The Aspiring Stylist with Tracey Franklin

Morgan Franklin: Welcome to the
Aspiring Stylists Podcast with

Tracey Franklin. Where to begin,
grow and aspire to become the

best stylist you can be. Whether
you're thinking about becoming a

stylist opening a salon, or
developing your skills as an

experienced stylist the next
step of your beauty career

starts here. Each week we'll
discuss strategic ways to

design, plan and execute on
becoming a stylist that excels

behind the chair and above the
bottom line. Here's your host,

Tracey Franklin.

Tracey Franklin: So I know that
if you listen to my podcasts,

you might have heard this story
before. But it's a really

special story to me, because I
just opened my own barber and

Beauty Academy. And that's the
story of me entering this

industry. I definitely feel like
this story is worth telling

again, because I think that
people find ourselves in these

spaces and times in their life
where something is about to

shift, and big time, it is about
to shift big time. And that's

what entering this industry was
for me. So I really wasn't

looking for a barber or a beauty
school. And I know that this

will sound a little bit far
fetched. But I believe it found

me I believe it found me when I
didn't even know what I was

looking for. I was definitely at
a very pivotal place in my life,

I was between jobs. And I really
wasn't sure if I even wanted to

return to a career that I had
poured seven plus years into. So

I was driving by and something
inside caught my attention.

There was a group of students
just standing around, I really

don't even know what they were
doing. But they were gathered

around. And they were talking
and they were laughing. And I

just thought to myself, they
look so happy, like something

about what I was seeing made me
want to go inside. So I went

home and I talked to my partner
about it. And beauty school

seemed a little out of reach. I
mean, I had to work right, I had

two kids at home. And you know,
it just didn't seem like an

option to go to school full
time. But I put pen to paper.

And it turns out with what few
resources I had, and a little

help from my family, and
honestly a whole lot of

dedication and hard work, I was
able to start my barber school

journey. So if I could give
myself one piece of advice of

what to look for in a beauty
school, especially now looking

back, you know, I mean, I had a
great school experience. But now

that I have 20 plus years in
this industry and a school of my

own, I can definitely see the
holes in what and how today's

future beauty professional
typically learns. A student

today should be looking well
beyond the book work and the

test prep, there is a lot more
required of us now and you need

to be prepared. Today's student
needs to know how to take

pictures and how to caption them
and what time of day it will get

the most traction, we need to
know what setting a goal looks

like and when we should raise
our prices. And we also need to

know how to interview for a job
and how to have a decent

consultation with our clients.

And these are all the things
that really successful people

are doing behind the chair. And
there are far too many students

that leave school without this
skill set that they really need.

So I want to talk about why this
topic is so important for

aspiring beauty professionals,
we as seasoned stylist need to

pay it forward and pour into
this generation. They are who

will be passing the baton to, to
the ones who keep all the

lessons that we've learned along
the way in motion. So find

someone to mentor be the someone
that you wish you had in the

beginning. So starting strong
and off on the right path from

the beginning puts you miles
ahead of someone that doesn't

take the time to acquire the
skills, you'll establish the

Habits of Successful people
early on, instead of trying to

develop them later. Starting in
a growth mindset takes

commitment. And it's not usually
very comfortable. In fact, it's

almost never comfortable. I was
very uncomfortable with being on

video a few years ago, but now
video is how people find you and

connect with you. So not doing
it is detrimental. I had to get

uncomfortable and I had to get
good at it if I was going to

continue being successful. Most
of you probably found this

podcast from one of my videos,
right? I understood the

assignment and I got to work and
now it's just another part of

the job. So I guess the question
is Could this really even change

how far you go in the beauty
industry? Isn't it more about

your skills? Isn't it more about
your talent? Knowing what

matters in our industry can
affect how far you go and what

matters even more is staying
open to the changes that are

bound to come because funny they
are they're coming this industry

will keep you on your toe so do
not sit still you have to learn

to evolve and you have to learn
to pivot as many times as it

takes. So it is where you go to
beauty school even really

matter. I think so I believe
that choosing a school Will is a

very important decision. And I
realized that being able to

choose is a privilege. Sometimes
we don't have more than one to

choose from in our area, and
some schools cost more than

others. So having options is
great, but it's not possible for

everybody. And at the end of the
day, you can be successful. No

matter where you go to school.

