Beauty School Advisor Blog

Parents Influence Your Cosmetology School Decision

Sun, 13 Jul 2008 17:09:33 GMT

Often when I ask hairdressers and estheticians how they got interested in the beauty salon industry and ended up attending cosmetology school, the word “parents” creeps into the conversation. Not that parents are creepy! I’m one myself! But most people seek some guidance from parents when they’re deciding what to do with their lives, plus they’re influenced by the role model their parents have set before them. Here on our website, we think moms and dads are valuable enough to devote a full beautyschooladvisor.com parents’ page to them!

The power of the influence is obvious when your parent is a cosmetologist. It’s natural for kids to want to be like mom or dad, plus then you’ve been around salon people your whole life and may even have a family business you can eventually take over. Typically, parents are proud when the “chip off the old block” respects their profession enough to pursue a career in it.

You also may feel that you’ve inherited natural creativity if your parents are painters, inventors, chefs or musicians, even if their creative outlet is only a hobby rather than a job. Or, dealing with customers may come naturally to you because a parent is in a service industry like hotels, retail stores or restaurants. If they can relate on some level with what you want to do, it’s more likely for your parents to support your decision to enroll in cosmetology school. Next time, I’ll talk about what happens if they don’t.

When Parents Resist Your Cosmetology School Plans

Thu, 17 Jul 2008 15:17:01 GMT

When you announce to your parents your plans to attend cosmetology school, they may not get on board with it right away. If they believe beauty school is not your best path, you may be tempted to give up on the idea and avoid a big fight. However, I think you can change their minds.

Your parents don’t want to pay, or you to pay, for something that you won’t end up using. If this is the second or third post-high school program you’ve tried, parents will understandably be skeptical. Also, they want any further education to enable you to make a living, and they hope you’ll be happy doing your life’s work.

Please assure your parents that a cosmetology career can reap you a very good income. Requiring only about a year of school, a cosmetology degree is well worth the expense. Even if you don’t go into salon work, there are so many other careers that benefit from a knowledge of beauty and cosmetology. Then there’s the passion. I’m a writer, so I write. It’s not really a “lifestyle choice.” Similarly, if you’re an artist, you’ll be driven to create art, and hair design is a productive, highly satisfying way to express your art, while you future estheticians out there are already driven to provide comfort. Please refer your parents to their special page on beautyschooladvisor.com. I hope it alleviates their concerns, but if they have further questions I’ll be happy to respond here on the blog.

Hey, Future Beauty School Students: Check Out This Cool Webinar

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 02:33:57 GMT

I’m always looking for places you can go for information about attending beauty school or entering a cosmetology career, and I just found a great one for you. (Yes, it’s free!) Go to the salon coaching site www.crystalfocus.com and click on the “Wild Wednesdays” tab. Next, click on the “Upcoming Events” link and then on Choose Your Career, Pick Your Path, set to air live this Wednesday, July 23, at 7pm eastern time. Fill out your email address, and Crystal Focus will send you a dial-in phone number and access code so you can listen to two interviews live over any phone.

The first interview is with Jim Cox, executive director of the American Association of Cosmetology Schools. Jim will talk about all of the opportunities you’ll have as a professional cosmetologist—beyond just salon work. The second interview is with Paul Barry, who’s very active in staging student hair styling competitions so that you don’t have to wait until you graduate to show your talent. I’ve spoken with both Jim and Paul, and they have a lot of information to share!

I also was talking to the interviewer, Shelly Kovach, who explained that even if you miss the live broadcast you can hear the interview later over your computer or download it as a podcast. You can do the same with past “Wild Wednesday” broadcasts. While you might enjoy them, too, this week’s topic is specifically of interest to current and future beauty school students. I hope you enjoy it!

Photo: Salon coaches Shelly Kovach (left) and Kristi Valenzuela of Crystal Focus

Krissy Hunts Down Cosmetology School Tuition

Fri, 25 Jul 2008 16:52:49 GMT

When we left Krissy Simmons, she had been accepted to the January 2007 program at CHIC University of Cosmetology an Empire School in Portage, Michigan, and was preparing to quit her full-time job in order to accommodate the five-days-a-week, 9-5 type of schedule that beauty school typically requires. Switching to part-time work, Krissy anticipated major problems paying her tuition. Her parents were unable to help since two of her three younger siblings were also in college. To sort out her options, Krissy made an appointment to meet with Don, CHIC’s head of enrollment.

“Don was the most helpful, understanding, approachable guy!” Krissy recalls. “And let me tell you what he had to deal with every day:)! I didn’t qualify for hardly any financial aid, but Don helped me get as much out of the available student loans as possible. I took out approximately $13,000 in student loans sent to me in quarterly checks. About $9,000 paid for school, with the rest helping me pay bills. Later on, in June 2007, I would finally get a little help from Uncle Sam. Until then, I was on my own.”

At 24, Krissy was used to her independence but knew that moving back home would save her beaucoup bucks. Her parents seemed supportive of her decision to enroll in beauty school, but would her request to live at home change their attitude? Next time Krissy will let us know how this played out.

Nail Technician at Heart? Join the Blogfest

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 20:13:36 GMT

I know that for some of you nails are the true passion, and I encourage you to find a nail technology school or a nails program within a general cosmetology school that provides you with the education to go have a fun career doing nails. I guess it’s no surprise that girls who enjoy all things nail are out there blogging. There’s one blogger in particular I’d like to introduce to you if you don’t already know her.

Michelle Mismas is an Ohio accountant who started blogging in early 2007 about her fixation on nails. She describes her blog, All Lacquered Up, as “the premier source for nail polish reviews and news on the web. I’m Michelle, a self-proclaimed lacquer fanatic and your guide to nail info, tips and tricks.”

I learned about Michelle through the people at China Glaze, who picked up on Michelle because of her particular affection for China Glaze products. But Michelle doesn’t blog to push products; she talks about the polishes and accessories in a very unbiased manner. She really wants to help people to have beautiful nails. If you’re thinking about enrolling in nail technology school, I think you’ll enjoy the discussions. Michelle gets lots of comments—lucky her ;)—so if you want to add your voice to the discussion you’ll have plenty of company. Another website to check out just for the visuals is nailpassion.com. If you have an opinion on how long is too long for nail length, leave me a comment!

Beauty Schools Prepare You to Be Your Own Boss

Sun, 03 Aug 2008 15:06:21 GMT

When you graduate from beauty school and become a licensed cosmetologist, you’ll have nearly a 50/50 shot of being self-employed rather than working for someone else. In 2007, 46% of the 1.7 million active professional cosmetologists worked for themselves, according to “Job Demand in the Cosmetology Industry,” a report released late last year by the National Accrediting Commission of Cosmetology Arts & Sciences (NACCAS).

That figure includes salon owners and freelancers but primarily what we refer to in the industry as “independent contractors.” When you work independently within a salon, if you do hair you lease a station with a chair; for nails, you have a table; and if you’re an esthetician you rent a room. Regional trends play into this, with west coast cosmetologists most likely to be self-employed.

Beauty schools are responding to this reality by offering more business-related courses. For example, the Empire School in Shamokin Dam, Pennsylvania, has partnered with nearby Bucknell University to hold business classes onsite at the cosmetology school to provide students with the skills they’ll need to run a small business. That includes everything from negotiating a lease, securing insurance and following government regulations to marketing your business, handling the accounting and purchasing products and equipment. And what if you become a salon employee instead? You may not be buying furniture, but you’re still in charge of getting business into your chair or your room. Any business training you receive will be a huge help to you, I promise.

Massage Therapy Schools Channel the Magic of Hands

Wed, 06 Aug 2008 21:31:40 GMT

A Georgia massage therapist I was interviewing over the phone the other day isn’t the first to tell me that she went to massage therapy school and got into the profession largely because her hands seem to have healing powers beyond her own understanding. There’s a spirituality that accompanies this career more often than it does other professional cosmetologist occupations such as hairdressing and nail care.

“I’ve been told that I have a healing touch,” Jo Ann Taylor told me. “I’m very spiritual; I basically let God handle it. I open my heart and don’t get in the way of the work, although I don’t talk about that with my clients.” Relying on her hands to perform the perfect massage for each client, Jo Ann finds deep-relaxation massages easier to give than a light-touch or flowing rub like the Swedish massage. “I have to really work at getting my fingers not to feel everything,” she explained.

As a massage progresses, both therapist and client can enter that sort of “place you go” when you let go of worries and concerns. At massage therapy school, you’ll learn to let your hands direct the procedure as they feel for knots and tension and then soothingly remove all of that. This gives clients an experience they really can’t get any other way. People like Jo Ann are perfectly suited for the career. If you feel that your hands have a bit of magic to them, you might try massage therapy as well.

Krissy Commutes to Cosmetology School

Sun, 10 Aug 2008 22:05:12 GMT

We left off with Krissy Simmons as she was about to ask her parents whether she could move back home while attending cosmetology school. Her school, CHIC University of Cosmetology an Empire School, was only 15 minutes from her parents' Portage, Michigan, home. It would be perfect—well, perfect if she weren't already 24 years old. She liked her independence, and her parents were not used to shelling out living expenses for their oldest daughter; two of their three other children were also in college. But her parents, and Krissy's brother still in high school, welcomed Krissy home.

"My parents made me feel good about the fact that I was continuing my education and not just living at home for a free ride," Krissy reports. "I went to school 40 hours a week and tried to work 20 hours a week in retail. Believe me, the money I made just went right back into my gas tank. Although my parents couldn't pay tuition, they were amazing in other ways. Gotta love free rent + utilities! They also helped with car insurance and occasionally car payments. I kept thinking that I should be on my own two feet, but my family never made me feel as though I owed them anything. I couldn't ask for better parents, let me tell ya!"

January arrived, and Krissy started cosmetology school. At that point she had no idea that life had a few challenges in store for her in the year to come. Next time!

Supplement Beauty School with Front Desk Job

Thu, 14 Aug 2008 22:04:07 GMT

While you’re researching your options for attending beauty school, waiting for your classes to start or even already in the middle of your cosmetology school studies, I suggest getting a job as a salon receptionist, which today we refer to as a front desk specialist or associate. To get hired for this position, you may need no more qualification than a friendly smile and an interest in beauty.

Working in a salon will heighten your insight into how the business operates. You’ll soak up the culture; learn the lingo; compare the duties of stylists, skin care professionals and nail techs; and observe the work ethic and habits that lead to success in this field. You won’t believe how much it will add to your cosmetology education. And let’s not forget that you could use the money!

When you graduate from beauty school and get your license, if you’ve done a good job at the front desk the salon owner will almost certainly offer you a job as a technician. By then you will know so much about the retail products that you’ll be recommending as a licensed professional, and you’ll already be friends with your coworkers. But beware: you may find that you love working reception and want to stick with it! More and more, the front desk associates I talk to hold a cosmetology license and can talk to clients knowledgeably about their hair care needs. It can be a great career in itself.

Consider Attending Cosmetology School with a Friend

Mon, 18 Aug 2008 20:16:24 GMT

I was reading a New York Times article about twins who attend the same college, and it got me thinking about not just siblings but also friends who choose the same cosmetology school. Is it a good idea? Beauty schools tend to be pretty tight cultures, with everyone on similar schedules. It’s not like a big university where you may not even see each other for weeks.

The negatives revolve around starting your professional life not quite as independently as you would if you were flying solo. If you’re in class every day with perhaps your best friend from high school, and especially if you’re sharing an apartment or even just a carpool, are you allowing yourself enough room for personal growth? It’s exhilarating to meet new people who are as passionate about hair and beauty as you are. So this can be an easy time to form lifelong friendships, which you’re less likely to do with your friend sitting next to you.

But there are so many positives as well. That carpool or roommate can save you a lot of money. Plus, it’s motivating to have someone familiar going through the same classroom experiences, doing the same homework assignments and learning the same cool techniques that you are. Cosmetology school takes only about a year to complete, so unlike a four-year college this situation is pretty temporary. When you graduate, the two of you can always work in different salons, so I think on balance it’s a very workable idea. Check out this discussion of twins attending together.

Cosmetology School Students Talk About Choosing Beauty

Fri, 22 Aug 2008 15:15:06 GMT

Why choose beauty? Here at BeautySchoolAdvisor.com, we have a whole section on choosing to go to beauty school. But whenever possible I also like to give you the opportunity to hear directly from current and past cosmetology school students.

