Cosmetology is a special career for those that love to help others beautify their appearance and accent their best features. You can go to school to learn many of the skills needed including how to cut and style hair, improve skin, perform manicures and pedicures, and how to apply make-up professionally. Many schools offer cosmetology programs. We’ve listed 4 top cosmetology schools for you to consider.

Paul Mitchell schools are located all across the United States. The school is named after the famous hairdresser for his styles and salon products, Paul Mitchell. You can learn everything about cosmetology at Paul Mitchell, including how to own your own salon. There is a competitive admission to allow many students the ability to join where they can become confident in beauty techniques and get a high level of training.

Aveda Institutes pride themselves in use a line of plant-based beauty products for an environmentally friendly approach to salon services. You will receive extensive hands-on training in all aspects of cosmetology. The training is thorough and rigorous, allowing you to graduate in just a year. When you complete the program you will be more than ready to join the world of licensed cosmetologists.

Regency Beauty Schools are located in many states across the nation. These schools focus on your strengths in cosmetology and help you grow and learn more about each approach. Regency maintains a consistent curriculum and has highly experienced teachers so you learn as you go. Once you complete the curriculum, job placement assistants help you find a job.

The Ogle School of Cosmetology and Esthetics are located across the state of Texas. Though they are not widespread, this school offers some of the best hands-on training available in cosmetology. Ogle school educators will not only help you learn every aspect of cosmetology, but will also teach you how to manage your own salon. There is job placement help and companies that seek out graduates specifically from The Ogle Schools.

These four top cosmetology schools will get you on the road to sharing your beauty knowledge with others. Making money helping others and enjoying what you do is the icing on the cake in the world of cosmetology.

Cosmetology is a popular interest for many young people who are finishing their high school career and even those who are looking for a new career later in life. Anyone who enjoys beauty, cosmetics, doing hair, and other similar interests can often find a rewarding career in this industry. Cosmetology is a vast field, however, and becoming licensed to work requires choosing a focused area of study or getting general training in a variety of areas.

Depending on what type of training you get, there are plenty of things that could be involved in your job description. Understanding your role as a cosmetologist isn’t a straightforward thing that’s the same for everyone. Your exact role and responsibilities will vary depending on your training as well as the types of jobs that you take on.

Cosmetologists typically work in salons or day spas, although they may work in other facilities where their services are required. They will provide clients with a variety of beautification services, including:
• Cutting, coloring, and styling of hair
• Consulting on hair styles and other aesthetic issues
• Working with wigs, hairpieces, and extensions
• Cosmetic scalp and facial treatments
• Makeup consultations and application

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, almost half of the cosmetologists in the industry are self-employed. If you choose this path, you will also need to develop business skills such as management, financial, and operational skills so that you can properly run your business. Of course, people who are just starting out in the industry rarely go this route. It can be helpful to work for someone else initially to gain experience and grow in understanding your role as a cosmetologist.

Cosmetologists also need to have good people skills and customer service abilities. These professionals work directly with the public on a daily basis and being able to interact with them and provide personable, quality service is a must. Conversation skills and knowing how to interact with clients in the workplace are also going to be important things to learn, but much of this part of the job comes from experience.

When you are considering a career in cosmetology, you have a lot of things to think about. Now that you know more about the career, however, you should be able to decide if it’s right for you. Understanding your role as a cosmetologist is the first step to deciding on your career future.

If you are interested in cosmetology, it is important to make sure that the beauty schools you are looking at will help you in your future. Here are some tips on what to look for in beauty schools.

First, make sure the school is accredited. This will ensure that your education will be well-rounded and valuable after graduation. In order to be accredited, the institution must meat or exceed the Department of Education’s minimal requirements. Also, many states require that your education was from an accredited beauty school in order to receive your license.

Check to see if the curriculum the beauty school offers is flexible. Many students will go through the exact same program at the same level, but not everyone learns the same way. It may be beneficial to find a school that allows the students to study part time, or take classes early in the morning or evening so you can still work. You will also want to check to make sure the school offers classes that specialize in your points of interest so that you can pursue your personal goals in your career.

Next, inquire as to how many real experiences you will receive during the course of your beauty school. The best way to solidify your knowledge is to put it into practice. You want to make sure that you will be getting exposure and experience as you learn to ensure that you will be able to perform and master the necessary functions after graduation.

Many people worry about the cost of beauty school. Some beauty schools offer financial aid that can help to pay for the program and some extra money to live off of. These may be in form of grants or low-interest loans. Ask each school that you are interested in what kind of financial aid packages they offer and how you apply.

Proximity is another important issue. It will be harder emotionally and physically to attend a beauty school that is far from your home or place of work. Do not pick a school based entirely on its location, but make sure that it is close enough that you will be able to attend with ease.

Finally, find out if the beauty school you are interested in offers job placement services. Many schools are so confident in their ability to train their students that they are willing to find them jobs after graduation. This means that the school is respected by salons and that you can rest assured that your education will be leading you to a real career.

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, there will be above average job growth through 2018 for cosmetologists and related fields, making a career in cosmetology a solid training option for many people. Before you choose a cosmetology school, however, there are several factors to consider and learn about first; cosmetology is more than just styling hair, and will require serious dedication, schooling and a passion for customer service.

Looking at Cosmetology:

Most apprentice cosmetologists complete a two year Associate Degree or specialized training at a licensed beauty college or vocational training facility. Many people have the misconception that the field mainly involves styling hair; while hair care does play a large part in a general cosmetology career, there are many other skills and branches that are involved in the field.

