Author Archive

  • License Requirements

    Posted on January 13, 2025 by

  • On the Fence Between Cosmetology School and Other Advanced Education?

    Posted on January 10, 2025 by

    On the Fence Between Cosmetology School and Other Advanced Education?A lot of people who consider enrolling in cosmetology school compare it against other fields that also do not require a four-year college degree. In my last post, I talked about jobs that demand nothing more than a high school diploma, if even that. There are a lot of professions, though, that require one or two years of education. Other than a cosmetology career, what’s out there?

    If you like the medical field, you could become a physical therapy assistant, a dental hygienist or even a nurse. But more and more people going for these jobs do have four-year degrees, so the best posts will be competitive. This is also true in the computer field, where jobs are available for programmers, web designers and helpdesk personnel who both do and do not have a bachelor’s degree. In law, paralegals and legal assistants can be hired with a two-year degree. In the trades, carpenters, plumbers and electricians need specialized training but not a full degree. Some office jobs like bookkeeping, claims processing and secretarial work also require only experience or community college. And if you’re in the arts’music, painting, drama, fashion design’your work speaks louder than any degree.

    I wanted to list some of these jobs to help you consider all of your options. Cosmetology school can put you on a wonderfully fulfilling career path, and if you’re still interested after reviewing everything else, then I bet you’ll love being a cosmetologist and have much success.





  • Recent Beauty School Advisor Questions with Answers

    Posted on January 09, 2025 by

    We love to hear from you here at Beauty School Advisor! If there is anything we can do to help you find the information you are looking for or otherwise help you on your way to an exciting career in this field, please let us know. Here is a sampling of questions sent to us by recent readers:

    Q: My daughter is interested in going to school for cosmetology in Northern New Jersey - New York City, Manhattan or Brooklyn…would appreciate help in identifying the best school for her?
    A: Your best bet is to request information from one or more of the schools in the area you mentioned.

    Try this search to review the available Cosmetology School options in Brooklyn, New York.

    Once the school contacts you, be sure to ask the representative any questions you may have, and don’t forget to check if the school is accredited. Students attending accredited beauty schools usually become eligible for various financial aid options from the Federal Government. Federal financial aid can include both grants (don’t need to be paid back) and low interest government loans (will need to be paid back, usually over long periods of time). The school representative can provide you with more information about specific tuition rates for the programs you are interested in and types of grants and loans you may qualify for to help pay for your daughter’s schooling. Most cosmetology schools are one year programs, so your daughter could be working in her new beauty career less than a year from now!

     

    * * *

    Q: I need information on cost and period, duration and when classes begin, for hairdresser?
    A: We provide a complete directory of beauty schools. The information you seek would depend on the school you are interested in and the course of study you decide to undertake. Your best bet is to look for schools in your area (by state or by zip code) that offer Barbering or Hair Dressing programs.

     

    * * *

    Q: Hi do you offer refresher courses?
    A: Refresher courses can be found under continuing education. You might try searching for schools in your area that have such programs. Another possibility if online is your thing, try Modern Salon’s online courses. Good luck!

     

    * * *

    Q: Where might I purchase a late 1980′s Students Cosmetology Textbook? I graduated in 1989 and loaned my book out and it never was returned to me.
    A: Have you tried Half.com / Ebay? This auction has one day left on it - not sure if it’s the one you were looking for. Good luck with your search!

  • Salary Expectations

    Posted on September 13, 2024 by

    You may have a job already or do some babysitting, so you probably know what it’s like to work and get paid. But what will it be like to have a career and work at it year after year? Will you come home after a hard day and complain to anyone who will listen? That’s not what anyone wants out of life.

    Think positive. Come up with some words you’d like to connect with your profession. Now look at the words associated with beauty professionals. See whether your words match these.

    Beauty. Sure, that’s obvious, but being around beautiful things like nature and art really can enhance your life and make it easy to get up in the morning!

    Happiness. Not too long ago a poll asked people of different professions to rate their general happiness. Guess what landed among the top? Hairdressers! Walk into any salon, and you’ll see a lot of smiling people.

