Cosmetology as a craft has become more and more popular and notable in the past few decades. The fashion industry as a whole has gotten a lot more press thanks to reality television and the works, and these days social media seems to be having a similar effect! However, there’s a difference between trained professionals and influencers.
Still, though, the influencers that we see have inspired a lot of people to start a career in this field. That’s awesome, but there are some practicalities to consider for anyone looking to become a cosmetologist. The first, of course, is where to study.
After all, there are a surprising number of laws surrounding this field wherever you decide to study and then practice. So, getting a proper education and certification is a pretty big deal. If you’re not sure how to pick a school, though, then this is the article for you! That’s what we’ll be covering.
What is Cosmetology?
Before we go any further, it’s pretty important to discuss what cosmetology is in the first place. If you didn’t already know, it involves the alteration of the hair, nails, or skin. Most cosmetologists pick one area to specialize in, but that isn’t necessarily a requirement. There are plenty who are able to do all of those things.
When you go to see your hair stylist, they will have a cosmetology license. It’s required to be a practicing one, after all, since you cannot even buy the proper products without one. So, even those that do their work under the table (or not for an official salon) are still certified. Before that, though, is official education.
Some examples of tech schools that you can go to are here, https://www.kosmetae.com, with “tech” meaning “technical” here. Essentially, it’s a vocational school. These sorts of education may have been stigmatized during the past few decades, but there’s no doubt that they’re still valuable. After all, we’re not going to stop needing these important jobs to be filled any time soon.
Hair Styling
When we think of the most iconic role that cosmetologists play, it’s probably giving haircuts. Whether it’s just a trim, adding in extensions, giving highlights, or more – well, the best of them can do it all. So, if this is the sort of specialization that you’d like to have, it’s a good idea to find a school that can educate you on all of those things.
Hair is something that most of us consider an integral part of our identities. Take the info on this website – it’s obvious how big of a deal this stuff is. So, having someone untrained work on it can be scary, to say the least. That’s why licensing is such a big deal, especially with stylists in a salon.
Additionally, though, new techniques are created all of the time. So, a school that can offer you continued courses even once you have graduated is also a plus. Obviously, though, not everyone is going to focus on hair.
Nails
It’s not as common today, but a lot of us have memories of our parents getting their nails done at their regular salon. Plenty of specialists who give manicures and pedicures don’t operate out of traditional salons anymore, though – there are entire businesses dedicated to nail techs now! This gives professionals a lot of options in terms of employment.
Although giving a manicure might seem pretty easy, you might be surprised by how difficult it can be. Additionally, the more intricate designs that a nail tech can give, the more money that they’ll be able to earn! So, even if it doesn’t seem all that important to get an official education for this sort of thing, it can really pay off down the line.
Makeup
Makeup artistry is where we see influencers on social media really changing the conversation, and while that’s not necessarily a bad thing, it’s really important to get a proper license before becoming a makeup artist. Often, those influencers don’t post about critical things like hygiene and product expiry dates, just to name a few.
Unfortunately, watching a bunch of videos just isn’t a replacement for going to a cosmetology school. In fact, some of the things that they suggest doing can be really harmful or detrimental in a business sense. Be cautious with any tips and tricks that you see online unless you know that they’re coming from an official artist.
There are plenty of legal definitions of “makeup artist” if you’re curious, which you can see here: https://www.lawinsider.com/dictionary/makeup-artistry. The reason that this is even worth mentioning is that there have been lawsuits against those who claim to have licensing and the works but do not, and inadvertently end up hurting their clients in the process.
It’s critical to learn proper hygiene practices in particular – makeup brushes that aren’t cleaned correctly, for example, can end up carrying bacteria from one client to the next and could even give them an infection. In terms of finding the right vocational school for you if you’re looking to become a specialist in makeup, well – their curriculum should certainly include this sort of thing.
Generally speaking, it’s not a bad idea to read some reviews about whatever school you’re considering. Check out what their previous students have to say, along with what current practicing cosmetologists think – it can really make a difference.