Help People Feel Happy and Confident as a Stylist!
- Nela Friesen
- Apr 4, 2025
- 4 min read
Updated: May 19, 2025
Table of Contents
About Greenroom Salon and Spa
Greenroom Salon and Spa is a full-service beauty salon in Lethbridge. It offers services such as nails, hair, and more. I spoke with Emily, the owner/operator of the business. This is a good place to work because of the support available, opportunities for ongoing education and advancement, and flexible work hours for a good work-life balance. They have a really good team with no drama, making it a great place to work. Emily told me she would be willing to hire a high school student to do receptionist work while having the opportunity to learn more about the industry if they were the right person for the job!
What is Working at a Beauty Salon Like?
An Average Day
Employees usually arrive about 15 minutes early to set up their station for their clients. This includes making sure the station is clean, checking for any laundry, etc. The rest of the day is spent with the clients who have booked an appointment for that day, making sure that they are happy with the service.
Pay
It can be tricky when you are just starting out since you won't have many clients at the beginning, but once you have established a good client base, the pay is great in this industry.
Work Conditions
For the most part, the work is independent as each stylist works with their clients. The only time it might be collaborative is if, for example, the stylists were all doing hair for a wedding party, then they might work together with the whole group of clients.
Hours can vary for the stylists at Greenroom Salon and Spa. It will usually be between 6 to 10 hours per day. Some people like to work fewer days in a week, with longer hours each day, while some prefer to work shorter days and work more days in a week. At Greenroom Salon and Spa, they really like to be flexible with their hours to ensure that the employees can have a good work-life balance. Emily told me that she thinks this is important especially for women with families that need flexibility in work schedules.
Qualities Needed
You will need to be committed to your job. It isn't easy to have an off day and not come into work because it can be hard to reschedule the day's clients, and there is a chance they might just decide to go to another salon. You will also need to be friendly in your interactions with clients, a good team player, and organized.
Hardest and Easiest Parts of the Job
It can be hard to deal with difficult clients who have unrealistic expectations. For example, someone with dark hair might come to get platinum blonde hair, thinking it can be done in one appointment when in reality, it takes multiple sessions to do it without damaging their hair.
The easiest part of the job is the interactions with clients that you get to know well. Emily told me that some clients get really close to their stylists and can have good conversations during their appointments.
Why Choose this Career?
Working as a stylist is a form of art, so you can be creative and create something beautiful every day. You can also help people feel happy and confident through your service. Clients are always excited for their hair or nail appointments and it's something they can always look forward to again after it's over.
Misconceptions
A misconception in this industry is that you can start out with a full client base. In reality, building the client base can be hard, and you have to be willing to work for it. It could take a few months or a few years, depending on how much you work, how much effort you put into your social media accounts, etc.
Post-Secondary
For post-secondary, people generally go to a beauty school, which is usually nine months of schooling, then an apprenticeship, which can vary in length depending on how many hours you work per day. Tuition for these programs is usually between $10,000 and $20,000. Entering the industry is both easy and hard. The schooling is quick, which is nice, but it can be hard to build up your client base.
What can High School Students do to Prepare?
Many schools offer cosmetology programs, which can be a great introduction to the industry. Arranging job shadows can also be a great way to learn more about the job. Many salons are also willing to hire high school students as receptionists or assistants, which is also a great way to see more of what the job is like.
Thanks to Emily of Greenroom Salon and Spa for agreeing to meet with me and teach me more about this career! If you liked the post, make sure to like and share! You can also follow me on Instagram @careerace_blog for the latest updates. I don't have any interviews scheduled at the moment, so I'm not sure when the next post will be. However, I'm reaching out to companies and will try to have another one finished as soon as possible. Thanks!
Check Out Greenroom Salon and Spa!
Website: The Green Room • Spa & Salon
Instagram: Instagram (greenroomsalonspa)
You can find the instagram accounts of each of the individual stylists on their website!
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