The value of the global beauty industry had more than doubled over the fifteen years leading up to COVID, when it reached a whopping $500 billion in 2019.
In the three years since, the way we shop and interact with the services and hospitality industry has changed dramatically, but, interestingly, the global pandemic wasn’t as cruel to the world of beauty as it has been to many other industries.
In fact, the industry proved to be remarkably resilient, with nimble entrepreneurs shifting sales channels online, even finding ways to adapt their face-to-face services (such as hairstyling and make-up artistry) to a remote market, in the form of tutorials, guidance and coaching.
This resilience only looks to translate into greater growth, and if you’re looking to enter the beauty industry, here are 5 exciting career paths you might consider.
A Hairstylist
Just as hair grows, so do the opportunities for work within the beauty industry. As of 2018 (pre-COVID, admittedly) there were a whopping 45’000 hair and beauty businesses in the UK, with almost 300’000 people working within them.
That’s a whole lot of potential for new recruits, but you should be warned; hairdressing and styling is no walk in the park. In fact, you have to stay completely stationary to do it properly, indoors.
If you want to become a hairdresser, you have to show talent, creativity, and be hard working. Stamina is required, too.
This thing isn’t only about taking scissors into your hands; hairdressing is so much more than that. Your interpersonal skills have to be on point, as many come to the hairdresser expecting a good gossip, but you also need to be able to read when someone wants to keep things cordial but quiet.
You’ll also need to keep updated on the latest hair trends, and have your own locks looking luscious, too. If you’re able to tick all those boxes whilst holding a comb and some scissors, then this might just be the job for you.
A Makeup Artist
Through different periods, the role of makeup artists has changed, with the most recent iteration emerging during the pandemic seeing online Zoom tutorials providing a new income stream for these creative freelancers.
The roles and responsibilities involved in being a makeup artist are surprisingly broad, and can actually include hairstyling and even prosthetics, too. Generally speaking, make-up artists work in the entertainment industry, helping actors and musicians create a certain look, image or character.
But makeup artists aren’t solely reserved for the glitz and glamour of the stage and camera. Makeup artists also ply their trade in department stores, salons and sometimes even visit the home’s of clients, to help them curate their look for special occasions such as weddings.
The tools of the trade are relatively straightforward. You may only need eyeshadow, eyeliner, concealer, foundation, lipstick and mascara to get started. That, and a keen and implicit knowledge of makeup trends, both historic and contemporary, should set you on your way!
Eyebrow Specialist
Stalking celebs and influencers on Instagram purely because their ‘brows are on fleek? Well, you’re not alone. Carefully curated eyebrows have become one of the key markers of a certain look that so many now court. In fact, in the US alone, more than 80 million women used an eyebrow pencil in 2020, which was significantly more than those (50 million) who didn’t.
From microblading to Nanobrows, eyebrow treatments have risen dramatically in popularity over the last few years, no doubt encouraged by everyone’s pandemic-prompted experimental phase during lockdown .
Tattooed on ‘brows fashioned with a fine blade, all in order to create hair-like strokes, is a treatment which is clearly not going anywhere. Why not turn your passion for eyebrows into a lucrative career?
An Esthetician
Estheticians are professionals licensed in skincare, providing facials, hair removal and other treatments aimed at improving a client’s appearance. The word comes from ‘aesthetics’ – an appreciation of beauty, and the concept has, in recent years, been applied to any endeavour aimed at improving your appearance, be it shaving or going to the gym.
The job of estheticians may also include laser treatments, botox application, and body waxing. For that, training or an apprenticeship, certification and ultimately, licensing, is essential to ensure the safety of clients.
That said, with the higher levels of training and certification required comes a greater potential salary. Median salaries in the US, where the role is more widespread, are around $40’000.
Read: The joys of working in the beauty industry
A Beauty Blogger
If you’re the kind of person who enjoys receiving free samples of new releases by major brands (hey, who doesn’t?) and is an aesthetic-minded individual keen to share their time and knowledge, then you might find the world of beauty blogging – and its closely related cousin, vlogging – might suit you to a tee.
The subset of the beauty industry can be surprisingly lucrative for those who make it to the top. As reported by Professional Beauty, the top 10 beauty influencers can earn, on average, £598,571 via Youtube beauty reviews, tutorials and tips.
That, it should be noted, is the very top end of the industry, and the average salary falls significantly short of that headline figure.
To succeed (in whatever form that looks like to you) in this industry, you’ll have to develop your own striking look and voice in order to stand out, as this is a field that’s become a little saturated. Do so, and you might find that blogging is just the start; beauty content can quickly lead to other roles, such as advertising and endorsement.
The Bottom Line
The beauty industry offers a surprisingly broad range of roles and is a supportive, nurturing world to work in. We hope you find your feet in this potentially lucrative industry!