challenges as Aspie working as a hairdresser

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I love LOVE LOVE being a hairdresser. But trust me, Aspie + hairdresser = TRAIN WRECK. I have learned how to talk to my clients and understand what they are thinking the same way my colleagues would study for a math class, but I figured it out. And finally I am starting to make some real money at this. I am planning to open my own shop because I have to create a place to work.

Why?

Try being an Aspie and WORKING with hairdressers. They are so emotional! Everything is all about them, no matter how nice you are or how little you say to them. Many are drug addicts or alcoholics. Salon owners are total ego trips. A ton of them open their own salons not because they want to run a successful business, but because they can say to their employees, "you're not the boss of me." It's like middle school. Not all salons are like this, but a huge chunk are. Oh yeah, and if you take classes and get really good at what you do, they get jealous and then all the middle school crap you were so happy to get away from in middle school starts up. It's incredible. They are adults. But it's middle school. Incredible. (If you think I am making this up, watch that Tabitha Coffey's Salon Takeover tv show. I am not kidding. This crap really happens.)

I want a little one chair shop; just me and my clients. It could work. I am saving, but sometimes waiting to get there feels bleak. Anyone else (not necessarily a hairdresser: maybe another field where you work with creatives like musicians or graphic designers or something) have the same problem? What can I do? Thanks.

I cant give you any advice in being a hairdresser. But the idea of doing a job like that does sound like a train wreak for an aspie. Personally as an aspie, anything that involves working with a lot of people, customers, clients, dramatic people is a train wreak for me. So I learned after almost a yr of working at a supermarket, try to avoid jobs that require a lot of socialization and are likely to have overly emotional people. Ugh. See thats what I dislike, I can find an "activity" thats enjoyable but does not work out due to the type of people there that completely ruin it for me. I used to dance as a hobby but the type of people that "dance" are not aspie friendly, i tell ya. I love dancing, hate the people. Reason why I do not dance anymore.

Too bad there aren't Aspie dance troupes. It's awesome you have the talent to do that sort of thing. You should dance for fun with people you trust somehow. It makes your heart sing. Me on the other hand, I can't dance; my friends have asked me not to dance as a public service. LOL They recorded me dancing one time and played the video back to me. I gotta tell ya, I got some great friends. Much as it pains me to say it, they are spot on with this one. I am eternally grateful.

Like a bartender or counselor - people often come to a hairdresser for the chat that goes with it. Pity you can't give 'em a sleep gas then cut the hair from their unconscious head.

I'm a writer these days. I've had a few short stories published but I have yet to be able to pay the rent from it. Hopefully, something good will happen if I stick with it. If I'm a success or failure, I can only blame myself. My mother was a hairdresser, and she did it privately, but it wasn't enough to pay the rent. She bought a chair in a salon but that didn't last too long so she became a nurse. Anywhere you go, every place you look, all jobs will bring you pain, misery and suffering. I guess you choose the one that will pay the rent.