Well it happened. Yes, it did. I CRIED at work. Two words explain where these tears of frustration came from = hair & cutting. I've yet to have my moment with cutting hair when the light-bulb goes off. As of yet, it is still trial and error, sorry to those of you who have "gone under my shears". Just being honest.
In my new job, we are going back to hair-cutting 101, learning the basics all over again. The basics come and go and we quickly build on them. I cannot wait for my "ah-ha"! moment, believe me, I cannot wait! We are drilled on everything from our body position, to sizes of sections, to where to stand, when to bend, how to bend....then we are taught a new approach giving different results....its overwhelming. We watch a cut, practice a cut and then perform it on a model, usually our family or friend willing to come in and let us practice. I can't say thank you enough!
To break it down to understand where I'm at with this: imagine having several recipes for different foods. Everything from pasta, cookies, meatloaf and salad. In your head you understand the differences between all four foods. However, within each area, you're not quite sure which recipe will give you the specifics; oatmeal raisin cookies vs chocolate chip. Or...caprese salad vs. Greek salad. Does that make sense?
And guess how we get to figure it out...yep, on people : ) Now to give myself some credit, I'm not going to cut off 12 inches by mistake, there are basics that translate and give you common sense. However, I believe that the details make or break you. Every head is different, each person's hair is different. The wrong cut on the wrong hair could be a disaster. Why can't I just download all of this knowledge? When will the detailing become second nature? When will I stop getting petrified half way through a hair-cut? When will I stop convincing myself every cut looks like garbage?
So, to sum up this story, I cried last week after a frustrating cutting class. One of my trainers was coaching me in a new cut, I was discouraged, and the tears started. I told my trainer, I was fine, which I was. I wanted to carry on and finish the lesson, which I did. I learned from my mistakes and I remember what I did wrong. After our class, once I was away from everyone, the flood-gates opened and my few tears became an ugly mess. I was hoping no-one would notice and I could get my composure back. But, my dear trainer discovered me and gave me a fabulous pep talk. After, I got some more tears out, but felt much better. By the time my lunch break was over, I had stopped crying, had fixed my make-up and was ready for my nail clients.
I'm hoping this cry session will be my last, but, not making any promises ; )
At the end of last week, I also got my work schedule for the next three months. Life as I know it is pretty much over. My schedule is completely different. I knew this was coming, but I feel like I got punched in the stomach. Will Friday really feel like the middle of the week? Can Sunday ever be the new Friday? Strange. I know I need to earn my ideal schedule, and I will. I will. I just hope in the meantime, I find my flow and find time to live and love in a way that fulfills me. Nurses, doctors, and so many others have done it before me...I will join their ranks.
Here goes nothing. . .
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Catching my breath. . .
I began my job on September 13th, today is October 5th...what happened!?! My goal was to write 2-3 times a week, ah well. I'm back on the wagon.
So much has happened between day 1 and day 17-ish. To bring you up to speed we've covered make-up application basics, styling basics, product knowledge, natural nail training, beginning hair-cutting training, assistant training and training a dozen-plus skills to be helpfull-functional in the salon. Another proud, wonderful moment arrived in my mail-box last Friday...my FIRST pay-check. Realizing it is "pay-day" never felt so good!
I am happy to report I am still arriving EARLY every-day for work. It is getting harder to "jump" out of bed each morning and get ready for my day, the new luster of getting ready each day has officially worn off. Usually my cup of coffee is hastily slurped down while styling my own hair or on the drive each morning. Either-way, as long as the coffee gets in, I'm good to go.
Last week I tackled an area in which I slightly avoided in beauty school...nails! We offer natural nails at my salon which includes lovely services in manicuring and pedicuring natural nails. No stinky acrylics...thank goodness! We learned to file, polish, trim, cut, paint, buff, exfoliate, massage, efflourage, push, french-tip, wrap, moisturize and tone. My shaky polishing was transformed with the awesome coaching of my nail-trainer. A kind, strong woman, she encouraged me from pretty-awful to much-better in just 5 days. I had several moments where things came together, and it all suddenly made sense. I still have a lot to improve on, but I know most people get their nails done to relax. If I can pamper, listen, and love in the simple time we have together, usually my guest feels quite happy.
Model #1, a co-worker, massage therapist. She was so patient as I struggled through my first service, trimming her cuticles was the worst, I was sweating profusely and was relieved to get through it. However, after working with her, I got over my beginner butterflies. Her color "Diva of Geneva", a rich royal purple-pink, metallic...I've decided the nail color can sometimes describe the individual. It was right on. Model #1 was a patient-Diva : )
Model #2, a former cosmetologist turned interior decorator with a strong accent. She was petite, with the loveliest skin I've ever seen on a woman her age. She had great advice on life and enjoying its seasons; I did my best to hear over the jets in the pedicure tub and her sweet accent. She chose a rich brick-red color, perfect for the changing seasons. She slipped her perfectly red toes into sassy wedge-heels and went on her way. She must have been 60+, I hope I'm still rocking the red toes and sassy heels down the road.
