What “Next Level” Really Means in the Beauty Industry.

In the beauty industry, growth is often presented as a straight line.

Solo artist → salon owner → educator → online business.
But real careers don’t move in clean trajectories — and pretending they do can lead to burnout, misalignment, and decisions that don’t actually support your life.

In our recent episode of Browducation, business coach and former salon owner Jenna Carroll @jennacarrollcoaching shared insights that challenge the idea that there’s only one version of success. Below are a few key lessons every beauty professional should consider before choosing their “next level.”

1. Growth Should Support Your Lifestyle — Not Compete With It

One of the most overlooked questions in business is:
What kind of life do I want this business to support?

Scaling often requires more time, more responsibility, and more emotional labor — especially in employee-based models. Growth that looks impressive on paper may quietly conflict with family life, personal well-being, or long-term sustainability.

Before expanding, it’s worth asking:
Is this move creating freedom — or just a bigger workload?

2. Salon Ownership Isn’t a Promotion — It’s a Career Change

Owning a salon is not an extension of being a great service provider.
It’s an entirely different role.

Salon owners become marketers, administrators, payroll managers, problem solvers, and leaders — often stepping away from the services they originally loved.

Understanding this distinction early helps artists make informed decisions instead of feeling trapped by expectations they never chose consciously.

3. Numbers Create Clarity (and Reduce Emotional Decision-Making)

Many beauty businesses survive on intuition alone — until they can’t.

Tracking numbers removes guesswork and emotion from decisions like pricing, scheduling, expansion, and hiring. Knowing profit margins, expenses, and take-home pay allows growth to be intentional instead of reactive.

You cannot improve what you don’t measure.

4. Online Growth Requires Clear Messaging — Not More Noise

Standing out online doesn’t come from copying trends.
It comes from knowing exactly who you’re speaking to and why.

Artists often struggle to define their ideal client or student, even when fully booked. Clarity around messaging helps attract aligned clients, reduce burnout, and build trust — especially when pivoting into education or coaching.

5. Alignment Is an Ongoing Practice, Not a One-Time Decision

Careers evolve. People change. Life shifts.

What worked at one stage may no longer fit at another — and that doesn’t mean you failed. It means you’re paying attention.

The beauty industry offers rare flexibility. The real work is choosing paths that honor both ambition and well-being.

Final Thoughts

Success isn’t about doing everything that’s available to you.
It’s about doing what’s aligned — consistently, intentionally, and sustainably.

✨ Listen to the full episode with Jenna Carroll here → Episode 59