Cosmetology Careers and Degrees

What is a Cosmetologist?

Cosmetologists are trained beauty professionals who help their clients look and feel their best. They provide a host of services and therapies that are aimed at improving the physical appearance and health of their clients’ hair, skin or nails.

Cosmetologists may specialize in certain types of therapies such as specific skin or hair treatments, but most cosmetologists must have a variety of general skills to meet their customers’ needs. They typically work one on one with their clients to address specific problems or more general concerns about some aspect of their physical appearance.

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What Does a Cosmetologist Do?

Cosmetologists perform a range of duties depending on their own specialties, training and interests. They may also take extra training and duties to meet the needs of their workplace, or to learn about new and popular techniques and therapies. Their job duties can include but are not limited to:

Maintaining Beauty Equipment

Because they work with equipment that has to be used on a variety of clients, people in this profession need to understand how to use, sterilize and maintain this equipment. This can include tools used for hair cutting and nail treatments as well as other beauty instruments.

Customer Service Duties

Most cosmetologists will have to spend time on the phone booking appointments or helping clients before and after their appointments.

Keeping Client Records

Individuals in this profession need to be able to keep detailed client records both for legal reasons and to help them provide their clients with expert personalized services.

Hair Care

Cosmetologists usually assist clients with all aspects of hair care. This may include cutting and styling, scalp treatments, coloring and fitting hair extensions.

Hair Removal

Cosmetologists usually perform hair removal tasks such as shaping, plucking and waxing eyebrows. They also remove hair from various parts of the body using techniques such as waxing, plucking, electrolysis, and threading.

Skin Care

Cosmetologists help clients with all aspects of skin care by performing beauty treatments such as facials and exfoliating treatments.

Nail Care

These beauty professionals assist their clients with nail care by performing basic hygiene tasks such as cleaning and trimming. They can also decorate by applying nail art, false nails, or by buffing and polishing their clients’ nails.

Make up

Cosmetologists can apply makeup for special occasions and can also give their clients recommendations for products or makeup techniques that suit their skin and features.

Consulting

Because cosmetologists are experts in beauty care, they often consult with clients to find solutions to problems or just to update their look in some way. Their job in these situations is to analyze the needs of their clients and to design and suggest solutions and treatments that will meet those needs and make the client look and feel their best.

What is the Difference Between a Dermatologist and a Cosmetologist?

Both cosmetologists and dermatologists care for the hair and skin of their clients. However, a dermatologist is a medical professional who diagnoses and provides treatments for particular conditions and disorders. They have a medical degree and can prescribe medications that help with these conditions. They also have an understanding of fields such as rheumatology and endocrinology, and can perform basic surgical procedures.

In comparison, a cosmetologist is a beauty expert, and they perform therapies that improve and enhance the skin, hair and nails of their clients. They receive their training at cosmetology schools, which help them provide safe and sanitary treatments and therapies.

Where Does a Cosmetologist Work?

Cosmetologists usually work in beauty salons or day spas giving specific beauty treatments. They may also work in the cosmetic sections of department stores, in hotels, resorts, or on cruise ships.

A lot of cosmetologists are self-employed and run their own salon or day spa at home or in rented premises. They can also work for other people in these types of locations.

What are the Requirements to Become a Cosmetologist?

Educational Requirements

The educational requirements for cosmetologists vary from state to state, but generally speaking there are two ways to move into this profession. The first is to complete a training course in cosmetology through a specialized school.

These courses take between 9 and fifteen month to complete and can be full time or part time. The admission requirements for these courses can vary across states, but most schools demand a high school diploma or GED before students can be admitted into the course.

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Cosmetology students can work towards a certificate or an Associate’s Degree. The Associate’s degree takes longer, is more comprehensive, and offers more training and licensing in advanced areas of Cosmetology. This level of training is becoming more popular because of the high demand for trained workers in this field.

The aim of these courses is to teach students everything they need to know to start their career as a cosmetologist. So they will learn about hair and skin care as well as specific therapies and techniques used in the beauty industry.

The second way that students can get the training they need is through an Apprenticeship. This is less common these days, but is still found in some cases. Apprentices still need to learn and demonstrate their skills by taking an exam at the end of the learning period before they can be licensed.

Licensure Requirements

All states require that cosmetologists be licensed before they perform specific therapies or care for clients in general. The licensing laws vary from state to state, but generally speaking applicants need to complete an approved cosmetology course and pass written and practical exams to get their license.

