Introduction
Getting a cosmetology license isn’t complicated, but it does require making a number of important choices along the way. If you’re visiting this website, it’s because you’re considering a career as a cosmetologist. That’s a great first step. You’ll find a wealth of information to explore here. Not only are there many pages about what you’ll study in cosmetology school, there are also all kinds of resources about how to fund your education and land that first job. You’ll read about the importance of selecting the right school in your pursuit of a career in cosmetology. For example, you may not yet know that the school you attend should be accredited, or your education won’t be worth a whole lot in terms of getting licensed and landing a job. Because you love cosmetology, you might want to explore the pages that discuss the history of personal beautification, as well.
How do you know if a cosmetology is right for you? Perhaps you remember styling your doll’s hair as a child or begging your friends to allow you to brush and braid their hair. Many cosmetology students laugh over the times they were punished as children for cutting a baby brother or sister’s hair. Maybe you used to love making primitive makeup by squeezing berry juice onto your cheeks. Or perhaps you are fascinated by how chemicals can change the texture, shape, and color of hair. No matter the source of your first inspiration, this website is a one-stop shop for future cosmetologists..
Perhaps you intend to earn your license by attending school part-time or full-time. Maybe you’re wondering about the benefits and drawbacks of an online program. Or you’ve already decided to attend a brick-and-mortar school where the instructor and your classmates are right there with you, but you don’t know which school to choose. If you will have to juggle work and school or kids, you might be wondering how you’ll manage. Be sure to visit the information on scholarships and student loans. Whatever you need to know, you’ll find here.
Cosmetology through History
Cosmetology students sometimes forget just how deep the desire to enhance personal appearance is. Anthropology, sociology, and history teem with examples of individuals and cultures who sought to gain prestige, power, and love by decorating their bodies with paint and jewelry, modifying and dramatizing their hair, and emphasizing their hands with designs, dyes, and nail treatments. Indigenous tribes have always used berry stains, mud, charcoal, plants, and insect extracts to create designs and tattoos to impress peers, intimidate enemies, and enhance sexual attraction.There is much historical evidence of the importance the ancient Egyptians placed on physical appearance. They mined the world around them for oils and extracts that could be used to smooth and brighten skin, heal wounds and minimize scars, clean and shine hair, and prepare kohl and stains to emphasize facial features. The Egyptians turned bathing into a complex ritual involving steam and dry heat, exfoliation and ointments, and lotions and rubs. Wealthy Egyptian women often changed their appearance by using wigs, elaborate pins, and other hair accessories. The Greeks discovered methods of dying their hair, and they used ointments, stains, powders, and oils to create art on the canvas of the human body. Ancient Romans used cosmetic applications medicinally as well as to enhance beauty. The upper echelon changed their hair styles through straightening and curling.
Queens throughout the ages have demonstrated their importance with highly elaborate hair styles that sometimes required many hours and several stylists to complete. Hair extensions were commonly used to create styles that rose far higher than would be possible with a single head of hair. Braids, coils, curls, and waves of hair were often decorated with strands of pearls, rubies, and other jewels.
Today’s nail technicians can look to Chinese royalty for inspiration. Wealthy women painted their fingernails bright red and used their hands dramatically and seductively. More than one dowager protected her fingernails from the wear and tear of everyday use and allowed them to grow to lengths we now consider ridiculous. However, within the cultural context of the time, hands such as these were a way of proclaiming, "I am cared for, wealthy, and need never use my hands for work of any kind."
Profiles in Cosmetology
If your dream is to become a cosmetologist, learning about the lives of some of the greats will inspire you. They set a very high bar for the art of physical beauty, entrepreneurial success, and philanthropy. Why limit your goal to helping a few individuals become more beautiful if you can help transform the world into a beautiful place?Many of the current trends and developments in cosmetology can be traced to several individuals. For example, Marjorie Joyner, the granddaughter of a slave, created a permanent wave machine to straighten African-American hair. She was the first African-American woman to be granted a patent, and she went on to manage 200 beauty schools created by another beauty pioneer, Madam C.J. Walker. Joyner helped found the United Beauty School Owners and Teachers Association in 1945.
Madam C.J. Walker was both a philanthropist and an African-American beauty entrepreneur who created hair and facial products designed especially for the needs of African-Americans. Because most African-Americans lived in poverty in the late 1800s, many developed skin and scalp diseases as well as hair loss. Walker created a sulfur ointment and special shampoo to restore scalp health. She went on to become a teacher and mentor to other professional African-American women, a major supporter of the NAACP, and a philanthropist who funded schools, retirement homes, and orphanages for the African-American community.
Although beauty trends change over time, occasionally a cosmetologist comes along whose innovations transform the field. Such was the case with Kevyn Aucoin, who, at the age of 22, created a line of cosmetics called The New Nakeds in 1983. He designed the line for all skin tones, from the palest to the darkest, with an eye toward showcasing natural beauty instead of covering it with thick lotions and stains.
