Posted on: March 5th, 2013 by Beauty Schools Directory No Comments
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics released new data last year for the job demand growth, earning potential and top paying metros and states in America for working beauty professionals. Much of the job demand growth is very promising, and median salary appears to be increasing over time. All-told, the BLS estimated that there were more than 819,000 beauty jobs in 2010 and that more than 128,000 new jobs will be added through the year 2020.
Beauty Job Demand Growth
Cosmetologists & Hairdressers
627,700 jobs in 2010
16% growth predicted through 2020 (as fast as average)
Addition of 98,400 jobs by 2020
Barbers
62,200 jobs in 2010
7% growth predicted through 2020 (below average)
Addition of 4,500 jobs by 2020
Manicurists & Pedicurists
81,700 jobs in 2010
17% growth predicted through 2020 (as fast as average)
Addition of 13,600 jobs by 2020
Estheticians & Skin Care Specialists
47,600 jobs in 2010
25% growth predicted through 2020 (faster than average)
Addition of 11,700 jobs by 2020
Top Employment States by Beauty Job
Barbers – PA, TX, NY, MO, IN
Cosmetologists & Hairdressers – NY, TX, PA, CA, FL
Estheticians & Skin Care Specialists – CA, FL, TX, NY, MA
Physicians may be taking responsibilities from estheticians if a new bill in the Tennessee House of Representatives passes. Tennessee House Bill 2558 a change that could drastically change the role of estheticians and even be a job-killer in the esthetics and skin care industry. This bill greatly endangers estheticians’ careers and businesses by bringing all near-medical procedures into doctors’ offices (who arguably have better things to do), when estheticans are perfectly well-trained from their time in esthetics school to do these procedures without being babysat. In short, this bill needs to be stopped.
Photo by Mark Weber, The Commercial Appeal (2009)
The Tennessee House Bill 2558 is a proposal that would require any near-medical cosmetic or esthetics procedures to be performed by a doctor or a person delegated by a doctor under his or her supervision. This ultimately means that the registered nurses and estheticians who are currently performing laser procedures would no longer be allowed to independently, unless under the direct supervision of a licensed physician. The bill goes as far as to require that the physician is present for the actual procedure or is the one who is performing it. The only tasks that an esthetician would be allowed to do would be facials and waxing. Treatments ranging from laser hair removalto chemical peels would all be given by physicians. This bill was originally brought to the attention of lawmakers earlier in 2012. This particular Republican legislature was shot down. However, this does not mean that the battle is over.
So what exactly does this mean for estheticians? Well, these individuals may be ousted from their long-standing positions at salons spas, since their services could not be performed any longer without having a physician at hand. This has dangerous financial ramifications not just for the licensed estheticians (who would effectively have wasted their time, money and training if this bill were to pass) but also for the salons and spas who count on esthetics and skin care services as a steady stream of revenue for their business. This bill is clearly a job-killer in more ways than one. For those who own spas, they would be required to hire at least one licensed physician to have on staff – which is expensive, impractical and unrealistic.
Mona Sappenfield, owner of Mona Spa and Laser Center in Memphis, TN, is one of these spa owners who declares that she will have to file bankruptcy if this law goes into effect. She further notes that she cannot afford to have physicians working for her and still be able to keep her doors open. She states that the 40 years she has been in the industry will suddenly mean nothing. Thankfully, the bill only passed through the Senate, and it was knocked down by the House. It barely was halted, since it only was declined because of a one-vote difference. How scary is that?
“While empathy was noted from a handful of estheticians, the apathy and lack of lobbying funds position all of us with profitable practices like low-hanging fruit for these doctors to move into the beauty business,” Sappenfield said. “Despite its rejection, the Tennessee Medical Association is lobbying extremely hard for this bill to pass. To date, the Cosmetology Board has stated that they are not going to get involved. The International Aesthetic and Laser Association has hired Nathan Green to lobby for this regulation and while it may seem that they are on our side, the estheticians are not represented at all due to lack of lobby funds.”
