How Much Does It Cost to Become a Loctician in Finland?

"How much does it cost?" is one of the first questions people ask me when they are thinking about becoming a loctician. It is a completely fair question. You are building a livelihood, and the numbers need to add up.

But the real cost is more than the course fee. It is also about tools, your workspace, your time, and what it costs to learn it wrong. In this post I go through all of it honestly, and show you a simple calculation of how quickly training can pay for itself in Finland.

If you are right at the beginning, start with the guide How to Become a Loctician and Dreadlock Artist in Finland.

The training

The price of a loctician course varies a lot, and so does what's inside it. Things that affect the price include how many days you get with the teacher, whether it is a group course or one-to-one, whether you work on real hair models, what follow-up you get, whether an online course and a community are included, and whether there is a path to certification.

So compare what is actually included, not just the number. In Loctician Courses in Finland: How to Choose the Right Training you will find a checklist you can use.

Tools and materials

You need a basic toolkit to get started. This isn't where the big costs are, but it pays to buy quality. Good tools last longer, and they are gentle on your hands. You can see the tools I use myself in my free guide The Tools I Use as a Professional Loctician.

If you want to offer dreadlocks with extensions or synthetic dreadlocks, materials come on top. You buy them as you get clients, and they should be built into the price you charge.

Furniture and your workspace

This is a cost many people skip, and one of the most expensive to ignore. A good saddle stool, a height-adjustable client chair and good lighting are not luxuries. They are what allow you to still be working in twenty years. And in Finland's dark winters, good lighting matters even more.

Premises

• A home salon is the cheapest. You need a dedicated room, ideally with its own entrance, and no rent.
• Renting a chair in a salon is very common in Finland. It gives you fixed monthly costs, but you share the overheads with others.
• Your own studio gives full control, but also rent, fitting out and more responsibility.

A hair salon in Finland generally doesn't need to file a notification with the municipal health protection authority, unless you also offer beauty or skin-piercing treatments. Many municipalities still recommend showing them your plans for the space, so it is worth getting in touch before you open.

Starting your own business

Most locticians run their own business, often as a sole trader (toiminimi). A few things are good to know from the start:

• Registering: You register a sole trader business through the Finnish Business Information System (YTJ). There is a registration fee, and you get a Business ID (Y-tunnus).
• VAT: You must register for VAT once your turnover goes over €20,000 in a calendar year. Below that, it is optional. The standard VAT rate in Finland is 25.5 percent, so once you are registered, it needs to be built into your prices.
• Bookkeeping and insurance: Simple bookkeeping software and liability insurance are good to have in place early.

I am not an accountant, so please speak to an accountant or your local business advisory service (Uusyrityskeskus) before you start.

Your time

Time is an investment too. In the beginning you practise on hair models, often for little or no payment, just materials. That is how you build confidence, photos and your first recommendations. And it takes time to build a client base. That is completely normal, and it is worth it.

What it costs to learn it wrong

This is the cost almost nobody counts. Learning it wrong can cost you years of trial and error, clients you have to turn away because the method doesn't work on their hair, clients who don't come back because their dreadlocks didn't hold, habits you later have to unlearn, and worn-out hands and a shorter career.

When I started, I learned a technique that made my hands bleed. That cost me more than any course ever has.

What you can earn: a simple calculation

A full head of dreadlocks with extensions often costs between €800 and €1,200. It is a long appointment, often a whole day, and the price reflects the craft, the materials and the time.

My training costs $3,599, which is roughly €3,100 depending on the exchange rate. Here is what four of those clients look like:

• Four heads at €800 = €3,200. Enough to cover the training.
• Four heads at €1,000 = €4,000. The training is covered, with money to spare.
• Four heads at €1,200 = €4,800. The training is covered, with even more to spare.

In other words: around four full heads of dreadlocks with extensions can in practice pay for the whole training.

I still want to be honest about two things. The hair for extensions costs money, and that needs to come off. And once you are VAT-registered, part of the price goes to VAT. So count on four or five clients to have earned back the training. That is still only a handful of working days.

This is an example, not a promise. How quickly you earn back the investment depends on how much you work, which services you offer and how well you build your client base.

Charge for the value

Those who charge too little have to work twice as much to make a living, burn out twice as fast, and attract clients who are hunting for a low price rather than craftsmanship. Charge for the years of skill behind your work, for the quality you deliver and for the transformation you hold space for. The right clients will come.

My training: what's included

The Professional Loctician In-Person Training costs $3,599. For that you get:

• a one-to-one video call before the training
• 2 days one-to-one with me on real hair models, with me coming to you in Helsinki
• photos and video of you at work, ready to use in your marketing
• 5 one-to-one video coaching calls after the course
• guidance in our private community
• lifetime access to The Professional Loctician Online Course and 6 bonus courses
• 2 days in the salon with me every year after the training
• the opportunity to become a certified loctician through Seienstyle

Everything is taught in English. Payment plans through Klarna are possible for residents of the European Union, including Finland.

Read more about The Professional Loctician In-Person Training

Frequently asked questions

Can I start without investing much?

Partly, yes. With a home salon or a rented chair you keep your fixed costs low. What you shouldn't save on is the training, the tools and the furniture that protect your body.

How long does it take to earn back the training?

It depends on how much you work and which services you offer. As the calculation above shows, the price equals around four or five full heads of dreadlocks with extensions.

Is there a payment plan?

Yes. Payment plans through Klarna are possible for EU residents, as long as Klarna approves the plan for you.

An investment in yourself

The fact that you are asking what it costs means you are taking this seriously. I like that. This isn't a quick way to make money. It is a craft and a profession you can live from and grow in for many years.

Do you have questions about the costs? Send me an email at [email protected]. I will answer honestly, even if I think the time is not right for you yet.

With love,
Ann-Marie