FirstChair - firstchair.com. For professionals just out of beauty school and in their first three years of working professionally. Check out the "mychair" profiles!
Associations
Allied Beauty Association of Canada (ABA) - abacanada.com. The Canadian equivalent of NCA in the U.S.
American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS) - beautyschools.org. The major trade association for beauty schools.
American Health and Beauty Aids Institute (AHBAI) - ahbai.org. Trade association representing leading companies owned by African-Americans and primarily manufacturing ethnic beauty products.
Associated Bodywork and Massage Professionals (ABMP) - abmp.com and massagetherapy.com. Trade association for massage techs with second website for additional information.
Cosmetic, Toiletry and Fragrance Association (CTFA) - ctfa.org. Leading association for manufacturers of personal care products.
Day Spa Association - dayspaassociation.com. Association that represents owners of day spas.
National Accrediting Commission of Cosmetology Arts and Sciences (NACCAS) - naccas.org. Largest group that awards accreditation to beauty schools.
National Beauty Culturists' League (NBCL) - nbcl.org. A 60-year-old association emphasizing multicultural beauty care.
National Coalition of Estheticians, Manufacturers/Distributors & Associations (NCEA) - ncea.tv. Politically focused group representing the interests of the esthetics industry.
National-Interstate Council of State Boards of Cosmetology (NIC) - nictesting.org. Group representing licensing boards of cosmetology from all 50 states and U.S. territories. A major goal of this organization is to establish standardized, national cosmetology license requirements and guidelines for license reciprocity among the states.
Professional Beauty Association (PBA) - probeauty.org. Umbrella organization representing product companies, distributors, salons and spas and formed in 2004 to combine forces of the Beauty and Barber Supply Institute (BBSI), The Salon Association (TSA) and the American Beauty Association (ABA).
Financial Aid
Check the websites of the above associations, some of which include scholarship information. Also see the section on paying for beauty school in FAQ.
