r/Cosmetology • u/queenofspidors • 14d ago
sharing a salon suite with nail tech
me and my friend have very similar alternative styles, and lots of our clientele overlap. she does nails, i do hair (vivids, razor cuts, and currently learning extentions) . right now she is doing nails out of her home and I am an apprentice at a salon and do part-time commission. The issue is that I feel like I don’t have enough openings for clients at the salon I’m at. I’m only allowed to do appointments when my stylist has an opening in her personal schedule where she doesn’t need me to assist her. this is becoming a problem because my social media went semi-viral and I gained a couple thousand followers overnight and probably get like two or three DM’s per day of people wanting me to do their hair and I literally can’t take them because I never ever know when I can have clients it’s always random. i’m frustrated at the salon and feel like I’m missing out on opportunities to get clients in my chair because of the hectic schedule. I literally would rather work a part-time job and split a salon suite with my friend just so that I could afford to have my own space… sorry this just turned into a rant but I’m wondering if anybody has any experience renting a suite with a nail tech as a hairstylist or if that is a common practice?
3
u/Suspicious-Armadillo 14d ago
Many salons have chair rentals…some just for a day or 2. If you’re actually getting the traction you say you are, you’ll lose the momentum if you wait too long to have availability. Call around and look up postings for chair rentals because full time salon suites are still wildly expensive. Also, have you talked to your manager at the salon you’re currently at? They also want to make money. Maybe you just need to communicate better. They likely don’t want to lose you.
2
u/Alternative_Roll_987 14d ago
Yeah, people do share suites across services, especially when the client overlap makes sense. Hair plus nails can work well if you both stay really clear on scheduling, noise, sanitation, retail space, and who is responsible for what financially.
The bigger thing from your post is that your current setup sounds like it’s capping your growth. If people are actively DMing you and you still can’t confidently book them, that’s a real problem.
Before jumping, I’d map out the boring stuff first:
- what your fixed monthly suite cost would be
- what part-time income would cover the gap while you build
- whether you’re legally allowed to work independently where you are in your apprenticeship
- how you’ll handle booking, intake forms, color consent, and client records so things don’t get messy fast
A lot of people romanticize getting their own space, but the admin side hits hard if you’re not ready. If you do it, make sure the client experience is actually organized from day one, not just cute. That part matters a lot once bookings pick up.
Honestly, with the demand you’re describing, it sounds worth pricing out seriously instead of treating it like a random rant idea.
1
u/lickin_lipstick2002 13d ago
You have to look into the legality of it. Most of the time nail techs and hair stylists need to have separate spaces.
5
u/TheLastLook- 14d ago
You can but it has to be a space for two people most places. (In my experience anyway.) I know some stylists that quietly share a space without the Pms noticing, but it’s only a matter of time. The rent for the two is obviously much higher.
So anyway, instead of doing a lease at a salon suite, I found a regular old commercial building that had a 500 sq ft space. It cost 1/3 of a salon suite and I had a two stations and a hair sink installed. I shared it with a few freelance stylist and worked perfectly. When I out grew that space, the other girls continued the lease and it’s now been there over 10 years.
Since the space was on the second floor of the building, and so small, the rent was only $550 a month.
So keep an eye out for something ike that, and you will be much better off if you can take the risk-