How to Quit a Beauty Job Like a Pro
- Feb 5
- 6 min read
Learning how to quit a Beauty Job Like a Pro can add years of life to your professional career...
If you do it right. Leaving a job in the beauty industry is a little different than leaving, say, a desk job where your biggest risk is forgetting your stapler. In beauty, your reputation is basically your résumé, your network is your lifeline, and your exit can echo through the industry faster than a bad bleach job on a humid day.
So let’s talk about how to leave in a way that keeps your name clean, your relationships intact, and your future opportunities wide open—without the drama, the shady side quests, or the “did you hear what happened?!” group chat.
Because yes, you can absolutely move on… and still be classy about it.
First: Remember This Industry Is Smaller Than It Looks
Beauty is community-based. Even in a big city, everyone is connected by someone—a trainer, a rep, a former coworker, a client’s cousin, the lash tech who also does marketing, etc.
Your exit isn’t just “between you and your employer.” It’s a signal to the whole industry about how you handle change, conflict, and professionalism.
And that signal matters.
The “Please Don’t Do This” List
(AKA: How People Accidentally Torch Their Reputation)
1) Don’t vanish like a magician
If your plan is to disappear with no notice because you’re “protecting your peace,” I get it… but also: be strategic.
In general, ghosting usually reads as:
unreliable
impulsive
hard to work with
Translation: future opportunities might quietly evaporate.
2) Don’t take things that aren’t yours (yes, including “little things”)
If it isn’t yours, it doesn’t come with you. Period.
That includes:
retail stock
backbar product
disposables
tools owned by the business
client records and booking lists
Even if you feel like you “paid for it” through your labour, taking it is still theft. and in our industry, people talk. And it's not just your employer that notices. Everyone around you notices the missing items... Faster than you'd think.
3) Don’t treat your old workplace’s content like it’s public property
This is the big one people get weird about.
Examples of intellectual property you shouldn’t lift on your way out:
branded training manuals, logos, trade names or protocols
consent forms, policies, consultation forms
pricing structures, service menus, packages
marketing copy, course materials, unique educational content
client lists and internal spreadsheets
Make your own. Build your own. Create your own voice. That’s how you become unshakeable.
4) Don’t bad-mouth your employer
There’s a difference between being honest and being messy.
And yes—this includes the “subtle” social media posts that are clearly about your workplace, but dressed up as “healing,” “boundaries,” or “speaking my truth.”
If your post is basically:
virtue signalling with a halo on
while quietly (or loudly) implying your coworkers were toxic
and your employer was the villain in your origin story
…it’s still bad-mouthing. Just with better lighting and a trending audio.
Reality check: people in the industry can read between the lines. And it doesn’t make you look strong—it makes you look unsafe to hire, because nobody wants to wonder if they’ll be your next vague-caption target. Leave this content out of your exit and rebuilding strategy.
5) Don’t “recruit” clients like you’re running a secret operation
Clients are humans, not loot drops.
Depending on your contract and local laws, actively soliciting clients from your employer can get legally complicated—and ethically it can get gross fast.
A clean approach is always best:
let clients ask
keep it respectful
don’t use confidential booking info
don’t turn your exit into a marketing campaign
6) Don’t ignore NDAs and non-competes like they’re optional
If you signed an NDA (Non-Disclosure Agreement) or a non-compete / non-solicit clause, treat it like what it is: a legal agreement.
Even if you don’t like it. Even if you think it’s “unfair.” Even if your friend says “no one enforces those.”
If you signed it, you should abide by it.
That can mean:
not sharing internal documents or training materials
not disclosing pricing structures, supplier lists, or business processes
not contacting clients in certain ways for a period of time
not working within certain boundaries (distance, timeframe, service type)
Also: don’t “test it” publicly. Announcing your next move in a way that clearly violates your agreement is… a choice. And not a smart one.
If you’re unsure what your agreement actually restricts:
read it carefully
ask for clarification in writing
or get proper legal advice before you sign a new lease, take deposits, or invest in a launch
Pro-level exit move: understand your obligations before you post your “New beginnings ✨” announcement.
