Barber-Cosmetologist
Have you considered becoming a barber or cosmetologist? If you enjoy working with people, would like to express your creativity, and are looking for a great career, cosmetology may be the best of jobs for you. Hairdressers, barbers, nail care technicians, pedicurists, and estheticians are all highly employable and fun career choices.
Cosmetologists provide a wide variety of services. Many of us have used the services of a cosmetologist in one way or the other, whether for a hair cut, manicure, or facial. Hairdressers cut hair, typically for both men and women; however, some may specialize in one or the other. They also provide hair styling services, and are trained colorists. In some shops, your colorist may do just that and not color hair. Barbers specialize in old fashioned men’s hair cuts and typically do not cut women’s hair. They may also provide services including shaves and steam facials for men.
More and more people are taking advantages of the services offered by other cosmetology professionals. The may be getting manicures or pedicures from a nail care technician or pedicurist. Well groomed hands can add to a professional and attractive appearance, while the help of pedicurists may allow you to keep your feet not only prettier, but healthier as well. Estheticians work in both spas and salons. They may do facials, waxing, eyebrow shaping and more. Estheticians are an excellent resource not only in terms of skin care in the salon, but may be able to assist you in product selection for home use as well.
There are many job options available in cosmetology, ranging from nail care technicians to hairdressers. Salaries for jobs in cosmetology vary, depending upon your skills, region, and the type of salon in which you work. Whether you train as a nail care technician or a hairdresser, jobs are available even in more rural areas. Many cosmetologists work their way up in the ranks by beginning their careers in major, inexpensive chain salons or manicure and pedicure shops. Eventually, as they gain skills and pursue additional training, they may work in nicer salons
You may work on salary or work for yourself in many spas and salons. Moreover, many of these jobs allow you to work independently by renting space in a salon. This may offer you additional scheduling freedom as well as the ability to earn more for your time. This flexibility may also allow part time working, making training as a hairdresser or nail care technician a smart long term investment. This is a growing industry, with 5.6% more salons than in 1999, 9% more chairs open for hairdressers, and 24% more salon professionals of all sorts. More and more people are taking the time and spending the money for a wide variety of salon services, making jobs in cosmetology accessible for trained and qualified people interested in cosmetology careers.
If you are interested in training to be a barber or a hairdresser, you will begin looking for the skills you need at one of several educational facilities. Schools offering training for cosmetology licenses of various sorts may use different names, and could be called a beauty school, a cosmetology school, a hair school, or a barber school. Those especially interested in barber skills may wish to attend a special barber’s school; however, some schools that teach hairdressing also teach barbering skills, typically called barber beauty schools.
Hairdressers will learn about hair cutting, styling, the skills required by colorists, and other chemical treatments during their time at beauty school. The number of course hours required will vary depending upon your state’s licensing programs, and possibly the courses you choose to pursue. Courses typically begin fairly frequently, and financial aid is often available, making training to be a hairdresser or cosmetologist quite feasible.
Beauty schools vary, and you may wish to visit several to choose the one right for your future careers as hairdressers or colorists. Some schools offer not only state licensing but additional professional credentials that may be helpful for future jobs in hairdressing.
While many people do not think about estheticians when they contemplate cosmetology, these skin care professionals are a vital part of the salon team. Estheticians provide a variety of services, many of which are becoming much more common in today’s salons and spas. Some estheticians may also work as make up artists, while others offer body waxing services, facials, and other similar services. Many estheticians also provide facial massage or other massage services. Estheticians work in both spas and salons, or may find themselves working in medical offices on some occasions, providing cosmetic services.
Esthetician training typically covers skin analysis and massage, skin treatments, hair removal, cosmetics and make up application and customer service. In order to succeed as an esthetician, you will need the same sort of customer service skills as in other cosmetology jobs. You will also need to be comfortable working with people’s bodies, as you will provide skin care and hair removal services to people of both genders. By and large people opt for skin care services as a means of pampering themselves and it will be critical that you add to their comfort in order to gain a good clientele. You should enjoy working with people, be professional and polite, and ready to work well as a part of the spa or salon team.
Nail care technicians work as both manicurists and pedicurists. Many people today, including men, opt for professional nail care on a regular basis. Well manicured hands create an attractive and professional appearance, whether polished or simply buffed to a nice shine. While training as a nail care technician, you will learn how to care for the nails, cuticles, hands and feet. You will also learn how to prepare and apply artificial nails of various types and do treatments of different sorts on the hands, feet and nails. Regular pedicures do not just serve to keep the nails pretty, but the feet healthy. Your clients are sure to thank you for the work you do in keeping them looking good on a daily basis.
