Beauty School Directory Blog

Posts Tagged ‘beauty school’

Feathered Bangs and Continuing Cosmetology Education

Posted on: August 27th, 2009 by Beauty Schools Directory 3 Comments

Ok – the 1980s are over. Take a look at photos of your parents when they were teenagers. Is their hair the same as yours now? Their clothes? I doubt it. Styles change over time. The once popular bouffant, feathering and perm styles are no longer part of today’s hair culture. Imagine going to a hairstylist who was still using techniques and styles that were 20 years old. Chances are, you won’t get the cut you want. Imagine going to a salon that wasn’t up-to-date in safety and sanitation procedures. Terrifying, right?

Luckily, there are countless continuing education options for cosmetologists to avoid problems like these. Many states require some continuing cosmetology education for cosmetology license renewal and provide options for seminars and classes to complete those hours. There are also online cosmetology classes and courses to take at beauty schools and community colleges. The beauty school you graduated from might be able to give you some guidance or offer some continuing education classes themselves!

outdated-1980s-eighties-hairstyleGet your groove back. Even after you’ve finished your required hours, it is always wise go above and beyond your state cosmetology license renewal requirements! The more you know, the better you can serve your clients. When you know the best new techniques and the latest, hottest styles, you can get younger clients that seek someone who is knowledgeable in these areas. Those young clients who are impressed by you early on will become loyal clients in the long term, returning to you when they need a simple cut or an entire overhaul, and recommending you to their friends and family.

Knowing the newest styles and techniques can definitely help you grow your beauty business, but other areas of continuing education can help you as well. There are numerous options for continuing education classes that cover how to start and run your own cosmetology business. In these, you can learn customer service skills and how to handle difficult clients, as well as new safety and sanitation procedures. With the help of continuing cosmetology education you can have a nice, clean salon with knowledgeable and modern professionals that keep the clients coming in.

What cosmetology continuing education classes have you taken? How often do you continue your career education with additional beauty school classes? Which have been the most or least helpful? Does your school have continuing education programs?

Incoming search terms:

Barbers Just Want to be Barbers

Posted on: August 6th, 2009 by Heather 1 Comment

barber-pole-traditional-barber-licenseCan you imagine the man down at the barber shop who cuts your father’s hair performing a Brazilian wax? How about giving manicures and pedicures? The answer is a resounding “no.” Many barbers just want to continue the barber shop tradition and keep the services they offer simple – haircuts and shaves. But in some states, to become a barber, men have to receive their cosmetology license which includes cutting, coloring, waxing, manicures and pedicures. This is causing many men, who just want to be traditional barbers, to choose another career path.

Places like New Jersey (Seriously, NJ? Can’t you stay out of cosmetology news?) haven’t issued barber licenses since 1984. A new law is trying to change this, making it more straightforward to get a barber education and work as a traditional barber. Instead of requiring excessive education and testing on the cosmetology subjects of skin care, esthetics and nail care, the new law would allow barbers to receive traditional barber education and licensure.

Many new age barbers, barber-stylists, take pride in variety of services they offer including permanent waving, soft-curl waves, texturizing, coloring and more. It’s great that barbers are evolving their craft, and there is obviously a market for this. But, we shouldn’t force the traditional barbers to learn how to do manis and pedis in addition to their hair design craft. Some men want to create the atmosphere and offer the barber services they remember from their childhood. And I think we should honor that tradition and those barbers.

What do you think about barbers pushing for traditional barber licenses? Any barbers out there care to weigh in?

Incoming search terms:

Scamming in the Cosmetology Industry!

Posted on: July 9th, 2009 by Beauty Schools Directory 3 Comments

cosmetology-bill-phony-scamCalifornia cosmetology license-holders should keep an eye on their mailboxes for fishy-looking “bills.” This week, the California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology (Cal-BBC) posted a warning on its website of a scam targeting beauty licensees in the state.

The Cal-BBC warns that a business called the “California License Renewal Service” has been mailing fake “renewal notices” to California cosmetology licensees. These notices offer to file the licensee’s renewal application and fee with the board in exchange for a “service fee” of up to $40.

The Cal-BBC wants cosmetology professionals within the state to know that the California License Renewal Service is neither associated with, nor endorsed in any way by the Board of Barbering and Cosmetology. When the time comes for you to renew your cosmetology license, the board will mail you its own notice within 90 days of your license’s expiration date.

The real notice will include instructions on how to file for renewal directly with the board. Most importantly, there is no service charge associated with filing your license renewal directly with the California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology.