Another one of our websites, FirstChair.com, includes testimonials from eight students at Kohler Academy in Arizona. They each very beautifully recall the factors that influenced them when they were considering what to do with their lives. Two themes seem to be played over and over: 1) they want to help people feel good about themselves, and giving them a great look does the trick, and 2) they need an outlet for their own creativity.

Those dual goals echo what I’ve heard from so many professional stylists years after cosmetology school has become just a memory. As a group, hairdressers are some of the most giving people I’ve ever met. Their hearts truly sing when they see a client leave their chair thrilled with their new look. Even the most quiet cosmetologist, who may not seem outgoing, is a “people person” when it comes to a one-to-one relationship with the client. And as for creativity, hair designers are absolutely as creative as artists who express themselves in drawing, paint or crafts. So go to FirstChair.com’s “Kohler Academy: Why I Chose Beauty” and see whether you connect with what these students have to say.

Photo is courtesy of Kohler Academy

Life Throws Beauty School Student Krissy a Curve

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 02:41:37 GMT

It was February 2007, and for about a month Krissy Simmons had been living her dream of attending CHIC University of Cosmetology an Empire School in Portage, Michigan. “Things were going fabulously,” Krissy recalls. “I was enjoying beauty school, and it was exactly what I was looking for—an outlet for my creative side. Plus I was meeting a great group of people!”

However, at this point Krissy was dealt a double blow: her great-grandmother, to whom she was very close, passed away, and two weeks later her grandfather took sick. Krissy’s parents went to Texas to be with her grandfather, leaving Krissy to look after her teenaged brother as she continued to attend school 40 hours a week and work roughly 20 hours a week. “This was probably the most stressful time of, not only my schooling career, but my entire 26 years,” Krissy says. “My mother was a wreck, as were her five brothers and sisters, and they were all 1,200 miles away.” Sadly, Krissy’s grandfather died within weeks.

“We had the funeral, and things slowly got back to normal,” notes Krissy. Then in April, two days before her beauty school junior finals, her great-uncle, brother to her grandfather who had just died, also passed away. Says Krissy, “I spent my junior final ‘break’ out of town, attending a funeral and family dinners.” Next time, Krissy will tell us about a different type of stress when she takes her first client at the school’s salon.

Future Beauty School Students, Take Note: Politics Is Hairy

Sat, 30 Aug 2008 06:08:04 GMT

As the Republican vice-presidential nominee was being introduced on national TV, I was thinking of all of you who are considering enrolling at beauty school. What’s the connection? If you join this wonderful industry and become a professional cosmetologist, you’ll quickly become aware that politicians’ hair is fair game. I predict that John McCain’s running mate, Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, will serve as a prime example in the weeks to come.

Within a couple of hours of the announcement, a Google search of “Sarah Palin hair” already was turning up blog comments about the unusual ponytail-and-bangs look that this candidate for high political office seems to be sporting in every recent photo. When Hillary Clinton was first lady, entire websites were devoted to her eight years of ever-changing hairstyles. It’s not only women: John Edwards was chided for his $400 hair cut, while Ronald Reagan’s denial that he colored his hair didn’t stop the question from being asked over and over.

So people will speculate as to whether that bouncy ponytail is real or clip-on and discuss the style’s appropriateness for a 44-year-old governor. There’s even a chance that the look will catch on, with women across the country asking their hairdressers to fashion bangs and a high pony. But if the style receives wide criticism, look for Ms. Palin to do a makeover because, as you’ll find out at beauty school, hair is something that people really judge you by, even if you’re a candidate for U.S. vice-president.

5 Things NOT To Do In a Job Interview After Beauty School

Wed, 03 Sep 2008 15:58:16 GMT

The year that you attend beauty school will fly by, so I like to prepare you for what will come next: the job. Some of you probably are already job hunting so you’ll have cash while attending cosmetology school and, by the way, I repeat an earlier suggestion to go for a salon receptionist position.

The other day I was listening to Chicago-area talk radio, so here’s a shout-out to the DreX in the Morning show on 103.5 KISS-FM, which is where I heard callers talk about mistakes job applicants have made. Five tips I noted:
1. Don’t dress too casually. The caller remembered a candidate whose thong underwear rose above her pants.
2. Don’t forget your manners. Someone recalled an applicant who threw his gum into the wastebasket—from the whole way across the room!
3. Don’t arrive on the dot: “on time” is the new “late.” It’s more professional to arrive about 10 minutes ahead of your interview appointment.
4. Don’t list your chief reason for wanting to work there as “it’s just seconds from my house.” Instead, mention something special about the company that fits with your talents or personality.
5. Don’t leave home without knowing what’s available about you on the Internet. Check out an article I wrote for firstchair.com called, “What Does Your Online Portfolio Say About You?”

Once you have a beauty school degree, you will be considered a professional. Think of yourself that way, and you’ll start acting like it!

You Don’t Mess With the Beauty School Student

Sun, 07 Sep 2008 16:48:49 GMT

Now that you’re considering enrolling in beauty school, your radar may have picked up some buzz about the Adam Sandler movie, “You Don’t Mess With the Zohan.” The plot revolves around Sandler as an Israeli counter-terrorist agent who fakes his death and moves to New York City to live his dream as a Manhattan hairdresser. Has Zohan gone to cosmetology school and attained a license? I guess I’ll have to see the movie to be able to tell you that.

And I probably will see the movie, as I urge you to do as well. Everyone cares about hair, people know what a hairdresser does and scriptwriters seem to enjoy crafting stories that give a glimpse into the hairdresser’s world. Check out a piece that Boston Globe reporter Wesley Morris wrote, “Getting Snippy,” inspired by the “Zohan” film and looking back at some of the other cinematic tales of hair styling. Morris writes: “The movies actually take hair and the people who do it pretty seriously, the salon being a realm of exposed truth—a strange, often fantastical space where anything is possible and everything goes.”

So true. The salon is a cherished place for stylist and client alike. The DVD of “You Don’t Mess With the Zohan” will be released on October 7, with an extended version that has lots of special features. Then rent “Shampoo” from 1975 and some of the other hairdressing movies. As a beauty school student, you should know how Hollywood views your new profession.

Professional Cosmetologists Mark Today’s Anniversary

Thu, 11 Sep 2008 15:22:14 GMT

I often talk about the amazing generosity of the industry you’re entering when you become part of any beauty school family. As you’ll soon learn first-hand, professional cosmetologists are some of the greatest people you’ll ever meet, always donating their time to numerous causes. On this seventh anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, I’m recalling how that day impacted the salon world.

Maybe you remember the mood that Americans carried with them for a long time afterward: somber and grieving. Late night talk show hosts didn’t tell jokes for a while, and it just wasn’t the time to run to the salon to get a sassy cut with hot pink streaks. But you know what? People did go the salon anyway. Their regular salon became a place of refuge for them, a familiar setting where they could see friendly faces, talk about what happened, get a scalp massage.

And, as is their routine in any disaster, salons rushed to the aid of the victims. Staffs mobilized to hold cut-a-thons and other fundraisers to donate to the families of those whose lives were taken. Even now, seven years later, this hasn’t ended. I came across an online report that the staff at Hair Experts Salon and Spa in Lawrence, Kansas, were marking the anniversary this year by donating all of today’s sales to benefit troops stationed in Iraq and their families. When you enroll at beauty school, take pride in being part of a loving, giving industry.

Photo shows the fire station that lost so many of the firemen when they responded to the World Trade Center attacks across the street.

Yikes! Krissy’s First Time on “The Floor” at Cosmetology School

Mon, 15 Sep 2008 14:46:39 GMT

At the beginning, beauty school is all about classes and homework. It’s not just books, though; you get to do a lot of hands-on practice with mannequin heads. But, for a while, they don’t let you anywhere near a real client! And that was just fine with Krissy Simmons, who is giving us an exclusive here with her memories of recently being a student at CHIC University of Cosmetology an Empire School in Portage, Michigan. Krissy didn’t feel intimidated until that highly anticipated first day on the floor.

“I was scared to death to screw up!” Krissy recalls. “I was very confident in my skills—had a 4.0 grade in the classroom even—but it was just different when it came to working on a real person! I’ll never forget my first client, a 14-year-old boy who wanted a simple clipper cut. I’m sure I shook the entire time I worked on him! As the other students did manicures and pedicures, I remember thinking how lucky they were because they got the ‘easy’ stuff. I just smile about that now. I think that first clipper cut probably took me an hour and a half. Oh my! Working on real clients still can be nerve-wracking, but now I know that you only get better the more you do it.”

As time went on, Krissy grew calmer on the floor and could appreciate all of the great aspects of cosmetology school. Next time she’ll tell us about the wonderful people she’s met there.

Future Beauty School Students, Make Your Voices Heard!

Sat, 20 Sep 2008 04:19:22 GMT

Most of you looking at cosmetology schools are in the 18-29 age bracket that’s the target of a new campaign, STOPandVOTE, which aims to have elected officials pay attention to the concerns of this demographic by encouraging all of you to register to vote—and then to actually vote! As I tell you often, once you’re in beauty school and part of this wonderful industry, you’re an adult member of the workforce with all the privileges and responsibilities that the status implies.

The stopandvote.com website is really fun. You can upload any image you want as part of your get-out-the-vote message, and they’ll post it on the STOPandVOTE wall. But first, click on “start” to find the location of your polling place and learn about your rights as a voter. For example, did you know that most states require employers to give their workers two hours off work on Election Day to go vote?

This year’s election on Tuesday, November 4, is super important because it’s for the U.S. President as well as for various senators and members of the House of Representatives. But I vote even in off-year elections when the only races are local. Do I really care who wins for Water Reclamation Board commissioner? Not so much. Still, before voting, I find out whom my preferred newspapers and websites support. Since you’re researching cosmetology schools, I know you respect yourself and your opinion. STOP and VOTE to let the people who make the laws know what you think.

Photos are courtesy of stopandvote.org.

Want to Be a Spokesmodel? Go to Beauty School!

Tue, 23 Sep 2008 17:27:53 GMT

One door you may not realize that beauty school will open is the opportunity to become a “spokesmodel” for products and tools that you’ll be using as a professional cosmetologist. However, as someone who writes for this industry, I can assure you that companies will shower you with free products if you work on celebrities and will go public with how well you truthfully think their products work. In some cases, there is also monetary payment for doing ads for these companies or becoming their creative consultant.

Around this time of year, it’s hard for me to miss all of the spokesmodeling going around. The launch of the new TV season combines with the Emmy Awards to generate a lot of p.r. releases on why this hairdresser uses this curling iron or that make-up artist uses those cosmetics. It always revolves around working on the set of some hot TV show or preparing one of the Emmy nominees for the big show.

A typical example is the email I received from FHI Heat about the tools that “Gossip Girl” hair stylist Jennifer Johnson is using on set for the show’s second season. To achieve character Blair Waldorf’s perfect look, Johnson is quoted as saying, “I take half-inch sections of hair and use the FHI Heat Curling iron to curl them in different directions, which creates big curls. I put the headband on after.” After you get your beauty school degree, that could be you talking about some cool actress’s style!

Photos: Prive Products sent me this photo of Tina Fey from the 2008 Emmy Awards along with company owner/celebrity stylist Laurent Dufourg’s description of how he styled Tina’s hair. In addition, NARS sent me the mascara photo with professional cosmetologist Vanessa Scali’s description of how she did the make-up for Emmy nominee “Ugly Betty” America Ferrara.

Attending Beauty School in a Tricky Economy

Sun, 28 Sep 2008 01:37:25 GMT

How does this somewhat shaky economy impact hair styling school and esthetics school students and the salon industry in general? One thing we’ve learned lately is that if you’re taking out a loan to cover your tuition, you should be truthful on every form you fill out. But the aspect you’re probably worrying about is whether you can make a living in cosmetology during an economic downturn. On that score, I can offer some assurance.

While the beauty industry is not “recession-proof,” I would call it “recession-resistant.” Women will always set aside a budget for beauty, particularly for make-up products and hair styling. Clients may space out their appointments longer or go without highlights for a few months, but salons do not tend to experience the extreme drop-off that many other service businesses do. And as long as a salon is in business, the owner will always be on the lookout for new talent.

Perhaps what matters more than ever is skill level. In good economic times, a passion for cosmetology work combined with a hard-working attitude will get you a job in this industry; normally salons can train you on skills. But today salons and spas may be cutting back their education budgets, and they want people who at least have a solid foundation. So choose your school carefully. When you graduate from esthetics school, particularly, you’ll be expected to achieve results that keep the client coming back even when money is tight.

