Should I go to Cosmetology School? How to Choose the Right Beauty School
Should I go to Cosmetology School? How to choose the right beauty school, barber, cosmetology, hairstylist, or esthetic school for you?
Just because the school is near to you doesn’t mean that is where you should attend. So how do you narrow down which school is right for you?
Should I go to Cosmetology School?
Benefits of cosmetology school-
- Short schooling time (12-18 months)
- Rewarding career path
- Opportunities to impact people every day
- You get to choose how far you want to go in your career
- No desk work!
- Flexibility in schedule, and what you do, and where you work
- You get to be creative every single day!
Are there Any Cons to Attending Cosmetology School?
There are some cons to working behind the chair in a salon or barbershop.
- Physically taxing because you are standing and using your wrists and shoulders all day long
- Bad clients that want to take advantage of the service-industry (most industries have similar struggles sometimes)
- There will always be that one client that you dread that loves you
Should I Go to Cosmetology School Step 1 – Researching programs before researching Beauty Schools
Whatever kind of trade school is the beauty industry that you are wanting to pursue, always research the program first.
When asking yourself ‘Should I go to Cosmetology School’ Why research programs instead of the Beauty School itself?
No two courses are the same. And no two licenses include all of the same perks once you pass the exam.
For example, barbering licenses do not permit waxing services but allow other general hair services. Excluding specialties like extensions, of course. Cosmetology licenses permit every kind of service except using a straight razor on the face and depending on the state, some are allowed to use a straight razor on the head while other states do not.
If you want to become a make-up artist, so you choose a cosmetology program, you will be studying primarily hair and skin.
Cosmetology might be too much.
Too many hours. Too much hair. And studies that aren’t what you are interested in, and the program may be more expensive than you anticipate. And cosmetology may not be able to give you all of the certifications that you want for your future license and business.
From the example above, an esthetics program might be more suitable for a make-up artistic student than cosmetology. However, this might not be the case for all schools or even states. Some cosmetology programs might have more extensive elective classes and certifications available for you to take while enrolled so that you can study hair and nails but still take all of the extra skin certifications as well.
WARNING – Be aware that reviews left for beauty schools, cosmetology schools, barber schools etc. are mostly bad, made by unhappy students and drop-outs. It’s okay to read a few of the reviews but keep in mind that beauty schools are not inexpensive. Many students who leave reviews clearly didn’t ask themselves ‘should I go to cosmetology school’ beforehand and are only complaining about what they didn’t research beforehand.
Is Cosmetology School for Me? 5 Questions to ask yourself and a few things to consider
How to Prepare for Beauty School
Should I Go to Cosmetology School Step 2 – Visiting the Beauty School
Once you have done your research on the school, it’s time to schedule a tour.
OR don’t schedule, just show up to see what the beauty school looks like to a guest.
Ask yourself a few questions upon arrival-
- Do I feel safe in this area?
- Is the salon floor clean? (The ‘salon floor’ is the behind-the-chair practicing-on-guests-and-models area that looks like a real salon. It is the portion of the school that is not a classroom.)
- Do the students look happy?
- Is the staff at the front desk friendly and accommodating?
If you can, I highly suggest scheduling a service like a pedicure, facial, or shampoo and style while you are there. This way, you can get an idea of what kind of methods the students are being taught.
And finally, ask yourself the big question again, ‘Should I go to cosmetology school?’
20 Questions to Ask a Cosmetology School
Is Cosmetology School for Me Quiz – By a Pro for a Future Pro
What kind of classes are ‘elective’?
What kind of classes are not guaranteed to be included in cosmetology courses and considered ‘elective’? Depending on the school, some include these classes with their general theory classes but others may not.
Extensions, eyelash extensions, microdermabrasion, and chemical peel treatments, just to name a few.
This is why you MUST research what kinds of programs your beauty school near you includes to suit your needs before signing up and paying a school that isn’t going to give you what you really want.
What questions to ask a student while visiting a beauty school
Ask the students what they think of the school. Again, receiving a service at a school is generally inexpensive, and will give you an opportunity to speak with someone attending and experiencing the school in a way that you very well might be soon. If you choose this school.
- What do they think of the school’s strengths are when it comes to its programs?
- Is there a very high turnover rate for instructors?
- What do they wish the school would do differently if anything?
- Are the students satisfied with what they are learning? Do they feel that they are truly being prepared to work in a salon, or spa, or barbershop, once they’ve graduated?
What kinds of red flags should you look out for?
