What to Expect from Beauty School
A career in cosmetology is exciting, challenging, and ever changing. You will make people look and feel better with your skills, and in your beauty degree program you will learn the essentials for your future career. You can take the first step to a career as a beautician by enrolling in a cosmetology program at your local community college or trade school. You will need to complete a course of study in order to earn the state-granted license that will qualify you for employment as a professional beautician. Other career options for beauty school graduates include work in the entertainment industry, in a spa or cruise ship, and beauty product sales.
How Long Do Beauty School Programs Last?
How Much Does a Beauty Degree Typically Cost?
What Does Beauty School Coursework Involve?
What Do the State Cosmetology Licensing Exams Involve?
How Long Do Beauty School Programs Last?
There are a huge variety of cosmetology and beauty school programs, and they vary significantly in the depth and duration of the courses. However, most beauty school programs that prepare students for state barbers' or cosmetologists' licenses last between nine and 24 months. If you want to attend beauty school part-time, of course can take longer. Many beauty schools offer programs in a number of specialties like manicures and pedicures, and these take less time.
Many people will find that they are able to enroll in a beauty school or cosmetology program while they are in their junior or senior year of high school, making it easier to earn a license swiftly and find a job when they graduate. But for a successful cosmetologist, beauty school never ends. Continuing education is essential to get ahead in the salon industry.
How Much Does a Beauty Degree Typically Cost?
Your beauty school tuition is dependent upon many factors, including the location of your school and the program in which you choose to enroll. If you attend a top institution in a popular metropolitan area, such as New York or Los Angeles, your schooling can cost up to $10,000. However, the same type of school can cost as low as six thousand dollars if situated in a small town or a rural environment. If you plan to receive an esthetician or nail technician certification (as opposed to a full cosmetology education), your specialized program can cost between three thousand and five thousand dollars.
Most accredited schools offer financial aid for those seeking beauty degrees. There are many resources available to help you get funded. You can obtain financial aid, such as grants or loans, to help you fund your education. If you know you'll need economic assistance, make sure you enroll in an accredited beauty school, as these recognized institutions offer the most favorable forms of financial aid.
What Does Beauty School Coursework Involve?
Usually students will be in the classroom or doing practical, hands-on work for six to eight hours a day, five days a week. This work prepares the student for the licensing exam, which can be either a combination of a written exam and a hands-on demonstration or a written exam alone, depending on the state administering the exam.
If a prospective beautician plans on being self-employed, some training in basic accounting and management will also be necessary. Some beauty degree education programs also include instruction on sanitation and recognizing certain contagious diseases. In addition, various seminars and symposiums on a beautician's use of instruments, dyes, and professional techniques might be required. A beauty student may also elect to receive additional education in the fields of fashion or style.
Program curriculum may include:
Fundamentals of cosmetology
Hair styling, coloring, and design
Manicure and pedicure
Skin care
Salon management and operation
Classroom Learning:
Part of your beauty school education will be spent in a classroom, where you will learn about cosmetology techniques through the instructors' demonstrations and virtual technology. This in-class training will not only teach you how to perform aesthetic procedures, it will inform you about several beauty-related issues including sanitation guidelines, scalp conditions and treatments, and salon management.
Hands-On Training:
The remaining part of your beauty college experience will be spent implementing your learned skills and practicing these beautician techniques on mannequins. By pretending these lifelike dolls are clients, you will cut, color, and style their hair, and practice using standard tools such as shears, curling and straightening irons, and blow dryers. You will become familiar with the most current hair technology, beauty and skin care products, and cosmetology devices, and learn how to properly utilize and apply these apparatuses in an aesthetic -oriented environment.
Student Salon:
After you have mastered basic techniques in the training sessions, you might be required to work in a student salon. These specially designed salons will allow you to try to practice your skills on a paying customer while under the guidance of a supervisor. These meetings will be crucial to your future career not only because they teach you how to perform procedures on people, but because they demonstrate how to communicate with clients. Your future success as a beautician will depend on your ability to attract and maintain clients, therefore mastering customer interaction is essential.
What Do the State Cosmetology Licensing Exams Involve?
After completing your beauty education, you will need to pass your state's Cosmetology Licensing Exam before you can practice as a professional cosmetologist. To earn a license, you must have graduated from a state-licensed barber or cosmetology school and be at least 16 years of age. Some states require that an individual must be a high school graduate, while others only require an eighth grade education. Completion of an apprenticeship program may substitute for graduation from a school in some states. Those who apply for a license must pass a written exam and be able to demonstrate basic barbering and cosmetology techniques.
Every state requires a specific number of hours that someone must spend studying and working in cosmetology before they get a license. The number of hours varies state to state, but it is typically around 1,600. Most states require separate licenses for manicurists, pedicurists, and skin care specialists as well. It is important for any student looking to go to beauty school to be aware of the state laws and regulations in the field they wish to specialize in. A few states honor other states' licenses, so if you are moving to work in a new state, be sure to know if you need a new license.
Once you become certified, you must attend networking events to fruitfully launch your career. Your beauty school should assist your job search efforts by connecting you with industry contacts and placing you with employment (locally and nationally). Remember that your cosmetology education never ends. Hair and beauty technology will constantly be changing, and you must continuously attend seminars and conferences to stay updated with current trends.
Article Resources:
Beauty Institute
Empire Beauty Schools
International Academy