The most important thing that
you bring with you every day, no

matter where you enroll is going
to be your mindset. A good one

will take you far, no matter
what your circumstances are, and

a bad one will do the same. It's
up to you to choose what

direction your mindset takes
you. Getting the most out of the

school is going to require you
showing up as the best and most

determined version of yourself
every single day. Having a

lucrative and passion filled
career will demand the same. So

why don't you just start now. So
if you want to be the best at

something you need to learn from
the best in the industry. And I

feel like seasoned well rounded
stylists make the best

instructors not to say that it's
the only criteria but you are

able to bring a lot of
perspective to the classroom and

the students salon. A lot of
real world experience lends

itself well to students who are
trying to navigate this

industry. In Tennessee, you have
to have had your license for

three years and you have to
complete a 300 hour instructors

program and pass a test to
become a licensed instructor.

And I think that although it's
not a difficult process, it does

require enough EPOR to at least
detour people that may not be

really qualified for the job. So
how can a student even tell if

instructors have real world
experience? I think a student

can tell if an instructor has
experienced by how up to date

their own skill set is if an
instructor is knowledgeable

about what's trending and what
is really going on in the world

of beauty today. It's not that
hard to spot. Typically it also

shows up in their own appearance
and the way they color and style

their own hair. It will show up
big time in their interactions

with clients and experienced
stylists will know how to

conduct and teach others how to
conduct a proper consultation.

No one is born graded this guy's
it has to be learned and someone

with low client interaction may
not be as suited to handle the

challenges that can occur in the
salon or behind the chair. I

think good student teacher
ratios are really important. If

you have too many students
running around relying on one

teacher to help them with color
formulations and checking

haircuts and helping someone
that stumped on the curriculum

in the classroom you are really
going to wear this instructor

out. In Tennessee the ratio is
15 students to one instructor,

to many students per instructor
can create a lot of stress on

the instructor and a lack of
quality and education for the

students quality instructor can
be defined in my opinion, as

someone who really cares about
the industry and wants to

instill that in the students,
you have to have the same

characteristics that a lot of
teachers have kindness and

patience. For me, I love the
look on their face when

something clicks when they get
it. For me that is the magic.

And parting my wisdom and
experience to the students is

something I'm very passionate
about. And it brings me a lot of

joy. So touring the school isn't
something that I really even

considered before I opened a
school because the school that I

went to was kind of on the small
side, it wasn't really like a

tour, you know, like you walked
in, you looked around and what

you saw was what you got. But
facilities I think are bigger

now. And I do recommend taking a
tour. I mean, you're going to be

spending a year or more in this
facility and what you choose

matters. So I would choose to do
an in depth tour of the

facility. I think that's a
really great place to start and

you want to be looking for
things like is the equipment up

to date and in good working
order? Is there plenty of space

for each student is the color
bar stocked. There's so much to

look for and so much to ask. A
tour should cover the basics of

the course including the
schedule curriculum, and

definitely the cost of the
program. But a prospective

students should go in with their
own list of questions. You need

clarity on the things that
matter most to you. I'm always

so impressed when students come
in prepared with questions.