Check out this copy of the phony cosmetology license bill and warn all your California beauty friends to beware. Scammers are trying to get their hands on a piece of your hard-earned money!

Incoming search terms:

Recession Fabulous: Cosmetology School Services on the Cheap

Posted on: July 2nd, 2009 by Beauty Schools Directory 2 Comments

recession-cosmetology-school-pamperingThe recession has unfortunately extended into summer.   Most economists are say signs point to the recession lightening up by the end of the year – but I can’t wait that long for a haircut, can you?

Since the recession hit, the concept of a “staycation” has become incredibly popular.  Many luxury resorts and vacation spots around the world offer salon-and-spa services, and that salon-and-spa pampering  is often an integral part of the trip for some vacationers. But with so many people staying home and trying to save money, they may feel that salon-and-spa days are out of their reach.  As a cosmetology student, this can is the perfect opportunity for you to swoop in and save the day.  Your cosmetology school can offer all the services of a day spa at lower prices than the big-name hotels and spas.

Clients are looking for a lower-cost spa experience, and you are looking to get hands-on practice in cosmetology techniques, so you are a perfect match for each other!  This situation provides a huge opportunity for beauty students and cosmetology schools.  In the past, people have been wary of the service they’ll receive from students at a cosmetology school, so having clients on a budget come in for pampering services in is a great way to prove how modern, professional and enjoyable cosmetology student services can be.  You’ll gain a great deal of experience in your area of cosmetology before you graduate and possibly even build up a client-base that comes with you when you start your career.

So, as a beauty student at cosmetology school, make sure you spread the word on the low cost and high quality of the services your cosmetology school can provide.  The recession is usually a bad thing, but it can be a great opportunity for you.

Is your cosmetology school doing anything to take advantage of these new opportunities? Do you see more clients on a budget coming through your doors?

Incoming search terms:

Hairstyling: Need for Speed?

Posted on: June 26th, 2009 by Beauty Schools Directory 7 Comments

As a beauty school student or instructor, do you think that speed matters? That is, the speed at which you cut someone’s hair.

Ivan Zoot holds the world record for the fastest haircut at a mere 55 seconds. Wow! Of course, that’s for the Guinness Book of World Records, but still. Is speed-cutting a skill that can take you anywhere? I’m just not sure.

On one hand, we’ve all heard the saying that time is money. In most other industries, a quick turn-around with a quality result is one of the most important things a business can provide.

On the other hand, when a client comes into a salon, whether it’s for a day of pampering or just a quick trim, they like to feel relaxed, right? They like to be able to sit in your chair and chat, or read a magazine – anything but feel rushed.

So, which is more important – quality or speed? What are you learning or did you learn in cosmetology school? To be quick and efficient, or to linger over each client and make them feel special? Or something in between?

Sephora.com, Inc.

Revolutionizing the Beauty Industry

Posted on: June 18th, 2009 by Beauty Schools Directory 2 Comments

We want to introduce you to a cutting edge, revolutionary new section of Beauty Schools Directory – the Beauty School Lounge! The My Social Beauty is a networking site for beauty students, cosmetology educators, and working beauty, cosmetology or esthetics professionals. With custom profiles, open conversations, posting/viewing/rating tutorials and networking with other beauty pros, My Social Beauty is the ultimate resource for aspiring and working professionals and those passionate about the industry.

We’re so excited to invite you to create a profile, explore My Social Beauty and make it a fun and informative place for the beauty, cosmetology and esthetics industry. The best way to get ahead in today’s Internet world is networking. By creating a profile on My Social Beauty you can meet and network with beauty students, teachers and professionals in your area of expertise. You’ll make new friends, learn more about your field of beauty and advance your education and career.

If you’re a professional now, you probably remember having lots of questions when you first started out. With the Lounge, you’ll have a chance to answer beauty questions from amateurs, and we all know a little good advice can help someone feel more confident! You can also get some questions of your own answered! Maybe you heard about a new technique and you want a little more info, or perhaps you have a beauty problem and need some advice from a professional. Ask away!

In addition to Q&A, the “Conversations” section of the Lounge is teeming with discussion about the latest happenings in the world of beauty – from general news topics to beauty jobs and careers. In “Tutorials” you can view, comment on, rate and post your own tutorial videos to get more involved with your Lounge friends.

So, we are officially inviting you to visit My Social Beauty, set up a profile and have fun with it!

