What To Expect From A Salon Internship
Near completion of your cosmetology program? Next step is job searching! Prepare yourselves for salons internship programs! Below is a collection of some of my experiences with internships and what to expect in the salon as well as what to express in your interviews.
Internships:
Larger salons expect new graduates to participate in an internship program. Usually taught by an educator for the hair product manufacturer carried by the salon (Bumble & Bumble, Aveda…etc). Cosmetology schools teach the basics: how to understand, interpret and execute basic forms of common hairstyles. Internship programs are designed to prepare the future stylist in specific advanced techniques to educate and tend to their general clientele.
Each program, of course, varies from salon to salon but is usually split into sections. Generally you will assisting on the salon floor during the week with 1-2 days of “workshop” dedicated solely to the assistants education (typically Monday and/or Sunday when the salon’s closed). Air forming (blow-dry’s), most likely, will headline the program, roughly 4-8 weeks. Although the amount of time for completion varies to students availability and speed, you can expect it to take anywhere between 1-2 years.
In my experience, cut and color were separated in the internship program. Upon completion of the “style” portion, you would be awarded part-time on the salon floor building ones clientele and still attending color classes on the set says. Allowing you to make money, excel your experience, and build clientele all while maintain and continuing your education. The first 1-2 years is said to be the roughest in a stylists career and it’s where people fall short and lose interest in the industry, due to the hard work required to receive ones own chair. Talk to your future salon and ask about their education program, find out how the work and work their program entails. Chances are you’ll be spending a great deal of time there, make sure you love it!
Interviews:
A great tip to keep in mind is expressing your interesting and excitement with learning. Salon owners pay for their employees education, which is expensive, so when looking for a future assistant/new stylist they want to know their money wont go wasted. Talk about your experiences with continuing education, competitions, advanced classes…etc. Show them you love your industry and are prepared to hit the ground running and are looking for a salon “home”. They want to make sure you’re going to stay.