The most basic form of the cosmetology license allows students to perform basic skin, hair and nail care therapies. However, there are a number of additional licenses that are available, and these are absolutely necessary if students want to be able to perform more advanced techniques and therapies. Getting these additional licenses usually means taking extra training and sitting another licensing exam.

What Do You Learn in a Cosmetology Degree Program?

Cosmetology degree programs can vary from school to school. However, most beginning classes teach a number of set courses to give students the basic skills they need to work in this profession. Some of these are:

• Anatomy: Students need a good understanding of the anatomy of the skin, hair and nails to be able to perform and recommend therapies, which is why this is a big part of any good Cosmetology course.
• Communication Skills: Cosmetologists need to be able to communicate with a variety of clients from all walks of life, so they need to have good communication skills. This will allow them to listen to their clients’ needs, make suggestions and engender trust and comfort.
• Chemistry: All of the products used in a beauty salon contain chemicals, so students need to understand how chemicals interact so they do not suggest therapies that damage their clients’ skin or hair.
• Marketing Skills: Building a solid clientele base is essential for success in this job, so students are usually taught some basic business and marketing skills that they can use to market their therapies and start attracting and keeping regular clients.
• Health and Safety: Because cosmetologists work with the clients’ skin and hair, they need to have a good understanding of hygiene standards and guidelines. This will help them perform therapies without passing on any nasty surprises.
• Hair Care: Cosmetologists need to learn the practical skills required to cut, color and care for their clients’ hair. They will also learn how to style hair properly and apply chemical treatments such as perms.
• Skincare: Individuals in this profession need to have a good understanding of skin and the different products that can be used to solve problems or to improve its appearance. That’s why cosmetology students are taught how to properly care for the skin and apply makeup and other products.
• Nail Care: Students in cosmetology courses are taught how to care for their clients’ nails. This includes basic grooming techniques as well as specific treatments such as fake nail applications and polish techniques.
• Hair Removal: Cosmetology students need to learn about a variety of hair removal methods and how to apply them to different parts of the body. This includes waxing and depilation.

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What is an Online Cosmetology School?

Theoretically, online cosmetology Schools would allow students to learn about the beauty industry from the comfort of their own home. However, because cosmetology courses by necessity include a lot of practical training, it is impossible for the whole course to be taught over the computer.

Cosmetologists need the practical training, and at this point in time, there are very few schools that can offer the right combination of training online and in person. The rules governing these courses also varies from state to state at the moment. Some states allow cosmetology students to receive some of their training online while others have banned it outright.

The confusion over online cosmetology schools is likely to be solved in the near future. Because of the high demand for trained professionals, as well as the demand for courses that students can complete while working or keeping up with other responsibilities, it is likely that these courses will go online very soon. When this happens, there will probably be arrangements made so the students can get the practical training they need in a location near their home.

What Does It Take to Be a Cosmetologist?

Becoming a cosmetologist might seem fairly simple, but the truth is that it takes more than the ability to cut hair to do this job. Good cosmetologists have a variety of skills and qualities including the following:

• A good sense of aesthetics: Cosmetologists need to have an understanding of what products and styles will suit other people and be able to make them a reality. This takes a good sense of aesthetics as it relates to appearance, skin, makeup and hair.
• Physical endurance: To work in these positions, one should be able to handle long hours on your feet without pain or injury. This takes a lot of physical endurance and fitness as it can be very difficult to stand in one place for a long time during treatments.
• Customer service skills: The primary duty of a cosmetologist is to make their clients feel happy, safe and secure during treatments. Without this, it can be difficult to get clients to relax during the treatments, which can undermine the therapies. Having good customer service skills is also essential in creating a good all round experience for the clients so they come back for repeat visits.
• Good personal grooming: Nobody wants to get a beauty treatment from someone who looks disheveled and tired, which is why people in this profession need to be impeccably groomed and dressed themselves.
• Creativity: Cosmetologists need to have a good sense of color and style and be able to apply these skills to make each and every customer look and feel their best. This takes a lot of creativity and the ability to use what they know in ways that benefit each individual.
• Fine motor skills: People in this profession need to be able to perform very intricate manual tasks such as applying fake nails and eyelashes. These can be very fiddly jobs and anyone performing them must have very good fine motor skills and steady hands.
• A friendly personality: A big part of this job is interacting with customers and finding out more about their lives and general beauty needs. To do this, cosmetologists need to be naturally friendly people who enjoy learning about others, or the job will be very difficult and unpleasant for them.
• Listening skills: Cosmetologists need to have the skills to listen to their clients, to hear their needs and concerns, and be able to suggest solutions and options that will make them feel and look their best. This takes the ability to listen well and also to maintain confidentiality so each client feels safe and secure during the interaction.
• Business skills: Many cosmetologists run their own business, so people who go down this path need to have a good understanding of how to run a small business and market their services and therapies effectively.