Make Our Soldiers Beautiful

Posted on: June 11th, 2009 by Beauty Schools Directory 3 Comments

Give2theTroops Thank You Photo

When a soldier is serving overseas, looking good is on the bottom of the priority list.  Whether they’re in the deserts of the Middle East or out to sea on a Navy ship, their job serving their country is what is most important.  So although they may not focus on their looks, they definitely deserve pampering more than most.

This is where your salon, spa or cosmetology school can help support our troops.  Lisa Hoffman, wife of actor Dustin Hoffman, has started a trend by donating more than $1 million worth of Lisa Hoffman Beauty products to troops and their families.  Your salon or school may not be able to make a donation at that level, but everything counts.
Here are some fast, easy ways to support the troops:

• Collect donations at work or at school that can go to an organization that helps the soldiers. Operation Gratitude accepts monetary donations that go toward the shipping costs of sending the packages.
• If you receive small containers or bottles of health and beauty products from your suppliers you can donate those through Give2TheTroops. They have a wish list of all the health and beauty items soldiers have requested.
• Your salon, spa or school could offer discounts to soldiers and their families. The soldiers need to relax when they get home and it’s tough for their spouses and children to be at home without them, so they could use some pampering too!

These are just some small ways your school or business can help our troops overseas.  A care package including their favorite shampoo or a soothing lotion would let them know we’re all thinking about them while they’re gone.

Is your beauty salon or cosmetology school participating in one of these charitable programs to help the troops and their families? Do you have any other ideas to help the soldiers?

How to Make Your Cosmetology Career More Lucrative

Posted on: May 28th, 2009 by Beauty Schools Directory 3 Comments

U.S. News and World Report declared hairstyling and cosmetology one of the best careers for 2009. That’s no surprise considering how well being a cosmetologist fits US News’s “Best Career” specifications:

1. Job outlook
2. Average job satisfaction
3. Difficulty of the required training
4. Prestige
5. Pay

Essentially, cosmetology tops the list because it meets the five basic qualifiers: there always seem to be openings available for qualified cosmetologists, they love their jobs, training is rapid and cost-effective, people and clients have a high opinion of professional cosmetologists and they make good money.

But what are some of the other unspoken benefits of being a licensed cosmetologist?

First, this career is a fashionista’s dream. It’s one of the rare fields with good job opportunities in which you’re rewarded for staying current on fashion and design. You gain prestige and client approval because you spent a few hours over the weekend catching up on Project Runway, E! Entertainment TV gossip, and Tabatha’s Salon Takeover.

Second, your job can’t be “outsourced” to people with questionable credentials. It might seem obvious, but a cosmetologist and their clients’ relationships are very personal. You can’t fake this type of customer service over an international phone line.

Third, the beauty industry manages to keep expanding and improving every year with services and customer avenues. Cosmetology is a huge part of the beauty industry, which is literally a multi-billion dollar and growing business sector.

So how do you make this dream cosmetology career even more lucrative?

Specialize. A creative career demands creative solutions. So evolve into a niche specialty that you can put your personal spin on. One example is finding lucrative work building and styling wigs and hairpieces. The country’s population is aging, and with age comes hair thinning and loss for both men and women. You can help people who have lost their hair due to age, disease or accidents, or you can go for a more exciting angle and design hair pieces for stage, screen, and TV productions.

Are you in cosmetology training, or already in the cosmetology field? Do you plan on specializing? How will you create your own signature line of service?

Incoming search terms:

Are you wasting your beauty school education?

Posted on: April 29th, 2009 by Beauty Schools Directory 13 Comments

shara-stevenson-esthetician-manicuristShara Stevenson is licensed esthetician and manicurist. She is also a marketing professional with a Bachelors of Arts from Georgia State University. Shara is passionate about multicultural beauty, fashion, market trends and branding. Follow Shara on Twitter @hellobeauty.

You purchased your kit, bought your uniform, and you’re officially enrolled in beauty school. That was the easy part. What you do next will determine whether you become a beauty school superstar, ready to conquer the world of beauty and esthetics, or, if you become just another person that went to beauty school and got their license but did nothing with it. You make the choice. Here’s how to make the most out of your beauty education.

Take Your Investment Seriously
You’ve invested the money in your beauty school education, so take it seriously.  Study your Milady book and take the practice tests. Participate in class discussions, and stay on top of industry trends by subscribing to publications like LaunchPad, Nail Pro, DaySpa, and Beauty Fashion. Memorizing theory is important, but it’s more essential that you can explain it. Many times students fall into the habit of treating cosmetology school like high school for adults. Instead of practicing hair cutting techniques, they’re gossiping with classmates. If beauty school becomes a chore, then reevaluate why you enrolled, and decide whether or not you want to continue your education. The amount of material that you need to cover can seem overwhelming, but don’t get discouraged! Don’t be the next beauty school dropout. Put your blinders on, stay focused, and keep unnecessary distractions at bay. You’ll thank yourself once you’ve completed your required hours.