Those are the students I'd like
to have in my school. They're

focused and they know what
they're looking for in their

school and in their future
career. So now you can do a

virtual tour and are they just
as good as an in person tour? In

my opinion? No, but I'm a big
energy person meaning for my big

decisions. I don't really rely
on what I see on the internet

and social media to get a feel
for things. I have to be there

in person. I want to take it all
in and feel the energy of the

place. So I think virtual tours
are great during the research

phase. But when it comes down to
signing on the dotted line you

need to go in and person and
check things out. So red flags

are obviously something you want
to keep your eye out for on the

tour. Do the students look
miserable or unfriendly? Is the

school dirty? Is it really
crowded and our products a

scarcity like where are the
products? I mean things like

this are all things that would
really give me pause. So

defining a quality facility
looks like it being properly

staffed clean and welcoming with
a very good energy when you walk

in the instructors and students
should be engaged and look like

they enjoy what they're doing. A
good facility will be happy to

sit down with you and answer any
questions and they'll also

happily boast about what sets
them apart, what makes them

special and why you need look no
further for a school. If they're

not doing that than to me that's
a red flag. So let's talk about

the basics. The curriculum, a
barber and cosmetology program

in the state of Tennessee is
both 1500 hours they both cover

a wide range of courses. In
either of them, you will learn

about hair, skin and nails. The
only real difference between the

program lies more in the
differences in the schools than

in the curriculum itself. For
example, there is a

misconception that barbers focus
on men and cosmetologist, focus

on women. And that's simply not
the case. Either license will

allow you to focus on whatever
you want to focus on. I'm a

Master Barber who focuses on
high end color and hair

extensions. But I can also turn
out a good fade, it's just not

my focus. You can also
specialize in cosmetology

schools, a lot of them have nail
and aesthetic programs as well.

So if you know specifically, you
want to focus on nail or

skincare services, you can save
yourself some time and money by

getting one of these specialty
licenses. These programs are

typically 600 hours, especially
in the state of Tennessee, and

they cost half as much. So as
specializing better, or should

you just go for the whole
enchilada, I don't think one is

better than the other. It's just
about knowing what you want out

of your education and what you
want your future career to look

like. If you are unsure, the
whole enchilada may be the best

and then you can go in and
specialize later. Or if you feel

like being a nail technician or
an esthetician is the right

route for you, then it's
important to know that as well.

If a school offers any extra
certifications, such as hair

extensions, Brazilian blowouts,
or extra nail and skincare

enhancements, then they're
probably going to bring that up

during the tour. I mean, we
certainly do. So what about red

flags when it comes to the
curriculum and the programs? I

mean, most schools are going to
use a state approved curriculum

for the basics. It's the extras
that really add the value. So

again, make sure and ask those
questions. All these curriculums

and any school that you choose,
you can count on them helping

you prepare for state boards. No
matter what type of school you

go to, they will prepare you for
the state board exam. It's the

bread and butter for the
schools. We are rated by our

past and placed students meaning
we look better to our

accrediting boards when our
students pass the exam and find

employment. So yeah, all schools
are going to definitely be

highly focused on that. So let's
talk about the typical tuition

costs and what that might
include tuition ranges wildly. I

mean, depending on the program
and the school that you choose,

you could be looking at anywhere
from $6,000 all the way up to

$20,000. For tuition, what's
included in that tuition is

really up to the school itself.

So that varies a lot as well. So
do schools offer scholarships

and financial options.

Sometimes, accredited schools
will typically not offer these

in house scholarships due to the
fact that they have been

approved to accept state funded
money and grant money. So it's

typically just not necessary.

