What is Cosmetology?
Cosmetology, as commonly defined, is the study and application of beauty treatment. There are a few specialties that are nested under the larger category of cosmetology. Most cosmetology schools offer instruction in these areas: cosmetics, hair styling, skin care, manicures/pedicures, and electrology. Most schools teach primarily hairstyling, but cover additional areas. Some schools are specific to certain tiers of cosmetology, such as barber academies or programs for estheticians. Here is a breakdown of some of the specific specializations in cosmetology schools.
Hair Stylists
This job is pretty self-explanatory. A person who cuts, styles, colors, and does extensions and straightenings is considered a hair stylist. This job requires precise training, a good eye, and strong sense of style. Being able to gauge what hairstyle would look best on a particular client and making good style decisions on often limited information are all important qualities for hair stylists to develop. Hair stylists must hold licenses in cosmetology to work on the public and the educational coursework generally varies by the school.
Estheticians
Estheticians are licensed experts in skin care. When referring to skin care, it is important to qualify that estheticians work with the outermost layer of skin, the epidermis. Estheticians specialize in skin treatments like hair removal, body treatments, skin care consultations, exfoliations, aromatherapy, and make up. Estheticians ordinarily work in day spas, med spas, and salons, but many work in private practice or in clinics. Some additional specializations of estheticians include microdermabrasion and laser hair removal.
Like hair stylists, estheticians are required to be licensed by the state where they work, but the license is not a standard cosmetologist license. Within esthetics, there is also a specialization in medical esthetics that requires additional post-graduate training. These estheticians work under dermatologists to help treat skin problems that are cosmetic in nature.
Nail Technicians
Nail technicians specialize in the care of nails and generally perform manicures, pedicures, nail treatments, and even hand and foot massages. Nail technicians are also regulated by the state cosmetology board and are trained in various cosmetic procedures related to the treatment of the hands and feet. Programs for nail technicians are typically shorter than other cosmetology courses. Many cosmetology schools, however, teach some nail care within the general cosmetology sequence.
Makeup Artists
Makeup artists apply cosmetics to the face and work in a diverse range of capacities. From a salon or spa to theatre, photography studios and film, a good makeup artist has a lot of versatility in where and how they work. Holding a cosmetology license or esthetics license is necessary to practice as a makeup artist. Training can vary, especially in the television and film industries, which require extensive training and experience.
Becoming a Cosmetologist
Becoming a certified cosmetologist involves receiving training in a state licensed beauty academy. These programs typically emphasize hair styling and general cosmetology practices and last about a year. Special programs like nail technology, makeup art, and esthetics can be shorter, but duration and intensity of the courses depends upon the school. There are a number of private cosmetology schools and vocational programs that offer cosmetology courses.
Everyone working in the personal appearance industry must be licensed by the state in which they work. The easiest way to go about this is to graduate from a state-licensed cosmetology school. State cosmetology practices vary from state to state but the practices and sanitational oversight is administered by the health department and Board of Cosmetology.
Unlike traditional colleges, which will often take you four years to complete a bachelor's degree, you can find a cosmetology school that allows you to complete your training in as little as eight months or up to two years depending on if you decide to pursue your education full or part-time.
Science – The anatomy of the hair, skin, and nails is one of the very first things you’ll learn in cosmetology school. Further along in the program, you’ll start learning about chemistry. All of the beauty products you’ll be using on clients include chemicals. You have to understand the ingredients and how they might interact so you can explain the process to your clients and make certain that you don’t make any chemical mistakes that could harm them.
Hair – As a cosmetology school student, of course you’ll be learning all things hair. You’ll learn a variety of different cuts, both short and long, using both shears and razors. You’ll learn how to formulate hair color, drawing from your chemistry lessons, and how to apply highlights and lowlights. You’ll learn how to give the perfect blowout, along with a variety of different finished styles, like braids and updos. It’s not just women’s hair that you’ll be working with. You’ll learn popular men’s cuts and styles, too!
Skin – Most cosmetology programs go far beyond just hair. As a cosmetology school student, you’ll also be learning about the basics of skin care. You’ll learn how to diagnose and treat different skin conditions, how to perform a variety of facials, and how to use different hair removal techniques. Makeup is also an important part of most cosmetology programs. You’ll learn how to recreate a variety of trendy makeup looks, highlighting, contouring, and creating special effects through makeup application.
Nails – Nail care is incorporated into most cosmetology programs. That’s because manicuring and pedicuring are subjects that are included on the State Board of cosmetology exam, which you’ll have to pass to get your cosmetology license.
