Eight or nine years ago I asked myself if I could join the growing band of colour consultants. Having had my colours and style analysed a few years before I’d found it tremendously useful and exciting to know more about my own colouring and body shape. As a teenager, I’d always been interested in fashion and had spent many evenings giving my friends makeovers in my bedroom with make-up, curling tongs, clothes and accessories! But, "Could this work as a career, how hard would the training be, how much money would I make?" were some of the questions I asked myself.
I went into image consultancy and joined other colour consultants with pretty selfish motives - I wanted to escape a career in which I wasn’t particularly happy, I wanted a job that I could fit around my children and I wanted something I enjoyed. I wasn’t particularly interested in meeting other consultants (so I thought, I had enough friends) and I hadn’t realised how rewarding it would be helping people to look their best and become more confident.
I remember the night before my first day of colour training. I was terrified! What should I wear, what if I was useless and got sent home, what would the other 'students' be like and what if the trainer was scary?! I felt like a child going to school for the first day but I needn’t have worried. The training was excellent and I learned in a very small group. The course was very structured with some theory and much practical, hands on experience and so much fun. Though I didn’t want to meet other people, one of the girls I met that first week has become one of my closest friends! I was in awe of my trainer who had a vast amount of experience and was so inspirational.
Style training was a revelation. I’d never realised that there are over seven different female body shapes, each one needing to be dressed differently. Understanding shapes and proportions, scale and fabrics and personality is just so fascinating. There is always something new to learn but the course was so thorough it gave me a firm grounding.
When I started my business I was just amazed at how much I enjoyed everything about my new job. I got so much more than I’d expected. Many of the women that came to see me had had big lifestyle changes and many had very low self-esteem. Helping them to look great made them feel so much better. They would get fantastic feedback from their friends, family and even strangers and they would come back to me almost like new people.
Some of my earliest clients have become friends - I’m always amazed at the number who remember me on their Christmas card list! Generally, the other colour consultants are fabulous too. We meet up for regional meetings twice a year to make sure our training is reinforced and up-to-date but it also feels like a social event.
So eight years on has it all been worthwhile? Yes indeed. I’ve come so far in my own confidence. Over the years I’ve completed other courses including men’s image and corporate training and have thoroughly enjoyed my time in the job. Although I need to make money the rewards are so much more than monetary.
So if you’re considering a career as one of a few select colour consultants why not find out more about image training today?