Back to Beauty – A New Chapter Begins

 

Back to Beauty – A New Chapter Begins

Starting something new is always a mix of excitement and nerves — and stepping back into the beauty industry after a few years away was exactly that. I had studied beauty in college: waxing, facials, spray tans, ear piercing, nails — the full works. So when I finally decided to return to it all, it felt like coming home in a way… but also like jumping into the unknown.

I was nervous. Leaving some good friends behind to start something fresh wasn’t easy. But then I found myself working in this cute little hairdresser’s — not just a salon, but one with a beauty space tucked inside. A bit different, right? But it turned out to be one of the best things that could’ve happened.

I built such a lovely relationship with the team there. Everyone was warm, supportive, and honestly, I started getting more into hair than I ever expected. I even ended up being a hair model for one of their hair show competitions — which was wild and so fun. The salon manager was the kind who’d whip up breakfast for our meetings or throw together a curry for us in the staff room. It had such a family feel, and I loved that.

But the real highlight? My beauty manager. She was everything I needed at that point in my career — insanely knowledgeable, full of experience, and just so generous with what she knew. She taught me more about the beauty industry than I ever imagined. (Fun fact: she now owns her own salon, which is beyond inspiring!)

But Did It Stay That Way?

Well… no. Unfortunately, things didn’t stay perfect.

Trying to balance full-time salon life while still doing a bit of mobile nails on the side got harder and harder. And on top of that, the atmosphere at the salon started to shift. It became clear that the owner had taken on too much by opening this second location — and the stress? It was obvious.

Gone were the relaxed breakfasts and team bonding sessions. Meetings started to feel more like doom-and-gloom check-ins. The vibe changed, and not in a good way. The weight of all that pressure filtered down to the whole team.

Looking Back…

Even though things didn’t stay amazing, I still look back on that time with so much appreciation. It reminded me why I loved beauty in the first place. It gave me confidence, new skills, industry insights, and some unforgettable memories. And honestly? It lit a fire in me again.

Every chapter teaches you something — even the tough ones.