Here we’ve hand-picked the best cosmetology schools in Virginia. You can read about each one below in their overviews, find out about the advantages of attending each school, learn about career prospects, and find the average cost of tuition for each institution.
Bestway Beauty School
Overview
At Bestway Beauty School, staff is committed to developing well-rounded cosmetology professionals by combining theory and practice through experiential learning. The school offers flexible class schedules and personalized instruction for a diverse student body. Bestway’s collaborative learning environment and high teacher-student ratio mean students get the individualized attention they need to develop the technical expertise and leadership skills required of today’s professionals.
Advantages
The capstone experience for the cosmetology program at Bestway Beauty School is the student clinic, where students get the opportunity to put their learning into practice in a safe and encouraging environment. They are exposed to all aspects of running a salon and learn important business and communication skills through real-world experience with beauty clinic clients.
The school’s hands-on approach and close student-teacher relationships ensure that students graduate with the expertise and confidence needed to launch successful careers in the industry.
Career Prospects
Upon graduation from Bestway Beauty School, students will be fully prepare for the state cosmetology licensing exam and will have all of the business and technical skills needed to take their careers to the next level. Past graduates have gone on to work for local boutique salons as well as respected chains like Hair Cuttery, Shapes Salon and Day Spa, and Eclips Salon and Day Spa.
Empire Beauty School
Overview
Empire Beauty Schools offers a rare combination of advantages to advance each student’s career. The Virginia Beach location offers students a cosmetology education with all the support necessary to start training.
Fun and interactive classes are conducted by trained and licensed beauty educators. A student salon is the perfect place for students to work on real clients while learning to build their own book of business.
Advantages
Empire has over 80 years of experience in beauty education, which has given the school plenty of time to perfect is unique certified learning in cosmetology curriculum. The staff is committed to help students succeed by preparing them for the state exam and assisting them in their employment search. Students gain additional real-world training and education when they participate in special events including fashion shows, beauty shows, competitions, fundraising events, community involvement, and more.
Career Prospects
With both the CLIC curriculum and hours of hands-on experience in the student salon, graduates of Empire Beauty School are fully prepared for life in the professional world.
Esthetic Institute
Overview
According to the school, “The mission of the Esthetic Institute is to provide quality programs in a clinically safe environment of academic learning to produce motivated and committed individuals prepared to achieve excellence and professional success in the beauty industry. We are committed to securing the success of our students by providing training that gives them the tools and knowledge they need to be successful in their field of study and successfully obtaining employment in the chosen field.”
Advantages
Students will learn about a variety of topics, including color theory, study of the structure of the face, contouring, and shading. Techniques covering day, evening, bridal, photography, and fashion applications will also be covered. Students will also learned about brow grooming and skin care.
Students will be required to complete projects that range from natural makeup to avant-garde looks. They will complete a professional photo shoot that can be used in their portfolio.
Career Prospects
The Esthetic Institute provides ongoing job placement assistance to all graduates. This, in combination with hands-on experience, prepares students to enter the professional world.
Le Arai Beauty and Barber Academy
Overview
The academy’s mission is to offer a diverse array of innovative vocational programs that foster excellence, intellectual inquiry, and commitment to local community through engagement of study and faculty members in a dynamic, life-long learning environment.
According to Le Arai Beauty and Barber Academy, “Vocational excellence is the provision of the highest quality educational and learning experiences made possible by professionally qualified and skilled instructional faculty and staff, opportunities for contextual learning in the business environment, classroom and business facilities, and effective resources necessary to support learning at the highest level. Additionally, vocational excellence reflects the successful relationship between engaged learners, business clients, and outstanding instructional faculty and staff.”
Advantages
Hands-on learning begins on the first day of classes. Students are taught the latest cosmetology methods and techniques for hair cleansing, hair cutting, coloring, texture services, hair-art hair design, makeup, nails, skin care, retail training, and professional business management.
Career Prospects
According to Le Arai, there are many different aspects to this profession, including cosmetologist, beautician, barber, esthetician, skin care advisor, and massage therapist. According to the school, “Le Arai will provide you with the knowledge, skill sets, and tools you need to succeed. Le Arai provides tailored training, full complement of specialized seminars, hands-on training, and equipment seminars.”
Graham Webb Academy
Overview
The academy prides itself on being a student-oriented academically rigorous academy that trains and mentors professional, world-class caliber cosmetologists and estheticians. At Graham Webb Academy, only approved teaching techniques and training aids are used. The school invests in high-quality equipment and supplies.
Graham Webb Academy employs a staff of well-respected professionals, each of whom has been trained to exact standards. This team of professionals have various backgrounds and bring with them a lot of passion for the industry.