Krissy’s Cosmetology School Instructors Encourage Her Talent

Wed, 01 Oct 2008 16:46:22 GMT

Among the impressions Krissy Simmons took with her from being a student at CHIC University of Cosmetology an Empire School in Portage, Michigan, were warm feelings toward the beauty school staff.

In an earlier post on this blog, Krissy recalled how helpful Chic’s enrollment director was in getting her financial resources. She also particularly connected with two instructors. Theresa Ward, her junior finals teacher, “always told me that she saw something really special in me,” Krissy says. “She knew that I would make it in this industry. She even told me that if she could, she would have no problem making me a salon manager immediately. That meant a lot coming from Mrs. Ward—she doesn’t just throw out compliments like that! I obviously used her as a reference.”

Terri Loucks, her pre-states instructor, offered Krissy personal nurturing. Krissy notes, “As I got close to graduating, I was becoming very emotional, just because I had made so many amazing friends and had gotten so close with my teachers. (It’s hard not to when you see people 9-5, Monday through Friday, for a year.) Ms. Loucks was there to pick me up every time I felt down or got emotional, every time I had a question about interviewing or getting a job, every time I had a problem with my personal life. She was a huge moral support for me toward the end of my studies. I’ll never forget her!!” Next time: the great same-age friends Krissy makes at beauty school.

Does Your Astrological Sign Predict Success in Beauty School?

Sun, 05 Oct 2008 23:00:21 GMT

Love astrology? If you’re wondering how your sign can be compatible with a cosmetology career or help you choose among beauty schools, I’ll slip into the role of an astrologer for my next few blog posts. Do I really believe that astrological signs mean anything? Not at all. Yet, born in early May, I am a Taurus through and through, so who knows? However, since I’m not a trained astrologer, take this for what it’s worth!

Aries: Confident, courageous and impulsive, you’re a natural leader, salesperson and self-promoter who aims to move up the career ladder. A bit of a hero, you love wearing a uniform. Select a school that will nurture your sales and leadership talents, and interview with mid-sized to large salons or salon chains that have a dress code; provide structured steps for advancement, pay increases and leadership opportunities; and offer commission on retail sales. You’ll feel like the hero that you are every time you transform a client from “why” to “wow.”

Taurus: Inspired by art but driven by success and money, you’re extremely loyal, dependable, disciplined, dedicated—and stubborn! Opt for a traditional school with a demanding program and top reputation. Choose your salon carefully, because you may spend your entire career there. You’ll fit perfectly with a high-end salon that charges top dollar, attracts the wealthier crowd, avoids rush and chaos and operates within sensible policies that still let you express your considerable creativity and give you a voice in your career path.

More signs matched to your beauty school destiny next time!

More on Your Astrological Match for Beauty School

Fri, 10 Oct 2008 04:05:08 GMT

Continuing with looking at beauty school and a cosmetology career through the astrological lens:

Gemini: Charming and intellectually curious, you’ll make a great cosmetologist because you like multi-tasking and constant change. You’re always flitting from one thing to another, so find a school with lots of activity and courses. To avoid frequently switching jobs, find a salon that gives you opportunities galore. As a natural teacher and performer, you may want to train other stylists, do platform work for a hair company or get into management.

Cancer: Your huge heart suits you perfectly for this field—you’ll love making people feel beautiful. As a natural nurturer, you may want to become an esthetician or massage therapist, so try a school that offers an esthetics program just in case. But you also enjoy making money, so find a salon that offers you a solid career path for high earnings. All you need is the right place, because clients will love you!

Leo: A bit of a drama queen with no problem taking risks, you like combining fun with creativity—that’s exactly a career in beauty. Visit several schools before choosing; you’ll be happy at a school that embraces your playfulness. When you interview at salons, you’ll know immediately whether it’s a good match because, when it’s right, you and the owner will instantly love each other! He or she will appreciate your sunny, generous nature and, in return, you’ll be loyal.

I’ll add to my astrology/beauty school matches next time.

How Autumn Birthdays Fare at Beauty School

Mon, 13 Oct 2008 22:26:04 GMT

On to more astrological signs and how they mesh with beauty school and a cosmetology career!

Virgo: Your combination of great communication skills and strong desire to help others will make you an ideal cosmetologist. You thrive on an intellectual environment, so find a school with instructors who encourage questions and then challenge you to think for yourself. Because you’re methodical and a bit of a perfectionist, you can become expert at working with hair color formulas; you’d do well in esthetics, too. Find a salon that’s high-class, refined and squeaky clean.

Libra: With your great smile and easy-going attitude, you’ll make people feel instantly comfortable in your care whether you do their hair, nails, skin care or massage, and your creative muscles will stretch and grow in cosmetology. Find a school with friendly students and staff, and interview at salons that treat everyone like one big family while valuing creative independence and rewarding hard work.

Scorpio: You have so much passion, focus and imagination—you’re a natural for a creative career like cosmetology! With your self-direction and intense level of concentration, you’ll do well at a school that offers some independent study. Choose a salon that embraces your ambition and offers plenty of room to grow. At both school and at work, you’ll enjoy the opportunity to enter hair competitions and show what you’ve got!

If your sign hasn’t come up yet, check back soon to see how you’ll fit with a cosmetology career.

The Astrology/Beauty School Saga, Part 4

Fri, 17 Oct 2008 22:41:31 GMT

Going through the horoscope is taking me longer than I thought! But since I started this whimsical look at how your astrological sign lines up with success in beauty school and in a professional cosmetology career, I’d better finish.

Sagittarius: You’re such a free spirit and you love to travel, so beauty school could provide an opportunity to spend a year on an adventure in a new location. Impulsive and optimistic, you’ll tend to enroll in the first school you consider, but first make sure it offers a variety of academic options to accommodate your independent streak. After graduation, choose a salon that has zero tolerance for unethical behavior. You may not like tons of rules, but you are highly moral—and ambitious! Go for a clear career path with opportunities for you to teach others. Funny and a great conversationalist, you’ll keep your clients forever!

Capricorn: Focused and not afraid to work hard, you want to start making money ASAP, so a one-year cosmetology program is perfect. Opt for a school with a structured program that includes business classes, since marketing yourself is a real talent of yours. The salon that hires you will be gaining a loyal, responsible and skilled employee. You’ll build your clientele quickly, because people trust your judgment. Since you like to be in charge, consider applying to be manager of the salon after a couple of years.

Almost finished! I’ll address how the last two signs fit with beauty school next time.

Final Two Zodiac Signs Also Suited to Beauty School

Wed, 22 Oct 2008 19:12:42 GMT

By now, you probably get it: no matter where your birthday falls, there’s a place for you at beauty school and personal fulfillment to be found in a cosmetology career. Stick with me for the remaining two astrological signs.

Aquarius: Beyond creative, you’re actually innovative, the first to enthusiastically welcome anything new to come along. Given ample opportunity, you’ll wow them in your cutting and coloring classes, so choose a school that encourages originality. The same goes for the salon you join—if everyone looks exactly alike you won’t be happy there. You want to express yourself! Your clients will love asking you to give them something a little different. Also, select a salon that gives back to the community. You have a big heart.

Pisces: Artistic and easygoing, you have a nature that will do well in hair, nails, skin care or massage. Not everyone is multi-talented enough to consider all of cosmetology’s professions, but you are! Similarly, you’ll be happy in pretty much any school and, later, working at any salon, as long as everyone there appreciates your talent. While you enjoy stability, you also need a structure that gives you some freedom to follow your intuition, plus at some point you may want to teach. Since money isn’t all the important to you, you’ll be pleasantly surprised at the income you’ll generate just by being you.

That’s the whole Zodiac! A cosmetology career offers so many opportunities that every personality can find a rewarding path within it.

Cosmetology School Serves Up Friendship for Krissy

Sun, 26 Oct 2008 23:08:16 GMT

Picking up Krissy Simmons’ story of her days as a student at CHIC University of Cosmetology an Empire School in Portage, Michigan, we meet Nicci, her first beauty school friend. “We were inseparable,” Krissy says, “but she transferred to a different location of CHIC. That was pretty tough on me.”

However, January brought a new group of students, including Holly who, like Krissy, was in her 20s and had been in the work world before entering beauty school. “We hit it off instantly and became fast friends,” Krissy recalls. “We’re very much alike.” It was not instant with Jay. Krissy remembers, “I was intimidated by him, because all of the girls—and even the teachers!—thought Jay was the most amazing-looking guy they’d ever seen. It took a little bit before we started talking, but now we are the best of friends.” Another male student, Shane, was different from the others and kept to himself, so Krissy avoided him at the beginning. Once they struck up a few conversations, however, they discovered they were soul mates. “Shane is probably the best friend I’ve ever had,” Krissy writes now. “He’ll be my maid of honor in my wedding some day, I’m sure :).”

While Krissy says she didn’t go to beauty school to make friends, she’s grateful she has them. “I don’t think I would have made it through the rough patches without those friends,” she says. “I thank God every day for putting them in my path at CHIC.”

Carlos’s Massage School Idea Is Not Desperate

Thu, 30 Oct 2008 02:38:31 GMT

If you happened to catch “Desperate Housewives” on Sunday, you heard Carlos mention possibly going to massage therapy school to become a massage therapist. Carlos had never had anything close to a cosmetology career but, having recently lost his vision, he concluded that massage was a good professional choice because the work is through the hands, not the eyes. A blind man could perform just as effective a massage as a sighted person.

While his statement was played a bit for laughs, Carlos was actually spot-on. Massage therapists rely pretty exclusively on their hands. It’s their highly trained sense of touch that gives them the information they need about the client’s tightness and problem areas. Some professional massage therapists tell me that they close their eyes as they perform the massage.

Yet Carlos sorely missed the mark in another important way. He referred to becoming a “masseur.” Similarly, in TV’s “Friends” reruns, you’ll hear Phoebe refer to herself as a “masseuse.” Although these terms are still used in Europe, in the United States they’ve been outdated for at least 15 years. A “massage therapist” indicates that the person is a professional who has graduated from massage therapy school, whereas “masseur” and “masseuse” have taken on a connotation associated with escort services, if you get my drift. These terms are aptly addressed in an article at suite101.com. If Carlos ever does go for massage, he’ll love the profession, and I guarantee he’ll learn the proper term for what he does!

East Coast Report: Beauty School Students Design for a Cause

Sun, 02 Nov 2008 15:59:56 GMT

If you’re thinking about attending beauty school and happen to be anywhere near central New Jersey next Sunday, November 9, treat yourself to an evening at the Lab Paul Mitchell Partner School’s special event. The Paul Mitchell organization runs such great schools, and this is just one example—the students’ final project is to host and design the hair for a runway presentation of 70 models styled under the theme “Daydreams and Nightmares.” Each of the 35 graduating students will present one “daydream” style and one “nightmare” style.

If you’re getting into beauty you’re likely to be a very creative person. Can you imagine how much fun it would be to fashion the hair for this show? The photo here is one entry: daydream or nightmare? Anybody’s guess! But that’s not even the best part of this experience. Both the Paul Mitchell product company and the school group place high priority on charity and giving back. Ticket and raffle sales from this event will benefit The Andrew Gomez Dream Foundation, which will pass the money along to Leeza’s Place, an organization founded by celeb Leeza Gibbons that provides safe haven for people with dementia, Alzheimer’s and other memory loss conditions.

The event will also feature a d.j. dance party. For the small $10 admission price, you’ll have a great time and get a glimpse into your exciting future as a beauty school student. For information about time and place, click here. Then come back and tell us how you enjoyed it!

West Coast Report: Esthetician School Students Invited to ISPA Show

Thu, 06 Nov 2008 17:26:43 GMT

Esthetics is such a great field, and once you enroll in an esthetician school you’re warmly welcomed into the profession. For example, this coming Monday through Thursday the International Spa Association (ISPA) will hold its annual conference and expo in Las Vegas. All students at skin care schools are invited to join ISPA and attend the conference. For students, membership costs just $88 for the year.

You can get a wealth of information and education at these events. A lot of business topics are presented to help you brand yourself as a professional and earn as much money as possible. There also are classrooms that focus on the technical end—teaching you new treatment methods, expanding your product knowledge and letting you ask top professionals all of your technical questions.

