Any Hair stylists go through nursing school?

[amy874]

I'm a hair stylist who is contemplating going into nursing school. I was wondering if any of you have gone through a program while still working at a salon? Part of me thinks that doing hair is a perfect job to go through school with since it can be flexible. If you did do it, was it really difficult to manage both?

Thanks a bunch!!

[tbell2]

I was a hairdresser for 8 years and just recently quit when the demands from school became more intense. I was/am also working as a waitress.

I worked full time at the salon until my oldest daughter was born, then I went down to 3 days. When I started pre-reqs I went down to 2 days. When my twins were born and I knew I was accepted into the nursing program I went down to just Saturdays and 3 evenings a week at the restaurant. I wish I could have worked more at the salon, but my course schedule changes every 8 weeks now and I can't change my schedule that often at the salon with people making their appointments sometimes months in advance. The restaurant could be more flexible, so I worked there more often.

It will all depend on how much other stuff you have going on. If you can devote plenty of time to school and to your guests in the salon, you should be fine. As you know, guests can get a little ornery about you having a life outside of satisfying their every hair need. I got alot of "I'm so happy for you but..... who's gonna do my hair when you are gone? You can't leave! Can't you still work here once you are a nurse too?" I dont' think that it helped that I took such a long maternity leave with the twins. But i couldn't help it! I was on bedrest for God's sake!

There are alot of things I miss about the salon, but also alot of things I don't. The selfishness of the guests is one of the things I don't. Prom season coming up I don't miss. But I do miss all the loyal guests I cut for 8 years....

[amy874]

Thank you for your reply. I haven't completely decided yet what to do with myself. Part of me thinks it might be nice to just stay doing hair, but I also think I will get burned out. And then I'm not even sure if I could handle being a nurse, and all the duties that might make my stomach turn. I just dropped my anatomy pre req, because I couldn't handle the work and school thing at the moment. So that freaked me out about trying to still work during nursing school, if I can't tackle this how the heck will I manage nursing school too?! But... I think if I do end up going for it I will look into working at a restaurant. How is the work load of nursing school? Do you have a bunch of studying to fit in between your nights as a server?

Thanks again! Hope you have a good week!:wink2:

[tbell2]

Well, I am only working Friday and Saturday nights now. Luckily, my husband makes enough to allow me to do that! The course load is alot. Do you have kids? I would have more study time if I didn't have the little ones running around.