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The benefits of being a mobile hairdresser
October 19, 2023
You might be used to your hairdressing clients coming to you – but have you ever considered going to your clients instead as a mobile hairdresser?
If you feel shackled by salon life, want to start a small business and don’t mind travelling, then setting up a mobile hairdressing operation just might be the career change you’re looking for. As well as giving you flexibility in what you do, where you do it and when you do it, you can also reach out to a market of people who want great styling, but don’t have the time to make it to a salon.
This blog highlights 11 of the biggest benefits of being a mobile hairdresser. You’ll get inspiration on why it’s worth branching out with your own small business, how it can enable you to unleash your creativity, and how it can give you a platform to take your career to the next level.
You can be your own boss
If you’ve never been self-employed before, then you’ve never experienced just how liberating it can be to work for yourself. It means you can say goodbye to micromanaging bosses breathing down your neck, bid farewell to workplace gossip and politics, and steer clear of all the horrible little jobs that ruin your day. Instead, within reason, you can shape your own working life and put your own enjoyment and career development goals first, without having to get permission from anyone first.
You can work where and when you want (within reason!)
Now, there are two sides to this particular coin that you should be aware of when starting out as a self-employed mobile hairdresser. The first is that you can absolutely work where and when you want, helping you fit your work around your other commitments (for example, picking kids up from school or caring for a relative).
However, you will need to be flexible to a certain extent in order to make the most of your potential. For example, many clients wanting mobile hairdressing services do so because they’re too busy with work and home life to make it to a salon. Therefore, they’ll primarily be looking for appointments at evenings and during weekends, so you’ll need to be open to working less sociable hours to take full advantage of this segment of customers.
You can pursue styles that interest you
No longer do you have to be constrained by the same old styles that salon customers want – being your own boss means you can set the rules and be creative. If you want to express yourself with your own signature styles, then this is your opportunity to do it, and potentially build a good reputation in your community in the process. It can also help you stand out from the crowd if you have plenty of competition in the area.
You can keep the rewards of your hard work
It can be incredibly frustrating to work hard for an employer and feel like you aren’t getting the rewards you deserve. This is particularly the case if you work for someone who likes to show off the new car they’ve bought or the nice holiday they’ve just been on. But if you work for yourself, your earning power is directly linked to your talent, ambition and dedication. If you’re good at what you do and you’re willing to put the effort in, you’ll be rewarded for it.
You can get variety in your day-to-day work
Salon work can sometimes be pretty mundane: you do the same old treatments day after day, and feel like you’re stuck in the same old routine. But when you’re a mobile hairdresser, then no two days are the same: you’ll get to work from a different environment every day, and treat different customers who want hair styling for all sorts of different reasons. This can help you keep things fresh and maintain your motivation and enthusiasm for your work.
You can explore niche business opportunities
Many successful mobile hairdressers have found particular success in branching out and specialising in a certain type of styling. For example, if you live in a diverse community, then you may have the option to specialise in treatments and styles that are best-suited to Afro-Caribbean hair characteristics. Alternatively, you could focus on weddings, and provide a full day of cuts and styles for the bride and all her bridesmaids in one go. These are just two of the specialisms which can help you appeal to a specific audience and gain more variety than the same repeat business every week or month.
You can give customers the best service
Being able to travel to a customer’s home to give them the style they’re looking for is a real positive from a customer service perspective. It means that they can feel more comfortable in their own surroundings, put their own music on, and avoid the stress of traffic and parking when travelling to the salon. At your end, you can go the extra mile by asking customers at the time of booking if they have any specific requests (such as in a special box on an online booking form). Being able to cater for their preferences will make them feel even more positive about their experience with you.
You can get started for minimal outlay
The costs involved in getting yourself started up as a mobile hairdresser are relatively small compared to other business enterprises. Perhaps the biggest is that you’ll need your own car, although you may well have one already. Beyond that, you’ll also need your own equipment such as scissors and appliances, as well as investing in a full range of products that you think you’ll need to use. And one other investment that you shouldn’t neglect is insurance.
You can find time to gain skills and qualifications
If you’re working full-time in a salon, it can be very difficult to find the time to focus on yourself and work on career development. After all, if you’ve just done a long day’s work, the last thing you’ll feel like doing when you get home is studying! Being self-employed, however, makes it much easier for you to build this valuable time into your schedule. If there are new skills you want to learn, or you want to boost your qualifications and credentials, you have a better chance to work towards future career success.
You can build your personal brand
In the health and beauty sector perhaps more than any other, personal branding is absolutely critical. When clients are looking for a new stylist, whether it’s one in their local area or one who specialises in certain cuts and styles, social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook and TikTok will most likely be the first place they’ll look. If you don’t have a strong presence on these platforms, with a showcase of some of your best work and information on what you do, then you’ll be losing business to your more social-media savvy competitors.
You can boost your standing in your community
If you can gain a good reputation for creativity, reliability and professionalism in your local area, then you’ll quickly stand out as one of the leading mobile hairdressers in your community. You can boost this reputation even further by getting involved in some community events, such as setting up a stand at festivals, and advertising promotions and discounts in some local publications. And while social media is all-important, don’t overlook the power of traditional advertising such as leaflets and posts on notice boards: these can be particularly effective with older clients who generally don’t use social media as much.
Get your hairdressing insurance from Protectivity
As you’ve read in this blog, there’s lots to enjoy about becoming a self-employed mobile hairdresser. But like any small business enterprise, there could well be some stumbling blocks along the way, and in the worst-case scenario, could cost you a substantial amount of money.
The best way to protect yourself against this financial harm is through wide-ranging hairdressing insurance, which Protectivity provides for hundreds of ambitious stylists just like you. With our affordable cover, you can protect yourself and your business from loss, theft or damage of your own professional property and equipment; and any damage accidentally caused at the home of one of your clients.
Mobile Hairdressing insurance starts at just a few pounds a month. Take two minutes today to find out more, when you get a quote online.
This blog has been created as general information and should not be taken as advice. Make sure you have the correct level of insurance for your requirements and always review policy documentation.
