hairstylist vs barbering career for 40s guy

[calv]

im in my 40's looking to do career change. i dont want to do a physcial job like construction which i done for a short time previously. i also done retail, valet,car wash, and a few low skilled non career jobs. im looking for a career and should have thought about it earlier but had lot of conflicting views from my parents. they love to get involved in my life.
whats your thoughts for a guy. hairstylist or barbering. do you think ill get stunned / treated poorly working in a female dominated industry? hopefully meet a single girl in class but i doubt it. most going be 20s and im too olld for them.
i dont have much interest doing womens hair but i heard its better to know how to do womens hair than not learn how to do it. would women clients kind prefer a women stylist also im a straight male .

 

[Hotwired]

And what's wrong with saying it on your main forum account.

 

[iamdjdz]

I know a couple of male barbers who seem to enjoy it and run their own businesses. Don't think the money is mega though but you're your own boss. No idea how easy it is to get into but I imagine you can sign up to the same college course as a 20 something year old and get in that way, probably have to get some experience working before doing your own place. I think it would get boring quick and am not one for wanting to talk to different people all the time but if you are it's doable. Men and women's hair styling is different of course and you're likely to learn more techniques and skills doing woman's but may be harder to get into as a bloke, especially one who wants to meet a single girl doing it as that vibe could be pretty clear and off putting.

 

[Megahurtz400]

My mum is a hairdresser of 30 years.

First of all, the big money is this game is the colouring/dying of womens hair, as a skilled colour technician requires you to understand what type of hair your dealing with, know how to get it to the colour the client wants and also if that's actually possible.

Top end salons will charge upwards of £500 for a full head of colour.

Men's barbering attracts less money I believe, just due to the nature of the appointment length and the less technical/theoretical knowledge of the cuts/styles themselves.

Saying that, with the growing trend of men wanting to "look after" themselves more and not just having a short back and sides and a clean shave at home, I think there is a possibility of carving a career in barbering.

I feel that it would have to be at the "designer" end of barbering where people come for a top tier service, as the bottom end of the market is mopped up by Turkish barbers where you can get a cut and a shave/shape up for £20 or less.

Look at some local vocational colleges to see if they offer hairdressing/barber courses, but you may also find that searching for a dedicated and well regarded hairdressing/barbering school will have a much better quality course, but also cost a lot more.

One final point, you best like small chat and talking to people and being on your feet all day. My sister tried her hand at it and did a course at a local college and started in my mums salon, but just couldn't hack the constant and repetitive small talk. Also the fear of messing up someone's hair was a disaster for her nerves, it can be quite a stressful and full on job at times!

 

[dowie]

There is always the hipster angle or faux masculine angle etc..

See this bit of cringe for example:



I remember going to one place in the City where they'd give you a free beer etc.. those sort of places seem to be able to charge a bit more - consider some wooden floors, few old trunks randomly placed somewhere, maybe a big leather sofa with some union jack cushions, make sure you grow a beard and/or wear a leather apron etc..

One rather niche idea could be the wig/hair system market - they're increasing in popularity and there seems to be $$$ to be made there - both a fat margin from selling the wigs or "hair systems" and the inflated fees for just doing a hair cut and gluing the thing on.