    Creativity. Having the chance to express themselves creatively is one of the top reasons people give for making beauty their life’s work. You get to work with your hands and come up with new ideas all the time. Every face becomes a fresh canvas for the make-up artist, every head of hair a sculpting project for the hair designer.

    People. Unlike some of the other arts-writing, painting-in hair styling and make-up application you don’t spend your creative time alone. In fact, beauty is about as opposite of a solitary career as you’ll find. And, of course, when you work on people’s hair and make-up you hear more of their secrets than you want to know!

  • California Caché Comes to New Jersey Beauty School

    Posted on November 05, 2024 by

    California Cache Comes to New Jersey Beauty SchoolAs you pursue your education at beauty school, you’ll begin to hear names of more industry icons than just Vidal Sassoon. One of those names will likely be ‘the Doves.’ Sonya and Christopher Dove, owners of The Doves Studio in Santa Monica, California, and creative directors for Wella North America, have been considered among the industry’s top educators for 30 years. So how did they wind up giving a presentation for cosmetology department students at Somerset County Vocational & Technical Schools (SCTI) in Somerset, New Jersey?

    The coordinator of the cosmetology program at SCTI is Marcia Bird, a highly respected educator who was recently named 2009 Cosmetology Teacher of the Year by the Cosmetology Educators of America (CEA) and Milady Corporation. When Marcia heard that the Doves were planning to be in nearby New York City, she leveraged her ‘Teacher of the Year’ title to ask whether they had time to speak to her students. Imagine how delighted Marcia was when the Doves graciously accommodated her request!

    It’s not unusual to bring guest speakers into cosmetology schools, but this was a real coup for Marcia, her students and the school. You get so inspired by hearing passionate, successful hairdressers talk about their work. The Doves shared their exciting experiences and world travels, which motivated the students to try even harder to do their best at this early stage in their own careers.

    Photo: Sonya and Christopher Dove help a student in Marcia Bird’s class.





  • Federal ‘Stimulus Money’ Video Discusses Oklahoma Beauty Schools

    Posted on November 01, 2024 by

    A TV station in Tulsa, Oklahoma, ran a story recently on how the federal government’s stimulus money is benefiting students at Oklahoma beauty schools. ‘Essentially the stimulus is just increasing the amount of money each student can get through Pell grants,’ the reporter explained. ‘Before, the most a student could qualify for was $4,850. Now, they can get up to $5,350….There will be another jump in available Pell monies in July of 2010, bringing the total up to $6,980 per student.’

    I’m posting the video of the report because I thought you might be interested in watching the entire three-minute piece to hear real students talk about how much they appreciate the opportunity to pursue their cosmetology career dreams. The increase in Pell grant funding has received some attention, but typically the articles focus on four-year universities, liberal arts programs at community colleges or schools in technical fields like computer programming. It’s cool that this station’s news program covered the topic through the eyes of beauty school students.

    This is a great time to enroll in cosmetology school, not only because of the additional Pell grant money but because salons are still hiring even in this dreary job market. As a financial aid officer in the video notes, the appreciated money ‘will open up a lot of doors for people who never had the opportunity to come to college because they had to go straight to work.’


  • Giving Back, Part II: Maryland and Louisville Beauty Schools

    Posted on October 28, 2024 by

    In my last post, I introduced you to the Paul Mitchell The School newsletter, which offers a variety of information that will interest you if you’re considering attending not just that company’s facilities, but any cosmetology school. I called your attention to the newsletter’s recaps of various altruistic, ‘giving back’ efforts that Paul Mitchell students participate in and even organize, because these endeavors very much represent the spirit of the beauty industry.

    To raise money for the American Red Cross, this past summer students at The Temple’A Paul Mitchell Partner School in Frederick, Maryland, staged a gala fashion show. Called ‘Cross Your Heart and Hope to Dye,’ the open-house event featured not only a runway fashion show but also a live deejay and hairdressing tool demos. Nearby schools were invited to attend.

    Meanwhile in Louisville, Kentucky, Paul Mitchell The School’Louisville partnered with the Pure Image/Raindogs Focus Salon to hold a Black and White Ball that raised more than $1,500 for the Andrew Gomez Dream Foundation. Both the students from the school and the professionals from the salon presented looks in a platform show. Costs were kept to a minimum because local businesses donated products and services, including the venue, silent auction items, food and drink. So while you’re attending beauty school, don’t be surprised if you become involved in charities. For some people, these early experiences ignite a spark resulting in a lifelong commitment to a particular cause or to giving back in general. That’s a good thing!


