Nurse or Hairstylist?

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I go back and forth about where and what I'd like to be when I grow up. LOL There are days I feel like nursing is the way to go, Stability, money, doing something good for others. Then I think about the hours (12 hr shifts) the families, Doctors, liability. I cannot make a decision. Do I want to be a nurse or do hair. Im somewhat creative, but I did make-up for a while and really enjoyed it. I have young children and think I'd enjoy hair more. Can't I do both? Do hair first and if I get sick of it...got to nursing school? I was going to start out with my LPN...but I am questioning myself to much. Any advice???

Specializes in L&D.

I thought I would chime in on the discussion. I am a licensed cosmetologist in NV, although I do not work in the field anymore. I also have a bachelors degree and I just got accepted into nursing school, an ADN program for spring 09. I wish I would have saved myself alot of time and money and just went into nursing, but at least I know now that it is something I really want to do. Hairstyling is a difficult business especially now with the economy. Most hairstylists do not make a great living. It can take years to build up a decent clientele list and you can't depend on the money. I don't know about you, but having a paycheck that I can count on is very important to me. The hours aren't very flexible either. You will have to be available when your clients are available in order to make money (weekends and evenings). Benefits are not usually available and you will have to pay for your own health insurance, retirement etc. It wasn't fun and I do not miss working with hair! I do like the beauty industry and hopefully one day I will be able to combine nursing and beauty together perhaps working for a plastic surgeon or something like that. Good luck with whatever choice you make.

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FTR: My Mom has a several friends that are hairstylists, and they all make way more money than nursing would pay. Obviously this is not the average, but the opportunity is there. Location, flexibility, skill, and personality (tip earning potential) seems to be the governing factors to a hairstylists income.

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Ok, maybe I can help. I have been a hairdresser for sixteen years and am currently a nursing student. I make good money and the company I work for does provide medical and retirement benefits. I do work nights and weekends and you will need to do that in order to make it. If you have great people skills as well as technical skills you will be successful.

Now, the reason I decided to switch careers is that nursing provides so many different environments in which to pratice. I don't want to be a hairdresser at 60 maybe 70 years old by the time it comes to when we could retire if it is even still around by my time. The other reasons why I chose to go into nursing is I needed something more in my life and that there had to be more to my life than what I was currently doing. I needed more of a challenge.

As a nursing student, the patients are the same as my clients in communication skills both coming to you for a service that requires great technical skills, the difference is one can always be fixed and the other is a matter of life and death. Nursing is unlike anything I have ever experienced before, I have been challenge intellectually on every level imanginable. I have the upmost respect for nurses and what they do everyday.

No one can decide for you what is best for you, only you can decide that. Cosmetology school will take you a little over a year to complete and years to build a clientelle.

If your considering nursing I would greatly consider going for your RN. If your not considering RN I would consider getting your cosmetology liscense because you will make more money doing that. I would hate to see you set yourself up by becoming a hairdresser with the intentions of going to nursing school later. Later may never come. Nursing school will turn your world upside down. It is the most challenging, gut wrenching, rewarding, most gratifying thing you may ever experience.

If I may suggest, I would say take a couple of classes at a community college first and then try to make your decision.

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I apologize for offending anyone. I didnt mean anything by it, but asking a question like that on a NURSING website, what sort of responses did you expect? I think that its obvious you have people skills which is why the question between hairdressing and nursing. Yes, its important to do what you love, but the reality is when there are bills to pay and kids to care for, you need to see what will offer you the steadiest employment. The economy can affect how well you do with hairdressing more so than with nursing. That is where I see being on your feet all day for about $25-30 an hour is worth more than being on your feet all day cutting hair for much less. And to whomever posted about knowing people who make WAY more than a nurse being a hairstylist, I am wondering if its because they own the salon or if they are a stylist in Greenwich, Ct.??? Because that is quite rare.

