Do hair salon owners make really good money?

[Blueberrymuffin8]

I think I've just realised I've spent years training for the wrong job. 😂
I studied hard, got my degree, became a teacher...But I'm now convinced I should've become a hair colourist and opened my own salon.This morning I was quoted £250–£300 for a balayage. At 9:30am, there were already 3 people having one done. My teacher brain immediately started doing the maths...that's around £750-900 worth of balayages before I'd even finished my double lesson 😭

The two people doing the colour? They own the salon. Now, I know there are products, rent, bills, insurance and plenty of overheads before anyone points it out. But still... it definitely made me stop and think!

So now I'm sitting here wondering if I've backed the wrong horse all these years. 🤣 Has anyone here actually retrained as a hairdresser or colourist later in life?
How long did it realistically take before you were earning a decent living? I'm genuinely curious... because I'm starting to think I missed my calling.

My hairdresser has a brand new car, buys bags at £400 and buys expensive clothes, so I think he’s earning quite a bit.

Doesnt surprise me at all!
Seems way less stressful than teaching. Any hairdressers out there who are raking it in?

My ex certainly doesn't but he's lazy af so that could be his issue

I was in a Facebook group with someone who said she had owned a few hair salons and been able to retire in her 40s. Obviously I can't be sure she was telling the truth as i didnt know her, but she may have been

Also to be on good money they have years of experience and not everyone is a good colourist.

My friend is a hairdresser but doesn't work in a salon as hours were to long when her children were younger. She visits clients, all cash, doesn't pay tax. She earns a lot. My hairdresser rents a chair in a salon. He is fully booked months in advance. I calculated for three clients, one before me, myself and other client he made €500, that was three hours work. He probably saw ten clients that day. Brand new car, fabulous house, holidays. I think fair play to him, he works hard and pays his taxes

my hairdresser has a beautiful house in the UK and two overseas properties They also charge around £200 for cut and colour, so I only go for the odd cut these days . I can’t afford the upkeep. But clearly many people are using them, the salon is always busy!

Fair play to any salon owner making money in this economy
The .. oh but I'm educated and I earn less
..doesn't sit well with me
It's not a race to the bottom

If he was seeing 10 clients then he must have worked a long day 😐

I suppose there are pros and cons. Whilst a NQT is on a pretty low wage, someone self employed starting out may well make a lot less. Teaching if I'm correct has defined wage progression and a low ceiling of a "top" salary. Owning a salon is completely different but involves risk. But if successful that pays off and there is a lot more scope to make a decent amount of money

After all it’s unlikely a salon owner is completely uneducated and lacking skills and brains. They usually train to be a hairdresser and then to be a salon owner takes some business and admin skills too

Don't think teaching is known for being well paid, everyone I know went into that for other reasons (though they say the ones who make the job difficult, eg non teaching managers and Ofsted make a fortune). Not sure if it's true, but I know a lot who all say the same!

That wasn’t what the OP was saying or implying though.

But he’s got overheads. Rent , products etc.

My best friend is a hairdresser and earns really well. She was poorly paid as an apprentice initially but once she went self employed bought a large house and started driving new cars etc

I guess if you’re the boss, it’s lucrative. My hairdresser charges £180 for a trim. She is a one person organisation so has no staff wages to pay, but she does rent a chair in central London, so that must be wedgy.

My colourist charges £450 a pop (plus tip), but he’s employed so probably doesn’t do that well.

£450 for a colour? Are you serious?