State licensing requirements with regards to nail care technicians vary, and in some states nail care is taught as part of the overall cosmetology program, while in others it is separate. If you enjoy working with people, careers as a nail care technician, pedicurist or manicurist can be a pleasant and profitable choice. Moreover, some manicurists and nail care technicians offer nail art services, allowing you to express your creativity in fun and interesting ways.
Salaries for those in cosmetology jobs may vary substantially depending upon your training, skills, and where you work. Additional training on top of your basic state cosmetology license may help you earn a higher salary. Some salons pay stylists a flat salary, plus tips, while others may pay stylists on commission. In some shops, stylists pay a chair rental fee, and work independently. Nail technicians and estheticians are more likely to find themselves in salaried positions, but similar terms may apply depending upon the salon.
Your professional skills are not the only factor in determining your eventual salary, both for hairdressers, colorists, and nail technicians. You also need to work well with your clients in order to develop a regular list of clients loyal to you, and make certain that you are earning, whether for your own pocket or your commissions.
While the amount you will make depends upon your work and the market, in Indianapolis, the average salary for a full time cosmetologist is $35,553. As you can see, earning a good and comfortable living while working in a field you enjoy is very possible for hairdressers, colorists, nail technicians and estheticians.
There are many possibilities as far as advancement in these cosmetology careers. You can own your own salon, moving into management if you are interested in business. Highly skilled hairdressers and colorists are often in high demand, and may draw a substantial salary for their services. With good skills, especially in a larger urban area, you may be able to work in a high end salon. Estheticians and nail care technicians also have these options, moving up in their field as their skills increase.
Advancing in the cosmetology careers can be aided by opting for additional training. Seminars are offered, as well as annual conferences to allow hairdressers, colorists and others to learn new skills or improve on skills they may already have. Gaining additional skills of this sort is one means of improving and finding new and better hairdressing or esthetician jobs. Some major companies in the hair industry offer their own professional enrichment, and may even have certain typical style elements that could appeal to some hairdressers or colorists. Expanding your skills is one of the best ways to advance in cosmetology careers.
Once you have finished beauty school, what do you need to do in order to make a success of these cosmetology careers? If you have pursued beauty school, you are clearly looking for careers rather than just jobs in cosmetology. First and foremost, expect that you may have to begin in a salon that is not your first choice as you work to build up a loyal clientele. You will build clientele by providing good, high quality services and having a friendly and outgoing personality. You should be someone that your clientele enjoy spending time with in order to thrive in cosmetology careers.
As with any field, you will need basic professional conduct. You should be on time for appointments, prepared to work hard, and maintain a good demeanor. You should work to stay on top of advancements in your field in order to succeed. Know your own strengths and weaknesses and be honest about them. If you are a poor colorist, focus on your hairdressing skills, or if you have an amazing eye for color, strive to become the best of the colorists in your salon.
If you have an eye for business, you may want to consider a long term plan for salon ownership; however, many people who are very successful in their cosmetology careers never opt to take this step. As with all careers, be sure to play toward your personal strengths in order to succeed.
Some of the most successful people in cosmetology careers are known for their specialized skills. A specialized skill set may well offer you the best options for a high salary. Some of these cosmetology jobs that come with both more prestige and a better salary include colorists or those with especially precise hair cutting styles. Some famous hairdressers have even developed their own signature looks, or gone on to develop lines of hair care products. While most hairdressers will not gain fame and fortune, you can certainly become known locally for your skills and boast a good clientele and reputation.
If you can develop a unique or unusual skill set or develop a reputation for your skills, you will find that you gain clients, and can thus increase your overall salary, and perhaps even move to a higher salary position at a more elite salon. This is true for hairdressers, nail technicians, colorists and estheticians. It may take time to develop these skills, but putting forth the additional effort to become particularly good at razor cuts, hair color, or other specialized cosmetology services.
One of the most important skills in cosmetology is pleasing your clients. Listen well, use your eye, and offer suggestions gently. It is your job to make your clients beautiful and to keep them happy. Learning how to do both at the same time is an especially valuable skill, albeit often a very challenging one, for those in cosmetology careers.