Choosing a Cosmetology School with Delecia H.

If choosing a beauty school feels overwhelming to you, Delecia is here to help by sharing her experience with selecting a program. She is a cosmetology student at Northeast Texas Community College in Mt. Pleasant, TX. In her video, Delicia breaks down the factors that were important to her, what she looked for during her school tours, and what she appreciates about her chosen school.

Delecia Shares How She Chose a Cosmetology Program

Editor’s note: The following is an edited and annotated transcript of Delecia’s video on how she chose her cosmetology program.

Finding Your Beauty School Starts With Research

Delecia went through these four simplified steps when choosing her school:

1. Completing an online search for programs
2. Narrowing down the list of schools to consider based on the most important factors
3. Touring the school
4. Selecting the school that best met her needs

So, you have dreams of glam and a passion for beauty. But with so many cosmetology schools out there, how do you choose the perfect fit for you? Let's navigate through a list together.

For me, I knew that I wanted to go to a community college that had a cosmetology program. So, I Googled “community colleges with a cosmetology program near me.” I chose my list based off location and price. I visited each school’s website, scheduled a tour, and ultimately, that's how I chose my cosmetology school after doing extensive research.

But Do You Know Your Program Focus?

Delecia knew what type of school she wanted to attend and which program would help her achieve her career goals. Before you begin looking for a school, you need to decide which program area you’re looking for.

So, let's back it up a little bit. You want to identify your glam specialty. What do you want to specialize in? Is it hair, skin, nails, or possibly all of the above? Knowing this will help you find your focus in a school that aligns with your glam goals.

READ MORE: Choosing a Beauty Career Path

Identify the Factors that Are Most Important to You

For Delecia, there were five main factors she most considered when touring and choosing a school:

1. Is the school accredited?
2. Does the school offer specialized courses, including teaching textured hair?
3. What facilities does the school offer?
4. Is the school a good personal and cultural fit?
5. Does the program cost fit my budget?

Here, Delecia shares how she assessed her school against these factors and provides tips for choosing the right school for you.

Now, we have to make sure that we are glamming with credibility. Research accredited programs and make sure your school is recognized by the cosmetology regulation board. Whatever state you reside in will have a different regulation board. In Texas, we have TDLR, which is the Texas Department of License and Regulation.

You want to ensure your school is accredited. This just means you're getting a quality education.

Now let's dive into the glam buffet – explore the school’s specialized courses. What courses will you be taking? What books do they use? Do they teach textured hair? For me, that's important.

Next, facilities matter. At my school, we have a salon, an auto shop, a game room, a sub, and a beautiful library. It is endless here. Don't let the term “community college” make you think we are small-minded because we are not.

READ MORE: Cosmetology Schools vs. Community Colleges

See if the schools offer textured hair products. For me, I have textured hair, so that was really important to me because textured hair is something that I would like to specialize in. Knowing that our book covered texture hair was a no-brainer for me, along with the cost and the facilities that are offered.

Last but not least, you want to look into pricing of the program and the materials. You want to ensure that you have a budget for your education.

Don’t Skip the School Tour

Delecia shares her tips on what to look for on a school tour and the importance of visiting the school.

Before making your final decision, attend an open house. Put on your best attire – not too fancy, but cute enough for you – and go and ask questions, meet the instructors, view the dispensary, look at the salon, look at the nail room, and the facial room, too. Look at the products on the shelf. Identify brands. See if the schools offer [hair products that you would use].

Now with this information I hope that you are able to narrow down a cosmetology school that is perfect for you.

More About Delecia’s Passion for Glam

As with many cosmetology students, Delecia's reasons for pursuing this career and her hopes for the future come from more than a straightforward love for beauty. We'll let her tell it.

What Inspired You to Pursue a Career in Beauty?

“As a child, I was forced to learn how to do hair. Not having any other choice, I would be in the mirrors all night trying to figure out how to style my hair. I can remember some nights, I would just cry because I could not get it right. But I never gave up. I just had to figure it out. From an adolescent to an adult, I would do my hair, and sooner than later, I gained family and friends as clients.

Sadly, I never had the courage to become a beauty professional due to the judgement of family members based off my career choice. Once I turned 30 and worked in Corporate America, where I was ultimately not a great fit, I just decided it was time for a change. Hair has always been my first love due to the pain and trial and errors that it took for me to achieve the skills that I have now. There is no time like the present to go after all of my dreams that I put on the back burner.

At this time of my life, I want to share my creativity with the world, I want to inspire my community, and achieve all of my goals.”

READ MORE: Working With Natural Hair and Hair Braiding

What Are Your Career Goals?

“After getting licensed, I plan to work at a full-service salon to gain experience and understand the culture of what it is like to work in a salon.

My long-term goal is to operate a non-profit hair salon, to service young people in under-served communities.

As a kid, I was extremely insecure about my hair. Growing up with 4C hair, I would get teased at home and at school. I used to just wish I had someone who took the time and cared about styling my hair with love and not regret. Being that I never got that chance, I had to figure it out myself…this is the motive behind operating a non-for-profit hair salon in an under-served community. If I can make a change in a little girl's life one hairstyle at a time, my purpose will be fulfilled. And beyond my initiative to give back in 10 years, I hope to have an eco-friendly hair tools line, where recycled items are used to create hair supplies.” – Delecia H

READ MORE: The Realities of Beauty Entrepreneurship