Model #3, a former cosmetologist and nail-trainer. AWESOME. She was careful to tell me her past career as she didn't want to fluster me. When she filled out my evaluation for the service she practically wrote a novel with all of her comments written in the margins, it was a long few minutes waiting for her to finish writing. Luckily she had filled the space with constructive criticism and mostly praise! BIG SIGH! It was going better each time. I don't recall her color - which in a way described her perfectly. I hope when I leave the pedicure chair, my nail technician doesn't forget my color.
Model #4, a nanny. Model #5, a mom/chiropractic office coordinator. Model #6, a runner. Model #7 a stay at home mom/piano-teacher. Different women, different nail-colors, different callouses, different toes, and very different stories to tell. Stories of family, of work, of stress, of the past, of the future and everything in between. For a few moments they sat, relaxed and left renewed by the new color on their toes. A simple thing that can sometimes change everything. One woman said, "Now I will go home and be a better Mom!", I hope it helped. I hope the blue-color gave Model #4 confidence on her date that night. I hope the little things I can do during our time together become big things for my guests in their life.
To wrap it up tonight: GOALS. Goal at work, stay positive in my hair-cutting classes (details to come); Goal at home, to be more organized (dishes and laundry have fallen by the way-side...our home is chaotic right now...sorry honey).
So much has happened between day 1 and day 17-ish. To bring you up to speed we've covered make-up application basics, styling basics, product knowledge, natural nail training, beginning hair-cutting training, assistant training and training a dozen-plus skills to be helpfull-functional in the salon. Another proud, wonderful moment arrived in my mail-box last Friday...my FIRST pay-check. Realizing it is "pay-day" never felt so good!
I am happy to report I am still arriving EARLY every-day for work. It is getting harder to "jump" out of bed each morning and get ready for my day, the new luster of getting ready each day has officially worn off. Usually my cup of coffee is hastily slurped down while styling my own hair or on the drive each morning. Either-way, as long as the coffee gets in, I'm good to go.
Last week I tackled an area in which I slightly avoided in beauty school...nails! We offer natural nails at my salon which includes lovely services in manicuring and pedicuring natural nails. No stinky acrylics...thank goodness! We learned to file, polish, trim, cut, paint, buff, exfoliate, massage, efflourage, push, french-tip, wrap, moisturize and tone. My shaky polishing was transformed with the awesome coaching of my nail-trainer. A kind, strong woman, she encouraged me from pretty-awful to much-better in just 5 days. I had several moments where things came together, and it all suddenly made sense. I still have a lot to improve on, but I know most people get their nails done to relax. If I can pamper, listen, and love in the simple time we have together, usually my guest feels quite happy.
Model #1, a co-worker, massage therapist. She was so patient as I struggled through my first service, trimming her cuticles was the worst, I was sweating profusely and was relieved to get through it. However, after working with her, I got over my beginner butterflies. Her color "Diva of Geneva", a rich royal purple-pink, metallic...I've decided the nail color can sometimes describe the individual. It was right on. Model #1 was a patient-Diva : )
Model #2, a former cosmetologist turned interior decorator with a strong accent. She was petite, with the loveliest skin I've ever seen on a woman her age. She had great advice on life and enjoying its seasons; I did my best to hear over the jets in the pedicure tub and her sweet accent. She chose a rich brick-red color, perfect for the changing seasons. She slipped her perfectly red toes into sassy wedge-heels and went on her way. She must have been 60+, I hope I'm still rocking the red toes and sassy heels down the road.
Model #3, a former cosmetologist and nail-trainer. AWESOME. She was careful to tell me her past career as she didn't want to fluster me. When she filled out my evaluation for the service she practically wrote a novel with all of her comments written in the margins, it was a long few minutes waiting for her to finish writing. Luckily she had filled the space with constructive criticism and mostly praise! BIG SIGH! It was going better each time. I don't recall her color - which in a way described her perfectly. I hope when I leave the pedicure chair, my nail technician doesn't forget my color.
Model #4, a nanny. Model #5, a mom/chiropractic office coordinator. Model #6, a runner. Model #7 a stay at home mom/piano-teacher. Different women, different nail-colors, different callouses, different toes, and very different stories to tell. Stories of family, of work, of stress, of the past, of the future and everything in between. For a few moments they sat, relaxed and left renewed by the new color on their toes. A simple thing that can sometimes change everything. One woman said, "Now I will go home and be a better Mom!", I hope it helped. I hope the blue-color gave Model #4 confidence on her date that night. I hope the little things I can do during our time together become big things for my guests in their life.
To wrap it up tonight: GOALS. Goal at work, stay positive in my hair-cutting classes (details to come); Goal at home, to be more organized (dishes and laundry have fallen by the way-side...our home is chaotic right now...sorry honey).
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