Cosmetology Overview
If you desire beauty in the world and want to bring out the best in others, a career in cosmetology could be a perfect fit. But not all people who practice primping can join the ranks of hard-working hairstylists and barbers. First, you must be pleasant and a great listener.

Honing communication skills will help you learn just what your clients want and will also help you calm and befriend them while providing them service. You will also need the physical endurance to stand and hold your arms in the air for long periods of time and be good enough at sales and numbers to keep a business on its feet. Further, you will need equal measures of creativity and patience to know when to cut or color hair dramatically, when to give quiet advice and when to do precisely what the person in your chairs asks.

Cosmetology is an all-encompassing word for professionals in the study and application of beauty. Scholastically, a degree in cosmetology requires a well-rounded understanding of everything from hair cutting to skin care, electrology and massage.  As a career, however, the term usually means hands-on work in a beauty salon. The job requires a cosmetology license in each state plus a track record of good work, which will only come alongside a strong clientele base and a great reputation. You will also need about one year of schooling and an appreciation for balance, color and proportion.

Braiding, spraying and curling your own locks or those of a friend was probably your introduction to cosmetology, but hair and beauty school is about much more than a single night on the town or a stellar finished product. To become certified, you will have to learn basic chemistry and skin structure and anatomy as well as cutting, shearing and clipping. You’ll also learn how to safely use dyes and to keep your workstation free of unwanted hair clippings, microbes and dirt. These skills and many others are taught in beauty schools throughout the country.

Cosmetics courses are also offered through private salons or at community or vocational schools. However, for-profit technical schools and traditional universities rarely teach the art. Classes can take between six months and three years and vary widely in price. In the beginning of your studies, textbooks and lectures will be common, but most of your study hours will be spent watching and practicing in a salon. Cosmetology licenses expire every few years to ensure continuing education for professional stylists. Many of these classes can be found at online beauty schools, but almost no all-internet classes are available for beginners.

As a trained hairstylist or barber you will be eligible for a career in a salon franchise or to open your own shop. You can also become an assistant at a top salon or rent chair space from an established company. Other opportunities are as varied as they come and can be found in funeral homes, in the performing arts, in product sales and even in writing for beauty publications. No matter where your career leads you, it will be paramount to stay up-to-date on current hair fashions and to keep your own appearance pleasant, polished and professional. Your self-presentation will be the first and most important key to getting new clients and keeping old ones coming back.