That's not to say that you can't
apply for private scholarships

and still receive them that's
just typically done outside of

the school. But a newer school
like mine, like a spire has not

been open long enough yet to
receive accreditation. So in

house scholarships are very
common. And you know, we got to

keep our enrollment up and help
aid the students who are cash

pay and working hard to put
themselves through school. So

paying for tuition in most
cases. I mean, if you're lucky,

you have a mom and or dad
willing to help. Notice I say

willing, some parents still feel
like college is best for their

kids. And I'm not knocking
college I mean such a great

opportunity. But for someone who
knows that their future is in

the beauty industry, it feels
like a waste of time. I've hired

and enrolled so many students
that went to college got their

degree and still found their way
back to beauty school. So what

about the students with no help
from family, don't take out

private loans or work to put
themselves through school. I

have to be real with you. I'm so
inspired by the students who do

whatever it takes to follow
their dreams. It takes a lot of

grit, perseverance, and probably
a lot of coffee to get through a

season of your life that
requires so much of you. So will

go into a better school actually
have a higher return on your

investment for your education. I
mean, just going to a more

prestigious school really
matter. I'm gonna say something

that won't be popular among
everyone, especially the schools

that are playing small. And by
playing small I mean chasing the

money packing way too many
students into the facility doing

the bare minimum with the
curriculum and having wait Too

many students relying on one
instructor. This is putting

profit before people and there
is no room for that in quality

education. I own a really
beautiful Academy. I mean, if

you've never checked us out, go
to our website at Aspire barber

and beauty.com. Or check us out
on Instagram at Aspire barber

and beauty. I'm very proud of
our state of the art facility.

But that's nothing compared to
the quality of education I'm

providing for my students. I
feel like they and every student

deserves to be prepared and to
be set up for success. It's our

job and too many educators, in
my opinion, don't take that job

seriously enough. So how do we
budget and manage our finances

while we're attending Beauty
School, I mean, paying for

beauty school out of our own
pocket is going to take some

serious discipline and planning,
right? I mean, you're more than

likely going to be responsible
for a chunk of your tuition

upfront, and then the rest will
be broken down into payments. So

you will need to make sure that
you have a budget in place that

includes what you need to live
on along with your monthly

payment to the Academy. And
don't forget to budget

entertainment, please do not
forget, you're working so hard.

Don't forget to reward yourself,
you know, but only what you can

afford. Don't rack up a bunch of
debt because even as a licensed

stylist, it can take up to a
year before you're established

long enough to really live on
hair alone. Most schools will

offer a full time or a part time
program and when it comes to

paying the life of your loan
with the school is going to be

completely up to them. You know,
they get to decide how long you

can drag out your payments and
whether being part time buys you

more time financially. So where
do you even start with your

research? I mean, start your
research at the beginning and

locate all the schools in your
area or any area that you're

willing to relocate to check
them out online first. I mean,

do they have a good website? Do
you like the products that they

use? Are their financial
requirements posted? And if so

can you meet them? Find out what
you can online first, and then

hit the pavement, pick your top
three schools based on your

research and book your tours,
find some schools with great

reviews, I mean reviews or
grading gives you an anonymous

look into people's experience.

So I recommend reading several
of them and be on the lookout

for any information that you can
get from students and the

clients that have been to this
school, you're going to spend a

lot of time here and you should
definitely make sure that it's

going to be a successful venture
for you. So if you're able to

find some alumni or stylists
that you know that went to this

school, you might want to pick
their brain or maybe ask your

own stylist what they think
about the schools on your list.

Hopefully they know something or
have heard something about them

and can add some value. Okay, so
let me share my final thoughts

on how I feel like this is going
to shape your career. I mean,

I'm always happy to impart some
wisdom and share my point of

view on these topics. But at the
end of the day, what you need to

have a successful school
experience and a successful

career already lives inside of
you. And that's your attitude

toward it all. So show up, show
out and celebrate yourself and

celebrate your classmates too.

Morgan Franklin: Thank you for
joining us on this episode of

anytime soon. The Aspiring
Stylist Podcast with Tracey

Franklin. If you enjoyed
listening and you want to hear

more, make sure you subscribe on
Apple Podcast, Spotify or

wherever you find your podcasts.

The Aspiring Stylist Podcast
with Tracey Franklin is a Morgan

Franklin Production. Today's
episode was written and produced

by Morgan Franklin editing and
post-production by Mike

Franklin. Want to find out more
about Tracey and the Aspiring

Barber and Beauty Academy go to
aspirebarberandbeauty.com