Side Hustles for Beauty Professionals

No matter where you are in your beauty career, chances are you want to earn some extra money. The question is: How?

There are many ways for beauty professionals to earn more money. Let's look at a few.

Sell Your Own Beauty Products

You have several options when considering selling beauty products you create. Any unique cosmetology skills you have could be turned into a lucrative business!

Before diving in, though, you need to do your research to avoid legal issues, get any permits required, and make sure you fully understand the chemistry behind anything you create.

When it comes to selling traditional beauty products, you can make small batches of your products, like face masks or lip scrubs, at home or partner with a company like Onoxa to have them turn your visions into realities.

And if retail cosmetics aren't your thing, but you still want to open a shop, you have options!

Natalie Setareh, Luxury Makeup Artist and Educator, sells a different type of beauty product: Industry knowledge. "In 2018, I opened an e-commerce store, selling my business templates to help other makeup artists save time on the business side of their businesses. This eventually led to developing a coaching program for aspiring makeup artists."

Teach People About Beauty

You know that beauty goes beyond the salon; maintenance is necessary. Plus, people sometimes like to go rogue, giving themselves haircuts or following instructions from unqualified influencers. Beauty pros need to be available to help them make good choices – or fix the damage from the bad ones.

That's where you come in.

"The number one thing beauty professionals need to do is get online. Maybe it's virtual consulting, like selling $20 tutorials to clients, etc.," says Vanessa Valiente, personal stylist and creator of V-Style.

Websites like Udemy allow people to teach nearly any subject, including hair styling, nail art, and skincare. Current classes include everything from removing hair at home to making DIY skincare products.

You can also sell lessons online via your own website or directly teach groups or individuals using video chat functions like Zoom and take payment via sites like PayPal or Venmo.

It's important to remember that offering online classes differs from being a teacher at a beauty school. If you want to teach current or future cosmetologists, estheticians, and so forth to help them earn or maintain a license or advance their professional skills, your best bet is to become a beauty instructor.

As with product sales, you must ensure you follow all laws when offering online instruction.

Make Money on Social Media

As a beauty professional, you have expertise that many people do not. This means you could become a trusted resource for people worldwide.

"Having a popular social media account, blog, or YouTube channel is essential in general. During drastic lulls it can become your only source of income. You create income by doing collaborations with your favorite brands; just reach out to them through their website," advises Valiente.

It may seem like beauty influencers pop up out of nowhere, but gaining recognition can take years of hard work. And many people who make their money on social media aren't household names – which may be a great way to go, depending on your personality, time constraints, and needs.

Becoming a micro-influencer making money as a social media beauty guru – or a way to maintain that income without the pressure of being a big name. Use your social media accounts to show off your current products and techniques. However, be sure to think ahead and create fresh content frequently. You don't want to exclusively use products that have already been over-advertised or are many years old.

Take Your Job on the Road

Working as a mobile beauty specialist is particularly popular with hairstylists and makeup artists, though there are opportunities for massage therapists, estheticians, and others in the industry.

While going mobile may require additional licensure, insurance, and other up-front costs, you can make a fair amount of money styling for special events or visiting homebound people to help them look and feel their best. You could also provide services at workplaces for employee appreciation events.

Some mobile beauty professionals go it alone or as part of a duo or trio, handling all parts of the business in-house. Others opt to sign up with a company like Glamsquad, which allows people to book you ahead of time or even for same-day services.

Be sure to make good choices in the clients you take on and where you advertise your services. Always trust your gut and stay safe!

Write a Book

The publishing field is competitive, but the world of self-publishing has opened doors to many authors. Whether you choose to go through a publisher or do it yourself, a book can bring in income. Additionally, according to Marissa Atiya, CEO of 4 Curls and writer of Naturally Going Natural: Secrets Revealed: The Curly Girl Guide to Growing Long, Beautiful Black Hair, "Becoming an author is a great way to set yourself apart as an expert in your field. You have answered the same questions time and time again. Why not write them down?"

If you have an idea for a book but are anxious about writing or editing it yourself, you can hire a freelancer to help. Writers and editors are always looking for work on sites like FlexJobs and Mediabistro.

Gigs Outside of Beauty

Help People with Daily Tasks

Are you the kind of person who enjoys doing favors for others? You might as well get paid for it! From grocery shopping to home repair to gardening, you can sell your skills to people in your community by self-advertising or using apps like TaskRabbit and Thumbtack. You can also try your hand at being a virtual assistant through a site like Fancy Hands.

Use Your Special Skills as a Freelancer

Everyone has strengths and weaknesses – and you can get paid for using your strengths outside of the beauty industry to help people who don't have the same skills. If you're great at music, writing and editing, graphic design, coding, any kind of art… Chances are, someone out there—from podcasters to marketers—needs your help. Sites like Fiverr and Upwork can connect you with them.

Open an Online Shop Unrelated to Beauty

If you are crafty, have an eye for antiques and vintage items, or are merely trying to rid your house of items that no longer bring joy, you can make cash selling things online. Etsy is especially great for artists, while eBay and Amazon have a little something for everyone. If you want to sell your wardrobe or have an eye for thrift store finds that could sell at a higher price, eBay is an excellent option for this, as are online thrift shops like Poshmark.

Become a Sitter for Houses, Pets, or Children

If you are reliable, tidy, and flexible, you might consider watching over people's most prized possessions or family members. Some jobs will occur in their homes, while others may be in your own. Sites like Care.com and those for specific types of caregivers vet their contractors and allow clients to rate and recommend you.

Meet the Experts

We cited several experts in the field of side hustles for beauty professionals. Here is a bit more information about them!