The reason for the proposed change is allegedly due to “public safety concerns,” but it is not taking into consideration the extensive training that estheticians have undergone in order to work in this field. This particular case has incorporated the testimonies of two individuals who claimed to have botched aesthetic procedures done through a licensed esthetician. Lawmakers are proposing that by having doctors perform will make it safer. It should be noted that two is an extraordinarily small number out of all the esthetics services performed in Tennessee each year. It should also be said that physicians are humans too – equally capable of making mistakes as estheticians. They would undergo the same esthetics training that licensed estheticians, and are no less likely to have complications in services than anyone else.
Posted on: May 18th, 2012 by Beauty Schools Directory No Comments
Erin Guzik is currently a Designer Stylist in Muskogee, Oklahoma with seven years of cosmetology experience. She is also a Business Marketing major at the University of Phoenix. Before finding her passion in the beauty industry, Erin managed a team in the customer service industry and realized her desire to help individuals grow to their fullest potential. Erin aspires to combine her love for cosmetology and her knowledge in business to educate cosmetology students and new stylists on how to successfully build their business, and stay motivated.
On my first day of beauty school, I was asked why I wanted to get into the beauty industry. Most girls said a typical 4-year university didn’t work for them, but they wanted to make good money fast, and that’s what they were told they could do. Although money did matter to me, I truly wanted to make people feel better. We live in a society that is so hard on the way people look on the outside. Either way, no matter what the goal is, all of these things take time, motivation, dedication, and development. As frustrating as it may seem, it’s rare that a stylist’s clientele grows to great lengths overnight. Sadly, it seems that salons become a revolving door for new stylists. In my first year as a stylist, I worked in 4 different salons. How I did I ever expect to gain and retain a committed clientele, when I wasn’t even really committed to one place to work?
The frustrations and pressures are high when a student graduates any kind of higher education, and they continue to escalate as the student loan payments roll in. Recent graduates get frustrated as they watch seasoned stylists interact with client after loyal client, while their own salon chair is empty. We’ve all been there. When I graduated, I didn’t know what I wanted in a salon. I didn’t know realistically how much money I needed to make to survive, versus how much money I wanted to make. I also had a lot of debt from school. Working to pay for school full-time while going to school full-time was a crazy juggling act, but dealing with the debt of it all after the fact is even harder. I felt those frustrations daily, especially when there’s no one on the books and I’m scrambling for appointments. How does a stylist work through those frustrations? How can you make the best of what you have, instead of moving on to the next thing you think is going to be better? Is the grass ever really that much greener on the other side?
In the time I have been in my salon, I have seen seven new stylists come and go. Seven just seems so extreme to me, and nothing about them screamed “unsuccessful.” When talking to them before they left, their biggest issue was the fact that they weren’t making any money, and they had a list of other people to blame that spanned from floor to ceiling. Most of the girls had just started at that salon, and some were even in the industry less than a year. According to salary.com, the average hairstylist’s yearly income after two to four years of experience is $23,809.
Recently, I moved from Chicago to Oklahoma. I went from managing a salon full time, to being behind the chair on a daily basis as a stylist. I have only been in my current salon for seven full months, and I am booked about 50% of the time. Five years ago, I used to be the girl with that laundry list, blaming any and every one for my small paychecks and unsuccessful time as a new stylist. When I made the move to Oklahoma, I thought my cosmetology career was about to take a big hit. I was terrified to start out from square one. Rather than keep that frame of thought, I made a list of things that not only I could do, but I needed to do in order to be successful in my new salon. I promised myself, that no matter how hard it got, I would stick to my list, take a deep breath, and give it some time.
Besides, I had tried every other approach; including hopping from salon to salon, position to position, hoping things would change. They say the definition of insanity is repeating the same behavior over and over again, expecting different results. I was one insane hairstylist! In the name of education, these are four key parts to my list. Every stylist and every situation is different, but in the end, we can all learn from one another’s experiences. My hope in sharing this is to add to my list, and reach out to stylists new and old. Hopefully you can add to your list, or start your own path to success!