What are the Benefits of Being a Cosmetologist?

There are a number of benefits to being a cosmetologist. Some of the most important are:

• A nice working environment: Cosmetologists usually work in very pleasant surroundings where scent and a pleasant décor is deliberately used to relax client and staff alike.
• Good job outlook: There is a high demand for trained beauty professionals, so people in this career path have lots of job opportunities and choices when it comes to their working environment.
• Opportunity for advancement: Cosmetologists who want to advance their skills can take training to learn new therapies or learn how to set up their own business and advance that way if they prefer.
• Lots of job variety: Cosmetologists work with a variety of clients and provide a wide variety of skin, hair and nail therapies. This variety can stop them from becoming bored, as no two days or clients are ever the same.
• Variable hours: People in this profession can often choose the hours that suit them best. They can work 9 to 5 if it suits them, or on the weekends and evenings when most of their clients will be free to have beauty treatments. The hours they work are entirely up to their needs and the personal demands on their time.
• Lots of personal interaction: People in this job get to interact with people of all ages and all walks of life and need to be able to form a connection with just about anyone. Having this much personal interaction can be very satisfying and rewarding for people in this position.
• Job satisfaction: Cosmetologists get to make people look and feel better about themselves, and this can be very personally satisfying.

What is the Job Outlook for Cosmetologists?

The job outlook for cosmetologists promises to be very good over the long term, as the demand for them increases along with the population growth. According to the BLS, employment in these positions should grow by 19 percent over the next ten years, which is higher than the average for all occupations. This is partly due to population increases, but it is also because of fashion trends, which promote different beauty therapies and drive a lot of the demand for people in this profession.

The strong demand will also create a lot of competition in this field. So anyone who is moving into cosmetology will need to have the skills to compete with people who have a lot of professional experience and training. Fortunately, because of the competitive nature of this field, beauty schools are usually very up to date with the latest trends and have classes in almost everything that cosmetologists need to know to be competitive.

What are the Advancement Opportunities for Cosmetologists?

For cosmetologists, advancing in their career means doing two things. First and foremost, it means keeping up with current beauty trends and training. People in this profession need to be aware of the latest beauty therapies and work hard to learn new skills constantly.

The second thing cosmetologists need to do is build a strong client base. The more demand there is for their services, the more they can charge and the busier they will be. This means they need to have very good people skills and be able to market their skills and therapies at the same time.

The competition for positions at the top beauty salons is extremely strong, so it can be very difficult to win one of these positions. Applicants for these openings must have a lot of experience and training in different therapies as well as a strong client base.

Many cosmetologists choose to open their own beauty salon rather than work for someone else. This can be a very stressful and demanding way to go, but it can also be also very rewarding if it works out well. Strong business and managerial skills are required for this path.

What Professions are Similar to Cosmetology?

There are a number of professions that are similar to or related to cosmetology. Individuals with this qualification should be able to work in these other fields or get some additional training that will allow them to do so. These similar professions are:

Hair Stylist

Hair stylists work in hair salons to cut, style and color hair and assist customers with all aspects of their hair care. This job is very closely related to cosmetology, and usually people in these two professions have very similar or the same training.

Laser Technician

Laser technicians use lasers to perform beauty treatments such as hair removal and skin resurfacing to remove wrinkles. Individuals in this profession must have specialized training and licensing and usually work under the supervision of a physician.

Makeup Artists

Makeup artists are cosmetologists with additional training that teaches them advanced techniques for applying makeup. They can work in the entertainment industry, in department stores, or in beauty salons giving customers makeovers and makeup tips.

Electrologist

Electrologists use needles and electric current to remove hair and slow the growth of new hair. This hair removal system is very popular at the moment, and practitioners need specialized training and licensure before they are permitted to perform these tasks.

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