State Board Prep – Your new cosmetology career depends on you being able to pass the State Board exam. That’s why as you near graduation, your cosmetology instructors will be focused on fully preparing you for the exam. They’ll teach you tips and tricks for passing it, prepare you for the types of questions you’ll see, and possibly give you a practice exam before the big day. That’s exactly what they do in the cosmetology program at Bene's International School of Beauty.
A recent blog from Beauty Schools Directory prompted me to think about my own beauty school experience. I thought I would share some of my highlights and low lights in the world of hair, makeup and tests!
I decided to attend cosmetology school in 2001 after graduating from college and struggling to find work in my field. The job market was erratic and quite unpredictable. Lay offs were plentiful and the premise of “knowing someone” was quickly fading. Getting a trade was my back up plan.
When I enrolled, I was surprised at all of the paperwork involved. You had an option of financial aid or loans. I wasn't eligible for financial aid, since I already had an undergraduate degree. One week later, I was approved by my credit union for $10,000.
I spent the next year-four nights a week, reading, testing and observing. "When was I going to do something," I complained often. What’s the use of being in beauty school if I cant do the hair?
I quickly ate my words after my first customer who was an older women, cried in agony and discomfort after I completed a shampoo. I had incorrectly draped her and all of the water seeped into her clothing, The next six months would prove brutal. Patrons lining up to get discounted hairstyles and weekly state board practice exams, that never seem to offer enough time.This was hair school not the police academy Why was I losing weight and becoming sleep deprived?
It was beauty school, but it was.....still school.
The one thing I will say is, beauty school was not what I expected. It was hard and time consuming. I often wondered if the fly by night stylists I patronized in the past, were even licensed. It takes a committed individual to get through these courses.
Before you enroll, take an inside look of the beauty school experience.
School hours are in the day and the evening. If you attend in the daytime its approximately nine months. If you attend in the evening, its almost two years. Most schools don’t let you mix it up, but a conversation with the owner of the school to make an exception, wouldn't hurt.
Beauty school is expensive. A full course can run you between 10k and 15k
The instructors are former or active salon owners, so they have lots of information to share.
You should know something about hair. Beauty school does not teach you about hair styling. You learn the fundamentals only. No... you don’t learn how to weave or braid hair. If you don’t have a clue about hair, you will fail or drop out. It’s the horrible truth, but it’s the truth! You will need to attend advanced classes after you obtain your cosmetology license if you want to learn market trends.trends.lll
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You are required to complete 1600 hours . You can't get around this. Schools are very strict on absenteeism. If you're a chronically late individual, curb it. Beauty schools impose temporary and indefinite suspensions for tardiness.
Your classmates are always willing to be your test dummy. Capitalize on this opportunity, before you start your practicals.
You wont get a job right away as a Stylist. After graduating, you still have to apply for the written exam. After the written exam you are scheduled for the state board. Practice, practice, practice. Practicing for the state board exam is like learning to drive. At first you seem nervous and unsure of yourself. But after a few weeks of driving school, it becomes fluid.
Don’t apply for a salon job until you become licensed. Even if you wash hair, a cosmetology license is required.
Avoid opening a salon until you’ve actually worked and managed one. You would also need to determine if you want to be an “off the books’ stylist or a “1099 form" stylist. An “off the books stylist” usually works with cash only and does not report their income to the IRS (illegal). The upside is, you keep all of your income. The down side is, you're ineligible for a car, house, medical insurance, loans or anything that requires proof of employment. Commissioned stylists usually make great money. You are more motivated than a booth renter who pays $100-200 a week for a chair. Commission arrangements allow you to share the expenses for supplies with the owner. The owner is also responsible for marketing the salon. If you don’t make money, they don’t make money. Stylists are generally paid weekly and receive a 1099 form at the end of the year.
Hair Shows are good, but what else? If you're in the business, you've been to at least one hair show in your city. This is a good opportunity to learn new techniques and test new hair products, but you shouldn't rest there. Attend some workshops on business. Strategic, marketing, branding and customer service are essential in the world of beauty. What's the use of gaining customers, if poor service and inconsistently drives them to a new salon.
Establish a signature. What’s so special about your styling techniques that will be easily recognized? Branding starts with you!
And lastly, be a professional. In the world of Face book, blogs and YouTube...everyone seems to be recording your every move. We all have flaws but a good stylist will focus on re-inventing themselves.
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