There is money out there to pay for cosmetology school, and sadly, it isn’t being claimed! I can’t tell you how many times I hear girls say, “Oh, I won’t get that scholarship anyway!” You don’t know until you try! The only way to decrease your debt is by finding a way to do so. The average cost of beauty school ranges from $4,000 to $10,000 dollars. If you don’t find the money to pay for it, that money will catch up to you in 6 months to a year in the form of student loans. If you plan ahead, some of that could be taken care by saving diligently, but you could also get some extra help if you put yourself out there and someone on a scholarship board sees your true potential! Not only is that a true compliment, but it’s a great way to decrease stress as a new stylist! (Apply for the Beauty Schools Directory $2,500 cosmetology scholarship.)
Get Your Feet Wet in the Pond of Research!
I made the mistake of just walking in to a salon, applying, going on one interview, not asking any questions and accepting the job. I also made the mistake of doing that time and time again. Things always look great on the outside, but internally they could be a mess. Check a salon out before you even apply there. Scout out salons in your area before even telling them you are a stylist seeking employment. Get a conditioning treatment, or a quick manicure. Watch how the girls interact. Are they helpful to one another? Do they look happy to be there? Can you see yourself being successful at one of their chairs? Where is the manager? Are they involved in the functioning of the salon, or are they not visible? How is the stylist treating you?
Never Walk Into a Salon Job Interview Empty-Handed
Not only do you need a cover letter and a resume, and hopefully a portfoliowith photos your work, but you need to walk in with a list of questions that matter to you! Do not treat interviews only as employers’ time to get to know you. It is a time for you to get to know that employer, too! Don’t be afraid to ask questions. A stylist has to think about a place of employment more like a home, rather than just a job. You are going to live there, in this salon, with your clients for years to come! You don’t buy a house without checking it out a few times, and asking questions about its history! Some of my favorite questions to ask in salon job interviews are:
On average, how many walk-ins does your salon have on a daily basis?
What are your highest traffic days?
As a manager, what kind of development opportunities do you offer your stylists?
Does the company offer any promotional tools to new stylists like referral cards, sales or promotions?
Is there any ongoing training offered by the company?
What is your management style? What are your expectations for a new stylist?
So once you’ve done the research, found the perfect salon, and have a schedule and a chair… now what?
Stay Motivated! Find Clients! Don’t Expect Them to Find You!
Don’t just think that the walk-ins are going to roll on in, and everything is going to be great without you putting out any effort. We have all seen it before. You don’t have anything on your books, so you grab the latest fashion magazine, and start reading till a walk-in lands in your salon. What is that doing to proactively build your business? Nothing. If your salon has samples, create a little information packet for new clients. I like to put together a sample, a menu, and a business card. Walk around the area and pass them out to people. If you’re in a corporate setting, like a store, chances are you can work the traffic in that store. Strike up a conversation. I like to find something I like about that person, and something I can improve for them. For example, if I leave the salon to scout clients, and I see a lady with a great pair of shoes, I’ll stop her and compliment them. Then I can introduce myself as a stylist. The person now feels good about their shoes and good about you because you noticed them. It’s perfect timing to tell them about how great highlights would complement their hairstyle. Either way, if your backside is in a chair, instead of a client’s back side, you aren’t making a dime! You can’t blame the salonfor not supplying you with clients. You have to get out there and find them yourself, and it isn’t as scary as you think. In the sales game, for every five people you ask, you may only get one return. I think that’s the wrong way of looking at things. If you go out every day you work, and you get one person back in your chair, that is five new clients a week – hopefully ones that keep coming back for more! If those five clients love your work (which I know they will), and refer one friend each, that’s 10 new clients! The results will snowball, and your business will grow in no time!
Stay Patient! Give it Time!
Rome wasn’t built in a day, and that bad haircut you got doesn’t grow out overnight, so don’t expect to be double-booked your first week out of school. Stylists have to be patient, and it’s really hard. By looking for scholarships, reducing your debts, finding the perfect salon for you, and regularly scouting out new clients, you will give yourself more time to grow your clientele in one place faster than if you hop from salon to salon. You typically will not start to see returns until six weeks after you see your first client. It is hard to track success if you’re gone before people can come back to you. Clients need time to associate you with your salon. Give it a chance, and take a deep breath. Share your frustrations with a manager and ask for help before you start applying to new salons. Track your growth and your numbers so nothing is a surprise, and I promise that you will see improvement.
