Considering enrolling in cosmetology school next year? Then you might also be wondering where to begin. The thing is you want to enter a field that is highly competitive. We refer to earning well, establishing your own large clientele, and carving a professional presence of your own. To do all that, you must begin the right way.
By mentioning the right way, we’re talking about certain tasks that you should undertake. And we don’t mean after you enroll into school. These things you’ll need to do as a potential cosmetologist.
But before we get into all that, arm yourself with these 6 Tips to Fit Cosmetology School into your Schedule!
Now, let’s pick up our discussion where we left off:
Be Realistic about your Expectations as a Post-Graduate from a Cosmetology School
Don’t walk into this field with an unrealistic set of expectations about your future career. Just as aspirants of most other fields, you might not land that first job you apply for. Likewise, the most lavish salon you yearn to work for might not want to hire you. Or, when you open the salon’s doors, you might not see a large clientele come rushing in immediately.
Most cosmetology instructors will include this information in their lecture. However, we’ll start by helping you see that it takes some time to build a successful career. Don’t just know that but prepare for it. It will help you later on immensely.
The best 5 Tips for Becoming a Successful Cosmetologist are right here. Use them when you get in!
Pick a Cosmetology School
Before it is time to enroll into one, you should know which schools you can apply to. That means first conducting some research about the ones that are in your area. Then expand it to include far-off schools but that offer classes online.
Then, look for a cosmetology school that will teach you the things you want to learn. Are your subjects of interest a part of the programs of the schools you have on the shortlist? Those are the schools that don’t need to be removed from your list. Then out of the selection you have currently, circle the names that have the necessary accreditation. By that, we mean that a national accrediting body has looked at and assessed them. For a cosmetology school, that body will be the National Accreditation Commission of Career Arts and Sciences (NACCAS).
And what is the NACCAS and why is its accreditation a good thing? Because it ensures that the institution you choose comes with very high standards of education. It also indicates that you will find the facilities there to be of good quality. Finally, you might require financial assistance to complete school. In that case, you stand a better chance of acquiring it when you choose an accredited school.
Don’t know which cosmetology institute to pick? It is crucial to learn to distinguish them. Read this article on, Cosmetology School, Beauty Schools, And Hair Design Schools- How Are They Different?, for that!
Opt for Useful Courses
You might think your selection of courses in high school won’t affect your eligibility for cosmetology school. But you’d be wrong! We suggest some classes that will be helpful in pushing you towards success in the field:
Anatomy, Chemistry, and Biology
But does science have anything to do with hair style? A lot, apparently! Your field of choice is going to have you working closely with people’s bodies. Many of your courses will focus on knowing and caring for skin, nails, hair, hands, feet, etc. In some salons, massages and esthetics services are also on the roster. So, familiarizing yourself with the structure of the body, how it functions, and how to make it produce creative results is essential. That’s why anatomy and biology are important.
When it comes to chemistry, consider how many times a dyeing professional mixes complicated colors on a daily basis. Thus, they must know:
- How much dye to add to get the customer’s choice of shade right
- Which makeup ingredients can be caustic, so which brands to avoid
- How to make an accelerator work
And so on. In short, your knowledge of these things will depend on whether you choose anatomy, biology, and chemistry in high school.
Communication
Managing your own salon would create lots of paperwork. A lot of it will be correspondence, for instance, with the vendors, clients, etc. Knowing how to draft documents will assist you in your job. Good writing and processing skills maintain the creative workflow and management aspects in a well-functioning salon.
Likewise, you won’t have to be good at just penmanship. Cosmetology school will also focus on the client-facing side of things. Therefore, the way you present yourself, active listening, and communicating your point of view to them, are all essential skills. We’d suggest opting for creative writing, literature, and communication-focused courses in high school.
Don’t know which of the cosmetology qualifications to pick? This article on Pursuing a degree in Cosmetology will help!
Make the Full/Part Time Decision Right from the Start
Finally, do NOT enroll into a program before you know what your answer is to this next question. Would you want to study part-time? Or will a full-time program be okay for you? You’d need to decide that because it will also change things. Many of the schools that you shortlisted might not offer flexible timings. Others that do may not be on your list.
Essentially, the other demands in your life will determine the answer to this query. For students still not living on their own, a full-time course may be a better choice. Because when you’re on your own, you must take care of more than just chores that your parents assign. Similarly, will you be working to pay off a student loan debt? Then consider which school has part-time classes in the evening. And so on.
Career experts await to guide you on all things cosmetology. Get in touch now — before you must select which school to enroll in!