Need to let them know .. Can’t decide ..

[CieloDrive]

Dear MN’s,

I’ve NC.. don’t want to out myself as a couple of people I know use MN

In a nutshell (can update later as don’t want to appear to drip feed…)

Newly turned 40, single M to 2 DS’s (teens - 14 & 16)

They are in F/t education, really good academics .. grades .. thriving

We lost house through my divorce

Current life in a sentence - moved to new area .. had great job , private rent from house sale funds (lived in nice place near epping forest)
Unfortunately have cancer now. Signed off. Universal credits & PIP.

On good days I’m good actress and no one knows. (No cure and caught late .. chemo would be fatal .. have own long blonde hair and look young and ok)

I did like my Dc child modelling and was a MUA so know tricks of the trade to make myself seem more well than I am

Qualified in MUA, Beauty therapy and London school of massage (all massage/holistics)
Also near decade in looking after animals

Live near a lovely training college /salon

It’s really small, lovely, glamorous , friendly girls, and they offer NVQs and Diplomas Courses (sorry I’m typing while in between hospital appts )

I was thinking of going on the NvQ 2 Hairdressing course (it’s one day a week ) the house starts at around £3k a year .. it’s government funded for 19-24 year olds so I obviously don’t fit into that

I’m 40 .. and have cancer is there any funding - does anyone know?

Or (the lady working there) said I could apply to the similar /same as what students get on entering university .. a student loan and you don’t have to pay it back until to get a job paying min £25k .. is this a possibility and if so where or who do I go to to enquire/get such a loan?

AIBU
To re train as a Hairdresser .. am i spreading myself too thin as qualified (spent thousands and took a few years to do so.) in MUA and beautify therapy (hated beauty therapy) and massage
Many years worked manager for West End make up / skincare counters (feel like been there done that .. long hours and commute a little too far now plus lots of work and hours and not the best paid

Massage- I now live in an overspill nice town .. 20 mins train from london.. so no car .. and MAssage was clumpy and heavy (lugging heaviest mobile bed , trolley of oils and products and heavy fluffy towels including used towels etc etc .. then its not a need more a luxury service .. and lots of men weren’t the best and felt safety compromised

Has anyone re trained in hairdressing?

Is it physically gruelling?

Would they let a student come on the course who has cancer ?

Would I have to do NVQ 2 Hair for nearly a year then another year of NVQ 3?

Also I’ve heard COUNTLESS times they hairdressing is harder work than others give credit to/for and poorly paid BUT .. I recently was offered a salon to manage and everyone was paid the same £11.44 an hour ..

Then I had a lady do mine and my friends highlights before xmas .. just half head bleach highlights (we’d say more of a third of head/hair highlights!) and a blow dry was £100! the hairdresser alternated between me and my best friend and in between bleach development time she cut my friends daughters hair and in a couple of hours she made £250 cash .. she had other other fluent to go to as well.. I know it’s sporadic or can be and they have to weight up sickness days etc but even this hairdresser said she found never quit being a mobile hairdresser now as min wage is £11.45 an hour and it ties my even compete

Sorry if this is rambling or parts don’t make sense

Thank you ☺️

ps - in ref to ‘need to let them know’
the course in question has already started but they’re still willing for me to start but time is of the essence!

Need to hear any advice or either great encouragement or even the complete opposite ! And need to look into finance and loans etc but if I ‘google’ it just opens up random things (Not specific)

In my positive part of my thinking I feel it could add another bow to past qualifications etc .. and could work hours that suit me one day and can keep my illness to myself within reason

Firstly, am so sorry for your diagnosis.

You mention On good days I’m good actress and no one knows.

What about bad days?
What's the timeline of prognosis for your diagnosis?
Are those bad days likely to increase?
Is your time better spent doing other stuff than in academia?

edit to add, I'm not sure if you've just seen the £ and think I'd like a piece of that, but products cost a fortune, I'm not a hairdresser but I have a lot of friends in that line. The hours and mental and physical effort is very high, thinking of you "bad days" am wondering if it's not the best idea.

I haven't got a clue OP but I reckon if you start a thread with 'Retraining as a hairdresser' then people with the right knowledge will be more likely to read and answer! All the best with your treatment and recovery.

Former salon manager here. Both self-employed hairdressers and mobile hairdressers can earn good money. The basic rate is frequently minimum wage or just above but hairdressers earn commission on products sold and on takings above a certain threshold. Some of our full time hairdressers were earning 45k+ seven years ago. If you are self-employed, you cover your taxes, product, holidays, sick pay, pension. So that £250 cash is not stretching quite as far as you think.

It is physically demanding, you are spending a lot of time on your feet. There a quiet times when you can sit down for most of the day but when the salon is busy, you will most likely work through your lunch break.
To really make it work, you need to work weekends as this is where most of the business is. And evenings. No good if you want time to spend with your kids.
If you already have NVQ-equivalent qualification or higher, you won't be eligible for funding.