Yes, we should all do what we love, but unfortunately that doesn't always work well when you have to pay a mortgage and have kids to care for.

again, i am sorry if I came off a bit strong. Its a nursing website, you are going to encounter people who are passionate about nursing. I think its going to provide far more job security. I also have a friend whos a hairdresser and her husband set up a salon in her house. She is now a widow, the economic times are tough and she is doing very little work and she has children and bills to pay. I know that with my budget being tight, I have stretched out my time between haircuts and my husband does his and my sons at home to save money. Our daughters have left their hair longer than they usually do.Yet, if we are sick or in need of hospitalization, we have little choice. Compromise on haircuts, but not healthcare.

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I apologize for offending anyone. I didnt mean anything by it, but asking a question like that on a NURSING website, what sort of responses did you expect? I think that its obvious you have people skills which is why the question between hairdressing and nursing. Yes, its important to do what you love, but the reality is when there are bills to pay and kids to care for, you need to see what will offer you the steadiest employment. The economy can affect how well you do with hairdressing more so than with nursing. That is where I see being on your feet all day for about $25-30 an hour is worth more than being on your feet all day cutting hair for much less. And to whomever posted about knowing people who make WAY more than a nurse being a hairstylist, I am wondering if its because they own the salon or if they are a stylist in Greenwich, Ct.??? Because that is quite rare.

Yes, we should all do what we love, but unfortunately that doesn't always work well when you have to pay a mortgage and have kids to care for.

again, i am sorry if I came off a bit strong. Its a nursing website, you are going to encounter people who are passionate about nursing. I think its going to provide far more job security. I also have a friend whos a hairdresser and her husband set up a salon in her house. She is now a widow, the economic times are tough and she is doing very little work and she has children and bills to pay. I know that with my budget being tight, I have stretched out my time between haircuts and my husband does his and my sons at home to save money. Our daughters have left their hair longer than they usually do.Yet, if we are sick or in need of hospitalization, we have little choice. Compromise on haircuts, but not healthcare.

Im not offended....it takes alot to "offend" me. But, I also posted this question on a hairstyling website. You want to know what the responses were like???? THE SAME! Why was I NOT surprised? In my heart I know nursing is the path I'm to follow. But, I always doubt myself. Can I handle it? School, the patients, the politics? Im a very analytical person so this is just part of my nature to have all of these questions. I did talk to some hairstylists when I went and had my hair done the other day. They told me the same. Not a stable income, lots of hard work, and years to make money. Had I gone into hair when I was 21 that may have been a better time. But I may have still ended up here....about to pursue nursing. This is something that I alone, had to work through. Although I have made up my mind, it was a last ditch effort to hear something that may change my mind. So far....nothing has changed my mind. Nursing is the way to go. I have done home care and hospice work over the years so I am familiar with healthcare. I know Im in for a long road with school....but I think I can pull it off.

I do appreciate all of the responses...positive or negative. ;)

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Im not offended....it takes alot to "offend" me. But, I also posted this question on a hairstyling website. You want to know what the responses were like???? THE SAME! Why was I NOT surprised? In my heart I know nursing is the path I'm to follow. But, I always doubt myself. Can I handle it? School, the patients, the politics? Im a very analytical person so this is just part of my nature to have all of these questions. I did talk to some hairstylists when I went and had my hair done the other day. They told me the same. Not a stable income, lots of hard work, and years to make money. Had I gone into hair when I was 21 that may have been a better time. But I may have still ended up here....about to pursue nursing. This is something that I alone, had to work through. Although I have made up my mind, it was a last ditch effort to hear something that may change my mind. So far....nothing has changed my mind. Nursing is the way to go. I have done home care and hospice work over the years so I am familiar with healthcare. I know Im in for a long road with school....but I think I can pull it off.

I do appreciate all of the responses...positive or negative. ;)

I am glad..its a long road, but the pay off in the end will be worth it..hairdressing can be a great supplement to you income if you so chose..good luck..!!:nurse:

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Specializes in L&D.