John Frieda and Paul Mitchell are familiar names to any cosmetologist. In addition to creating radical new hair designs that fit the lifestyle of the modern woman, both hairdressers created their own lines of shampoos, conditioners, and hair-care products. Mitchell was a pioneer in the industry, determined to create products without animal testing.
Vidal Sassoon had a tremendous impact on hair care and styling when he created the Nancy Kwan hairstyle and geometric perms. Although these designs were strikingly dramatic, they were very easy to maintain. Sassoon’s angled cuts were organic both in form and function and they made fashionable hair possible for working women, who then turned away from heavy hairspray and lacquering products. Sassoon also created a highly successful line of hair products. His legacy includes the Vidal Sassoon International Center for the Study of Anti-Semitism.
Cosmetology Licenses: An Overview
The coursework at your cosmetology or beauty school will most likely have helped you prepare for the state licensing board exam that you’ll have to pass to become a licensed cosmetologist. Before sitting for your examination, it’s a good idea to review study guide materials, either online or in print. These materials should include practice tests in the format your state exam will be given so you can be assured of earning your license on the first try.States may include a wide range of subject material in their licensing exams. Don’t make the assumption that a generic overview will suffice. If you attended school in a different state, be aware that the material covered in your coursework might not include some of the information you’ll be expected to know in your current state’s licensing exam. It’s best to call or send an email to the state cosmetology licensing board to ask specific questions after you’ve visited their website to glean a general idea of what to expect.
What if you’ve gotten your license in one state, but have received a job offer in another state or want to move to another state for other reasons? Has all your hard work gone to waste? Not necessarily. It is true that few states share reciprocity.
Reciprocity means two (or more) states have an agreement noting that their requirements are sufficiently similar that licensees from one state can practice in the other without re-testing. However, even if you end up in a different state than the one that has granted your license, transferring your license might require you to take one or more additional classes. In some cases, you could be granted a temporary license so you can begin work immediately, with the caveat that you must fulfill the educational requirement within a limited period of time. Regardless, get in the habit of keeping your transcript as well as records of any continuing education credits in a secure location in the event you have to prove the number of hours and types of courses you’ve completed.
It’s also important to remember that once you’ve received your license and are ready to begin work, you will have to periodically renew that license, which will involve continuing education classes, seminars, or workshops.
The State Exam
Once you’ve completed your coursework and received your diploma, it might be tempting to think you’ll breeze through the state licensing exam. Although this might be true for graduates who have been doing hair, makeup, and nails as a hobby since childhood, or who have grown up with a parent who is a practicing cosmetologist, for most, it’s a mistake to think that way. If you want to earn your cosmetology license on the first try, you will have to prepare for the licensing exam. In fact, the state licensing examination can be difficult for a number of reasons.First, it is rare for the licensing exam to feature current technology and techniques. For example, you might know all about permanent makeup or the latest in chemical peels, but the exam might not even include questions about these areas. Fortunately, if you went to school in the same state where you intend to practice, your school has no doubt prepared you for the exam questions. Still, you need to know the information, even if you will never use it again.
The state examination can also be daunting because part of it involves demonstrating your skills in person while judges observe you. Having someone watch what you’re doing can be unnerving in itself. Add to that the weight of their judgment, and how that judgment can determine whether you pass the exam, and a case of nerves can result in disaster.
Finally, the state cosmetology licensing exam can be overwhelming simply because you don’t know what you will be asked. That means you have to review everything you learned from your first day in cosmetology school and be able to recall a tremendous amount of information.
Although the state licensing exam can be stressful, if you go in properly prepared, well- organized, and confident, you should have every reason to expect to pass it on the first try.
Preparing for the State Exam
Confidence can be your ally when you take your state cosmetology exam, but too much confidence can work against you. You need just enough confidence during the exam to prove under observation that you know what you’re doing. It’s a fine line, and it comes down to being sure of what you know and studying to refresh yourself in areas where you are less certain.
Every cosmetologist has areas of strength and weakness. The first rule is to know yourself. If you are a regular Rembrandt when it comes to color but not so sharp when it comes to complex cuts, don’t use your study time reviewing color. Instead, focus on the things you least want to focus on, because those are most likely your areas of greatest weakness.
There are many ways to prepare. Some students do well with flash cards. You can pull them out whenever you’ve got a moment to review key pieces of information. Stuck in line at the grocery store or the bank? It’s no longer wasted time if there’s a set of flash cards in your bag. Students with children will also find that kids love to help you prepare by quizzing you using the cards. They are helping you while learning how to approach their own school work.
Do you work best with others or on your own? If the former, you might consider finding or organizing a study group that will meet regularly to review. If you prefer to work at your own pace, you might want to purchase a study guide at a bookstore or online. There are also online review courses available.