The Do’s: How to Leave Like Someone People Want to Hire Again
1) Do give proper notice (and do it in writing)
Two weeks is common, but in beauty you may need more depending on:
how booked you are
whether you manage inventory
whether you teach, lead, or train
how hard you are to replace
If you can give more notice, it’s often appreciated.
Pro move: after your conversation, send a short email confirming:
your resignation
your last day
your willingness to help with transition
2) Do leave your station and your work life organized
Leaving chaos behind is a fast way to become a cautionary tale.
Before you go:
clean your area properly
label anything that’s yours
return anything that isn’t
finish client notes (if that’s your role)
ensure your tools and personal products are removed neatly
It’s not about being perfect—it’s about being respectful.
3) Do offer transition support (within reason)
You’re not required to do free labour or become the salon’s emotional support human, but you can choose to help the transition.
Helpful options:
offer to help train your replacement if hired in time
allow for training time and overlap if it’s wanted and reasonable
document your setup routines and service flow (as long as it’s not proprietary)
help create a smooth handoff for your regulars
This keeps your name golden and reduces client disruption.
4) Do speak well of people who helped you grow
One of the most professional things you can do is acknowledge the good—without being fake or dramatic.
This can look like:
“I learned a lot here.”
“Thank you for the opportunity.”
“I appreciate what you taught me.”
“I’m grateful for the team.”
Even if your experience wasn’t perfect, you can almost always find something true and gracious to say.
And if there are specific people who made your job better? Tell them. A quick, genuine conversation goes a long way:
“You made a bigger impact than you know.”
“I’m leaving, but I’m grateful for you.”
“Thank you for being part of my growth.”
That’s how you leave with relationships intact instead of weird tension in the air.
5) Do give clients a graceful transition (without creating chaos)
If you’re allowed to communicate with clients about your departure, keep it calm and professional.
The vibe should be:
inform them of your last day
reassure them the business will still take great care of them
avoid the “I’m finally free” energy (tempting, but no)
If clients choose to follow you later, that should happen naturally—because you handled everything with integrity.
6) Do ask for references, letters, or testimonials before you leave
Timing matters. Ask while you’re still in good standing.
You can request:
a reference
a short written recommendation
permission to list them as a contact
performance feedback you can use for growth
7) Pay your bills
If you owe for rentals, leases, utilities, or product, the right thing to do is pay what's owed. It leaves your colleagues with a sense of closure and peace. It does that for you too! There's not many pleasant experiences that happen when money is owed and someone has to come find you to ask for it.
There's not many in our industry that would keep remarks about unpaid bills at bay if you're avoiding them.
In beauty, where opportunities travel through relationships, this is huge.
The Exit Conversation: What to Say Without Oversharing
You don’t owe a full explanation. You owe clarity and professionalism.
A simple script:
“I’ve decided to move on to a new opportunity that aligns with my goals. I’m grateful for my time here, and I want to make this transition as smooth as possible. My last day will be ___.”
If they ask why:
keep it general
don’t complain
don’t negotiate your whole life story
You can say:
“I’m ready for a new chapter.”
“I’m focusing on long-term growth.”
“I’m making a change that fits my future plans.”
The Golden Rule: Leave Like You Might Work Together Again
Because you might.
The beauty industry has a funny way of circling back:
people change salons
owners open new locations
educators become reps
coworkers become hiring managers
clients recommend you across networks
Your exit is part of your brand. Make it match the kind of professional you want to be known as.
Final Thoughts: Classy Always Wins
Leaving isn’t just about quitting—it’s about closing a chapter with maturity.
Be respectful. Be clear. Be tidy. Be ethical. Be kind.
And if you must be dramatic, be dramatic in private with snacks and a trusted bestie—not in the workplace group chat.
Because the goal is simple:
Leave with your reputation intact and your future wide open.
How to quit your Beauty Job like a pro.
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