y for
a position as a helper in a shampooing and manicuring establishment or
with a chiropodist. Sometimes the pupil is expected to pay a fee of
twenty-five dollars or more for three months' instruction. But in many
good establishments it is held that the work of a beginner is very soon
worth something. It is not necessary, therefore, for the girl to pay a fee
in order to become trained. She may find a place where she will be paid a
fair wage for a beginner within a short time after she has been accepted.
But if the beginner pays no fee for her instruction, the head of the
establishment will expect rightly that the assistant will remain in her
employ two or three years at least so that she may repay the time and care
which have been given to her training. In a year and a half a good
assistant should be earning from ten to twelve dollars a week, and in two
or three years her weekly wages are likely to be fourteen or sixteen
dollars. If she takes some responsibility in managing the work and
workrooms, she may earn as much as seventeen or eighteen dollars a week.
In some establishments tips are allowed. The girl should understand,
however, that as a rule wages are lower where tips are permitted. It is
better for her to be employed in the best kind of establishment where the
highest wages are paid. In such an establishment tips are unusual.

The helper is likely to begin by taking care of the rooms and toilet
articles, washing brushes, combs, etc., and carrying out miscellaneous
orders. The attractiveness of the rooms depends on the perfection of
these details.

After some years spent in a good establishment the young woman may
undertake appointment work. She should choose carefully the district in
which she means to work, so as not to interfere with any other shampooing
or manicuring business. She should not take away customers who belong to
the business where she was trained. She will need to have some money
saved in order to provide herself with the necessary articles which she
has to carry with her, as well as tonics and lotions. Her expenses will
also include a telephone, carfare, printed cards, and so on. She should
estimate her expenditures carefully to determine how much she is making
over all expenses by the week, the month, and finally by the year.
The summer months are likely to be slack, and this should be taken into
account. She should arrange her appointments so that she may make the best
use of her time and