In addition, the speakers can be very motivating and exciting. This year, one of the keynote speakers is actor Sidney Poitier, who will be presented with ISPA’s Alex Szekely Humanitarian Award for his many charitable achievements. I happened to hear Poitier speak earlier this year at another conference, so I can tell you first hand that at 81 years old he is amazing and inspiring. As he told his life story in his beautiful speaking voice, there wasn’t a dry eye in the house! You can find more information at the ISPA website. When you become an esthetician school student, you’ll get to attend a lot of these very cool events.

Photo is courtesy of The National Laser Institute

A Beauty School Grad Registers for the State Boards

Mon, 10 Nov 2008 16:19:44 GMT

No sooner had Krissy Simmons graduated from cosmetology school (scroll back to read earlier posts about her school experience) than she had to begin preparing to take her state board exams. “In Michigan, you must pass the practical portion of your state boards before you can schedule your theory portion,” Krissy reports. She paid for the exams through her school, CHIC University of Cosmetology an Empire School. The exam cost $140, and she also was required to pay for her license, which as she recalls cost $48. Working part-time in retail, Krissy didn’t have enough money and borrowed what she needed to cover the fees.

Krissy was so eager to take the boards. “You just want to get in as soon as possible!” she says. But in Michigan they take only eight applicants at a time for the practical portion, which requires you to demonstrate hairdressing procedures on a mannequin head. The soonest Krissy could get scheduled was more than two weeks away. “I did all of my scheduling online at PSIExams.com,” she reports. “They walk you through almost everything, so it’s pretty convenient.”

She chose the closest location, Grand Rapids, although she says she would have traveled farther if she could have gotten in sooner. “I arrived at the site at 9:30am, as you have to be at the testing location a half-hour before the testing starts or you forfeit your spot,” she notes. Next time we’ll find out how the cosmetology school grad did that day.

Perfect Your Passion at Nail Technology School

Fri, 14 Nov 2008 15:17:29 GMT

I don't have a problem with nail techs who studied at a general cosmetology school and, therefore, have a cosmetologist's license that permits them to do hair, nails and skin care. But when some of them do your nails, you can tell that they'd rather be doing your hair. People who go to a nail technology school attend fewer hours of class and receive a more limited license that permits them to do nails only. Because nails are their passion, often they create a very special experience for the client.

I don't know where my nail tech went to school, but she has a dedication to getting my nails perfect—not good enough, but perfect. I don't have to tell her if a little polish creeps onto the skin, because by the time I notice it she's already correcting the problem. She's also helpful when I choose a color, because she knows which polishes are sheer and which are opaque. The hand and arm massage she gives me is amazing, too. I can see the skill and care that go into her movements.

I tip her very well; it's worth it to me. I type a lot and use my fingers constantly! A lesser manicure would have my nails chipping within days, but a week later my manicure is still in good shape. If you love doing nails, attend either a nail technology school or a regular cosmetology school, and then share your gift with people who will appreciate it!

Photo courtesy of Academy of Nail Technology.

Cosmetology School’s a Good Choice for Veterans

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 13:19:28 GMT

With so many veterans ending their tour and coming home, there’s been a lot of buzz about what they’ll want to do next. Cosmetology school can be a great next step for you if you’re a veteran and, if not, you might want to mention the opportunities beauty school offers if you know a veteran who’s artistic and loves hair, skin or nails.

After serving in the armed forces, you certainly don’t lack for discipline! While other students may have a tough time tackling the school routine with homework and tests, I have a feeling you’ll be dedicated enough to spend whatever time is necessary. After putting your life on hold to perform such noble service for our country, you deserve the chance to study something as creative as hair styling, as fun as nail technology or as rewarding as skin care or massage.

Tuition may be easier for you to handle as well. Perhaps you’ve been able to stash away some of your income from being in the service. There’s also a possibility you could obtain funding from the new GI Bill set to go into effect in 2009. To do that, you would have to choose a school that grants an associate’s degree for completion of a cosmetology program. But even many cosmetology schools that do not offer AA degrees work with the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs to provide funding. Thank you for your service to the country. Any beauty school would be lucky to have you!

Cosmetology Career Offers Flextime Options

Sat, 22 Nov 2008 21:08:58 GMT

One of a cosmetology career’s many benefits is that flextime is part of the deal. While your friends working in offices must show up for a 9-to-5 type of schedule and those in retail or food service have shifts dictated by their supervisors, after you’ve been out of beauty school for a few years you can pretty much set your own hours. You’ll either lease space as an independent contractor, which means you’ll work for yourself, or you’ll be on staff at a salon, where typically you can arrange a schedule that suits your life. Maybe you want to be home in time to greet your kids from school, you’d rather work busy Saturdays in return for having Tuesdays off or you prefer to work four long days a week.

A short piece on NPR radio discusses how so many companies continue to have difficulty wrapping their heads around flextime even though the policy has proved to keep valuable employees. For cosmetologists, though, it’s just business as usual. In fact, did you know that flextime was first introduced by a salon owner? Her name was Martha Matilda Harper, and she figured out the advantages of flextime more than 100 years ago!

Your life and needs change from year to year, and having control over your career and the hours you work takes a huge burden off your mind. Whatever comes along, you can shape your cosmetology career to fit snugly into your lifestyle.

State Cosmetology Boards Crack Krissy’s Cool

Wed, 26 Nov 2008 14:50:44 GMT

The morning after her 26th birthday, recent beauty school graduate Krissy Simmons stood in an office building hallway with five other candidates waiting to be admitted into the room where they’d take the practical portion of Michigan’s state cosmetology board exam. “The exam proctor finally came out and explained very clearly what we were to do,” Krissy recalls. “We each had to verify who we were and ‘sign our lives away.’ There were two proctors and eight candidates.”

Krissy describes the room as clinical and “like a doctor’s office exam room.” Each candidate was assigned to one of eight stations; they brought their own supplies. Says Krissy, “I wasn’t nervous about taking my practical portion until I started emptying out the contents of my ‘suitcase.’ I was scared to death that I had forgotten something. I started shaking and it was just so intimidating. The proctors didn’t mean to be abrupt, but they have to be very professional. They don’t say anything that’s not on a script. It’s just very sterile. It makes you jumpy just being in that environment.”

Despite her jitters, Krissy had her supplies in order and felt optimistic that she had passed this portion. Two hours later, she went online and confirmed that she had passed. Other beauty school friends had similar good news. “I had several friends who all had forgotten something important and still passed,” Krissy says. “My friend Adam forgot his mannequin stand and still passed!” Next: Krissy takes the theory portion.

Weather the Recession in the Climate of Cosmetology School

Sun, 30 Nov 2008 13:51:09 GMT

Schools and colleges tend to prosper when unemployment is high. The thinking is that as long as you can’t find work, you might as well bide your time by getting a degree or certification. So if you are having trouble landing a well-paying job, this is the perfect year to try cosmetology school. But following the crowd is not why I think the timing is good. Rather, I’ve been doing a little research and want to expand upon my previous blog post about becoming a professional cosmetologist even though consumers are spending less.

It seems that I’m not the only one promoting cosmetology as a great career choice during a tough economy. At hrworld.com, “beauty, health and erotic services” is listed among the top 25 careers that do well during hard times. This entry says, “Regardless of a recession, people who enjoy being pampered will seldom give up the simple pleasures in life.” And, yes, we’ll just skip over the “erotic services” part; better to stick with beauty! Over at ezinearticles.com, an item called “Top Careers to Pursue and Refrain From During a Recession” has this listing under the “pursue” category: “Beauty $30,000+. Presentation has always been and will continue to be important to an individual and required by their boss. Examples include: Hairdressers and Barbers.”

There’s still another reason that this is an ideal time to enroll in cosmetology school, which I’ll reveal in my next blog post. Can’t wait to tell you, because you’ll love it!

Photo credit: I took the photo during my visit to Empire School in Arlington Heights, IL.

This Economy Attracts Clients to Beauty Schools

Thu, 04 Dec 2008 13:10:04 GMT

Several of the various bloggers and websites that offer advice about saving money during these challenging economic times have come up with a great suggestion: get your hair done at your local beauty school or get skin care services at an esthetics school, because services are affordable and professional.

Typical of this hot tip is this blurb from internetbasedmoms.com: “Every salon superstar has to start somewhere, and that somewhere is cosmetology school. They offer great rates and unless you’re asking for something super complicated like turning your jet black hair platinum blonde, then chances are they can accomplish it quite successfully. If you’re still shaking your head and thinking, ‘NO WAY,’ it might help to know that the students are under tremendous pressure to do a good job, they want to do a good job—their grade and their future depend on it—and the instructors are never far away. Still unsure, send your sister there first! Kidding, try a manicure or just go in for a trim to see how they handle it.”

The same article promotes esthetics schools for massages: “The warm and skilled hands of massage students are just waiting for your stiff neck and sore back. Yep, massage students [also] need people to practice on. They can knead out all of those knots and sore muscles for a quarter of the cost of a [licensed massage therapist].” Enroll in beauty school during this recession, and you can take advantage of a larger pool of clients than ever!

Photo credit: I took this photo during my visit to Empire School in Arlington Heights, IL.

Some Rewards of Beauty School Pay Off Immediately

Mon, 08 Dec 2008 18:25:32 GMT

Since you’re considering going to beauty school, a book you may want to pick up is Passionate Salon Professionals by Dr. Lewis Losoncy and Joe Santy (link to amazon here). A section at the end of the book, “100 Thoughts to Bring Out Your Passion for Your Profession and Life,” starts out with “20 Passion-Generating Reminders to Myself.” Any one of these 20 “reminders” could serve as an inspiration that would drive the right person to enroll in cosmetology school and join this wonderful industry. But I’d like to draw your attention to two of the 20 reminders.

Number 10 reminds the cosmetologist to keep a before-and-after mental image of every client. You picture how these people looked when they walked in and then how dramatically improved their appearance is as they walk out. It’s a motivator! Number 19 takes a different twist on that, saying: “I am able to see the results of my work as soon as it’s done, unlike in most other professions.”

So many cosmetologists, hairdressers in particular, have mentioned “instant gratification” to me as one of the best perks of their career. Doctors, lawyers, teachers, even home decorators all have to wait to see how their efforts turn out. Hairstylists, make-up artists and massage therapists see the changes they’ve made in someone’s life within an hour or two. Client by client, they all walk out amazingly better off than when they walked in. Are you impatient for reward? Beauty school will serve you well!

Krissy’s Next Hurdle: The Theory Portion of her State Cosmetology Boards

Fri, 12 Dec 2008 17:09:40 GMT

With the practical portion of her Michigan State Cosmetology Boards successfully completed, our correspondent, recent beauty school graduate Krissy Simmons, prepared to take the written test or “theory” portion. As much as Krissy was eager to become a professional cosmetologist, she was not looking forward to this exam. She was all signed up, thanks to PSIExams.com, and turned to former classmates who’d already taken the test for advice on how to prepare.

“I found a huge difference of opinion!” Krissy exclaims. “One friend had studied quite vigorously and still didn’t feel confident walking into the testing center, while another didn’t even look over any study material and ended up finishing the test in seven minutes with the confidence that she’d passed. I decided to take my cue from my friend Marie, who had reviewed a mini-study guide that was included in the kits we received when we started school. Marie said that it helped her out.”

Krissy’s best intentions, though, didn’t serve up much in the way of results. She continues, “For a week, I took the guide with me everywhere I went. But I would start looking at it and just fall asleep! Needless to say, I didn’t get much studying accomplished and, therefore, I wasn’t as confident as I could have been going into my theory exam.” So, relying almost entirely on her memory of what she’d learned in beauty school, Krissy entered the testing room, where next time we’ll pick up on her adventures.

Check Out This Cosmetology School Scholarship Opportunity!

Tue, 16 Dec 2008 13:57:06 GMT

Every little bit helps when you’re putting together tuition for cosmetology school, and I will always tell you when I track down any source of cash to help you pursue this rewarding career. While you should check your state’s cosmetology board website for any leads on financial help that your state provides, I’d like to make you aware of a source that does not depend upon the location of the beauty school you attend.

The Joe Francis Hair Care Scholarship Foundation is named for the founder of The Barbers, a hair care chain that merged with The Regis Corporation about ten years ago. Along with his wife Florence, the late Joe Francis employed about 8,000 hair designers and pioneered the franchise concept. Florence Francis oversees the foundation that honors the couple’s passion for beauty education and commitment to the future of the salon industry.

