Should I retrain as a hairdresser

[icameonholidaybyaccident]

Hi. I'm 50 but fairly in touch with current trends etc. I need to retrain after too many years overseas and out of the workforce (used to work as an advertising creative). I'm quite interested in self-employed hairdressing. If you're already a hairdresser what do you think about it? What are the best places/ways to train? Thanks

Hi, I trained to be a hairdresser at 40 as a mature student at college. I then went on to have my own mobile business which did very well. After 10 years ( now 50) I was still very up on trends and techniques…..BUT my body was telling me I’m 50!
Everything started to be a slog, every day I got home every bone and muscle in my body ached, my back was in bits and my feet throbbed til the next day.
I started to lose interest and became generally tired.
I decided that if I cut down I wouldn’t be earning enough to cover all my expenses, ie running a vehicle, public liability insurance, tax, national insurance, keeping enough by for holidays and sickness, the list goes on.
At that point I decided to go back to being employed, went back to work for NHS, with all the perks of days gone by.
As the years have gone by the NHS has become more and more difficult to work for and now I’m in limbo!
I’m now early 60s the only hairdressing I would be able to do now is maybe 2 or 3 mornings a week in care homes.
I kind of wish I’d trained in something that is possible to physically manage up to retirement, but back then I could get state pension at 60.
Believe me, it’s not an easy option, just take a look in all the salons, you rarely see anyone over 50 on their feet all day, the over 50s are usually the boss with younger ones doing the graft.

Thank you very much for your reply. I already spend pretty much all day on my feet but I do take your point - I suppose your arms are raised all day too and holding a heavy hairdryer etc. It's difficult to know what due ruin to take at my she and having been out of the county and the workforce for so long. Good luck with your situation - sounds frustrating!

@icameonholidaybyaccident Just being on your feet all day is totally different to standing in one spot arms up and outstretched, back bent , even with the best chairs, you still can’t work standing up straight. Also, stretching, for tools, colours etc, and last but not least, clients are a nightmare, their head drops down and unconsciously you go go down with them, they shuffle and jiffle.
My friend is 58 been a self employed hairdresser all her life, did great when she was young, but now, she just works a couple of days a week and has so many musculoskeletal problems she would give it up tomorrow if she could, but sadly doesn’t have any other skills.
Not trying to put you off, this is reality and definitely needs a lot of consideration.

Yes I understand what you're saying. I think you're right? It'd be too physically demanding for me. I have an autoimmune disease too which probably puts the kibosh on that idea! Oh well, back to the drawing board.

My mum's mobile hairdresser works 3 days a week over 3 different care homes doing hair & manicures, one of which is attached to a hospice, two of them have a proper hair dressing room with a backwash, proper chair & mirror. If you trained would this be something you would be interested in? Two of the homes are for younger people with long term conditions like MS & MND.

Yes I'd be very interested in doing something like that!