Hairstylist to LPN?

Simplepleasures · Jan 6, 2008

Oh, wow, I never thought I would be asked this question, but YES, I actually was a beautician in 1971 for a year, got married, had kids, decided that the hair business was too, too, boring and couldn't stand doing all the curling, dyeing and spraying, started working in a nursing home as a CNA, watched the nurses and said to myself, "I could do

that!" and I did, in 1976 and worked as an LPN for almost 28 years. Taking the state boards for beautician actuially did help me a bit when it came to the LPN state boards, I wasnt nearly as nervous. Good Luck with whatever field you choose.

facetiousgoddess · Jan 6, 2008

One of my classmates was a hairstylist. Made the career transition beautifully! Now she is a fabulous nurse..

You can do it!!

Tres

metfan · Jan 6, 2008

Kind of a hairstylist. I was a dog groomer for 20 years. I just got sick of wrestling with dogs all day. It was really hard work. Dare I say...harder than nursing. I have only been an LPN for 2.5 months so maybe I cannot judge yet. My Dad died of Leukemia a few years ago and that is when I decided that I really wanted to be a nurse. My kids were also a little older so the timing was right. Grooming was very good to me though. I had my own business and my kids never had to be in daycare. I was able to work around all their needs. However, hard work. Barking dogs constantly, dog hair flying, people extremely picky about the way the dogs look and lots of lifting and bending. Nursing has been so much better for me so far. At least I have help now when I need it. Change can be good. Colleen

MAmom81 · Jan 7, 2008

Are there any hairstylist out there that have become nurses? If so, why?

Well I am not a hairstylist but I am a stay-at-home mom and a former fast food worker:icon_roll!!! I got tired of saying "would you like fries with that:banghead::selfbonk::lol:!!! and then I went into retail and it was not very satisfying, I knew that I wanted to work in the medical field but I wasn't quite sure exactly what I wanted to do and that's when it hit me I wanted to become a nurse!!! But it took a long time to build up my confidence to go for it-I am not very good in math plus it scares me!!! and the support of my wonderful family that I am on my way to starting nursing school-Fall 2008 if not for sure Fall 2009!!! I am getting ready to start Elementary Human Anatomy & Physiology in Feb. and I cannot wait to start nursing school!!! Sorry about the long post I am just so excited about achieveing my dream!!! :yeah: :prdnrs::stdnrsrck:

saminik · Jan 7, 2008

Always Wanted To Be Hairdresser, Completed It While In High School Work As A` Stylist, Manager, Than Obtained My Teaching Cert, Got Married Two Children, Figured I Would Teach Cosmo Same Schedule With Kids, But When We Moved To A New Part Of State There Were No Good Teaching Positions Available, Saw An Ad For Lpn Class Figured I Would Try It I Have Been In The Field For Over 15 Years, And Have Done Multiply Types Of Nursing. Working As A Hairdresser. I Know Alot Of Former Hairdressers That Went Into Nursing.

MsPiggy · Jan 7, 2008

Yup! I did it 19 yr.s ago. Mainly because as a cosmetologist it seemed to take years to build a decent clientel and you have to work in a pretty ritzy area around here to make any money at it. I had a baby to take care of & needed to make a decent income.

Here's the scary part, my LPN boards were a helluva lot easier than my cosmetology boards-lol..I'm sure that's changed by now-hopefully.

Ms.P

sassiebaz · Jan 7, 2008

Thank you all for your input! I was originally scheduled to start an LPN program in oct. but had to push it back so I could work to help the family income. So, I work around some hairstylist and thought it looked fun! More fun than nursing. So I started looking into schools and interviewing hairstylists. Here is what Im up against....LPN school......$4K, 11 months and start at between $20-$24/hr working mainly n LTC(not too exciting) and mainly 12 hr shifts(doesn't excatly work with having young kids) and I will NOT work nights. Cosmo. school close to $20K, 12 months, and you get out and need to assist for 3-6 months, you need to work 5-6 days a weeks, 8 hrs a day to start building a clientele, you make anywhere from $12K-$20K your first year. as your clientele builds so does your paycheck.....self-employed though and responsible for your own taxes.

So, now Im at that point where I really need to decide and I go back and forth. I have been an MA and a caregiver in the past. My ultimate goal is to be an RN. Any advice on what to take???? Im so confused!

princsjasmin · Jan 7, 2008

I was a hairstylist for about 3 years until a year and half ago when i decided to become a nurse. I enjoyed doing hair but to me it felt like a hobby instead of career. i just knew i could do more then just cut and color hair it just wasn't challenging to me. Now nursing felt like a challenge sooo i just graduated from nursing school in November and waiting for my letter to register and studying like crazy....BTW this is my first post here ...i've been reading posts for months now and finally decided to join in on the fun....

princsjasmin · Jan 7, 2008

one more thing my advice is to become a nurse.....as a hairstylist you have to basically sell yourself to make money and sometimes when business is slow you don't make any money and it has nothing to do with being a good or bad hairstylist besides too much competition amongst the stylist and there are tooo many stylist out there now...for me personally i had fun doing hair but the money wasn't great i'm a single mom and i couldn't support myself and my son as a stylist...i've made the best choice to switch to nursing i don't regret it at all...i still do friends and relatives hair from home sometimes i miss it ... good luck in whatever choice you make just make sure you love what you do or you'll burn out fast...

sassiebaz · Jun 6, 2008

I still havent been able to make a decision. However, it seems with the way the economy is going, nursing is a smarter choice for me. I go back and forth weekly! Does anyone have any advice?

tajo28 · Jun 8, 2008

I went to Cosmetology school in 2004 and was about mid-way through when I got pregnant with my second daughter. Shortly after that I dropped the program and stayed at home with my girls up until Summer 2006. I started an LPN program that Summer and had to drop because of health and money issues. So I stayed at home again until last Summer. I put the girls in daycare and have been working ever since. I went back and forth on whether or not to go back to Cosmetology or Nursing school and like you was completely confused. Hair was fun but it didn't seem challenging enough. (like someone else previously said) I'm not saying the job is easy by far, but it did feel more like a hobby or just playing "dress up" with strangers. I guess my main concern with hair was money. I was afraid to get out there and be working my patooty off for pennies for a few years until I started getting some clientele. Along with the no insurance and not a very stable career. Nursing just seems more for me especially when I think about what a positive impact we can choose to have on our future patients and the satisfication nurses must get out of helping so many people. :heartbeat Add that along to a steady career and income, and it seems pretty awesome! I started my LPN program again last week and i'm so excited to finally be back in! Unfortanetly for me the PN programs around here are around 18 months. So you are lucky!

My :twocents: for you would be to do the LPN now because it's quicker, and a lot cheaper, and will provide you with a greater income and job security in the long run.

Good luck with your decision, just go with what you feel. Oh and I also know someone who is an LPN during the week and works only Friday and Saturday doing hair. He makes a lot of money between the two and enjoys both of his jobs! I have to remind myself that one too since I could also see myself doing hair, and that I can always go back and finish hair later if I want to. Remember no one has to stay in the same career field forever.