To qualify for a scholarship from the foundation, you must be either enrolled in or accepted to a cosmetology school program as of August 2009. You can download an application from the website, and you must submit it between January 1 and June 1. According to the information there, applicants are judged on “their potential to successfully complete school, their financial need and their commitment to a long-term career in cosmetology.” In 2008, 18 cosmetology students each received a $1,000 Joe Francis Hair Care Scholarship award to put toward their beauty school tuition. Perhaps next year you will be among the recipients of this nice gesture!

Cosmetology School: An Investment in Yourself That Doesn’t Depreciate

Sat, 20 Dec 2008 23:36:01 GMT

Paying tuition to a cosmetology school is truly making an investment in yourself. In this recession, is there a better place for your money? If you, or maybe your parents, have been watching a stock portfolio dwindle, the interest rate on your savings CD slide or the price of your house plummet, you may have lost confidence in stocks, banks and real estate. None of the traditional nesting places for money has turned out to be a sure thing. But you— you’re something you can count on, something you control. Your future career—whether you achieve it through beauty school or other training—is what’s most likely to earn you money that you’ll live on all your life.

A lot of people believe in the get-rich-quick idea: put your money into some high-return investment, and you’ll have free cash forever. Yet, as we've seen in recent news, some of these “investments” are no more than schemes that implode after a while. Other high-risk endeavors are launched amid favorable market conditions but eventually tumble even more quickly than they climbed.

Absolutely, the stock market has had some very profitable years, and people have made money. But ultimately private individuals have no control over the rise and fall of the housing, financial and commodities markets. When you have skills that address needs in the marketplace, though, you’ll always have paying clients. My advice is to invest in yourself, and going online to check out cosmetology schools is a great place to start.

Winter Break Is Less Bleak With Bright Future in Beauty School

Wed, 24 Dec 2008 16:06:07 GMT

Beauty school may be the last thing you want to think about right now. If you’re in high school or college, you probably just finished finals and are happy to be on winter break. Perhaps you’re traveling to somewhere warm where you can sit on a beach. You might be heading in the opposite direction—up a mountain to do some skiing, since there seems to be no shortage of snow this year! Maybe you’re going home to Mom’s good cooking and gifts waiting for you under the tree. Far from your mind are thoughts of books, studying and any school—even a fun program like cosmetology school.

Okay, I’ll give you a few days to decompress. Once your head clears, winter break can be a great time to take stock and look into the crystal ball to see what’s coming next. Soon it will be 2009, a whole new year. What will it hold for you? The immediate job outlook isn’t so great, so biding time in school can be a great idea. By the time you complete your program, the employment picture may look a lot prettier.

If, like me, you’re staring out your window at bare trees and frigid temperatures, you might want to cozy up with a blanket and a laptop and explore your options for what comes next in your life. Right here at BeautySchoolAdvisor, you’ll find a lot of information that can give you direction toward cosmetology school and a rewarding career in beauty.

Nervous But Hopeful, Cosmetology School Grad Tackles Boards’ Theory Portion

Sun, 28 Dec 2008 17:35:03 GMT

With her mother waiting in the car, cosmetology school grad Krissy Simmons walked into the room where the theory portion of the Michigan State Cosmetology Boards was being administered, along with tests for other licensing. Two monitors “didn’t say a whole lot other than what was on their script,” Krissy reports, “but they were much more friendly than the people at my practical exam.” Krissy was required to leave her driver’s license with them while she took the test. They also took Krissy’s picture and had her sign electronically, so that if she passed her license would be all ready for her to take with her when she left.

As she sat down at her assigned a computer, Krissy felt her heart begin to race. “I’m a pretty religious person,” she says, “so before I touched the keyboard I just prayed for God to help me to get through the test, whether the result turned out to be good or bad. I felt a little bit better after that.”

The test started out with a few sample questions that didn’t count. Krissy’s heart was racing; she didn’t know what to expect. “I’ve heard that there are nine different tests that they give you at random, all focusing on something different,” she says. Would this one test on facts she’d learned in cosmetology school? Krissy calmed herself down and began. In only 15 to 20 minutes, she’d be finished and either be a licensed cosmetologist or not. Check back for details!

Is the “2009 You” a Beauty School Student?

Thu, 01 Jan 2009 14:48:20 GMT

So here it is January 1 and you’re considering trying beauty school, but you’re not sure. You know what happens when a new year starts: you regroup, make resolutions, look for new direction. What will you make of 2009? The same old effort will get you the same old results. Perhaps you don’t even have the choice to keep doing what you’ve been doing, because this year you’ll graduate from high school or a higher education program. You have to figure out something, and cosmetology school has been in the back of your mind for sometime now.

One of the beauty industry’s rockstars and top educators, Vivienne Mackinder, sent me a promotional email about her advanced education that began, “Be Yourself; everyone else is taken.” I really like that. You can’t be Rihanna or Michael Phelps or Angelina Jolie. They’re taken. But you can be the true you, which can work out really well. Plus, no one else can be you; that role is yours and yours alone.

If you enjoy fooling around with hair and make-up, if you’re always looking through fashion magazines and websites, if you have a burning need to express yourself creatively and if you love being the one to inspire people to feel good about themselves, the “real you” just might be a cosmetologist. Watch Vivienne Mackinder’s one-minute glimpses of hair education, and if that rings your chime I’ll bet that enrolling in beauty school will make 2009 a great year for you.

Beauty School Students Benefit From Claiborne Pell’s Legacy

Mon, 05 Jan 2009 13:57:45 GMT

As you explore ways to finance your beauty school education, you’re likely to come across the term “Pell Grants.” A major reason that some cosmetology schools choose to become accredited is so that their students qualify to receive Pell Grants, which distribute money provided by the United States government. The former Rhode Island senator who fought for this money for students, Claiborne Pell, died this past Thursday, New Year’s Day, at age 90. His funeral is today.

In 1972 when the U.S. Senate passed the bill to distribute this money for education, the program was called Basic Educational Opportunity Grant (BEOG). Although he was the force behind the idea, Pell didn’t title the grants after himself, but in 1980 his colleagues voted to rename the program the Pell Grants. “Because of Senator Pell and the Pell Grant, the doors of college have been opened to millions of Americans—and will continue to be opened to millions more,” Vice-President-Elect Joe Biden said upon learning of Pell’s death. “That is a legacy that will live on for generations to come.”

A statement by Pell’s family published by The Providence Journal said that Pell defined his job as a senator in seven words: “Translate ideas into actions and help people.” What a great set of seven words! Maybe you’ll be one of the people helped with a Pell Grant toward paying your beauty school tuition. Click here for more information on Pell Grants, and click here for the yahoo.com obituary on Claiborne Pell.

Hairdresser Schools Prepare You For a “Sexy” Career

Sun, 11 Jan 2009 16:10:28 GMT

When I saw the msn.careerbuilder.com headline, “10 Sexy Careers You Never Thought Of,” I had to find out whether a cosmetology career was among them. Just because I believe that hairdressers are sexy doesn’t mean other people agree. But my suspicious proved correct! Hairstylists landed at #3 on the list. Are people who choose the career sexy, or can hairdresser school transform anyone into someone hot? It’s probably a little of both.

The article says, “Getting your hair cut is an intimate affair: the stylist’s hands are all over your head, and your face is fairly close to his or her torso at all times. In any other circumstance, you’d consider such proximity a violation of personal space. But stylists have an ability to make you feel comfortable enough to talk about your personal life, and when you find the perfect one, you don’t want anyone else touching your hair. Throw in a scalp massage and you’re putty in their hands.”

So according to the article, the sexiness comes from the permission to talk candidly about intimate details. I think it’s more than that. A good hairdresser is confident, and that’s always sexy, plus a cosmetology career puts you into the fashion world. Isn’t “style” part of the word “hairstylist” and “dress” part of “hairdresser”? Hairdressers, both male and female, tend to have a cool look going. Or should I say a hot look? What I want to know is why bloggers weren’t on the sexy list!

Beauty School Prepares Student for Theory Portion of Cosmetology Boards

Tue, 13 Jan 2009 17:24:08 GMT

When we left Krissy at the computer taking the Michigan State Cosmetology Boards, she was hoping that she remembered enough from her cosmetology school classes to compensate for barely studying for the theory portion of the test. “The first 30 questions were really tricky,” she recalls. “I tested very well at cos school—I pulled a 4.0 in all of my testing work. However, this stuff was tough!! I just kept breathing and went through it.”

The first 30 questions focused largely on sanitation, with the remainder of the questions addressing topics related to make-up, facials and chemistry. Krissy finished within 20 minutes, but she really couldn’t tell whether she’d passed. “They make you save your answers and then do a short survey before they give you your results,” she reports. “I was scared to death—literally. My heart was pounding harder than I think it’s ever pounded, my hands were clammy and I just didn’t feel good. I closed my eyes and pushed the button.” She opened her eyes to see the magic word: “PASS”!

“I breathed the biggest sigh of relief I think I’ve ever sighed!” Krissy gushes. “It was the BEST feeling in the world! I started joking with the monitors that I think I just got my butt kicked by a computer. They congratulated me, gave me my professional cosmetologist’s license with my picture on it (my paper license would come in the mail in the next week or so) and I was on my way.”

Beauty School May Make You a Texture Junkie

Sun, 18 Jan 2009 18:19:15 GMT

Every now and then I come across a hairstylist who cuts and colors, sure, but what he or she really loves is texture! In your cosmetology school classes, you’ll learn all about the various flat irons and curling irons; hot, velcro and traditional rollers; and a huge selection of products that curl, wave or straighten. After practicing in beauty school, maybe you’ll end up talking like Kacie DeJesus, a stylist in Mesa, Arizona, who’s off-the-charts passionate about texturizing hair.

“Texture is what gives hair its sass!” Kacie exclaims. “Texture is what makes you want to reach out and touch it. You can make the hair as smooth as silk or funk it up with sprays, waxes or gels. To me, that’s where all the fun is. If you can communicate your excitement to clients through their hair, I believe you will have an amazing career. Although I admit that perms are not my favorite way to get texture, they can look amazing if done correctly—and there is something to be said for the sublime feeling you get when wrapping a perm. Texturizing techniques through cutting can make any hair cut look better. I love to give my clients an ego boost with texture. Texture is what the eye recognizes in a flash, allowing the brain to immediately pick up on the level of confidence exuded by the wearer.”

I hope you’ll remember Kacie’s description when you’re curling or straightening your first beauty school mannequin head. Her enthusiasm is contagious!

First Hair Skill You Learn in Beauty School May Be Your Big Money Maker

Wed, 21 Jan 2009 15:28:11 GMT

When you start beauty school, you’ll probably want to get right to the cutting, styling, hair coloring and perming. The cool thing about those services is that you really see the results of your work. A new style makes a dramatic difference in the client’s appearance. But before you learn to do any of that in your specialized cosmetology school classes, first you’ll learn to perform the shampoo service.

While you may regard your shampoo lessons as a sort of introductory unit before you get to the good stuff, I highly recommend that you pay close attention. Clean hair will not be the only benefit from your work. For one thing, your first job may be as a shampoo tech, which means that your earliest tips will depend upon how enjoyable you make the shampoo experience for your clients, plus pleasing these clients will encourage the salon owner to quickly move you up to the position of stylist, or at least styling assistant. The shampoo bowl also will be your first recruiting source. Everyone you shampoo can potentially become your client when you’re promoted to a stylist.

So while it may seem like almost a waste of your beauty school time to spend classes in learning how to shampoo—after all, you’ve been shampooing your own hair pretty much forever—I assure you it will be time well spent. Check back; I’ll go into detail about how to make the most of delivering a shampoo, and why you should bother.

Photo was taken at Avalon Salon and Day Spa in Deer Park, Illinois.

Learn to Do a Great Shampoo at Beauty School

Sun, 25 Jan 2009 17:52:02 GMT

Being a salon client your whole life will serve you well in beauty school. Have you ever had a really great shampoo? In your early cosmetology school classes when you’re learning to do a shampoo, try to provide everything that made the experience wonderful for you as a client.

Of course the hair must be clean, so technique is important. Make sure you get all of the hair sudsy, and then get that soap out of there—one rinse is never enough! And you’ll probably want to go through the process twice. But how clean you get the hair is only part of the deal. What your clients will remember is how relaxed you made them feel. They’re walking in from their busy world, and first up is the shampoo. A vigorous scalp massage will make them forget the troubles of their day and let them be in the moment of feeling pampered. There are always clients who talk through every service, but most clients will respond to a great shampoo by enjoying the quiet and letting their eyes softly close. That’s how you know you’re pleasing them!

