The pioneers of make-up were self-taught. We’ll probably never know how things went in the early cosmetology schools. However, it’s great to imagine how the ‘make-up artists’ of Ancient Egypt taught the secrets of the perfect application of khol. How the artists who staged Shakespeare’s plays experimented with ‘drag’ make-up, or how the masters of Japanese kabuki theatre brought fascinating characters to life with the help of kumadori make-up. So disturbing that one of the most widely used make-up brushes today bears the name of this theatre.
Although the art of face and body painting was practised by all tribes and peoples, only since the 1920s, with the development of cinematography and photography, the profession of ‘make-up artist’ gained structure. The make-up and beauty industry follows the trend too.
While much of the allure of becoming a cosmetologist comes from being able to have a creative job, become an expert in beauty and help people look and feel better, pay is necessary too.
However, it’s essential to find a job that you love doing, so if you enjoy unleashing your creative prowess and helping people look better and feel better about themselves, then a career in beauty is a great track to pursue. Thus, choosing which beauty school to enrol in is vital.
Cosmetologist salaries also vary significantly across state lines, so you would also want to choose a school based on your goals for where you’ll work.
With so many degrees and college options to choose from, it’s difficult to decide which cosmetology school is best for you.
What Makes a Good Cosmetology School Great?
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There are several factors to consider before deciding on which program is right for you. The following is a list of things to keep in mind:
Accreditation is a must.
All makeup courses offer you a graduation diploma, but not all diplomas have the value of professional certification. This can only be obtained from a school that has a certificate in this regard. In order to obtain it, the final exam is held in front of a commission from the National Qualification Authority.
Find out about these details before you sign up for a makeup course. Don’t waste your time or money on programs that aren’t accredited. Accredited cosmetology training will get you to your career goals.
Cost of Attendance.
Calculate the cost of attendance, and determine whether you’ll be able to receive financial aid to offset some of your educational expenses.
Location is critical.
You’ll need to find one that is within a close distance to your residence, or you’ll have to consider relocating.
Career Assistance.
There are many out there that will provide free employment assistance upon graduation for aspiring cosmetologists who dream of having a successful career.
Versatility/Variety of Courses.
In terms of diversity, a thorough course must start with a solid theoretical basis: hygiene rules, notions about the makeup kit, color theory, proportions and corrections of the face, notions of skincare, specific makeup techniques, information related to the area of art, fashion, the lifestyle of different eras, etc. And continue with a lot of practice applied to the above notions to encourage your creativity. You should consider what classes are available to you, and determine whether they meet your educational needs.
Class Sizes.
Whether you prefer smaller or larger class sizes, there are programs out there that will provide the amount of attention you will need to prosper.
Financial aid.
For students who cannot afford to pay tuition but still want to get a quality cosmetology education. Research beauty schools with financial assistance in your area.
Cosmetology instructor.
Good instructors with a cosmetology license for high-quality learning and training.
Best Cosmetology Schools in the US
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Without further ado, these are eight of the best cosmetology schools in the US. They have a top-of-the-line cosmetology program for their students. They aim to mold their students to be the best in the beauty industry.
1. Regency Beauty Institute
With 88 locations across the U.S., the chances are that there’s a Regency Beauty Institute close to you. Each site offers a full cosmetology education, covering everything from makeup, hair to anything you need to learn about the beauty industry. The Regency gives students a chance to learn in a salon environment with lots of hands-on experience that is invaluable to their careers. Our favorite aspect of the Regency Beauty Institute is that classes begin on a monthly basis for full-time students, so the wait is never more than 30 days to start your cosmetology education.
What We Love about this Cosmetology School
An unbelievable 84% of Regency students receive some financial aid. The Regency Beauty Institute makes it possible for those from all walks of life to make their dreams come true, and to pursue a career in the exciting field of cosmetology and beauty.
2. Aveda Institutes
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There are 64 Aveda Institutes worldwide that offer courses in Cosmetology, Esthiology/Skin Care, Massage Therapy, Manicuring/Nail Technology, and Spa Therapy, so the possibilities are truly endless. Not only will you receive hands-on, real-world training from Aveda, but you’ll also be placed in roles from hairstylist to salon owner to interact with real clients to gain valuable, career-expanding experience.
What We Love about this Cosmetology Program
Around 7,000 students graduate every year from the Aveda Institutes’ Cosmetology Program. We see this as a massive sign of a successful program.
3. Ogle Schools
The Ogle School of Hair, Skin, and a total of eight locations throughout Texas, helped students to achieve their dreams of becoming licensed cosmetologists since 1973. Ogle offers experienced instructors, day and evening classes, as well as financial assistance and career placement assistance to help graduates with finding employment through their essential contacts. We love that they are smaller, and offer a more intimate setting for students to learn.
What We Love about this Cosmetology School
This program provides small, intimate groups where students can foster relationships with each other, as well as with instructors. This provides more support for students, which increases the likelihood of sticking with the program.
4. Paul Mitchell Schools
Paul Mitchell Schools delivers courses in Cosmetology, Barbering, Skin Academy, Nail Academy, Teacher Training, and Career Planning Tools to help students achieve their goals. With programs located all across the country, Paul Mitchell Schools make it easier than ever to get started in your cosmetology training.
The Cosmetology Program at Paul Mitchell focuses on cutting, multicultural techniques, design, fashion trends, makeup, manicuring and pedicuring, facials, and the art of hairdressing, all of which prepare students to take the state board examinations and receive their cosmetology licenses.