I know plenty of hairdressers who make $40 to $60K per year. I personally don't feel that is great money after spending years building a clientele list. I work as a waitress in Las Vegas and make the same. I know many who make less, with less experience of course and a few who make over 6 figures. They own salons and have extensive clientele lists though. It is not a bad industry and there is money to be made if you have the desire. I only worked for a couple of years. I just personally did not enjoy it.

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Hey there! First off, I can't figure out how to reply to your message you sent me! I feel so dumb. :mad: Secondly, it is ironic that today is when I first read your questions. I took my A&P final today and found out I failed the class just by a few points. :( So I can't progress to level 2 until I retake A&P next semester. It's a little discouraging. Overall i'm still happy with the decision to go to LPN school but here are a few pointers..

-it is hard!!! nursing school = no social life

-you will have test after test after test it is very intense so be as prepared as you can be

-the instructors/the program in general try to make it as hard as they can to weed out the students who "really want to be there" and will "make the best nurses"

If you can stay focused, study hard, and get through the hard stuff, then go for it! It will be well worth it in the end. The way I see it is they are both awesome careers. But nursing IMO would be way more fulfilling than cosmetology. Cosmetology school was way easier and felt "fun" everyday and nursing school is hard and stressful. You just have to weigh the pros and cons. Good luck on your test and whatever you decide. Just be prepared for them to freak you out when you start nursing school and don't let it scare you. They are doing it on purpose. ;)

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i have been a licensed cosmetologist for 12 yrs, i am now starting my endevour to become a nurse. hair school is a lot of fun. just the prereqs for nursing school are harder than anything you will learn in hair school! i am not the breadwinner for my family and there is no way i could support my three kids will my salary. there is money in color but there is also liability too. and as other posters have said the economy is not so pretty right now, people are not getting services done like they usto. in the end you have to do what makes you happy, i wouldn't trade becoming a hairdresser i have met some amazing people but 12 yrs later i have a sore back, and corpol tunnel in my wrist and i personally think nursing hours would be better than hairdresser hrs, i work evening till 9pm at least twice a week and weekends, you just have to be there when your clients can come in. i wish you,luck in your decision in the end only you can decide whats best for you. good luck!!

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you won't make a lot as a hairstylist. very few make a "good living". and six figures, give me a break. RARE RARE RARE.

lots of people are hairstylists - it doesn't take a lot of brain work to become one. (not insulting them, just the truth). and because there are SO many hairstylists out there, your likelihood of building up a colid clientele is not very good

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I had to laugh at the title. Partly because I've always thought I'd like to be a hairstylist. Actually, I wanted to be a barber. Ever since I heard my sister-in-law talk about how when she was bumming around France she earned money by giving haircuts on the beach on the French Riviera. Yeah, that's the life for me!

When I was thinking of getting into nursing school, I was also considering funeral director. And even though I'm now a senior in a 4 year program, I sometimes wonder if I shouldn't have gone in that direction. There is a point of no return with this pursuit of a BSN, and I'm way past it. So, for better or worse, I'll get my RN. What I do with it remains to be seen. So, go for the hairdressing if you want to do somehting a little less stressful and have time to spend with your kids. Or, get an LPN and do that for awhile. There's nothing stopping you from buying a foundational nursing text and reading about it now.

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I just know if I try to do the community college program It will take me 5 years....I'd like to get out working so Im inclined to do the LPN. Yes, If I go into nursing I want to be an RN but I'd also like to get out and work sooner than later.

Hey sassiebaz,

I was wondering if you have talked with your academic adviser about Nursing Internships. Now, I don't know how it may or may not be in your area, but, my cousin is in nursing school and she works at a hospital as a nurse intern. She makes decent money, works part-time around her classes, and gets experience. The only requirement to get into the nurse internship was completing the first semester of the nursing program (after the pre-reqs). She assists the nurses and makes good money while still working on her RN.

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