Image Descriptions: Left image shows Tasha, center-left, smiling with a group of her former students. Right image: Tasha (center) stands smiling with two members of her team at their franchised Great Clips salon.

When Tasha graduated from cosmetology school in 2014, she was offered an opportunity by the school’s owner: “Come back and join us as an instructor!” As a young stylist with big goals, Tasha juggled a full-time job at a local salon while taking classes to earn her instructor's license. She wanted a career shaping the next generation of stylists as an educator and, for nearly five years, that's exactly what she did. 

Then, two weeks before Christmas in 2019, her cosmetology school closed its doors. Tasha was shocked. With a husband and baby at home and the holidays ahead, Tasha needed a job. So she began interviewing at every salon in her area, looking for two things: which salon gave her the best gut feeling, and which offered the best pay. 

Tasha said a franchised Great Clips salon gave her both. 

We sat down with Tasha to talk about making the shift from cosmetology instructor to Great Clips salon stylist and her journey to becoming a Great Clips salon manager. She gave us the top 5 reasons she tells stylists to give Great Clips a shot.  

1. The Money Is Better Than You Think

“This might be the biggest misconception I hear from students,” Tasha said. “They picture high-end salons, booth rentals, and a full color menu. They think that's where the real money is. I used to think the same thing. When I left teaching, I expected a pay cut. But I was wrong. At Great Clips, you're not waiting around for a client to show up. The customers are there. When I was interviewing, I walked into the Great Clips salon and it was full of customers. At one of the other salons where I applied, I sat through the entire interview without seeing a single customer! I'm a go-getter — I want to be busy, and I want to earn. An empty salon doesn't pay your bills. 

At a full-service salon, color service can take three to four hours. You only get one tip. In that same time at Great Clips, I can do multiple haircuts and earn tips from each person. Customers love the efficiency and experience, where they can get in, get out, and get on with their day. The money reflects that.  

One of my stylists came to my salon after working at both her own salon business and a high-end salon. She told me that working at a Great Clips salon was the most money she had ever made. It's the steady flow of customers. It's the consistent tips. It adds up faster than you'd expect. 

When I meet one-on-one with my team, I print out each stylist's hourly earnings — wages and tips combined — so they can see exactly how they're doing. Transparency builds confidence, and confidence builds performance.” 

2. The Training is Top Notch

“Cosmetology school gives you a foundation. But the truth is, when you graduate, you still have so much to learn,” Tasha said. “The stylists who thrive are the ones who find support and training that helps them build confidence behind the chair. Great Clips offers one-on-one training, which is something I wish I'd had when I was starting out. You're not learning in a group class where you’re scared to raise your hand and admit what you don't know. With 1:1 Technical Skills Coaching, a professional watches you execute a cut, gives you specific feedback, and coaches you through your weak spots. You can ask questions and get personalized answers.  

Great Clips University adds another layer, giving stylists ongoing resources to keep developing their skills long after the initial training. 

I’ve seen firsthand that when new stylists get their haircuts checked, and they know someone is watching out for them and helping them improve, they stay and grow. They build the confidence that keeps them in this industry for the long haul. The students who don't get that support? A lot of them leave the industry altogether. That breaks my heart, because with the right environment, they could have thrived. 

I currently have two of my former cosmetology students working on my team. I hired them because I know how to spot potential, and I know what a good training environment can do.” 

3. The Culture Is Supportive 

“I have a sticky note in my office that says: Set the tone. 

That's the job, really. As a salon manager, you're not just cutting hair or managing schedules. You're creating the environment that your team and customers walk into every day. And if that environment is positive, people feel it. 

In my salon, we operate like a family. We cover each other's shifts. We've got each other's backs. Every morning starts with a ‘good morning,’ and I walk in smiling — because when you set that tone, your staff follows. Customers feel it, too. 

Cosmetology school environments can sometimes be difficult. When I became a salon manager, I was focused on creating a positive culture. We help each other. We treat our customers well. We celebrate the small wins because in a fast-paced salon, the little achievements matter. 

Every Great Clips salon manager I know puts real effort into building that kind of culture. It's not accidental. It's intentional.” 

4. The Flexibility Fits Real Life

“I'm a mom. My son is seven and he's into activities,” Tasha said. “Before working at a locally owned and operated Great Clips salon, I worked Monday through Friday, 8 to 5. It was a pretty normal schedule, but it made it hard to be present for the things that mattered during the week. 

Now, I can work weekends and take time off during the week to be at his events. I can flex my schedule because my team covers for each other. That kind of real-world flexibility doesn't show up in a lot of job descriptions, but it makes an enormous difference when you're trying to build a career and a life.” 

5. The Relationships are Life Changing

“There was a woman who started coming to me for haircuts when I was an instructor at cosmetology school. When the school closed, she followed me to my franchised Great Clips salon. I cut her hair every week for years. Then, about a year ago, she passed away. The mortuary called and told me that she had specifically requested that I come in to do her hair for her funeral. I was honored beyond words! 

You don't get into this industry thinking about moments like that. But they happen, because haircuts aren't just haircuts. The conversations, the consistency, the trust people put in you adds up. I've had customers move into nursing homes and I've gone there to do their hair because they couldn't make it to the salon anymore. You build bonds. You have more impact than you realize in people’s lives, and in your community. That's the part nobody talks about in cosmetology school. And it's one more reason I love this career.” 

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All Great Clips® salons are independently owned and operated by third party franchisees. Franchisees, not Great Clips, Inc., are responsible for all hiring and personnel matters at their individual salons.