Considering Beauty School and suggestion from one of the schools

[jeri1973]

My therapist has been talking to me about what kind of career that I would like to have once I make my transition to full time. The sad thing about my current position is that I will not be able to transition on my job because of the situation.

In thinking about what I would like to do, I feel like I would love to go to beauty school and begin working in or owning a beauty salon. I have contacted a couple of places around where I live and they are both giving the green light to enroll at their locations. I will be more than welcome to come as Jeri each and every day or work each day in drab. I was surprised to learn that one particular one even suggested that I transition and then begin the courses. The courses begin on January 17th so I have a decision to make over the next few months.

To let you all know what my thoughts are: I'm leaning toward going ahead with the transition because living as a male or even dual mode is about to get the best of me.

Looks like Jeri will be a full time part of me not only privitely but also publicly soon.

Wish me luck as I make this big decision and HUGE STEP in my life.

Jeri

[Rianna Humble]

Well done on finding the places to train, I think that the one that suggested you begin your transition before you enrol was being very helpful - that way your classmates will only know you as Jeri.

If you are getting to the stage where living two lives is becoming too much, then you should go ahead and start your transition, we will be rooting for you :hugs:

[Andrea85]

I replied to your PM.

[Carole Cross]

Good luck on whatever you decide but I think the idea of transitioning before you enrol on a course is a good one, especially if you are full time at home. It will help you to focus on your course without having to worry about being outed and being able to live as the real you. :hugs:

[boardpuppy]

Transitioning before enrolling is good advise, at school you can see how you look and apply the beauty technicis to yourself. However, if any of the other students discover the drab you, you will not have to worry about doing your makeup, they will do it for you and enjoy it to the max. Enjoy beauty school.
Alice

[wino_tg_girl]

I've thought about this too.

I have a couple questions.

What is a reasonable cost for classes (complete)? I've read horror stories about private trade schools.

What is an expected salary for someone starting out in the field (as an employee)?

How much time does it take to complete school? How long does it take for certification (if that is different)? Proficiency?

What is the time commitment while going to classes? Hours per day? Days per week? Which days? Homework?

[Jorja]

I've thought about this too.

I have a couple questions.

What is a reasonable cost for classes (complete)? I've read horror stories about private trade schools.

What is an expected salary for someone starting out in the field (as an employee)?

How much time does it take to complete school? How long does it take for certification (if that is different)? Proficiency?

What is the time commitment while going to classes? Hours per day? Days per week? Which days? Homework?

I have been watching this thread for a couple of days now. I am glad to see you giving some thought about your future. Transition before going to school is a benefit to you but do not be afraid to go if you have not started as yet. You will be welcomed one way or the other. I also want to ask, is going to beauty school your only option because you might think that is all you could do or because you would really love doing it? Nothing wrong with beauty school by any means but know you can go do and become whatever strikes your fancy. Just because you transition doesn't mean you are limited to certain things in life.

[jeri1973]

I have been watching this thread for a couple of days now. I am glad to see you giving some thought about your future. Transition before going to school is a benefit to you but do not be afraid to go if you have not started as yet. You will be welcomed one way or the other. I also want to ask, is going to beauty school your only option because you might think that is all you could do or because you would really love doing it? Nothing wrong with beauty school by any means but know you can go do and become whatever strikes your fancy. Just because you transition doesn't mean you are limited to certain things in life.


Believe it or not I have been thinking of this move for many years. It is something that I am wanting to do and I know that I could continue to make a living after I finish the courses. I am also looking at using some of my other talents during the transition as well.

Thanks for your input.

Jeri

[Kaitlyn Michele]

you are better off learning a trade than going to college in this economy...

if its something you enjoy all the better

[Traci Elizabeth]

Not to rain on your parade but I would like to give you a dose of reality here to guide you out of the pink fog.

Beauty shop folks in stand-alone-stores are on the bottom of the pay scale and turnover is extremely high. Most times you are on commission or some other type of non-salaried pay scheme.

You talk about owning your own shop one day but in all probability your income will be less than your outflows. And savings will be a luxury that is unattainable. Unless that is you live with Mom rent free and she also feeds you.

