Ethics In Cosmetology

When starting a career in cosmetology, it is imperative to develop a strong code of work ethics. Having a strong work ethic shows that a person is self motivated, conducts themselves in a professional manner, and is able to self evaluate. It is necessary to possess these qualities because they will determine how successful one can become in this industry. The first important fundamental of a strong work ethic is self motivation. Self motivation is the ability to satisfy a desire, expectation, or goal with out being influenced to do so by another person. Having this motivation is important in the work place because it allows one to stay focused and perform tasks to the best of their ability. A person who lacks self motivation is someone
who is “lazy” or simply does not care. This could negatively affect the way a salon is run. An unmotivated receptionist for example, may not take down an appointment correctly. This could potentially disrupt a stylists entire schedule for the day, upset the client, and make the entire salon look bad. Another key element to having a strong work ethic is having a positive attitude. Having a positive attitude makes a person enjoyable to be around. This allows for a pleasant work environment and creates a professional atmosphere for clients. It is also important to maintain a positive attitude when learning a new technique or skill. For instance, when learning a new updo, it is very difficult to make it look perfect on the first attempt. Someone with a negative attitude would get frustrated and give up. A progressive thinker would stay positive and try to reevaluate the situation and learn from their mistakes. Lastly, when first starting out in this industry it is important have the ability to self evaluate in order to grow. Self evaluation requires one to assess his or her own work to find strengths and weaknesses. This would help a new stylist learn which areas they need to improve in. For example, if one struggled with foils, they could ask a more experienced co-worker for constructive criticism to find out what they are doing wrong. This will allow the stylist to correct their mistakes and learn from them. Developing a code of work ethics does not happen over night. It takes years of hard work to build on these skills to become a true professional. However, with the right attitude, determination, and the eagerness to learn, one can become extremely successful in the cosmetology industry.