty industry, has compiled a rating of the best salons in the United States.
Mizu, New York, 505 Park Ave
The famous Mizu Salon, located in New York, inspires its visitors with minimalism, made in pastel and light lilac colors. Owners Acord Vaughn and Santiago Damian have done their best to create a magnificent lounge area, accessed by dazzling aquamarine steps.
Kim Vo, San Francisco, 11 Tillman Pl., 3rd fl.
The pretentious salon “Kim Vo”, located in the hills of San Francisco, gives its visitors the atmosphere of an old European woman. The floor is polished concrete, the walls are made of rough brick, the ceiling is decorated with chandeliers made of black Murano glass, and the furniture is upholstered in velvet leather.
Pipino Nalita, New York, 3 Center Market Pl.
“Pipino Nalita” in Manhattan, whose design is characterized by a mix of femininity and carefree pleasures. The famous designer Fundy developed bizarrely shaped furniture for the salon, a floor with a unique “spruce” print, mirrors with handmade decor and many other small design elements.
Sally Hershberger, Los Angeles, 760 N. La Cienega Blvd., 3rd fl.
The famous Sally Hershberger beauty salon is located in a huge Los Angeles penthouse. The entire working area is made of precious wood, a spectacular mosaic floor made of white marble fragments and, of course, a magnificent panoramic view from the windows will not leave even the most experienced beauty salon guest indifferent.
Whittemore House, New York, 45 Grove St.
Another interesting salon in New York is Whittemore House. The atmosphere of the building is of the early nineteenth century, emphasized by the tinted walls in shades of gray and brown, and the hall itself is decorated with panels that create a resemblance to Victorian-century wallpaper.
Swink Style Bar, Seattle, 611 Stewart St.
Swink Style Bar in Seattle has a cozy and soft atmosphere, decorated with silver curtains and hand-woven rugs in the lobby.
Marie Robinson Salon, New York, 155 Fifth Ave., 4th fl.
Marie Robinson Salon in New York is rightfully considered the most elegant establishment. The interior design is characterized by gray and white tones and designer furniture from Huniford.
Sine Qua Non, Chicago, 3417 N. Lincoln.
Sine Qua Non, located in Chicago, became famous for its unique, ultra-feminine boudoir from designer Bruce Fox, who completed the interior with glass lamps and glossy floors.
KM Townhouse, New York, 187 Edgecombe Ave.
KM Townhouse, another beauty salon in New York, but no less unique and attractive, thanks to the efforts of Kevin Mancuso. Made in a delicate cream color scheme and complemented by a mass of live orchids.
James Joseph Salon, Boston, 30 Newbury St.
JAMES JOSEPH SALON, located in Boston, was designed by Office da design studio. The interior design is stunning with rough blue brick walls, leather furniture, draped curtains and gorgeous ebony flooring.
