i worked for a smart style directly out of school for about three years.

it's definitely a good place to start out at, as long as you actually try to learn. i worked in one of the busiest salons in pennsylvania, and my speed shows for it. but, speed isn't everything, i've learned quite a few 'short cuts' that i am currently unlearning.

majority of the clientele, at least in my area, were completely normal, rational, everyday people.. but then there we're the very 'backwoods walmart customers' as well. i've cut my fair share of mullets/feathered cuts.

its cheap and you have to really work your ass off to make any sort of paycheck. when i started the commission base started at 40%, with retail at 10%, people who were hired less than a year after me only got 8% of retail. a year later it was 38% and 5% of retail.. telling.

when i started i had a great manager. she was helpful, friendly, and awesome to work for. we had set schedules (unheard of normally) and she always tried her best to give you any days off you needed. she always watched what you were doing, and kindly told you when you were doing something wrong (would never say in front of a customer, either). she eventually got sick of working and working without any sort of raise, and got a wayyyy better job with another company.

after that i had three managers within six months. one with half my experience that was transferred from a much slower salon in a nearby area.

i could say that i would have applied for it, but, essentially, smart style is a total dead end place to work. it's where you go to learn.. then find something more lucrative.

it wasnt the worst working experience of my life, but corporate does not care what so ever for their stylists, and they're the ones actually making the money for the company. because its a walk in joint, and people aren't supposed to wait, you're likely never to get a break. at least thats what my salon was like.. i spent three years without lunch because i got sick of buying something hot, to then eat it cold two hours later.
they're generally understaffed, and you're worked to the bone. there were most definitely days where i was forced to do upwards of 22 haircuts.

this is a total round about review.

there is no room for growth. you will only ever make as much as the people that come through the door. (to make 50% you have to do over $2,000 in a 15 day period. i was a busy stylist there with a pretty large following, but because the pricing is so low, was lucky to hit $1,850. thats working 35hrs a week, never taking a break and doing 12-15 people per shift, including juggling perms/colors/and cuts)
there are no classes.
there are no breaks.
we would often run out of product/color.
three times our hot water heater broke, and even without water, my supervisor refused to let us close and made us do 'dry cuts only' we didn't receive a new hot water heater for over a week. as someone who makes money on how much you charge (i.e color, perms), it's actual sabotage. also, if we were inspected at that time i'm assuming there would have been given an enormous fine.

basically, if you decide to work here, don't do it for more than 2-3 years.you'll definitely learn a lot, but get ready to hurt all over, not make enough money, deal with rude, ridiculous customers, and a pretty awful company that doesn't care one iota about you. you're replaceable.