Undoubtedly one of the biggest names in cosmetology and beauty is Paul Mitchell. Paul Mitchell started out as a hair care brand by two friends and business partners which saw runaway success. Later they teamed up with some talented, inspirational business minds and created Paul Mitchell Schools, whose motto was being dedicated to providing quality beauty and hair education to those who sought it.
Today, they’re almost synonymous with the word “beauty”. But is it worth pursuing your beauty career start at Paul Mitchell? Here’s what they offer:
Career prospects
Paul Mitchell Schools are fairly well rounded in the sense that their programs cover a wide array of beauty related fields. You’ll have the opportunity to learn cosmetology, barbering, nail tech, and esthetics – all of which can open very different yet lucrative doors for you in terms of careers.
Plus, Paul Mitchell operates 50,000 salons across the world, so you have a very good chance of starting your career then and there, if you should choose to do so.
If you decide to stay in the Paul Mitchell system, then there are a host of careers paths you can pursue(although you could pursue these same paths elsewhere, too, once you graduate).
People skills
If you consider yourself a people person and enjoy helping and working with people, then you can pursue one of the following fields within the Paul Mitchell Academy itself:
- Admissions Leader
- Educator
- Operations
- Logistics
- Financial Aid Representative
If you are all about helping people look the best they can and feel great about themselves, then you can pursue one of these fields:
- Salon Professional: Hair/Skin/Nails
- Salon Trainer
- Salon Coordinator
- Salon Manager
- Salon Owner
Of course, each of those is a progression from the next!
Showbiz
If you are into showbusiness and like the limelight and silver screen and all the glamour that it’s associated with, then you can use Paul Mitchell as a stepping stone towards that dream, too. With a cosmetology education from Paul Mitchell, you can pursue the various fields of makeup and beauty required in:
- Theatre
- Music
- Media: Film, Television, Celebrity
- Fashion: Photo Shoots, Runway
- Cruise Ships
Behind the scenes power
Finally, if you prefer working behind the scenes and being a driving force in the Paul Mitchell ecosystem and in the beauty world, you can pursue any one of these fields as well once you have graduated:
- Marketing
- R&D/Product Testing
- Education/Shows
- Artistic Teams
- Sales
- Regional Director
- Regional Color Director
- Business Development Coordinator
- Sales Manager
- Customer Service
- Distributor Store Sales
- Distributor Sales Consultant
- Education Manager
- Distribution Center
- Marketing
At the Paul Mitchell School, you’ll get guidance and hand holding towards your path(though some students have complained about favoritism in some of their academies).
There are dedicated guidance counselors, as well as professional development courses for necessary skills like resume building and interview practice – both critical skills for getting noticed and making a lasting impression.
You’ll also have access to career fairs and guest artists which can further expand your horizons as far as where a career in beauty can take you and what it can do for you.
Staying connected and 24/7 access
Paul Mitchell Schools have embraced the age of digital education – they have an online portal and an app through which you can access industry news and extra information to stay on top of your beauty game. You can access:
- extra information for your classes
- video tutorials
- advice from industry leaders
- up to date news from the school and classroom
Teaching style
You’ll have the opportunity to learn hands on from your first day at Paul Mitchell. They like to combine a traditional, out of the book educational approach with a hands on and multimedia approach to try and cater to everyone’s different learning styles.
Their instructors are also practicing beauty professionals – so you’ll get training from people who are in the business walking the walk and talking the talk. These professionals will help you find your creative groove and develop your personal style of approaching beauty.
Cosmetology program
The cosmetology program is split up into three parts: Core, adaptive, and creative, with each one building upon the last. At the core level, you’ll be practicing on mannequin heads in the classroom(where it’ll be okay if you make a mistake, a mannequin is not going to complain!) before you move forward and start practicing in real world scenarios in later stages.
There is a comprehensive theory and practical education involved, and you’ll learn the science and techniques behind beauty and hair care.
You’ll also receive tuition and coaching for the state board exams and licensing procedures, which are equally as important as an education in the field!
Barbering program
Barbering is an art, as you may have undoubtedly seen in the countless different hairstyles sported by today’s male celebrities and influencers.
If you want to pursue a career in barbering – working at a barbershop and eventually owning one of your own, Paul Mitchell Schools offer a great program that will put you on this career path.
Esthetician school
While the esthetician program is not offered at all schools(you’d have to check with your local branch), it is an exciting and fast growing field to get into.
The skin is the body’s largest organ, and caring for it is no small task! You’ll learn about the science and technology behind skincare and get qualified to perform the latest techniques and procedures in peels, masks, and scrubs; and massage, for example.
As an esthetician, you have the opportunity to work either in a salon or in a dermatology office, so your career prospects are even more diverse.
Nail academy
There is an in-depth nail academy where you will learn everything you need to know about becoming a nail technician – it may seem quite simple on the surface, but in reality, there is a lot of science – and especially safety procedures – behind it, and of course creativity.
Teacher training
If you would like to become a beauty instructor, there is an opportunity for that at Paul Mitchell, too. Some people are passionate about teaching and passing on their gifts to others – if that is you, then there is scope for you at Paul Mitchell as a teacher and educator empowering and inspiring potentially hundreds of students each year.
Finance
Education should be accessible to everyone who desires it, and Paul Mitchell is no exception at espousing this noble philosophy. You can contact your local Paul Mitchell school to see what grants, scholarships, and other financing options they have available.
Student reviews
For the most part, students were very happy with their education at Paul Mitchell and every year, the schools collectively turn out over 14,000 beauty professionals.
However, there have been isolated complaints and incidences of favoritism towards some students and poor administration resulting in missing credits and paperwork.
These incidents have been very sparse, and it’s very likely that they are the same amount as you would find at any other school, even Harvard or Yale. Students are happy and go on to very fulfilling and satisfying careers.