Practice Makes Perfect
Okay, so your first five sets of acrylic nails popped off. The first time you did a perm it didn’t come out right. And, you haven’t quite perfected the effleurage facial movement. Now what? Keep practicing! The great thing about beauty school is that you’re not expected to be a shear genius overnight. Cosmetology school is structured to provide you with the foundation you need to perform basic services, and to equip you with information you need to pass state cosmetology licensing examinations. What you do with the training you receive is up to you. One way to get ahead is to practice, practice, practice.

Here are a few ways to sharpen your hands-on cosmetology skills:
-    Swap services with other students
-    Volunteer your services to community and nonprofit organizations
-    Offer services to your friends and relatives

Treat Yourself like a Business
Even though you’re a student, you are preparing yourself for a career in business so adapt the mindset of a businessperson. One of the most important things a business can do is maintain a consistent image. This is called “branding.” It sets you apart from competitors, defines what you stand for, and offers a way for customers to identify with your brand. If you’re studying to become a hairstylist, nail tech or makeup artist, would someone be able to tell by how you dress, and groom yourself? You say want to be the next hairstylist to the stars, but your hair is always messy. If you want to be taken seriously, then you need to become a representation of what you’re selling. Brand yourself. This means your clothing, hairstyle and color, and even your nails should reflect your beauty education and skills. It’s essential that your image is representative of your profession, and your target audience.

Take advantage of networking opportunities. Don’t wait until you graduate to attend trade shows and industry events. Research upcoming shows in your area and mark your calendar. Don’t have the money to attend? No problem. Most trade shows offer discounted rates to students. Another way to become acquainted with the industry is to contact other professionals that have become successful. You’ll be surprised how many beauty pros are willingly to give you advice, or even refer you for a position at a salon.

So Make the Most of Your Beauty School Education!

The statistics don’t lie. The increase in enrollment in beauty schools not only represents a need for people to diversify their skill sets, but it’s also a reflection of the growing billion dollar beauty, health and wellness industries. A career in beauty is a great way to take your passion for makeup, hair or nails to the next level. Study hard, be passionate about your goals, and position yourself as the next professional that sets trends, and becomes the voice of a booming industry.

Incoming search terms:

Graduating Beauty School – Now What?

Posted on: April 15th, 2009 by Beauty Schools Directory 2 Comments

It’s almost that time of year – graduation season! For graduates of all ages, it can be an exciting, yet anxiety-inducing time. Some are preparing to complete their education from traditional institutions, while others are about to graduate with a more specialized skill set. If you chose to pursue an education in cosmetology, esthetics or makeup and you’re about to transition to the “real world,” you may have more career options waiting for you than you realized.

Here are a few outside-the-box career ideas for beauty industry job seekers from Marianne Bockheim, a columnist for The Michigan Beauty Examiner:

1. Entrepreneur: If you’re a no-nonsense, business-minded individual, you could become your own boss! Entrepreneurs with a cosmetology background could start their own salons, spas, schools or beauty product lines.
2. Platform artist: If you thrive in front of an audience, working as a platform artist at hair shows could be an exciting career choice. Many platform artists act as ambassadors for professional hair care companies. They often travel to hair shows around the country and demonstrate new techniques or products.
3. Makeup artist for a major line: This is a prestigious career choice for talented, dedicated cosmetology professionals. Many makeup artists pick a product line, and begin their career track at the retail level, and work their way up.
4. Beauty Educator: Many companies value educators with a background in retail or marketing. Earning your cosmetology license will most likely be the best way to get your foot in the door.
5. Cosmetology Teacher: If you thrived during your time in cosmetology school, maybe you’re cut out to help cosmetology students work toward their own career goals. If you like to teach, and love cosmetology, this could be a great career path for you.

Need some more tips for landing the perfect job? Marianne says it always pays to be assertive and ambitious. In the beauty industry, networking is key. Make sure your professional beauty connections know what you want – you never know who could help you get somewhere. Finally, discover your own traits and skills that set you apart from the crowd. When you know more about your own strengths you can make others see why you’re the right one for the job!

What’s your plan for after beauty school graduation? Have any beauty job search tips or stories of your own? We’d love to hear them!

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...

Incoming search terms: