Course done. Certificate printed. Your phone is full of practice looks you’ve been dying to post.
And now everyone around you has advice. “Go freelance, that’s where the money is.” “No, get salon experience first.” Sound familiar?
Here’s the thing: they’re both right. And both wrong. It depends on you, so let’s go through it.
The freelance life
Picture it. Your own name, your own rates, your own clients. Brides, engagements, parties, photoshoots, pre-wedding shoots. You say yes to what excites you and no to what doesn’t.
Lovely. But don’t confuse “my schedule” with “easy schedule.” A bridal booking might mean a 4 am start, an hour’s drive, and a kit that weighs a ton. You chose it, sure. It’s still 4 am.
Money is where people get a bit dreamy. Yes, an artist with a strong portfolio and great reviews can charge a lot more than a beginner. But that takes time. Some months your calendar is full. Others? Nothing. Not one message. Meanwhile products, travel and ads keep costing you.
Then there’s your brand. Your Instagram is your shop window, basically. Reels, clean photos, client reviews. And word of mouth is huge. One happy bride’s cousin says “you have to book her,” and that’s worth more than any ad. Brides especially want someone whose style feels like theirs.
Now the bit people skip when they post their glam shots: the start is slow. Finding those first clients can feel discouraging. And when they do come, you’re answering messages late at night, managing dates, dealing with cancellations, cleaning brushes, sorting your own money. The course taught you makeup. It didn’t teach you any of this.
(Add your own line here, like a mistake you made early on or something that surprised you.)
The salon route
A salon is easier to start in, no question. Real clients from week one, a proper workplace, and nobody expecting you to run a business as well. You just focus on getting good.
Pay is usually steadier too. Fixed salary at many places, sometimes with commission on top. It really does vary, so ask before you sign. But getting paid on the same date every month? When you’re new, that takes a weight off.
And the clients! Oily skin, dry skin, nervous brides, the person who says “just natural” and then wants a full face. You learn fast that way. You pick up the small stuff too: keeping to time, calming someone down, working next to other people, keeping everything clean.
Then there are the senior artists. Watch how they pick their products. Watch how they rescue a look a client doesn’t like. Watch how they stay calm when the place being too chaos. If you’re stuck, you can just ask. Some salons let you try hair, skincare and bridal work too, so you leave with more than you came with.
It also costs less to begin. A full freelance kit can get expensive: products, brushes, lighting, travel. Many salons cover a lot of that already. so Just ask whether you’ll need to bring your own kit.
What’s the catch? Fixed hours, weekends, and the clients you’re handed. If you’ve already got a strong style, you might not get much space to use it. Pay can rise slowly, and promotions depend on how the salon is doing.
So, which one?
If you’re brand new, wants loads of practice, need a steady income, like learning from people ahead of you, or want to see what clients really expect before going solo, a salon makes sense.
If you like working alone, want your own brand, don’t mind putting yourself out there, want control over your time, and can cope with some months being thin, freelancing is worth a go.
And nothing says you have to stay put. Lots of artists start in salons, build skills and a portfolio, then go out on their own. Others stay in salons for years because they love the team and the routine. That’s a perfectly good career too.
Or just do both
Underrated option. If your employer allows to work at the salon on weekdays and take a few bridal or event bookings on your days off. You get to try freelancing, including pricing, marketing and handling clients, without giving up your salary.
Read your contract first. Don’t double-book. And don’t let either one slip.
Before you go
Please don’t put pressure on yourself to figure out your whole career right now. Your first job isn’t your forever job.
Think about your skills, your savings, and where you’d like to be in a few years. Pick what feels right for now, keep practicing, and stay curious. You can change your mind later. Most people do.