Last year I studied to become a hairdresser. With a lot of effort and time I was able to complete my studies and now I'm getting ready to work on a cruise ship (a lifelong dream of mine). This past week many new students have started studying hairdressing at their academies, so I thought it might be fun to let them know what to expect this next year of their life.

Week One-Orientation week

Okay, you're new here, you are ready to take on whatever hairstyle they may throw your way and you want to impress everyone with your skills when suddenly you get hit with a mountain of paperwork.

"But I signed up for fun things, like playing with hair. Why do I need to sign 40,000 different papers? I feel tricked!"

This is normal, and don't worry, soon enough you'll start with the fun things.

Receiving your kit

Receiving your kit may be the best thing you'll experience during your studies. All these new things! You never thought you'd be so excited to own a cape unless you happen to also be a superhero, but then again...

Your first actual hairdressing lesson

Now you are finished with most of the boring paperwork and theory, you are ready for your first practical hairdressing lesson: Folding a towel properly.

Who knew there were so many ways to fold a towel, or that you could possibly not fold it correctly?

Cutting hair for the first time

Hopefully, this will happen on your poor mannequin and not a real human.

Either way, you will probably feel very unqualified to cut hair, and that is okay, you are still learning after all. Just keep practicing, you'll be amazing in next to no time!

Having a client come back for the second time (who aren't your friends or family)

Having your first client return is a great feeling. Someone actually wants you to do their hair again! You feel awesome and ready to open your own salon now, even if you still have six months of studying left to do.

Your first difficult client

In comparison with your first client returning, your first mean client can take all your confidence and hide it somewhere dark and miserable. Why are you being so mean to me? What did I ever do to you?

Just get over it as soon as you can. Maybe they are just having a bad day.

Experimenting on yourself

During your studies, you will find that you want to try new things on your own hair. Go for it! I personally did things I never thought I would do in the beginning of the year, like cut my hair into a short pixie and coloring my hair all the colors of the rainbow.

Remember not to overdo it, after all, you still want hair on your head, but have fun.

Your final exams

By the end of your studies, you will be more than ready for a break, and exam month seems to take forever. Perhaps you already have a new job waiting for you, or maybe you just haven's slept properly in 2 weeks. Push through and complete your studies, it's almost done, the end is in sight!

Say goodbye to your friends and enter into the real word, this time as a qualified hairstylist!