There is much more to my list, and I would be happy to share it with any stylist needing help, so feel free to email me! I would also love to see your lists. What are you going to do to launch your career into success? In the end, it’s all up to you!
According to the new data released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics, skin care specialists will see the biggest job gains in the beauty business over the next decade, followed by nail technicians and cosmetologists. Personal appearance worker trades will add 126,200 new jobs between the years 2010 and 2020, according to the most recent BLS.gov report. This number represents a promising step for an economy that is getting back on its feet.
The skincare niche is expected to grow a whopping 25 percent with the addition of 11,700 new esthetician jobs over the next decade, the largest projected growth in the entire personal appearance industry. This growth is fueled by a push for healthy lifestyle choices, an aging population and a recovering economy. Men and women are living longer, but they still want to look and feel good. The spa industry is in a great position to fill the demand by offering low-cost luxury services.
Similarly, the demand for manicures and pedicures is expected to create 13,600 nail technician jobs through 2020. The nail care field is poised for steady growth as an increasing number of nail salons open and workers change careers. Another area of anticipated growth includes personal hair care services.
The overall employment rate for barbers and cosmetologists is expected to increase by 14 percent with the addition of 100,900 cosmetology jobs. Certain industry niches will go into decline, while others will thrive. The BLS projects 20,300 jobs for professional shampooers, a 9 percent drop from 22,300 in 2010, as an increasing number of hairstylists perform this service. Barbers will see a 7 percent increase with 4,500 additional barber jobs. Hairstylists can expect a 16 percent increase with 98,400 hairstyling jobs. Cosmetology is poised to grow as hair trends have sparked an increased demand for new color and chemical services in recent years, and this demand is expected to continue over the next decade.
So what do all these numbers really mean, if you are considering cosmetology school? And are they the numbers that really matter? If you are interested in job security, you will be pleased to know that the job outlook is good for personal appearance worker trades. If you are interested in earning potential, you can learn the median salary for the respective trades in the new BLS.gov report. Skincare specialists can expect earn median salaries of $28,500, or $13.90 per hour. Nail technicians can look forward to earning a median salary of $19,600, or $9.45 per hour. Barbers and cosmetologists can expect to earn median salaries of $22,500, or $10.82 per hour. As always, how much a personal appearance worker earns depends on a number of factors including time in the field, location, services offered, skill level, networking ability, client retention, and more.
The BLS.gov numbers paint a portrait of trades that change with the economic landscape. For example, in today’s market, cosmetology school graduates may end up giving more mini-facials than full-course facials to accommodate more limited client budgets. And then in tomorrow’s market, cosmetology grads may find themselves providing more facial services to home-bound clients than walk-in clients. It just goes to show that the cosmetology field is a growing and ever-evolving world of opportunity for aspiring beauty professionals.
Posted on: February 21st, 2012 by Beauty Schools Directory No Comments
KCTV5 anchorwoman Carolyn Long and her colleague, the forward-thinking fashionista Michael Mackie, joined teachers and students at Mitsu Sato Hair Academy in Overland Park, Kansas to learn more about the art and science of giving and getting facial massages. They talk about what estheticians do, as well as some of the things you’ll learn in esthetics schoolwhile giving real facial massages!
Posted on: January 16th, 2012 by Beauty Schools Directory 1 Comment
Esthetician Career Information
Type of person who may consider it:
If you’re good with your hands, great with people and passionate about beauty.
Services they provide:
Licensed estheticians may provide waxing, facials, pore cleansing, exfoliation treatments, body wraps and polishes, manis and pedis, foot reflexology, aromatherapy and other spa treatments. May also learn some elements of massage.
Identifying problems, referrals, regimens:
You’ll learn how to identify skin problems that may require a referral to dermatologist or other medical professional, but you will typically recommend skin regimens to your clients.
Classes:
Esthetics training classes typically include anatomy courses to learn all you need to know about skin, but also sanitation and hygiene.
