My First Year: Deciding When to Leave a Salon

We all know the theme of every great break up song: it's not you... oh wait, yeah it is. It’s bound to happen, sooner or later — but sometimes sooner rather than later — when the salon you thought was going to fulfill your career becomes a big fat... NOPE!

You passed out business cards to any stranger that made eye contact with you, posted on social media, and tried to run specials to entice customers. We are warned in school that starting out will be difficult but at some point, when you’re doing all the right things, you have to ask yourself if it's you or the salon itself. You've given it your all, but it’s just not going to work for you. The salon might be amazing but if it's a bad fit for you due to the location, atmosphere, or people, you might have to just let it go. So YOU can flourish and prove to yourself and the world who you are as a nail technician.  

You are more than a location! 

I won’t lie, I hate confrontation. Yet when I dug deep inside, I realized that to better myself I would have to leave the salon I chose to start my career at. The idea of not leaving a salon because of some sense of loyalty or they helped you start is ridiculous. It's like telling yourself that one person was going to change or get better, and remember what happened after? Nothing changed or got better. Yes, your mother was right, you’re just not going to tell her that. 

Have I regretted my decision since I left? Nope. I am much happier and my self-esteem has soared! Plus, more money is always better. I feel more like myself here and can tell I am improving overall in my work. I can relate more to my clients here and they keep coming back. 

So if you are thinking it’s time to leave the salon you are currently at, then it's probably a good idea. "They say that breaking up is hard to do." It's not so hard, though, when you know leaving is the best decision. Keep heading towards your goals, my fellow nail tech sisters, and strive to be the best you know you are! Even if that means a little confrontation along the way.

Editor's Note: Kelly Wilson approached NAILS Magazine saying she’d love to read a blog from someone who is just starting out in the industry. We liked the idea, so we offered Wilson this space to talk about the ups and downs of a first year nail tech. Tune in each week to hear more from Kelly, and feel free to leave your comments below the post.