See What You’ll Learn as You Prepare for a New Career
If you’re thinking about attending cosmetology school, then you no doubt already have some grasp on the kind of things you’ll be learning while enrolled so that you’re prepared for beautifying your clients.
Depending on the state you live in, your learning requirements may vary, but in general, most beauty schools teach similar concepts to train you to cut hair, give manicures or pedicures, and apply makeup.
Let’s explore what you might learn while attending school, on your path to a career in the beauty industry.
Master the Fundamentals
Put the shears down! Drop that comb! Turn off your flat iron!
Before you ever touch a strand of hair in cosmetology school, you’ll have to learn theory and basic skills, including the science behind how cosmetology works.
Cosmetology students will learn how hair grows, how to properly handle the chemicals involved in hair coloring and treatments, and how to properly sanitize everything they use. They’ll even learn what makes and keeps a scalp healthy.
With a prominent focus on keeping clients safe, the first few weeks of cosmetology school are vital for preparing students like you for next steps.
Manicures and Pedicures
Although not a prominent part of cosmetology school, many include nails in the curriculum to give students a wide range of expertise and widen their opportunities after graduation.
The nail skills you’ll learn in beauty school include giving basic manicures and pedicures, applying nail polish, and sometimes extend to more technical skills, like applying acrylics and other faux nails.
Makeup Artistry
Cosmetology students also learn quite a bit about applying makeup, including how to create makeup looks for all occasions.
Some beauty schools even teach special effects makeup and let you practice over-the-top looks during class!
Of course, not every topic will be included in every beauty school, so check with your state’s mandated cosmetology curriculum to learn which makeup artistry topics will be covered.
A Flair for Hair
Many people go to cosmetology school to learn how to cut, style, and color hair, so it makes sense that these services would be the focus of the curriculum.
In class, students like you learn a range of techniques to help you make your clients look beautiful, including:
- Shampooing and rinsing (including scalp massages)
- Cutting techniques
- Hair coloring and lightening
- Chemical waving and relaxing
- Thermal styling and shaping
- Hair extensions
- Conditioning treatments and keratin treatments
- Updos and styling
Not only do you learn how to perform these services, but you also learn how they work, and how they affect the hair and scalp. An understanding of the science of beauty helps you choose the right products for your client to reach their ultimate #HairGoals.
If science isn’t your favorite subject, don’t worry! If you’re interested in hair and beauty, you may find that your motivation to get into the industry is enough to motivate you to study and learn better than say, the physics lessons you were forced to learn in high school.
Becoming a Strong Communicator
In a cosmetology career, you’ll work directly with clients and colleagues, so your communications skills must be polished!
Many cosmetology school curricula include human communication skills. Learning these will help you understand what your client is looking for, set expectations, and build positive relationships with everyone you interact with.
Building a Business
Because there are so many opportunities for cosmetologists to work for themselves, and because everything they do directly affects whether they’ll maintain clients, cosmetology schools ensure students understand key parts of the business world.
In school, you’ll learn business skills like bookkeeping and finance, customer service, retaining and attracting clientele, and even social media marketing – the best place to show off what you can do and inspire people to call you to make an appointment.
How to Find a Cosmetology School
If you’ve made up your mind and definitely want to attend cosmetology school, you can start finding ones by using an Internet search engine with the phrase, “cosmetology school near me.” Your search results should show you the beauty schools in your area.
From here, you should call to make an appointment for a tour and to talk to an admissions counselor at each one, so you can make your choice about which one you want to attend. You’ll want to think about cost, the vibe of the school, student satisfaction, graduate employment rates, and any other benefits the school provides, like scholarship opportunities, hands-on experience, and more.
In the end, only you can choose which is best for you, so as long as you’re doing your own research and looking into your options, you’re sure to find your stepping stone to a satisfying and rewarding beauty career.
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