the ugly truth: the beauty industry

REBECA’S BEAUTY INDUSTRY GUIDELINES:

For starters, it’s key to be good at what you do, however, it’s also so important to remember that all beauty professionals have their own unique style. Which in turn means we are going to attract clients who are attracted to our style. It’s the beauty of this industry - you have options. Your success should not be measured solely by monetary means, but also on being happy. If you can do what you love and be fulfilled with happiness… it doesn’t matter if you service 10 clients or 100 daily. You will feel equally happy because each of those clients you were able to help.

Let’s get into it!@#$%

1. CUT THROAT

For lack of better wording.. this industry can be i n t e n s e. I believe it roots from your schooling. You’re always taught that you have to ‘be the best’, and that’s what will make you a successful beauty professional. And it’s FALSE. I know, I know you’re probably scratching your head like, “What the hell is she talking about?”

2. COMPARING YOURSELF

Social media is amazing, but it can also lead us to the comparison game. We have ALL been there and if you say you haven’t - you’re totally lying. It’s so, so important not to compare yourself. You don’t need to be anyone in this industry other than yourself. Don’t fall in that trap. We all have had days were our work wasn’t to our satisfaction, we just don’t post them. But it happens. You just gotta be you, improve and stay true to your unique style as a beautiful professional.

3. CATTINESS
I get asked this a lot, and yes it happens. You encounter it ANYWHERE you go in one form or another, even in professions outside the beauty industry. I have learned that at the end of the day be a kind person. You don’t have to like everyone and not everyone will like you. Take it with a grain of salt, and be you!

4. WORK HOME

there is no exact science for finding your work home. When you find it you will know. One of the biggest things I have learned in my short time is that what may be home for one beauty professional may not be home for another and that’s ok. It would be silly to think that all spas/salons are the same. Yes, they all provide the same services, but are executed in different ways. The beauty of this industry is that it is an art form and art can be expressed in so many different ways. You have to find the environment that works with you, the place that feels like home and correlates with your style. Just like there are different styles of beauty professionals, there are different work homes. It may take time, but you will find your work home. 

5. CLIENTS

You are not for everyone. Yup, that one was a hard pill to swallow fresh out of school. In nature I never want to disappoint and it would devastate me when I couldn’t make a client happy. However, it taught me the lesson that I may not be for everyone and that’s ok. You will have clients that you can’t satisfy because what you offer and your style may not mesh. IT’S OK! Refer them to other colleagues who may better suit them. Its quality over quantity. You want loyal clients that value what you have to offer professionally. 

6. MENTAL HEALTH

In an industry where we give so much of ourselves and build personal connection, it is so important to find time for you. Make time to decompress, make time to take care of your mental health. One can easily become overwhelmed, unmotivated and lose interest in our passion if balance is not present. I use to have the bad habit of CONSTANTLY coming in on my day off to accommodate clients or worked extra late. I can understand making accommodation under special occasions. I finally set boundaries when I became a mom. It was a hard adjustment for clients and realized that it was no one’s fault but mine. It’s so important to maintain balance. It creates time to re-energize, rest and maintain a healthy mindset.

7. PRICES

One of my biggest pet peeves is hearing people complain about tips in our industry. Everyone has a different opinion about this, and this is mine.  Why does it bother me? Because we don’t work for tips. Our prices must be set based on what our value is, that way if you don’t get tipped you don’t feel like you are losing. Tips are a form of compliment in our industry, they are a nice bonus. I have a client that comes in every 6 -7 weeks like clockwork, but she can’t always tip. she budgets herself every month to come see me for a facial, gas to get to me and for one facial product. Her dedication to seeing me, the genuine happiness she has from getting her service is a tip for me. She would always apologize for not being able to tip and I would always tell her “its, okay. I value you for your loyalty and appreciate your business.” Our level of service should not be based on whether a person tips or not. We should always provide our best service.

Love, Rebeca

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REBECA TOLEDO

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My mental health journey