Whatever types of review materials you select, be sure they are designed for the state exam you will be taking. Each state test is different. Although they all share some very basic, common questions, if you haven’t prepared using materials designed for your state’s exam you very well may fail. After all the work you’ve invested, passing the exam the first time around is important. Spend time preparing, and you’ll be fine.
Time Management in Test Preparation
Whether you’re preparing for a classroom test or the state exam, the way you manage your study time can make the difference between passing and failing.Some students work well under pressure. They are tempted to wait until the last minute then cram until dawn. Although the enthusiasm they feel at 2:00 a.m. might be thrilling, they’ll be exhausted by the time the test starts. Regardless of what you know, it’s hard to do your best if you aren’t well- rested.
Another problem with cramming is that although it might help you memorize enough material to pass the test, that material will not stay with you in the long run. If you cram, every time you prepare for a test, you will have to slog through the grueling work of hard-core memorization. This is true even with material you’ve memorized before. Memorizing isn’t really learning. It’s simply holding onto a few facts long enough to be able to spit them out as required. True learning means integrating information into your base of knowledge so you can apply it throughout your career.
By organizing your study time properly, you’ll learn much more efficiently. That’s because once you’ve truly learned something, you have it firmly inside your mind and can use it as a building block for other information. It will become easier to organize all the bits and pieces of knowledge that will be required on this test and others down the road.
So how should you organize your time? That depends, in part, upon your lifestyle, your needs, and your learning style. If you have a family, their needs must always come first. The operative word here is needs, not wants. Establishing regular study time and sticking with it will help your family learn that this time is sacred. Posting a calendar with your study periods clearly marked may help. You might also wish to remove yourself physically. If someone else can watch the kids, take yourself to the library or a coffee shop to study. If there’s no one who can help, create a study area in an out-of-the- way spot. If you don’t have a lot of extra room, be creative. Box up out-of-season clothes and wedge a small desk into a closet, or create a study room in a corner of the garage.
If you have a job with inflexible hours, plan to get up an hour early to study, when the rest of the family is still sleeping. They will be less likely to make demands on your time than if you stay up an hour later to study.
Some people study best in short, focused spurts. Others need a long stretch to settle in and accomplish some serious work. Some people are distracted by the slightest noise or movement, while others can work in environments filled with sound and activity. Think about how you work best, design a study plan around that, and stick to it.
Organizing Cosmetology School Study Materials
The key to a successful school life is organization. If you’re already working, you know that you have to organize your school work around your family and job. You also know that your family will have to make some concessions, and your work might, as well. But what else do you need to organize besides your time?
The amount of information you are learning as you work your way toward your career in cosmetology may seem like a mountain at times. If you go at it willy-nilly, simply trying to stuff bits and pieces of information into your mind anywhere they’ll fit, you might as well quit now. Just as you can’t pack a small suitcase for a long trip without carefully deciding how things can best fit together, you can’t bite off chunks of information, stuff them anywhere you can, yet have them at your fingertips when you need them.
The first thing to realize is that knowledge is composed of building blocks. It’s impossible to learn long division, for example, if you don’t know subtraction. You can’t learn to speak French if you don’t know any French vocabulary. The same is true for cosmetology school. To retain information about how to properly mix dyes or straightening chemicals, you need to know formulas. To know how to angle a cut so it will swing properly, you need to know about the tools used in cutting.
You can organize your learning in any way that is logical to you, as long as it’s organized. Think of your education as a building. The pieces need to fit together and be firmly attached to create a structure strong enough to withstand years of occupation.
Some students do best by organizing information according to class. They outline class notes, type them up, and transfer them by category onto physical index cards or into a software program. They organize their learning the same way the instructor organizes the information presented. As long as you and the instructor are on the same page, this is a perfectly effective way of learning. But what if you have a completely different way of retaining information?
Try this: Review your class notes after every class. Think about the information and transfer each group of ideas onto a single page. Next, look at the groups, and decide which ones are "sibling" ideas. These belong on one page. You can either cut and paste them onto a single page and number them, or physically cut and tape pages together. Some people learn best by physically handling materials, while others have grown up with computers and are most comfortable working that way. Once you’ve decided who the "siblings" are, look for "cousins." These will be sets of ideas that are related, but not directly. Makes notes on all relevant pages regarding which "cousin" pages are particularly germane. You might also try organizing "cousins" by paper or ink color.
Consider starting an accordion folder to keep related ideas organized. You might need two or more folders, and you might have to cross-reference items that belong in more than one location.
Climbing a vast mountain of information step by step makes what once seemed impossible, possible. Learning in blocks of ideas instead of trying to string together a long strand of single ideas that don’t seem related means you’ll be better able to retain information, pass tests, and ultimately reach your goal of obtaining your cosmetology license.