Careers:
If you decide to become an esthetician, there are a number of career paths open to you – salons and spas, resorts, beauty consulting, esthetics in a medical setting and so much more.
Time:
Full-time esthetician school can take as little as 6 months, but part time attendance could take 9 months to a year. But the best thing to do is request information from esthetics schools that interest you and find out how their program lays out.
License hours:
The training hours required to become a licensed esthetician vary from 125 hours to 1500 hours, but most states require around 600 hours.
Get info:
Most cosmetology schools touch on esthetics and skin care, but if you want to become a specialized esthetician, you may wish to attend esthetician school and get an esthetics license instead.
Posted on: June 22nd, 2010 by Beauty Schools Directory 4 Comments
Here’s the skinny on the esthetician’s future customer: Hispanic, African-American, Asian, Indian. The growth in the Hispanic population especially is breathtaking. In 20 states, Hispanics are the largest minority group, and according to USA Today, 48.3% of kids under 5 are minorities.
What does this mean for your career as an esthetician? It means you’ll encounter skin conditions unique to people of color. For example, brown skin contains melanin, the dark pigmentation. Its cells, melanocytes, are more reactive in darker skin. That can lead to hyperpigmentation. These pigment-related problems are prevalent in Hispanic population. For instance, facial peels with brown skin can take off too many layers and lead to scarring.
If you’re considering training to be an esthetician, these ethnic skin conditions and many others offer excitement and opportunity. More skin types mean more tools, techniques and expertise required. When selecting an esthetics program, make sure to ask the right questions about the classes offered, whether you will be practicing on mannequin heads or real models, and what skins types will be the primary focus.
Posted on: December 10th, 2009 by Beauty Schools Directory No Comments
One of our BSD blog posts in recent months names getting your own business cards as one of the top 5 ways to jump-start your beauty career. That’s great advice! Just remember that as a beauty professional, you’re expected to be creative.
Now, don’t you wish you were the creative genius who first came up with these bad boys? These are business cards for Glammer Education Institute of Hair Design, via YOU MIGHT FIND YOURSELF. Brilliant!
So, where can I get some of those to play with? Glammer Education Institute of Hair Design suddenly seems pretty appealing, doesn’t it? Give your school and services the same kind of spark.
What’s the most creative marketing beauty marketing technique you’ve seen at a salon or school recently?
Posted on: September 10th, 2009 by Heather 19 Comments
Susanne S. Warfield is the leading expert on the business, legal and liability issues that affect physician and esthetician relationships working in a medical or spa setting. Warfield is a 27-year Licensed Esthetician and is NCEA Certified. Her career started as an Esthetics Instructor at Sheridan College in Oakville, Ontario, Canada, where she taught the 2nd year of a two-year degree Esthetics Program. When she moved to the United States, her advanced training was put into use and she spent almost 14 years working with a dermatologist in New York City. See Susanne S. Warfield’s profile on the Beauty School Lounge.
As you do your research looking at the field of medical esthetics, you are probably seeing ads for medical esthetic, paramedical and become a medical esthetician. Esthetician training and esthetician licensing varies from state to state, and at the time of this article there was no such license for any of the aforementioned terms. The average number of hours of esthetician licensing training on a national basis is 600. The separation of the esthetician license from the standard cosmetology or hairdressing license has allowed some schools to become licensed to teach only skin care, thereby raising their hours and standards. There currently are only two states – Utah and Virginia – that offer a two-tier Esthetician Masters program for 1200 hours. There are several more states that are in the process of updating their statutes – which is sorely needed – but more on that in another article.
From the National Coalition of Estheticians, Manufacturers/Distributors & Associations, Use of Esthetician Titles. It is the position of the NCEA that estheticians represent themselves according to their licensed title, as designated by their state licensing board or regulatory agency, and that estheticians must not promote themselves or allow any employer to market them otherwise.
Esthetician Medical Training Certifications
There are several companies, schools, and associations that offer “certifications” to estheticians upon completion of a course. These courses may have required participation time ranging from minutes to hours to days.