What We Love about this Beauty School
Paul Mitchell is a household name when it comes to the beauty industry. He has set a standard for excellence, and upon graduating from their programs, employers will know that you have been provided with a high-quality educational experience.
5. Xenon Academy
With locations in Kansas, Missouri, and Colorado, the Xenon Academy gives students the opportunity to train with professionals and use modern, state of the art equipment. The Xenon International Academy puts students first, offering them a chance to learn through trade shows, guest speakers, professional salon clinics, as well as career fairs and salon tours. Xenon provides a Cosmetology Program, an Esthetics Program, a Cosmetology Instructor Program, and a Nail Technician Program, allowing you to choose which direction you’d like to go in your beauty career.
What We Love about this Cosmetology Program
The Xenon International Academy maintains a business partnership with multiple well-known beauty manufacturers, which allows Xenon to stay current with trends and to encourage creative thinking in students.
6. Hollywood Institute of Beauty Careers
For those living in the state of Florida, the Hollywood Institute of Beauty Careers offers several locations to serve you and your educational needs. This cosmetology program requires students to complete 1200 clock hours, which equates to 10 months of attendance for day students, and 17 months of attendance for evening students. The cosmetology program at the Hollywood Institute is available in Miami Beach, Hollywood, Orlando, and West Palm Beach, Florida.
Here, students will learn advanced techniques in skincare, makeup, nail care, and hair design using the Pivot Point approach, which requires students to think and act like designers. Students will study the basic theory behind cosmetology, as well as learn the practical skills necessary to become successful cosmetologists.
What We Love about this Cosmetology School
We are excited that the Hollywood Institute of Beauty Careers provides students not only with training in the field of cosmetology, but in the customer service field as well. Students will interact with a wide array of clients, learning how to provide the best customer service possible, which in turn will get them more clients in the future.
7. The Hair Design Cosmetology School
With locations in New Jersey, Tennessee, and North Carolina, The Hair Design School offers a wide variety of specialized courses that will help students to become the best in the field of cosmetology. This program is one of the few beauty schools that specialize specifically in hair. With that much focus, students are sure to become experts quickly. Specifically, The Hair Design School focuses on Hair Styling, Hair Cutting, and Hair Coloring.
This school also boasts an Exclusive Cosmetology Career Network that will certainly help you when looking for employment after graduation. With influential contacts in the beauty industry, such as Regis and Vidal Sassoon, it should be reasonably easy to get yourself started in the beauty and cosmetology field.
What We Love about this School
The Hair Design School allows students the chance to gain hands-on experience in a real-world salon environment, which looks great to potential employers.
8. American National College
With several locations in both Texas and Georgia, the American National College delivers one of the best cosmetology programs in the southern United States. Their one of a kind cosmetology program is the only one in the entire south to partner with such big names in beauty as OPI, CHI, and Dermalogica.
Students at the American National College will take extensive beauty courses in the following:
|
CURRICULUM |
CLOCK HOURS |
|---|---|
| Orientation (Theory) & TCC Rules & Reg |
100 Hours |
| Shampoo & Related Theory |
100 hours |
| Chemistry |
75 hours |
| Salon Management and Beauty Practices |
75 hours |
| Hair and Scalp Treatment & Related Theory |
50 hours |
| Cold Waving & Related Theory |
200 hours |
| Chemical Hair Relaxing & Related Theory |
50 hours |
| Hair Coloring & Related Theory |
200 hours |
| Manicuring & Related Theory |
100 hours |
| Facials & Related Theory |
50 hours |
| Hair Cutting, Styling & Related Theory |
500 hours |
| Total Hours |
1500 Hours |
Courtesy of http://www.amnc.edu/Cosmetology.php
What We Love about this Beauty School
The American National College offers students a chance to succeed by taking classes when it’s convenient for them. This cosmetology school allows students to take day, evening, and even weekend courses to graduate prepared to take the state board exams and receive a cosmetology license.
We’ve only listed the top 10 beauty schools here – chances are you were able to find one close to you.
Local beauty Cosmetology Schools
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The ten schools that we have listed above are the top 8 schools in the United States, and many of those schools have branches or affiliations across the 50 states. Plus, they have the best program.
However, there is a chance that you are in a position where you are unable to travel very far from your home to pursue your education. In that case, you may have to look for a more localized option – fortunately, there are plenty of local beauty schools that you can explore.
The easiest way to find an excellent local beauty school is to let us match you to one nearby! You can fill out the form below, and we’ll try to match you with the best local beauty school:
Alternatively, you can also head over to this page, which has a map of beauty schools with the best cosmetology program by localized area.
Online Cosmetology Schools
Learning through online cosmetology is also another option. They have the same cosmetology program like that of an actual beauty school. An online beauty school provides numerous advantages. It allows cosmetology students to get quality training in different skills such as hairstyling, hair design, hair coloring, nail care and all other skills in the cosmetology industry.
Also, an online beauty school allows a person to undergo training in the same program in the comfort of their own home and at their most convenient time.
Conclusion
Choosing the perfect cosmetology school with a good program is never an easy task for anyone. Whether you prefer a small, intimate setting or want to be educated by only the best instructors, there is a perfect school out there just for you. Take your time to consider all the factors discussed earlier, weed out the schools that aren’t logical candidates, and the decision will be much easier to make.