Take your love of helping others to look and feel their best to the career level with beauty career training. The sky is the limit in this field! The beauty industry is wide open for those willing to learn from top experts and apply their talent and expertise in a salon setting. Explore cosmetology training and hair design programs, skin care and esthetics, makeup application and nail technology -- whatever excites you most! Once you've found the right beauty education program, it's time to start thinking about how to make your career dreams come true. With top-notch training, you'll not only learn to perfect your cosmetology skills, but you'll improve your customer relation skills and learn about the business side of beauty. In a world of glitz and glamour, you'll be the star behind the scenes and feel good about making others feel beautiful.
The 411 on Beauty Training Programs
Esthetician
Estheticians are cosmetologists who specialize in skin care. As a certified esthetician, you consult with clients regarding their skin tone and condition, give facial and facial massages designed to help improve the look of the skin, as well as recommend products. Some estheticians are also trained to do body wraps and remove facial hair and other unwanted body hair through laser treatments. If this sounds appealing to you, your next step is to find an aesthetic school near you.
Many esthetician schools require you to have a high school diploma or GED before admitting you to their program. They may accept passing of a test in lieu of the high school diploma. Some aesthetics schools may even require a letter of recommendation and/or an interview before beginning the program. It's important that you choose a school that is accredited by the U.S. Department of Education and is recognized by the state Department of Education in which you are attending classes. Some esthetician schools are also accredited by the National Accreditation Commission of Cosmetology Arts and Sciences (NACCAS). Most esthetician schools offer some sort of financial aid package to help students complete their education.
You'll learn a variety of things in cosmetology school including how to shampoo, cut, style, color and apply permanent wave to hair. You will also learn about hair extensions, as well as treating the scalp and some basics of skin care. Some cosmetology schools also prepare you for manicuring and pedicuring nails as well.
You can expect to complete courses in: Shampooing; cutting; hair styling; applying relaxers, highlights, lowlights, perms and color; manicures; pedicures; applying acrylics, gels, wraps and tips; facials; waxing and make-up application; chemistry, anatomy, physiology, bacteriology and your State's health and safety rules and regulations.
During the program, you will be required to work in your school's beauty salon, as well as possibly being required to complete an internship. All states require cosmetologists to be licensed, so when selecting a beauty school, make sure the school is accredited by the board in your state, as well as providing a program that will prepare you for the licensure exam.
Make-up Artistry
You can expect to take up to a few months to a year to finish a program through a make up artist school. In the program, you will learn about make up application, history and trends, as well as tools of the trade and will most likely gain experience on customers of your school or be required to complete an internship program. Most states do not require licensure, but you will have the opportunity to become certified through national organizations to add to your credentials.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the need for personal appearance specialists, which includes make up artists will grow by 14 percent within the next 10 years. This is faster than average growth for other professions.