[Starling]

Jeri, I understand the lure of working in a beauty salon for a newly-minted woman, but do you have valuable skills in your present occupation that you could take with you to another employer? Perhaps you might spend some time feathering your nest, and then open your own shop.

:) Lallie

[kellycan27]

Not to rain on your parade but I would like to give you a dose of reality here to guide you out of the pink fog.

Beauty shop folks in stand-alone-stores are on the bottom of the pay scale and turnover is extremely high. Most times you are on commission or some other type of non-salaried pay scheme.

You talk about owning your own shop one day but in all probability your income will be less than your outflows. And savings will be a luxury that is unattainable. Unless that is you live with Mom rent free and she also feeds you.

I am going to have to agree with Traci on this. As a TS I have seen a lot of girls who cannot find work or get stuck in menial jobs because they more or less put "the horse ahead of the cart". Their focus was more on "getting there" than it was on "how to get there". Realistically how much can you make doing hair? Enough to live on, pay the cost of transitioning, plus saving to start your own business? How much time do you have? How are your business and management skills? Do you have the where with all and stamina to run a business and transition? Even the really good stylists take years to build up a client base. Will you be able to afford a shop in an area that might be lucrative? In a service business location,location,location may be the difference between success and failure.
As an accountant I have seen a number of start up businesses fail for a number of reasons.. Lack of planning, lack of business savvy, lack of money, and lack of client base. I don't know how old you are, your educational background, or your ready supply of funds, but as it looks to me... ( and I am not trying to be mean) You are basically starting from scratch and.. transitioning to boot! Quite honestly... not a good combination for success.

[jeri1973]

Hello Ladies,

You all have done exactly what I was hoping for in this thread. Some of you have posted encouragement and others have posted items to make me think about his move. If you will all notice, it states that I am considering this and not that I am doing this for sure yet. I do have other options available and I am looking at them as well but I would like to have this option available as well. To respond to some of you about making a living and other things to think about basically I have been told from a friend of mine who owns a SUPER BUSY SALON here in my area that if I choose to make the move that she would put me in a chair as soon as I could finish my schooling and she has also shown some interest in opening in another area and if I wanted I could partner with her there as well.

The only thing that I know for sure is that am planning on going full time in January and there is no way that I can stay in my current job because it is in the religious field.

Now to open up more discussion. What kind of jobs do some of you have and what options do you all see available.

Thanks again for the information above.

Jeri

[Nicole Erin]

I went thru beauty school thinking it would be the best move since I am TS and all that.
Thing is, the independent beauty shops tend to have two things in common - they pretty much rob your ass and they all call themselves "upper-scale" or "high-end".

Robbing your ass - they will expect you to do the menial tasks like shampoo clients or clean the shop but offer no base pay. They will tell you that you need to find clients, which makes sense except the owner is gonna take 60% of whatever you bring in. So even if you did $1,000 a week, you get $400 and that is before taxes. You would have to 20 clients a week at $50 per client to get to $1,000. That is not gonna happen starting out.

Upper scale - If it is not a national chain like great clips, they can easily say, "we are an upper scale salon". Just a ploy to over-charge. It is kind of like every new car built boasting about "performance" or big box stores talking about "low prices".

Really, I think whatever success you had or lacked in life before transition pretty much carries over to after transition. I admit my job job is lame and not enough to even survive on my own but I don't think I would be raking in the bucks had I NOT started living as Erin. I never had a good career so it is not like I walked away from a $75,000 a year job to live as a woman.
Some TS women have great jobs. If you think "passing" has much to do with it, ok, say hypothetically it does...
Well you are not gonna just come out one day and "pass" and live this normal assimilated life. Confidence must be developed, you have to find the best look for you, work on the voice, and basically learn all that stuff that is not so fun or easy.

Now those who transition by throwing a lot of money at it - OK what if you are like me and have no money for surgeries? Are you gonna work for years, scrimp, save, have setbacks, and then someday when you can "afford" it then do it, or, are you going to start living NOW when you are still young enough to enjoy it best you can?