Check out this youtube video. See how the stylist takes his time. He tests the water to make sure it’s the right temperature, shields the client's eyes from the rinse, carefully combs out the tangles and guides the guest to the styling station chair. Becoming your beauty school’s shampoo champ will set a foundation for you to grow into a fabulous hair stylist.

Photo is courtesy of Redken.

The End to Chapter 1 of Our Beauty School Student Saga

Thu, 29 Jan 2009 23:27:01 GMT

Over the past seven months, we’ve heard all about the adventures of former Michigan beauty school student Krissy Simmons, and now Krissy has her cosmetology license. What a triumph! She thought so, too, and she bounded out of the building to tell her mom, who was waiting for her in the car. But as these things tend to do, it turned into a comedy of errors because her mom had run into the building to use the restroom! So Krissy was jumping up and down with no audience!

Mother and daughter did find each other, though, and by then Krissy had calmed down. “I just handed her my license with my picture on it,” Krissy recalls. “She started crying, I started crying, and she hugged me and told me how proud she was of me. I think it’s probably going to be one of those special moments I’ll remember for a really, really long time!

Too excited to show up for the 5-10 shift she was scheduled to work, Krissy got someone to cover for her and went out with her extended family to celebrate. “The minute we left the testing center, I started calling everyone,” Krissy says. “I called my dad first, then my sister and brothers, then people kind of in order of who was most supportive of me.” It was one of the best days she’s ever had, and it all started with beauty school. Says Krissy, “Knowing that I’m official is the best feeling in the world!”

Like Dee Adames, Your Cosmetology Career Success Can Snowball

Mon, 02 Feb 2009 16:01:38 GMT

They say “success begets success,” which seems to be true for the years following beauty school graduation. And today, when anyone can become a celebrity via reality shows and various Internet avenues, once you get your name around you’re golden. I was reminded of this when I received a publicity release about Dee Adames, Bravo TV’s most recent “Shear Genius” winner, whose already strong cosmetology career received quite the boost from her cable television triumph.

When you win something like that—or maybe become locally famous by posting a popular youtube video or writing a blog—the first people who come calling are the product manufacturers. With a little luck, you can land a lucrative contract just by making appearances for products you use on your clients. In Dee’s case, there are two product lines—Freestylist Systems and John Paul Mitchell Systems—and she has also become a Paul Mitchell educator.

On top of that success, Dee now can easily get financial backing to open her own salon, since consumers will think it’s cool to say they get their hair done there. So with partner Laila Taheri, Dee recently opened D&L Hair Studio in Miami. The press release describes Dee as “an artist with a passion for art, music and nature, [who] puts her heart and soul into making everyday an adventure.” How would your press agent describe you? You never know where your cosmetology career will take you, but the Land of Success will be within reach. Just ask Dee Adames.

Photo is courtesy of John Paul Mitchell Systems

Cosmetology School Grads Must Adjust to Working Saturdays

Fri, 06 Feb 2009 16:50:38 GMT

Going to cosmetology school is a lot like having a 9-to-5 job, because those are pretty much your hours—9am to 5pm, Monday through Friday. On weekends you can do what you want, although it’s always a good idea to use the time to practice what you learn in beauty school classes on mannequins—or on good friends who won’t hate you if you turn their hair green! But once you graduate and get your license, it’s another story.

I was interviewing a salon owner for an article I was writing, and she brought up this very topic. “You wouldn’t believe how many applications I get from people who want to work Monday through Friday, 9 to 5,” she told me. “I tell those applicants, ‘You didn’t go to the right school then. You should have gone to secretarial school!’ Salons are open Saturdays. In this business, Saturday is our busiest day.”

She’s so right. Eventually you’ll be able to work the hours you choose. But when you start out after cosmetology school, Saturdays are your best bet for building your clientele. That’s when the salon has the most walk-ins, and it’s when other stylists get overloaded and may ask you to help them out by taking a client. It’s always up to you to get the client to come back to you, but if you work on Saturdays you'll at least have an easy way to recruit them for their initial visit. More on this next time.

Photo is courtesy of Redken.

Beauty School Grads Redefine "Weekend" As They Please

Wed, 11 Feb 2009 03:52:37 GMT

Last time I explained why working Saturdays after you complete beauty school is key to building your clientele. So when you're a licensed, professional cosmetologist, do you have to work six days a week? The short answer is: "No." The more complete answer is: "Well, it couldn't hurt!"

Whether you become a salon employee or you lease space on your own, how much you work is usually up to you; you're in charge of your income. True, Saturday is a must-work, but Sunday—well, that's one of the industry's best-kept secrets. If the salon you work at is open Sunday, you betcha that it's a great day to get new clients. Not only can Sunday be very busy at a salon, but fewer stylists are there so you can get more of the walk-ins and call-ins.

That still doesn't mean you have to work constantly. Stylists who want to work a five-day week might create a Monday/Tuesday weekend for themselves, while others prefer to break up the week and perhaps take off Sundays and Wednesdays. Another popular method, especially among moms with young children or people who enjoy working evenings, is to work more days but fewer hours per day. And there's the opposite—pile a lot of hours into a four-day workweek. Decide whether you want to work 30, 40 or even 50 hours, and then split up the week however you and your salon owner can agree on. How to define "weekend" when you're a professional cosmetologist? It's up to you!

Freelance For Big Money After Massage Therapy School

Sun, 15 Feb 2009 13:15:02 GMT

My friend Nancy is long out of massage therapy school and has been a massage therapist now for several decades. But she doesn't work in a salon, spa or doctor's office. She freelances. She takes her portable massage table to her clients' homes, or her clients come to her house. This has worked out well for Nancy's massage therapy career, because she wanted to split her time between working and being a mom and homemaker; the money she's brought in part-time has provided the perfect supplement to her husband's income.

Recently a well-known massage chain launched a branch in our town. The franchise owner called Nancy and asked whether she'd be interested in working there, quoting her a $17 hourly rate of pay. That sounded pretty good to me. It's double the pay that someone could make at a lot of retail jobs; working a regular 40-hour week and taking two weeks for vacation, you can pull in $34,000 before you even add tips. Not bad. But Nancy didn't see it that way.

"On my own I earn from one client what it would take me three clients to earn there," Nancy told me. Wow! Imagine what she'd make if she did work 40 hours a week! For someone just out of massage therapy school who needs clients, taking the job would be a great choice. But by now Nancy has built up a solid clientele, can be her own boss and can command top dollar for her skills.

Teen Vogue’s Fashion University a Great Fit for Beauty School Students

Wed, 18 Feb 2009 14:49:43 GMT

Heads up: keep an eye out for the announcement of the 2009 Teen Vogue Fashion University, usually held in the fall. If you’re thinking about beauty school I can assure you that you’ll have a fabulous time if you get chosen to participate in this Teen Vogue annual event, where 500 teens gather to attend seminars hosted by fashion designers and beauty professionals. One sponsor, Redken, uses Fashion University “to expose talented students to a unique career in beauty. A career in hairdressing can be focused in the salon or on the runways where fashion happens on a regional and international level.” It’s a perfect introduction to the business before you enroll in cosmetology school.

Signing up early gets you a chance to possibly attend Redken’s “The Salon Experience,” where the teens have personal consultations with hair stylists who create each season’s looks on the runways of New York City’s Fashion Week. The stylists explain what it’s like to work backstage at a cool event like Fashion Week—how they design hair to complement clothing fashions and where a career in runway hairdressing can take you. It’s inspiring!

After attending the event last year and speaking with Kris Sorbie, Redken’s education artistic director, teen Anne Farrell Mudd decided to enroll in cosmetology school. A Redken spokesperson says, “Redken hopes to inform teens of the possibility of a career in beauty and the excitement and fulfillment it brings and also to inspire them in ways such as Sorbie has with Mudd.”

Photo: Teens get Redken makeovers at Fashion University.

Check Out This Beauty School Video

Mon, 23 Feb 2009 02:39:17 GMT

Want to see a snippet of life in cosmetology school? Check out this video at modernsalonlearning.com, which takes you inside the Tony & Guy Hairdressing Academy in Santa Monica, California. You'll see the "seniors" working on the school's "clinical" floor—a real salon that takes real clients but charges lower, beauty school prices. Just a month or so away from graduating, the seniors are already very skilled and getting pretty confident, as you can tell from watching them.

One distinction of a school salon, at least this one, is that the students are given a full hour for each appointment. Licensed stylists typically fit a cut and blowdry into either a 30- or 45-minute time frame, and many are keeping an eye on color processing for another client while they're doing that cut. Some even do three haircut clients per hour.

On the video, the educational director at Tony & Guy explains a little about the process of preparing for the state boards. Students spend each afternoon for one month practicing the techniques they'll be expected to demonstrate in order to become licensed, while in the mornings they continue to work in the salon as usual. Before they graduate, they're tested on every phase of their curriculum. While you may not get to watch a video about each cosmetology school you're considering, you have every right to ask questions by email or in person that give you a good idea of what life at that school will be like.

“Better Late Than Never” Applies to Beauty School

Thu, 26 Feb 2009 18:12:02 GMT

The other day I came upon a story about Jude, a woman who enrolled in beauty school at the age of 45. Jude had always wanted to pursue a career in hairdressing, but for whatever reason she got into marketing and life, as it does, went into fast gear. When she finally enrolled in cosmetology school, however, she found that it was as rewarding as she’d hoped.

If you’re in your 30s, 40s or older and thinking about a salon career, you may worry about how you will be received by your fellow students. Jude’s experience was that the “kids were pretty cool about me being so much older.” This doesn’t surprise me. Today’s higher education campuses are a mixed-age environment, with the generations sharing insights and respect for each other as they continue their learning and pursue their dreams.

Jude’s biggest challenge was working with perm rods. I don’t know whether that’s an aging issue, but as long as you don’t have arthritis you should have the physical dexterity necessary to be a stylist. If standing for long periods of time hurts your legs or back, you can always sit on a stool while you cut hair. Also, your instructors at beauty school can demonstrate how to hold your shoulders and hands to minimize stress on your body. While Jude now cuts hair only for friends, she calls upon her beauty background for much of her website content. There are many ways to apply your cosmetology education!

What Obama’s Proposed Budget Will Mean for Beauty School Students

Mon, 02 Mar 2009 20:27:38 GMT

Pell grants, which significantly help many students finance their beauty school education, are specifically addressed in President Obama’s proposed Fiscal Year 2010 budget. Cosmetology schools that have been accredited by the National Accrediting Commission of Cosmetology Arts and Sciences (NACCAS) are entitled by the U.S. government to make Pell Grants available to students.

As proposed, the maximum amount of the Pell Grant will change each year to reflect the annual cost of living. The dollar figure will be tied to the Consumer Price Index (CPI) plus 1 percent. So if the cost of living goes up 4 percent in one year, Pell Grant recipients will receive 5 percent more money than those who received grants the previous year. “For years the Pell Grant award has remained relatively flat while the cost of everything else, including a college education, has increased,” remarks Philip Day, president and CEO of the National Association of Student Finance Aid Administrators (NASFAA). “President Obama’s proposal to tie the Pell Grant award to the CPI plus 1 percent is a significant victory for low-income students struggling to pay for college.”

In addition, the proposed budget nationalizes the funding for Perkins Grants, which are distributed to worthy vocational programs; details are still sketchy. Of some controversial interest is the recommended elimination of the Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFELP), which would replace private lenders with the U.S. government as the sole financier of student loans. I’ll keep you informed about financing your cosmetology school education.

Beauty School Grad Krissy Goes Job Hunting

Fri, 06 Mar 2009 16:43:02 GMT

Krissy’s back! After we finished chronicling her beauty school experience here on the blog, I missed my girl! So I caught up with Krissy Simmons and am thrilled to report that she’s putting her cosmetology school training to the best use—making money!

“When I started cosmetology school, I automatically started thinking in the back of my head about where I might want to work,” Krissy says. “My cousin was a hairstylist at a higher end, very prestigious salon, where she had a stable position. But I knew I didn’t want to start off in a salon like that. I would rather build up my talents in a smaller, corporate type of salon.” As her graduation date approached, Krissy started calling around to salons to explore opportunities to be an intern or assistant.

“I applied at three salons,” continues Krissy, who began interviewing before she graduated from beauty school. “The first interview was pretty intense, as I’d never interviewed with a salon before. It was with a smaller, private salon, where the owner needed an assistant. The interview went very well. However, the owner wanted someone who was really passionate, and she didn’t like the fact that I was in school part-time for nursing. I explained that just because I was in nursing school didn’t mean that I didn’t have a passion for hair.” The owner must have been skeptical, because Krissy didn’t get that job. Interviews at two other salons had better results, as you’ll see in a future blog.

