Frequently Asked Questions
With combined experience of more than 50 years in the beauty services industry as school owners, practicing cosmetologists, instructors and career school marketing consultants, the management of Beauty College Directory has compiled the questions and answers below to help you decide if a career in the beauty arts is right for you.
Over the years, we have found that these subject areas, which we have put in the form of questions, are critical to facilitate your decision.
When you visit beauty schools or cosmetology schools you should be prepared to ask these questions of school officials and staff. You will then gain a thorough understanding of the beauty school and its mission... and if it's the right school for you to launch your beauty services career.
Discover how a beauty schools can put you on the right career track. Request free information today!
Providing beauty services that enhance the appearance of their clients can be a very gratifying and exciting career choice and the demand for talented, qualified beauty professionals is a growing, lucrative field.
The beauty industry is a $72 billion industry domestically and $250 billion internationally. There are more than a million people working in the industry, including the practitioners (hairdressers, cosmetologists, aestheticians, nail technicians and massage therapists), salon owners, beauty products manufacturers and distributors.
A career in the beauty industry is virtually recession proof. Most people want to look good and feel good as they age -- in good times as well as bad economic times. As the youngest of the baby boomer population has now entered their 40s (baby boomers were born between 1946 and 1964), there are tens of millions of Americans concerned on a daily basis about their health, looking good and feeling good.
The two most critical skills you'll need to succeed as a beauty services practitioner are people skills and a sense of style and artistry. You'll need to keep up with the latest fashion trends, beauty products and hair styles as they change. A commitment to lifelong learning is expected as fashion and beauty trends change quickly.
The work environment is clean with good lighting and ventilation. Most importantly, there's a positive atmosphere as clients receive services that make them look better and, therefore, feel better about themselves. And, if your lifestyle requires flexibility, national statistics indicate that 33% of salon employees work part-time (20-35 hours) and 20% work low time (less than 20 hours).
There are, however, important considerations to keep in mind when considering a career in the beauty industry, such as:
Willingness to follow a client's instructions/requests
- Sensitivity to clients' feelings
- Practice diplomacy when a client requests an unflattering style
- Frequently working long hours standing on your feet or sitting (manicurist)
- Prepared to work evenings and weekends when salons are busy
- Exposure to chemicals and fumes
- Strict practice of safety and hygiene at all times
Start planning your career today!
Request free information from our featured Beauty Schools or Cosmetology Schools Today!
What are the most important factors to consider when choosing the Right Beauty School?
We urge you to do your homework and ask a lot of questions since you'll be making an investment in a beauty school or cosmetology school.
First, we strongly recommend that you consider beauty schools and cosmetology schools that are accredited by the National Accrediting Association Commission of Cosmetology Arts and Sciences (NAACAS).
If you decide to attend a non-accredited beauty school, be sure to check with the state licensing board to ensure that the school is licensed to legally operate in the state where it's located.
Other important factors to consider are:
- Financial aid - does the beauty school participate in Federal student financial aid programs, the Department of Veteran Affairs for veteran education benefits and the Workforce Investment Act.
- Job placement rates of graduates
- Ratio of training, i.e., classroom learning vs. laboratory/clinic “hands-on” learning
- Do students work on mannequins or real paying customers?
- What percentage of graduates passes the licensing exam?
- Transferability of credits if I decide to change schools
How will Beauty College Directory help you plan your beauty career today?
Start by visiting our featured beauty schools and cosmetology schools to request free information from a beauty school near you.
How do I know which program of study is right for me?
Unless you prefer to just specialize in hair styling or nails, you'll be in the greatest demand with the broad range of training you'll receive and services you'll be able to offer as a Cosmetologist. National statistics indicate that there are more than 500,000 jobs available to licensed professional cosmetologists.
And, especially at upscale salons in wealthy neighborhoods, where tips tend to be generous, competition for positions can be intense and the more billable services you can offer, the more desirable employee you will be to the salon owner/hiring manager.
If you're still not sure which beauty industry career is best suited for you, review the job descriptions, career opportunities and earning potential for each of our Featured Programs:
Cosmetology, Hair Design/Stylist, Aesthetician, Manicurist/Pedicurist, Massage Therapist and Instructor Training.
