My sister is a cosmetologist. She has never really complained about chemical contact or fumes, but that may be because the salon she works for has proper ventilation. It also may be because she's a smoker, and they don't affect her as much because of what she's already inhaling?

She has developed wrist problems as a result of the motions of her job, though, and she's only 22. She also cuts her fingers quite often, so her hands are usually covered with bandaids.

That said, she prefers doing color and would be disappointed if any of her clients stopped coloring their hair - it is the procedure she earns the most money for based on time investment (she works for a salon that has a standard low price for haircuts) and it allows her a little more artistic freedom.