Beauty School May Be Popular During This Time of High Unemployment

Tue, 10 Mar 2009 19:41:30 GMT

Vocational and advanced educational programs like cosmetology school traditionally see a boost in enrollment during tough economic periods plagued by high unemployment. “A lot of people want to increase their skill levels or get that degree they didn’t have,” Professor I. Elaine Allen of Babson College told a reporter for chronicle.com. Allen attributed the motivation as much to fear of losing a job as to actually having already been laid off. As I’ve said many times here on the blog, there’s no maximum age for a beauty school student. If you love doing hair, esthetics or nails, go for it!

No one can be sure how long this recession will last or how high unemployment will go. Economists are all over the place in their predictions. So people who are unemployed figure that a year of beauty school may be a great investment of their time if, during that year, they couldn’t get a well-paying job anyway.

If you go to cosmetology school now, by the time the year is over your job-hunting landscape will have changed in two ways: first, the economy may have improved and, second, you’ll have a new set of skills that make you highly employable. Even in bad economic times, people still get their hair cut if for no other reason than they have to look good for their job interviews. Better times have to come sooner or later, and when they hit I think that salons will be just packed.

Photo is of Paul Mitchell School in Chicago.

Beauty School’s “Open House” Offers Deeper Peek

Sat, 14 Mar 2009 23:55:16 GMT

I always advise people considering beauty schools to schedule in-person visits before making a final decision. The Empire Beauty Schools chain has developed “Open House and Job Fair” events to make that visit easy. I like this idea, because some people feel more comfortable in a group setting.

Potential students take what corporate Public Relations Manager Maureen Pinchock calls “an informative and fun tour of the school.” On hand to answer questions about the education and the career are current students, teachers and local salon owners and managers, while guest speakers ranging from successful graduates to celebrity stylists talk about their experiences in the industry. Information about financial aid info is provided, and visitors are invited to sit in on classes and look over the student salon. “We want them to feel they can explore as much as possible in order to make an informed decision about enrolling,” Maureen says. “Fun contests pairing up current students with the potential ones for a hair styling competition that can be judged by open house attendees gives a hands-on experience that has been very helpful in making the decision to attend cosmetology school.”

In the summer, Empire also holds a week-long “Beauty School Boot Camp” for high school and vo-tech students. “Basic cosmetology curriculum sessions and hands-on experiences with mannequins and products encourage attendees to learn more about a career in cosmetology,” Maureen adds. If you have an Empire School near you, check it out!

Photo is courtesy of Empire Education Group.

Beauty School Students Will Want to Catch New Chris Rock Movie

Wed, 18 Mar 2009 16:57:54 GMT

As much as hair has been a storytelling topic since the biblical days of Samson and Delilah, there always seems to be a new perspective on it that can be of interest to anyone considering attending beauty school. From “Hair” and “Shampoo” to the more recent “Barber Shop” and “Beauty Shop” movies, playwrights and screenwriters have long been fascinated by hair and the salon industry. There even was a movie called “American Mullet,” and here on the blog I talked a little about Adam Sandler’s “You Don’t Mess with the Zohan.” If you’re looking at becoming a professional cosmetologist, keep an eye out for the latest entry to be previewed at the Sundance Festival, “Good Hair,” a documentary developed by comedian Chris Rock.

Chris decided to research African-American hair after his young daughter reportedly came to him crying and asked, “Daddy, how come I don’t have good hair?” With no idea how his kid had got that notion into her head, Chris determined to learn everything he could about the pressures African-Americans feel to straighten and process their hair. He’d chemically straightened his own hair from time to time but no longer does. Women, he recognized, have a lot more hair issues.

At beauty school, you’ll practice on all hair textures, and I encourage stylists to be comfortable doing every type of hair. There’s no information yet on when the movie will go into wide release, but try to catch it when it comes to your town.

Life After Cosmetology School Takes Shape For Krissy

Sun, 22 Mar 2009 22:35:53 GMT

When Krissy Simmons graduated from CHIC University of Cosmetology an Empire School in Portage, Michigan, she knew that she wanted to begin her career at a salon chain, where there would be plenty of walk-in traffic and she could quickly sharpen her skills by doing hair on a lot of different types of people. About two weeks after her cosmetology school graduation, Krissy interviewed at her local, brand new ULTA salon with the manager, Denim. That interview went well, as did a second, more in-depth interview.

“But then I lost touch with her, as she wanted me to get my boards finished before she could hire me officially,” Krissy explains. “So I took my boards and passed (which was probably the best feeling in the world!!) and tried getting in touch with her. She was busy opening up the new salon, but I wanted to start working right away.”

Krissy decided to interview with Trade Secret, a small Regis salon that at the time had only one other stylist. “This interview was relaxed, and at times I felt as though I was leading it,” Krissy reports. “The manager of the salon did not do hair, so she geared the interview toward general topics. My practical interview went well, with the other hairstylist watching me and asking me questions throughout. I got the job and started working within a week.” Next time, Krissy will tell us how she got back to ULTA as her first real job after cosmetology school.

Pelusi Video Motivating for Beauty School Students

Thu, 26 Mar 2009 13:27:38 GMT

As you make your plans to attend beauty school, expose yourself to as much cosmetology career information as you can. I’d like to recommend a video, “Philip Pelusi—When Art Collides,” that I think you’ll find inspiring. Well-known in the industry, veteran hair designer Pelusi has his name on salons, educational programs and a product line.

The seven-minute video follows Pelusi’s team as they do hair and makeup for a fashion event. This video takes quotes from people outside the beauty industry that on the surface do not relate directly to hair styling but, rather, to art in general. It’s something for you to go back and look at every time anyone doubts that you’re pursuing an artist’s dream. The video will reconfirm your instinct to follow your heart.

When you enroll in beauty school, you’re entering a world of art, beauty and passion. You can’t know the power of it until you become part of it, but you’ll see what I mean. The video may seem to take itself a little seriously, but watching it will help you to respect your own need for expression through hair design, which requires as much creativity and talent as any other art—whether your friends, parents and teachers recognize that or not. And unlike buying a new painting to hang on a wall, getting a great new hair style makes people feel good about themselves. You’re expressing your art and, at the same time, raising people’s self-esteem. No other career can match that.

Photo: The Philip Pelusi Team.

Beauty School Students Have Their Day at ABS

Mon, 30 Mar 2009 21:47:07 GMT

I spent most of today in downtown Chicago with hundreds, maybe even thousands, of beauty school students at America’s Beauty Show (ABS), a trade show for everyone in the beauty salon industry. While Saturday and Sunday are geared more toward the working professional, Mondays at ABS are planned with cosmetology school students in mind. There are special student discounts, and some of the classrooms and presentations take the student audience into consideration.

All of that youthful energy makes Monday a really fun day at the show. But I have to tell you—not every student was all that young! There were plenty of people in their 30s, currently enrolled in school and attending ABS to make sure they hit the ground running when they graduate.

Show activity splits into three categories: learning, networking and shopping. The education is simply non-stop. On the exhibit floor, at any given time selected top hair designers from all over the country are demonstrating cutting, coloring and styling techniques. In addition, people are tucked away in classrooms for intense learning on a business or technical topic. Networking opportunities abound, with salon owners and staffers always willing to give students great advice that comes from their own sometimes hard-learned lessons. And then there’s shopping. Between the products, tools, aprons and random items like purses, you can get a lot of items at reduced, last-day-of-the-show prices. I think everyone had fun, and many told me they are really loving their cosmetology school experience.

Is Tuition Your Big Hurdle to Attending Beauty School?

Fri, 03 Apr 2009 15:43:08 GMT

I want to share with you an email conversation I had with a blog reader who wrote to me about how upset she is because she doesn’t have the money to attend beauty school and the only cosmetology school within an hour’s drive of her home is not accredited and, therefore, not eligible to offer government grants. I’m betting that she’s not alone in her frustration.

Young people realize that without post-high school education, your choices are limited, it’s harder to move up in a company when you do get a job and, ultimately, you’ll probably be doing something that you’re not passionate about or you may not even enjoy. Still, no one should go to beauty school by default. So the first thing I had my emailer think about is how much she wants to go into this profession.

I emailed back, “Do you find yourself doing hair all the time on friends and relatives? Are you a creative person in general? Do you enjoy making other people feel good about themselves? If you truly believe you’re a hairdresser in your heart, you almost have no choice but to follow through and get the training. Otherwise no matter what you do in life, you’ll wish you were doing hair. From a practical view, you’ll make the most money doing what you love to do and have the most talent to do.” Next time I’ll outline the tangible suggestions I gave her for acquiring cash for beauty school tuition.

5 Ways to Scramble for Beauty School Tuition During a Recession

Fri, 10 Apr 2009 13:25:30 GMT

Last time I told you about a young woman who felt defeated because she couldn’t afford the tuition to attend cosmetology school. Encouraging her not to give up, I offered these ideas:

1. Meet with your prospective beauty school’s financial aid person, who will have ideas for you even if the school does not qualify for federal grants.
2. Try a bank. Getting a loan is not easy these days, but maybe you or your parents have a good credit history. (Beg!)
3. Think about EVERYONE you know. Let’s say you need $10,000. Maybe you know 10 people who could give or lend you $1,000, or 100 people who could give you $100. Print out “IOU One Year of Free Haircuts” for everyone who fronts you $300 or more.
4. Find somewhere to live for free or cheaply for a year so that you can work and save that money yourself. Or work your butt off at three jobs for six months.
5. Go for your nail tech certification first, which will cost less but still give you a ticket into the salon industry. Then when you’re hired to do mani/pedis at a salon, let the owner know that you would love to continue and get your full cosmetologist’s license. Maybe the owner can offer a small scholarship to you in exchange for a commitment to remain with that salon.

Don’t let money issues derail your dream. If you truly want to attend cosmetology school, you’ll find a way!

Beauty School Grad Finds a Good Fit at ULTA Salon

Sun, 12 Apr 2009 21:13:42 GMT

About two months out of beauty school, Krissy Simmons found herself working at one salon while still pining for another. Unable to reach the ULTA Salon manager who had advised her to complete cosmetology school and get her license before interviewing, Krissy started working somewhere else. But when the opportunity came to meet the ULTA manager at Panera for a lunchtime interview, Krissy grabbed it.

“We had a great conversation,” Krissy recalls. “I instantly felt the connection between us. She explained what she was looking for and asked the standard questions. I’ll never forget one of the questions: ‘What do you think is the most important part of a client consultation?’ My hair had been completely butchered in a very short clipper cut about three weeks earlier, so I just pointed to my hair! I told her that communication was the most important part, because my hair was in no way, shape or form supposed to look like that. I think it was a good point to make in getting hired.”

The manager invited Krissy to do a technical interview to demonstrate her skills. “I took a friend as my model and did an all-over color, highlight and haircut,” Krissy reports. “It was so stressful for me, just because I really, really wanted the job!” But, obviously I did a good enough job to get hired. It was a huge relief!” Why was Krissy’s heart set on working at ULTA? More on our beauty school grad next time!

Beauty School Advisor Blog Reader Asks a Great Question

Wed, 15 Apr 2009 14:41:08 GMT

A blog reader, Mel, recently wrote to me that she was excited about choosing to attend cosmetology school and had narrowed down her choices to two great schools. The trouble was she couldn’t decide between them, and she asked me for advice. After visiting both beauty schools, her “gut” told her to opt for School A, but tuition was $4,000 higher than at School B. “Does it matter where I go, or will any school do the job?” Mel asked me.

I bet people ask themselves this question a lot, especially in this economy. Maybe you’re thinking along the same lines right now. If you have friends applying to four-year colleges, you know that their experience is quite different from yours. They probably are applying to many schools and waiting to see which ones accept them. Only at that point will they compare schools and consider the cost.

By choosing to enroll in cosmetology school, you do not have the worry of possibly not being accepted. That may change one day, and even now you may have to wait a semester if your chosen program is full. But you save on application fees right away, because you need apply only to your first-choice school. Schools charge different tuition fees based on factors like their reputation and demand for their program, their location and their expenses. If price is playing a role in your decision, check back next time and I’ll give you the same advice I gave Mel.