Some courses are teaching advanced procedures using machines and products that are well beyond what the esthetician license and scope of practice allows. Therefore, obtaining liability coverage would then become a major priority for the esthetician practicing. However, in a dermatology setting, it would be up to the physician and their risk manager if the esthetician should be permitted to perform these advanced procedures, under the direct supervision of the physician of course.
This Isn’t General Hospital – It’s the Real Thing
One of the most important factors in deciding whether to work in a medical setting is: Do you like medicine? Specifically, are you comfortable dealing with illness and medical problems on a daily basis? Not that the fields you’re likely to choose will bring you into contact with a great deal of sick people, but your clients will all be patients and all of them will have a medical or aesthetic concern.
While dermatology and plastic surgery, the esthetics areas you will most likely fill in the medical setting, generally involve less serious medical problems, they’re still not for the squeamish. Plastic surgery, after all, is still surgery. And some plastic surgeons perform reconstructive surgery to repair the trauma of accidents or the disfigurement of diseases such as cancer, burn survivors or genetic defects. And dermatologists treat skin cancer various, sometimes disfiguring rashes and infections as well as various diseases that affect the skin.
If you cannot stand the sight of blood or if you find illness or disfigurement overwhelming, then you probably should consider esthetician career paths other than a clinical setting. On the other hand, most of us can get used to the sights and the situations that are likely to come up in dermatology or plastic surgery, and if you enjoy helping others and if you appreciate the privilege of working intimately with people who depend on you, the rewards of working as an esthetician in a medical setting can be tremendous.
One area that I haven’t touched on at all is the medical spa environment. If I had 10 people in the room and asked them what their perception of a medical esthetician is, I would probably get 10 different answers. For purposes of this article, the NCEA position on a medical spa is:
A medical spa is a facility that during all hours of business shall operate under the on-site supervision of a licensed health care professional operating within their scope of practice, with a staff that operates within their scope of practice as defined by their individual licensing board, if licensure is required. The facility may offer traditional, complementary, and alternative health practices and treatments in a spa-like setting.
Working in this type of facility may take you in several different directions depending on the philosophy of the owner, supervising physician and the corporate vision of what a medical spa is.
In conclusion, try to talk to other estheticians who may already be in the medical field, ask your school guidance counselor for advice, or several website such as PCI Journal offer newsletters and other books that may help you decide which of the career tracts is right for you.
Interview with Kathy Jager - Cosmetology Author It takes more than just being great at cutting hair to be a huge success in the beauty business. It takes top notch client consultation, relentless marketing, a growing and steady clientele, professionalism and poise, and much more. We interviewed author Kathy Jager, who has more than 30 years of experience in the beauty business, about what it takes to really make it in the cosmetology business.
Interview with Meg Haas - Blowdry Bar Owner Blow Dry Bars are the hottest new beauty salon on the scene, and one has opened up in the heart of Kansas City. No cutting and coloring here, though – it’s all about hair design and styling! Parlor is Kansas City’s first blow-dry and cosmetic bar. We checked in with Meg Haas, the owner of Parlor, a “beauty bar” located on the Kansas City Plaza to find out more about what a blowdry bar is, what kinds of clients they serve and services they perform, and what she looks for in blow dry bar employees as a salon owner.
Interview with Brenda Corona - Scholarship Winner It was an incredibly special moment when the Beauty Schools Directory team was able to surprise Brenda Corona from Las Vegas, Nevada on Skype with a $2,500 scholarship for esthetics school. We would like to thank every single applicant who told us their story and applied for the scholarship to pursue their dreams and attend a beauty school or cosmetology school, and everyone who had a hand in making this scholarship possible. Congratulations, Brenda! We are so excited for you!
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics released new data last year for the job demand growth, earning potential and top paying metros and states in America for working beauty professionals. Much of the job demand growth is very promising, and median salary appears to be increasing over time. All-told, the BLS estimated that there were more than 819,000 beauty jobs in 2010 and that more than 128,000 new jobs will be added through the year 2020.
Susanne S. Warfield is the leading expert on the business, legal and liability issues that affect physician and esthetician relationships working in a medical or spa setting. Warfield is a 27-year Licensed Esthetician and is 
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