A Career in Cosmetology

I don't think that their are many of us girls who haven't done each others hair and makeup and wondered what it would be like to be a professional cosmetologist. I know I have. I am actually thinking about pursuing a career in cosmetology myself so I did some research and thought I would share with you all what I have found.

So let's start out with this. What exactly is a cosmetologist? If as I mentioned before you liked to do your friends hair and make up, or if everyone always wonders how you do your style or ask you for makeup tips then you already have a pretty good idea of what cosmetology is all about. Each year 10,000 people join the cosmetology field and if you already have a flare for hair and make up it might be something you want to consider also.

Of course you have to be licensed to have a career in cosmetology. So lets address some issues of your cosmetology education. The National Accrediting Commission of Cosmetology Arts and Sciences says that there are thousands of schools offering cosmetology programs. Depending on what state you live in your training takes between 9 to 24 months to complete.

What will you learn in cosmetology school? Well, hairstylists and barbers learn proper techniques for cutting, coloring, and perming all hair types, care of instruments, sanitation and hygiene, as well as sales and general business practices. Aesthesicians, (which is another aspect of cosmetology) learn skin care, application techniques, and all about colors and blending. Nail technicians learn all the latest techniques and colors for nail design, another exciting part of the cosmetology field.

If you think you are interested in a career in cosmetology here are some things to consider when deciding if it is right for you. Consider if you have a good understanding of fashion , trends, technical design, and good people skills, you would be likely to perform well in the cosmetology field. You should be able to communicate clearly with the client in order to understand what they want and help them achieve the look they are after. Good sales and customer skills to encourage product sales and repeat business is a area that you will have to work on also.

Finally let us talk about jobs and salaries in the cosmetologist field. The department of labor says that about 48% of all salon workers are self-employed ,and the job outlook for cosmetology is great. One thing to consider is that competition will be tough, as you will be competing with a large field of experienced cosmetologists. The median salary for barbers and stylists is about 21,000 a year, a nail tech earns about 18,500 a year, and makeup artists can earn around 24,400.

If you are considering a career in cosmetology I hope that this information has been helpful to you.