Top 10 Reasons Why Careers in Beauty and Wellness Look and Feel Good
The pandemic brought with it a pause and an opportunity for many of us to consider the all-important question: “What do I want to do with my life?” -- or just as importantly, “What do I want to do next with my life?” A Harris poll conducted for Fast Company found that 52% of U.S. workers are considering a job change this year. And for the rising number of college students taking a gap year during the pandemic, a TIME Next Advisor post reports learning a skill may be a valuable way to invest in one’s future.
At Bellus Academy, we’ve seen an increase in people changing careers since the onset of the pandemic. And as the pandemic wanes, the trend continues.
What’s driving people to a career in the professional beauty sector? The $57B professional beauty industry isn’t poised to slow down anytime soon, as employment of hairstylists and barbers is projected to grow 8% by 2028. But the reasons to choose beauty go beyond employment projections or industry valuations. Following are 10 pretty good signs a career in beauty might be good for you:
1.) You want a job that will not go away. It’s part of being human – hair and nails will continue to grow. Skin will age. And people will always want to look and feel their best.
2.) You want a job that will not be outsourced. Ever received a haircut from a robot or a manicure from a call center an ocean away? Beauty jobs cannot be outsourced. 3.) You believe in small business. Small is beautiful and the Make Your Mark national beauty recruiting website reports that most of the nation’s 1.2M salons are locally owned. We’re also noticing that trends in the world around us are prompting more people to consider beautiful career paths as entrepreneurs and owners of their own small business. Entrepreneur.com noted in October 21 that new business applications spiked 40%.
3.) You enjoy making art. While the medium might change – a canvas might be a fingernail, the palette might be applied to a face and the textile might be human hair - the process is all about art.
4.) You like helping others feel good. Beauty and wellness are interrelated, and demand is growing. Data from the Global Wellness Institute shows the industry grew 6.4% annually from 2015 to 2017, with key sectors including fitness and mindfulness services.
5.) You like to travel. Data from the Global Wellness Institute reported in 2018 found the global wellness tourism was $639 B and the global spa sector was $119 B. Bellus Academy graduates have enjoyed career opportunities such as working behind the scenes at New York Fashion Week to working as a spa/massage therapist on cruise lines.
6.) You don’t want to limit your earning potential. There is no glass ceiling in the beauty industry. Earnings are limited only by one’s willingness to work hard and achieve the goal. Bellus Academy regularly invites industry pros to share their success with our students – such as celebrity hairstylist Ted Gibson, the first hairstylist to command $1,500 for a haircut.
7.) You support inclusivity and diversity. The beauty industry has long been an advocate for all people regardless of ethnicity or sexual orientation.
8.) You embrace industry trends. From the mindfulness movement to emerging protocols, beauty is all about innovation. Most recently, Bellus Academy partnered with global spa leadership to develop a proprietary curriculum based on the rapidly emerging use of CBD treatments in salons and spas. 9.) You are a people person. According to the U.S. News Best Job Rankings in 2021, nail technicians rank on a top 10 list of the “best social service” jobs.
10.) You are working your way through school. Learning a “craft” such as cosmetology can provide a lucrative income stream as you pursue other education or entrepreneurial goals. Students at Bellus Academy can complete a program in a short time and earnings can help support goals ranging from completing a higher-ed program to starting a business. The economic feasibility is enhanced by a number of scholarships. For example, several Bellus Academy students have been awarded Beauty Changes Lives scholarships to support their career goals.
Above all, beauty is a “personal” career choice, and each person is drawn to the industry for different reasons. Learn more about all of the pathways and possibilities a career in professional beauty presents by visiting www.bellusacademy.edu or calling the Manhattan campus to schedule a visit.