From Stylist to Educator: 7 Step Strategy for Teaching Your First Class

Are you a hairstylist who's looking to share your expertise and knowledge with others? Maybe you're thinking about starting a teaching business or offering classes to other stylists in your salon. Well, you're in luck because I've got some great tips and insights to help you get started!

Teaching your methods and skills can be an incredibly rewarding experience. Not only does it allow you to share your passion and skills with others, but it can also help you establish yourself as an expert in the industry and build your personal brand. So, let's dive in and explore how you can start teaching!

STEP 1: Why Teach?

Before you start teaching, it's important to understand the benefits of sharing your knowledge and skills with others. Teaching can help you to:

• Build a loyal following of clients and students who trust and respect your expertise

• Establish yourself as an authority in the industry, which can lead to more opportunities for partnerships, collaborations, and speaking engagements

• Expand your network and connect with other like-minded individuals who share your passion for hair styling!

STEP 2: Identifying Your Target Audience

The key to successful teaching is to understand your audience. Before you start planning your curriculum or lesson plans, take some time to identify who your ideal students are. You can do this by asking yourself:

• What level of experience do my students have?

• What are their learning styles and preferences?

• What specific skills or techniques do they want to learn?

Once you have a clear understanding of your target audience, you can tailor your teaching approach to their needs and preferences.

STEP 3: Creating a Curriculum

Developing a curriculum is a crucial step in the teaching process. It allows you to structure your course or program, develop lesson plans and learning objectives, and add any class support for  practical and hands-on elements. Here are some tips for creating a successful curriculum:

• Start with the basics and build from there. Make sure your students have a solid foundation of knowledge before you move on to more advanced techniques.

• Break your curriculum down into manageable chunks. This will make it easier for your students to digest and retain the information.

• Incorporate practical and hands-on activities into your lessons. This will help your students to apply what they've learned and gain real-world experience.

STEP 4: Setting Up Your Teaching Space

Creating a conducive learning environment is key to the success of your class. Here are some tips for setting up your teaching space:

• Choose a space that is quiet and free from distractions.

• Make sure your space is well-lit and has good ventilation.

• Invest in quality tools and equipment to ensure that your students are learning with the best tools available. ( You can link these to your students too)

• Make sure your teaching space is clean & It also helps if the location is aesthetic and matches your branding but it is not a necessity.

STEP 5: Marketing Your Class

Now that you've developed your curriculum and set up your teaching space, it's time to start promoting your program to potential students. Here are some tips for marketing your program:

• Identify the best marketing channels for your target audience. This could include social media, email marketing, or local advertising. 

• Create effective marketing materials that communicate the value of your class and what your students can expect to learn.

• Use testimonials and case studies to showcase the success of your previous students. ( If this is your first class, just write down the ways that this particular method has helped you)

• Create lots of content around this and offer some small free classes or IG live’s that give them a quick win. After all, they need to know, like and trust you before they buy from you. i

STEP 6: Class Day!

Once you start teaching, it's important to engage and motivate your students, manage your time and resources, and provide feedback and support. Here are some strategies for running a successful class:

• Create a positive and supportive learning environment that encourages questions and experimentation.

• Use a variety of teaching methods to accommodate different learning styles, such as visual aids, hands-on activities, and demonstrations.

• Manage your time effectively by setting clear expectations and creating a schedule that allows for breaks and rest periods. First thing in the class, I love to tell my students exactly what to expect and give them the schedule for the day .

• Provide constructive feedback and support to your students, and encourage them to continue learning and practicing on their own.
  
  

STEP 7: Scaling Your Teaching Business

If you're interested in expanding your classes and reach more students, there are a few strategies you can consider.  These include:

• Creating partnerships with other industry professionals, such as makeup artists or photographers, to offer joint classes or packages.

• Developing online courses or tutorials that can reach a global audience and provide passive income. Passive income? YES PLEASE

• And when you are ready to super scale, you can start Hiring and training other educators to teach your curriculum and expand your reach.

Teaching can be an incredibly rewarding and fulfilling experience, and I hope these tips and insights have helped you get started on your journey. Remember, the key to successful teaching is to understand your audience, create a well-structured curriculum, and provide a supportive learning environment. 

Ready to finally create your own signature method? Check out my blog post that teaches you how to  --->> Master Your Method <<---- 

Let’s do it, You've Got This!

Cassandra Erickson