Nail technicians and manicurists work almost specifically on a customer’s nails to repair damage, trim, buff and apply sometimes complex and expensive nail paints and lacquer. This is a very technical skill that is part of general cosmetology training. Once a student has finished general cosmetology classes, they can specialize in nail technician licensing and begin work as an apprentice manicurist.

Skin care specialists are also a branch of cosmetology that require a student to learn all aspects of how to properly treat dry skin, assist with skin problems such as acne, and know a multitude of skin care products and procedures. Understanding the functions of skin from a scientific point of view is also a must to become a professional skin care specialist. Hair stylists, likewise, must understand more than how to cut a person’s hair and make it look good; they must learn product information and learn how to treat different hair types and problems.

Choosing a Cosmetology School:

It’s important to select a cosmetology school that has been licensed by the state you will be attending school in for several reasons. Licensed beauty colleges and programs will help a student prepare for that particular state’s exam by offering appropriate classes. These colleges and programs are the only ones recognized by that specific state, meaning if a student enrolls in a program that has not been licensed by the state, that training will not be formally recognized. Having licensed training is key to beginning an apprenticeship, internship or beginning an entry level job in the cosmetology field.

Compare several cosmetology schools before you decide which to attend, and always ask about financial aid, loans and grants that may be available to help pay for your training.

Cosmetology careers are among the most sought after careers. Everyone wants to look good and to accomplish this, some people will regularly visit a barber, a hairdresser, a pedicurist, dermatologist or manicurist to do so. Some people are willing to pay a surprising amount of money for maintaining their looks. Types of cosmetology careers include:

Hairdressers

Hairdressers provide services to beautify the hair. They cut, trim, shampoo, style and color the hair and give their clients tips on how to best care for their hair. They straighten the hair, apply perms to it, or lighten or darken the color of the hair. Cosmetologists, who may also work out of the same beauty salon as hairdressers, also give manicures and pedicures, facials and scalp treatments. They also clean and style wigs and other hairpieces and give tips on makeup.

Barbers

Barbers cut, trim, shampoo and style hair and are most often associated with men’s hair care, including facial hair. In some states barbers are licensed to color hair or apply perms or “conks” to hair. They also shave men’s faces, sculpt beards and mustaches and apply facials.

Manicurists and Pedicurists

In some places these professionals are called nail technicians and they work only on finger and toenails. They not only provide manicures and pedicures, but color the nails and apply and decorate nail extensions.

Skin Care Specialists

These are professionals who care for the skin by giving facials, full body treatments and head and neck massages. They also apply wax to remove hair from various parts of the body. One type of skin care specialist removes hair through electrolysis.

Other Considerations

Cosmetologists are expected to have good hygiene and personal appearance and to keep their work areas clean and tidy. They’re supposed to sanitize, if not sterilize, their instruments, make appointments and keep records of their regular clients’ hair color and other formulas used on their hair. Cosmetologists who have their own businesses have the usual managerial tasks of hiring, firing and supervising employees, paying taxes, keeping records, requisitioning and stocking supplies and advertising.

All states require cosmetologists to be licensed, though the qualifications for a license vary from state to state. Usually, a person needs to have graduated from a state certified cosmetology school and be at least sixteen and some states require their applicants to pass a physical exam. Most states require a high school diploma or GED, but there are a few states that require no more than an eighth grade education. Cosmetology students who want a license are required to pass a written test and show that they’ve mastered basic barbering or gone through cosmetology training.

Cosmetology is the profession concerned with beauty treatment involving hair, skin and nails. A cosmetologist is a person who has been trained in all these areas; however often cosmetologists will go into one specialized area of study such as hairstyling, manicures and pedicures, cosmetics, skin care, or electrology.

The licensing requirements for cosmetology differ from state to state, but individuals must be licensed in order to practice cosmetology in any state. Licensing involves going to a cosmetology or beauty school and passing the state board licensing exam. Normally an internship in the field must also be competed.

In 2010, there were over 700,000 beauty salons, which testifies of how popular this field is. There are many cosmetology schools in every state and they can vary in cost and types of training but the top beauty schools all have a few things in common. They are accredited, that is overseen by the department of education, and they not only prepare their students to pass the state board exam, but they professionally train students with the skills needed for a successful career in the cosmetology field. The best schools have instructors who are enthusiastic about cosmetology and stay up-to-date on the current beauty trends. Most of these schools have a salon that offers low cost services to clients in order for students to get hands-on training. Often students actually acquire a following of potential clients while they are still going to school.

The duration of cosmetology school differs according to the school and whether it is attended full time or part time; however at least two years of education can be expected for general cosmetology and about six months for some of the advanced training programs. It is imperative that when deciding which particular field of cosmetology to specialize in, more advanced training be acquired in that field in order to achieve greater success. Some of the specialized professions include hairstylist, makeup artist, nail technician, esthetician, electrologist and massage therapist.

In addition to learning about hair, skin care, cosmetics and nails, there are many other practical areas that must be studied such as chemistry, anatomy, infection control, proper sanitization, professionalism and business practices. Reading and studying the textbooks, practicing skills on both mannequins and real people, and taking exams are all imperative to achieving success in beauty school.

A good cosmetology school can be very expensive but financial aid and scholarships are available. Scholarships are based on merit, need, sociology and other issues and are definitely worth looking into. The field of cosmetology can be a lucrative career for those who are exceptionally skilled. Finding the right beauty school along with a lot of studying and hard work can lead to a successful career in the fast growing field of cosmetology.