  • Giving Back, Part I: San Francisco and Michigan Beauty Schools

    Posted on October 24, 2024 by

    If there’s a Paul Mitchell The School in your area, it may be on your short list of cosmetology schools you’re considering attending. Even if it’s not, the corporate headquarters issues a newsletter for its ‘future professionals’ that offers a nice glimpse into the cosmetology world.

    Like many beauty schools, Paul Mitchell emphasizes the role of giving back to the community. For example, the Paul Mitchell schools this year marked October 14 as Free Hugs Day, and students were out there in our nation’s downtowns to offer hugs to anyone who accepted. In August, students at the San Franciso Institute of Esthetics and Cosmetology, a Paul Mitchell partner school, hired a pink limousine to pick up a group of young female cancer patients from a local hospital and brought them back to the school for a day of free pampering. Still earlier in the summer, Paul Mitchell students in Sterling Heights and Port Huron, Michigan, held a fundraiser for the Challenged Athletes Foundation.

    Like the one in Michigan, a lot of this industry’s fundraisers are cut-a-thons, typically offering cuts at a discounted price with all proceeds going to a selected charity. Do you think you could cut hair quickly and expertly in order to raise, for a good cause, as much money as possible in an all-day cut-a-thon? Typically, the stylists have a ball, and the clients feel great about the salon’s donation. Check back next time for more on beauty schools and giving back.


  • New Video Captures Students In Their Own Words

    Posted on October 20, 2024 by

    The best way to decide whether cosmetology school is for you is to hear what current beauty school students have to say about their experiences. So I think you’ll enjoy ‘Your Beautiful Career,” a new, 3-minute video created by the American Association of Cosmetology Schools.


    The students who appear in the video talk about their goals, and you’ll see that everyone wants something different out of this amazingly varied profession. One young woman enjoys the opportunity to ‘make people feel good about themselves,’ another wants to teach esthetics, a third hopes to work backstage in film and TV and a guy shares his ultimate goal of owning a salon. You know what? All of these goals are achievable. I’ve seen dreams comes true over and over.

    It’s also fun to hear what ignites the passion for a career in beauty. The girl who wants to teach esthetics grew interested in the topic because of her own skin problems. For another, working as a receptionist in a salon made her eager to join in on the fun that the hairdressers were having every single day. The guy who’s interviewed also mentions that his school’s financial advisor helped him secure financing. If you’re already leaning toward pursuing a lifetime in hair, nails, skin or make-up, I think when you view the video you’ll get even more excited about enrolling in beauty school. Then come back to beautyschooladvisor and find a great school!













  • Recessionistas Flock to New York Cosmetology Schools

    Posted on October 16, 2024 by

    With fashionistas transforming into ‘recessionistas,’ cosmetology schools particularly in fashion capitals like New York City are benefiting from increased business at the student salon, also called the ‘clinic floor.’ In exploring this trend, a New York Times article reported that the number of new clients at Aveda Institute New York was up 15 percent over the 2008 figure. While a hair cut at New York beauty schools can run about $20, try getting anywhere near that price at a Manhattan salon. For women who are unemployed or married to someone who’s unemployed, being able to maintain their hair in a budget-friendly manner is a godsend.

    At the Empire School location in Queens, NY, the year started with a 50 percent surge in clinic floor clientele over last year’s start, the article continues, with younger professional women more represented among the clientele. In skin care services, NYC’s Christine Valmy International School began noticing higher demand by late summer 2008 for its $27-$35 facials, perhaps serving as an early indicator that a recession was at hand.

    This trend is showing up not only in New York cosmetology schools, but throughout the country as clients look for alternatives to their high-end urban salons. So consider enrolling in beauty school sooner rather than later. When the economy improves, many of these potentially high-ticket clients will follow their student hairdressers to salons. Schools love it when you take clients with you; it’s the highest form of compliment to the school!

    Photo is courtesy of Empire Schools.