It's a fascinating thing, the responses one gets when revealing to family, friends, acquaintances that you are going to cosmetology school. For the most part everyone has been super encouraging and supportive but I have certainly had my share of negative responses (and from the most surprising people too) and people telling me what is wrong about my choice of career. Oy.
Which is why I loved this article, written by "Dirty Jobs" host Mike Rowe (which I have to say is a favorite show of mine). And if I ever had any thought differently before school, I know it know; a hair stylist totally qualifies as a dirty job. You work with dirty hair, strange scalp conditions, smelly chemicals, clothes staining lighteners & dyes and you are constantly covered in fine layers of hair. A salon is one of the dirtiest places you will ever walk into and, like a commercial kitchen, if it's not constantly filthy its because a team of people have been working hard all day to keep it clean. That fine hair you haven't breathed into your lungs already that is. It's also a very physical job, with long hours on your feet, sore backs from leaning over sinks, aching muscles from blow drying (I'm building incredible upper body strength!) and sore wrists from the acrobatics of hair cutting. Definitely a dirty job.
Anyway after reading this article today I suddenly I felt really good about some of my life choices...:>
Why "Work Smart, Not Hard" is the Worst Advice in the World - Popular Mechanics