Red flags can be both obvious and subtle, so what should you be on the lookout for?
🚩 No Greeting at the Door 🚩
If no one greets you when you arrive in the salon side of the school. This means the customer service portion of the school and accepting clients and models for the students is suffering, thus students don’t get as much practice on the salon floor.
When receiving a service at the beauty school, does the student greet you when they come to get you from the desk?
This habit is very important to start before beginning work in a salon after graduation and plays a large roll when learning how to build a clientele for yourself.
19 Tips How to Get Hair Clients Fast – From an Experienced Hairstylist
🚩 The School Doesn’t Sell Retail Product 🚩
Would you like to have a knowledge of a variety of product lines or only want to know about one? I recommend learning about as many product lines as possible, only because once working in a salon or barbershop, selling retail will be a part of your services and building a trustworthy reputation with your clientele.
How to Sell Retail in a Salon 2024- Tips for a Pro
🚩 Is the salon floor dirty? 🚩
Clumps of hair in corners that have obviously been there for several days? This is a red flag when searching for a beauty school because hair left in corners is something that the state board will come into salons and fine them for.
If students aren’t learning how to avoid fines and what the state guidelines are while attending beauty school, it will be a rude and unpleasant awakening when state board plans a routine surprise visit to the salon and the standards are not up to code.
Beauty schools must be educating future salon professionals the state guidelines!
🚩 The Shampoo Sinks Aren’t Clean 🚩
Is there hair left in the drain catches in the sinks? Or color product left splattered on the wall behind the sinks? Are there dirty color bowls and bottles sitting out by the sinks and not being cleaned and put away?
If the sinks and areas where beauty services are performed aren’t sanitary and clean, then how do you know if the tools being used to perform these services are being cleaned or knowledge on how to clean them is being taught as well?
Again, the methods and habits encouraged and taught in beauty schools, or the lack thereof, students will take into salons and barbershops and might cost them fines. Or even if state board catches unacceptable habits, it can even cost the graduate their license.
Should I Go to Cosmetology School Step 3 – Scheduling to speak with the school Admin and Financial offices
After you have done your research, visited the school and seen that it is safe, and clean. And they have answered all of your questions, it’s time to schedule a meeting with the school’s administration office.
Every beauty school of any kind will require a copy of your birth certificate, and High School graduation certificate or GED.
The administration office will be able to answer all of your questions about the state requirements and electives that the school offers. They will be able to tell you what their graduation rates and statistics look like. As well as what their class schedules look like.
After having a good chat with the head of the school, as well as the administration office, they will lead you to speak with the financial office. Here you will receive all of the information that you need about the school’s prices, as well as their financial assistance programs to offer students.
Generally speaking, beauty school can range in price from $600 USD (as part of a high school trades programs before graduation) to an average of $27,000. The financial office will have every assistance option available for you to look into and help you while you pursue the application for the school.
How long does it take to graduate beauty school?
Beauty schools should be educating students about a variety of product lines. If there is only one product line that they are carrying, then there is a possibility that there are limited methods and techniques that the students are being taught as well. Knowing a variety of techniques and methods is important when working in a salon after graduation.
If you are shopping for a beauty school, what kind of a salon would you like to work in when you graduate?
In the United States, each of the 50 states has their own requirements for how many hours must be completed in a beauty school, cosmetology, barber, esthetic, or massage school, before even being allowed to apply to take the license exam.
Generally speaking, the range of hours required will vary from 1000 hours – 2300 hours depending on which state you attend school in. Which can take from 10 months up to 24 months. The hardest part of getting all of your logged school hours is actually showing up.
Now, once your exam has been passed and your license has been received, the license is only valid for 2 years before requiring a renewal, which is very simple. However, the license is also only valid in the state where it was acquired.
To see how many hours your state requires, please click here.
To transfer a professional license from one state to another is a process that is fairly simple, please visit How to Transfer a Cosmetology License
What if I’m already attending beauty school and am graduating soon, what next?
First of all, if you are already attending beauty school and are on the brink of graduation, CONGRATULATIONS!
What an accomplishment! How do you feel?
My first question would be, are you looking into and preparing everything that you will need to take your state board exam? Studying for state boards is intimidating but isn’t difficult.
If you are near graduation, your beauty school will have a copy of the license practical exam for you to test yourself and practice. While studying just remember, practice makes perfect.
You have studied for this and are ready! Have confidence!
Soon, you will pass the exam with flying colors and be shopping for a shop to start your career.