I’VE had so many conversations lately with women asking the same question.
“Do you think I could start a side hustle, maybe in beauty?”
And, honestly, I completely understand why.
So many of us are looking at ways to bring in a bit of extra money but don’t always know where to start.
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The idea of something flexible, something you enjoy and something that’s yours is incredibly appealing and the beauty industry often comes up.
On the surface it looks like the perfect solution.
Flexible hours, working for yourself and helping people feel good — it ticks a lot of boxes.
And for many women it can be exactly that. But I always think it’s important to be honest about it.
A beauty side hustle isn’t an overnight fix and it’s definitely not as ‘easy’ as social media can make it look.
Trust me, I’ve been in this industry for over 15 years.
Like anything new there’s a learning curve.
It takes time to build confidence, practise treatments and grow a regular client base.
Those first few clients don’t just appear from nowhere. You have to attract them.
I actually started in exactly this way.
As a stay-at-home mum I loved being at home for my children but I also needed to bring in an income, something that could fit around family life.
What started small gradually became something much bigger but it didn’t happen overnight.
If you’re looking for quick money or something that requires very little effort then this probably isn’t the right path and that’s okay.
But if it’s something you’ve been thinking about then take your time.
Ask questions, do your research and learn things properly from the start.
For some it stays as a side income, for others it grows into much more.
Sometimes just having something that’s yours is where real confidence begins.
Our columnist Amy Evans is director of Worcester’s All About Me beauty salon and pro beauty academy.