Is a career in beauty services right for you?
Learn more by requesting free information from our featured Beauty Schools or Cosmetology Schools Today!
Do I need a license to work in the beauty services industry?
All states require all beauty professionals, except shampooers, to be licensed. Qualifications for a license vary from state to state. Visit our State Board Licensing Requirements page for specific information on the state or states where you are considering attending school and working.
A note about Reciprocity. If a state has reciprocity with another state that means that a licensed cosmetologist can obtain a license in another state without additional training. However, most states do not recognize training or licenses obtained from a different state. Don't forget to consider this when choosing the right school for you. If you feel fairly confident that you won't be moving in the near future, then you will most likely want to consider only beauty schools in your home state.
Visit - www.crnaa.org for list of licensing boards.Click on the top link for Directory of Higher Education Officials. This document lists the State Higher Education Officials for Beauty Schools.
Find a beauty school or cosmetology school near you, visit our featured beauty schools.
What are the most common programs that beauty schools and cosmetology schools offer?
Most beauty schools offer Cosmetology, Aesthetics, Nail Technology, Massage Therapy and Instructor Training.
A note about Terminology: There are many words used that mean the same thing in the beauty industry. Beauty schools are frequently referred to as Cosmetology schools. A Nail Technician has the same job as a Manucurist/Pedicurist. Hair styling, hair dressing and hair design are all interchangeable. Skin care professionals are both Aestheticians and Estheticians. Finally, there are Beauty Schools, Beauty Colleges and Beauty Academies. What they call themselves is not as important as the curriculum they offer.
Learn more about these exciting programs, visit the Beauty College Directory featured beauty schools.
Will a beauty school or cosmetology school help me find a job?
No reputable school will guarantee jobs to their graduates. However, most schools will assist you in your job search by providing career days where salon owners come to the school to present their salon and to teach classes on hair cutting, color, professional dress, what to expect in the salon work environment.
Most schools also offer resume writing and job interviewing skills training as part of their curriculum.
To get a sense of job prospects and salaries in the beauty industry, we have compiled salary information from different sources. Click here to learn more about salaries in the beauty industry. - need to supply content for this page.
Contact beauty or cosmetology schools near you to learn more about the hot job opportunities and salaries.
What can I expect to pay for tuition?
Tuition varies from school to school. Accredited beauty schools are required to give you tuition information when you visit the school.
When you've selected the right beauty school, you'll be asked to sign an enrollment contract. This is a legally binding contract. Don't sign it until you've read it thoroughly. Ask a trusted friend or family member to review it, too. Don't sign it if there are any blanks. Most importantly, check to see if the total cost stated in the enrollment contract reflects all costs associated with the program, i.e., tuition, books, supplies, equipment.
Discover more about salaries for beauty professionals, request free information from our featured beauty and cosmetology schools.
Do beauty schools offer financial aid?
Financial aid is available at most accredited schools in the form of grants and student loans. What you qualify for will vary based on your personal or family income. Accredited schools will provide you with financial aid information during your visit or will set up another visit with their financial aid officer to answer all your questions. There are a lot of different ways to package your tuition if you're serious about attending school. For more information, visit http://www.studentaid.ed.gov.
Find out more about financial aid and student loans by requesting free information from a beauty or cosmetology school near you.
What can I expect to earn as a beauty professional?
There are several factors that affect earnings in the beauty industry, e.g., size and location of the salon, clients' tipping habits and the number of competing salons within close proximity to the salon location. Your salary in a salon may vary from receiving commissions based on the price of the services provided to a salary based on the number of hours worked. Some salons pay commissions on the products sold by their staff while others pay bonuses when you bring in new business. Many beauty professionals are self-employed and lease booth space or a chair from a salon owner.
Beauty College Directory's featured list of beauty schools can provide you with more information on salaries within your local area. Request free information today!
Is it important for the beauty school to be licensed?
All beauty schools accredited by NAACAS are automatically licensed by the State Board of Cosmetologists in the state where they do business.
Learn more about beauty and cosmetology schools near you, request free information today!
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