The Path to Becoming an Independent Hairstylist Vol.3
Hello, my name is SHU.
As of August 2025, I’ve been a hairstylist for 18 years, and it’s now my 8th year running my own business independently.
Here, I share my personal experiences in the hope that they will be useful for hairstylists who are considering going independent, or for those who are just starting their careers.
This time, the topic is “How to Choose Your First Salon.”
Table of Contents
- How should you choose your first salon?
- Independent salon or chain salon?
- Pros of independent salons
- Cons of independent salons
- Pros of chain salons
- Cons of chain salons
- Choosing based on salary and days off
- Salary considerations
How should you choose your first salon?
For most people, the order is: choose a salon → get hired → take the national license exam.
So, how do you decide which salon to join first?
In my case, I had no idea where to go. My instructor recommended Salon A, where I had done my training during beauty school.
Salon A was the largest company in my region with the most locations. It offered solid employee benefits and a strong education program, so I thought it was a safe choice.
Later, I found out that my school had a partnership with Salon A, and that’s why I was recommended. Thanks to that, I was able to join the company—though some of my friends didn’t pass the interview.
Here’s what I realized after joining.
Independent salon or chain salon?
When choosing, it’s important to decide: Do you want to work in an independent salon or in a chain salon?
Pros of Independent Salons
- Fewer staff, so the distance between you and the owner or coworkers is close.
- If your personalities match, the workplace can feel like family and be very enjoyable.
- For those who dislike the busy, rushed pace of big salons, you can take time to serve each client with care.
Cons of Independent Salons
- Fewer clients compared to chain salons, so it’s harder to gain a wide range of experience.
- As a result, it often takes longer to become a stylist.
- Training programs are not standardized and depend heavily on the owner. Things can change suddenly.
- Sudden campaigns or policy shifts may happen depending on the owner’s mood.
- If finances become tight, salaries may be delayed more often than in chain salons.
Pros of Chain Salons
- Many clients, so you can practice and improve your skills quickly.
- Frequent training sessions and workshops help with skill development.
- Large teams mean you can learn by observing different techniques.
- Often, there are many peers of the same age, making work fun.
- Employee benefits are well established.
- Stylists often get promoted faster.
Cons of Chain Salons
- Even on days off, you may be required to attend training sessions or workshops.
- Less time to talk with each client individually.
- Sometimes you’ll be assigned many clients before you feel confident, which can hurt your self-esteem.
- You may be transferred to a different location.
- You might be forced to sell products as part of company campaigns, which can feel uncomfortable.
Choosing based on salary and days off
Like in any industry, even though hairstylists do the same kind of work, the salary and number of days off vary greatly by company.
So of course, if possible, it’s better to choose a salon that offers higher pay and more holidays.
But be careful: in some companies, even if you technically have more days off, they may be filled with mandatory training or practice. In contrast, a company with fewer official days off but fewer required sessions might actually give you more free time.
Salary considerations
Of course, higher salaries are attractive. But if a salon offers unusually high pay, it may mean turnover is high and the workplace is unstable.
That said, in recent years (as of 2025), many large salon chains are focusing on securing talent for long-term survival. As a result, they’ve been raising salaries for assistants.
In conclusion, salary is important, but it’s not everything. If you have to spend a lot of your own money on workshops and seminars, even a higher salary may not leave you with much savings.
If you’re highly motivated to invest in yourself, that might work out. But if not, it’s better to evaluate salons on factors beyond salary.
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