How to Choose When You’re Deciding Between Two Cosmetology Schools

Sun, 19 Apr 2009 14:16:55 GMT

Last time, Mel was trying to decide between Beauty School A, which she preferred, and Beauty School B, where tuition was $4,000 cheaper. I gave Mel four suggestions:

1. Search online for reviews and comments not just about each of the two chains, but also about the particular locations you would attend. Try to find both complaints and praise from students who have attended.
2. Stop into several upscale salons in your area. Ask the owners or managers whether they recommend one school over the other and why.
3. Through their literature and websites, compare the two schools for: how many hours you’ll be on the floor doing hair on real clients; how vigorously they prepare you for the state boards; the percentage of entering students who graduate; the percentage of graduating students who pass the boards; how much they focus on business skills, money management and general life skills; their success in job placement; and the teachers’ background and training.
4. Visit each school one more time. How clean is it? Do students look engaged? Are people smiling and having fun? Get really in touch with how you feel while you're there. Are you comfortable picturing yourself in that program?

After that research, if the pricier school rose above the other one, I advised Mel to pay the extra tuition. However, if she felt that the cosmetology schools were still pretty even, I thought she should attend the less expensive one. Next time I’ll reveal the school Mel selected.

Mel’s Choice of Beauty School Can’t Miss!

Thu, 23 Apr 2009 19:52:43 GMT

Welcome to the end of my story arc about Mel, who was having a hard time deciding between two beauty schools that were $4,000 apart in tuition price. Both were great schools, and Mel did a terrific job thinking it all through before choosing...drum roll, please...Carsten’s Aveda Institute. What swayed her?

While Mel’s primarily interested in hair, she believes her career will benefit from a broad foundation that includes spa basics. Aveda schools hold classes in hair, nails, skin care and massage.
Carsten, the owner, is not only a businessman but also a celebrated and successful hairdresser who personally teaches some classes. “He teaches a French-style cutting technique that sets his institute apart from most schools,” Mel reports.
The price is right for learning the fundamentals to pass the state boards. Mel says, “Once I have a job in a salon, I will get additional training on how they would like me to cut and color. And as with any career that is based on fashion and trends that change, it will be essential for me to continue my education with classes and seminars to stay up with the trends over the years.”
Aveda has a good reputation. “More people are beginning to prefer natural, organic and environmentally friendly options,” Mel notes. “As an important trend in the industry, it is a good decision to go to a school that will educate me on this aspect of cosmetology.”

Mel says she can’t wait to start cosmetology school!

Photo: Carsten Wilms

Beauty School Grad Krissy Targets the Newest Salon in Town

Mon, 27 Apr 2009 16:47:03 GMT

We rejoin Krissy, who decided shortly after completing cosmetology school that she would like to work at the ULTA Salon in her town, Portage, Michigan. Although she’d taken a different job right out of beauty school, she seized an opportunity to jump to ULTA.

“I chose to work at ULTA because I knew it was going to be a huge hit in Portage,” explains Krissy, who was hired within a month of the location’s grand opening. “I knew that everyone would be interested in the new store and we’d get really good word-of-mouth advertising, since ULTA carries everything. Just like the advertisement says, ULTA is the store AND salon on everyone’s lips! We definitely needed something like this in Portage, and I knew people would be intrigued enough to come in and especially to try out the salon! Also, I was always worried about being the “new girl” in the salon—the only one who was slow and didn’t have a huge clientele; I was scared of having to meet huge quotas and the push to get busy. But at ULTA even though other stylists might not be as new to the profession as I was, at least they would all be new to the salon. I have always been a huge believer in ULTA and am always excited to tell people about the store and salon. It’s exciting!”

Krissy discovers that working is not the same as attending beauty school. I’ll tell you all about her experiences next time!

Industry Consultant Shares Current Outlook for Beauty School Grads

Fri, 01 May 2009 14:55:55 GMT

Now and then I like to tap industry observers for their big-picture view of beauty schools and employment opportunities. Recently I was speaking with Cyrus Busara, president of Professional Consultants and Resources (www.proconsultants.us), Plano, Texas, a leading salon industry data and strategic consulting company. Cyrus informed me he expects cosmetology school enrollment to rise this year.

“During years of high unemployment, many more students flock to beauty schools to pursue either a full-time vocation in cosmetology or extra part-time earnings, since many of them can qualify pretty quickly to get a state cosmetology license,” he said. That makes sense; by the time you’re licensed and ready to go, the recession may be wrapping up.

When I asked Cyrus what graduates will face in the salon job market, he cited a 2008 industry study indicating that chains like Great Clips and Sports Clips have staffing needs because they’re growing by leaps and bounds, while independent salons are experiencing more challenges to stay competitive. “Rentals are a burgeoning part of the salon industry,” he added, “and many of today’s beauty school students would love to be entrepreneurs and rent their own space in booth rental salons.” Further, when schools are associated with a product line—Paul Mitchell, Aveda and Toni&Guy are examples—the graduates often get preference in joining salons associated with the same company. “Usually a Paul Mitchell School student would love to go to work at a Paul Mitchell Salon,” Cyrus noted. “Even independent schools are usually approached by local salons.”

Photo is courtesy of Patrick McGivor Color Studio.

Scholarship Toward Beauty School Tuition Can Help!

Tue, 05 May 2009 14:18:02 GMT

One thing about working in the salon industry after cosmetology school: you’ll mean tons of great people! A very dedicated and generous salon professional I’ve become friends with has decided to offer, out of her own pocket, a $250 scholarship toward tuition at any beauty school or advanced cosmetology program as her contribution to her profession. Isn’t that amazing?

Kathy Jager is the author of As the Chair Turns...Tips & Snips of Advice for Your Journey Behind the Chair, a member of the Cosmetologists Chicago board of directors and a frequent guest speaker at hair events. As part of her “Education Rocks” campaign, Kathy lists the scholarship details on her website, www.kathyjager.com. To enter, register on the site, and then click either on “scholarship” and fill out the form provided or on “message boards” to post your entry under the “students” category.

You will be asked to explain what your focus is within the cosmetology industry and how you intend to build a successful career. You also will be required to show proof of registration in a beauty school class or advanced program. Kathy will announce the winner on June 1. “I want to offer some help for passionate individuals interested in advancing their career,” Kathy told me. “This is about a dream they have for themselves. I will personally decide on the recipient; from reading their entries I believe that I will know who is deserving of the scholarship.” Good luck to entrants from beautyschooladvisor.com!

Rihanna’s Nail Tech Inspires Nail Technology School Students

Sun, 10 May 2009 05:29:42 GMT

In the same way that some of the finest hair stylists work with celebrities, so do excellent nail techs. After you graduate from nail technology school, you may find your cosmetology career taking you backstage, on tour or in a salon frequented by well-known people. Nail tech Kimmie Kyees had the opportunity recently to do Rihanna’s nails for her new music video, “Paranoid,” and the China Glaze nail product line reported how it went.

“Kimmie used China Glaze Liquid Leather and topped the black-out nails with actual gold flecks of glitter,” according to the company. “Just the week before, Rihanna wore Liquid Leather on her toes as well! After filming her video, and while jet-setting across the country, Rihanna made time to see Kimmie again so that she could give her another manicure using China Glaze White on White, which was topped off again with glittery gold flakes. Looks like she wanted to lighten up her look but decided to stay with the gold glitter concept. This time around, Kimmie applied the gold flecks of glitter around the base near her cuticle. With the other manicure done with China Glaze Liquid Leather, Kimmie applied the glitter more towards the tips!”

In nail technology school, you’ll learn technique. Practicing will help you get good and get fast. But while you’ll also learn something about artistry, your individual creativity will determine whether you can be a Kimmie Kyees someday. Maybe the next pop singer will be putting her nails in your hands!

Cosmetology School Grad Recalls First Day of Work

Fri, 15 May 2009 15:18:54 GMT

Because Krissy Simmons took a job right out of cosmetology school that she left for her current position as a stylist with ULTA Salon, she really had two frightening “first days of work.” If you’ve been following along with Krissy’s journey through beauty school and beyond, you’ll know that her nerves go raw easily!

At the first salon, Krissy recalls, “I knew that I only had to fill out paperwork, so it wasn’t too bad. But the first day I took clients—oh my! My heart rate rose 20 beats every time someone walked into the store. What if they wanted me to do their hair?! I was scared to death. But it got better.” At ULTA, Krissy watched educational videos her first day and went on the floor the following day. “I was scared speechless,” she says. “We’re supposed to approach shoppers and talk to them about the salon and hand out our business cards, but I was scared to go up to anyone. I didn’t know enough about the store yet to answer questions. Worse yet, they might ask me to do their hair! But, again, it got better with time, and now I cruise around the store talking to anyone about anything. My rate of converting store customers into salon clients has gone up a great deal, just because I’ve gotten comfortable within the salon.”

Next time, Krissy talks about her clients and team members, and in future posts she’ll reflect on her decision to attend cosmetology school.

Large Beauty School Chain Stages Expo

Sun, 17 May 2009 16:01:20 GMT

One perk you get from enrolling in a cosmetology school associated with a large chain is the opportunity to attend huge events. A good example is coming up on June 8, when nearly 2,000 students from 88 Empire Beauty Schools all over the country will gather in Hershey, Pennsylvania, for the 2009 Future Professionals Expo. Competitions in hair, nails and makeup will give the students a chance to win prizes for their new skills. A trade show will offer workshops in the latest techniques, information on products and breaking industry news. By networking with professionals in the beauty salon industry, Empire students can gain a competitive edge in the job market.

“Our students are not just getting a great education,” says Frank Schoeneman, chairman and CEO of Empire Education Group. “They are getting the benefit of the entire Empire resource pool and support system that is a critical advantage when it comes to landing a job and even starting their own business.”

This is just an example of what’s out there for you. As you consider where you want to attend, I urge you to look at small, independently owned cosmetology schools as well as educational facilities that are part of a bigger organization. Ask the administrators about the support provided for attending industry events, even if they’re not sponsored by the school the way this expo is. Small schools are great, too, and you should explore all of your options before deciding on the right school for you.

Photo is courtesy of Empire Education Group.

Future Beauty School Students: Sign Up to be a Hair Show Model!

Thu, 21 May 2009 15:41:38 GMT

Anyone thinking about enrolling in cosmetology school should look into signing on as a hair model for manufacturers that exhibit at trade shows. This is a great way to expose yourself to the inner workings of the industry. In fact, if you’re really destined to go to beauty school and become a hairdresser, nail tech or esthetician, being in the trade show atmosphere will set you on fire! It’s really fun.

As a model, you’ll get paid to work the show instead of paying to attend; the going rate is roughly $200 per day plus $40 for “prep” day for the hairdresser to look at your hair ahead of time and maybe condition or color it. These shows tend to run Saturday through Monday. You may be asked to walk the runway showing off a finished style, or you may be the model sitting in the chair as the stylist demonstrates techniques. Both men and women are needed; skin care and nail models are there also, but to a much lesser extent.

It doesn’t hurt to be attractive, but not all hair models must be super-tall and thin, so don’t worry about that. To start, email some of the product brands used in salons to see whether they’re casting in your area, or check craigslist.com periodically for hair model calls. Always tell them that you’re hoping to attend cosmetology school, because that may help you get selected. For more information, click here and here, and good luck!

Beauty School Teachers Help Launch a Student’s Amazing Career

Mon, 25 May 2009 18:42:48 GMT

Cosmetology School Grad Finds Acceptance From Salon Team

Fri, 29 May 2009 14:44:10 GMT

Vocabulary Will Be Important at Massage Therapy School

Tue, 02 Jun 2009 14:32:35 GMT

Cosmetology School Can Be the Strictest College Around

Fri, 05 Jun 2009 16:36:52 GMT

Cruise to A Smooth Cosmetology Career

Wed, 10 Jun 2009 13:19:42 GMT

Life After Beauty School for Krissy: Sunday’s the Best Day, and Tips Build Income!

Sun, 14 Jun 2009 16:58:32 GMT

Beauty School Graduation Celebrity Speaker Urges: Make a “List”

Thu, 18 Jun 2009 15:08:53 GMT

Second-Career Beauty School Student Receives “Education Rocks” Scholarship

Mon, 22 Jun 2009 19:03:11 GMT

What Beauty School Students Should Know About Farrah Fawcett

Fri, 26 Jun 2009 19:59:28 GMT

Lots to Learn During First Job Out of Beauty School

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 19:41:52 GMT

BeautySchoolAdvisor Wishes America a Happy Birthday!

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 14:43:35 GMT

Is Online Beauty School a Viable Option?

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 13:48:10 GMT