Advantages
The cosmetology program at Graham Webb Academy provides a solid foundation for students to thrive as confident and competent hairstylists. The program is available during the daytime and in the evening and includes both theory and practical application instruction.
The cosmetology program trains students on a broad range of topics, including hair design, professional ethics, developing a creative eye, fashion influences, and networking skills.
Career Prospects
The school keeps an updated list of available job openings in the area for graduates to peruse.
Springfield Beauty Academy
Overview
The Springfield Beauty Academy is an established institution whose goals are to provide quality cosmetology education to students who have the ability to benefit from the program. According to the academy, “Our mission is designed to provide quality education and practical skills necessary to obtain a cosmetology license as a professional cosmetologist. The mission of Springfield Beauty Academy is to provide our students with business skills, customer service, retailing experience and communications. Springfield Beauty Academy is dedicated to student success enriching lives and cultivating success through innovative personalized education in an inspiring environment, that prepares graduates in the business skills and responsibility necessary for success.”
Advantages
Students will gain both knowledge of theory and practical skills that, in combination, will develop them into skilled hairdressers. Innovative personalized education and a focus on student success mean that students will get the most from this comprehensive program.
Career Prospects
The school is committed to helping students find the right career path, wherever their dreams may take them.
Average Cost
The average cost of tuition for the cosmetology program at the Springfield Beauty Academy is $8940.
Culpeper Cosmetology Training Center
Overview
As the Culpeper Cosmetology Training Center says, “Love your work, earn a great living, create happiness for yourself and others by combining art and skill.” Through career training at Culpeper Cosmetology, all of this can happen.
Advantages
In the cosmetology program, students are taught the basic foundation of cosmetology. They take courses in anatomy, sculpting and cutting, shampooing, grooming tools, sanitation, and hygiene. The instructors at the Culpeper Cosmetology Training Center, as well as the facility, provide students with training that is unparalleled in the industry. Advanced courses cover the methods and products involved in changing hair texture, color, skin care, nail care, and makeup application.
Career Prospects
Graduates will be ready to enter the professional world after going through the comprehensive curriculum at Culpeper Cosmetology Training Center.
Average Cost
$28,650 is the average cost of tuition for the cosmetology program at the Culpeper Cosmetology Training Center.
Shenandoah Beauty Academy
Overview
According to the school itself, “At the Shenandoah Beauty Academy School of Cosmetology, we want to prepare you to not just enter the field of cosmetology but to succeed in it. By incorporating technical and business courses into the curriculum, we give our students the ability to reach new limits of personal and creative success at all levels.”
Shenandoah Beauty Academy offers curriculums in hair design, hair cutting, hair coloring, chemical relaxing, perm waving, nail technology, manicuring, makeup, pedicuring, braiding, and client accessorizing. These are all profitable, creative fields that are currently in demand.
Advantages
Students at Shenandoah Beauty Academy learn the latest hairstyles and the newest cosmetology techniques along with valuable marketable skills to be competent in today’s salons and spas.
Freshmen learn about different hair types, textures, and cultural hair fashion, as well as basic hair styling. Sophomores learn more advanced techniques, which juniors and seniors are placed in the school salon for practical training with real clients.
Career Prospects
Shenandoah says, “As a career, cosmetology is unique in that it offers both part-time and full-time employment; as a profession, it suits a variety of needs. Employment opportunities are abundant. Expansion in employment is expected to continue in this career due to the growing population and the desire for men and women to look professional, trendy, younger, and well groomed. With today’s uncertain economy and the unemployed rate increasing, SBA graduates continue to be employed.”
Wards Corner Beauty Academy
Overview
Wards Corner Beauty Academy is proud of both its educational record and its cosmetology curriculum. The faculty and staff are completely dedicated to giving students the skills to excel in the beauty industry and the knowledge to enhance employment opportunities. The well-organized cosmetology and barber program offers day and evening classes, providing students with every opportunity possible to pursue their education.
Advantages
The curriculum at Wards Corner Beauty Academy includes program outlines and daily lesson plans, which ensure that all subjects are taught in the correct sequence with a proper balance devoted to theory and practical instruction. Program are designed to help students develop desirable work habits, attitudes, safety practices, and awareness of their professional responsibilities.
In order to provide students with a working knowledge of current cosmetology practices, each program is periodically evaluated and revised so that new techniques, practices, and products can be incorporated into the curriculum.
Career Prospects
The well-developed curriculum and support of the staff at Wards Corner Beauty Academy prepares students for life after graduation and in the professional world as a worker in the beauty industry.