cover next page > title : Cosmetology Career StarterCareer Starters author : Korman, Lorraine. publisher : isbn10 | asin : 1576851419 print isbn13 : 9781576851418 ebook isbn13 : 9780585224060 language : subject publication date : lcc : ddc : subject : cover next page > < previous page page_i next page > Page i Cosmetology Career Starter by Lorraine Korman < previous page page_i next page > < previous page page_ii next page > Page ii Copyright © 1998 LearningExpress, LLC. All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. Published in the United States by LearningExpress, LLC, New York. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Korman, Lorraine. Cosmetology career starter / by Lorraine Korman. p. cm.(Career starters) ISBN 1-57685-141-9 1. Beauty cultureVocational guidanceUnited States. 1. Title. II. Series. 987488 TT958.K67 1998 CIP 646.7'2'02373dc21 Printed in the United States of America 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 First Edition The listing of schools in Chapter 3 is reproduced from the NACCAS 1997-1998 Directory by permission of the National Accrediting Commission of Cosmetology Arts & Sciences (NACCAS). Regarding the Information in this Book Every effort has been made to ensure accuracy of directory information up until press time. However, phone numbers and/or addresses are subject to change. Please contact the respective organizations for the most recent information. For Further Information For information on LearningExpress, other LearningExpress products, or bulk sales, please call or write to us at: LearningExpress 900 Broadway Suite 604 New York, NY 10003 212-995-2566 LearningExpress is an affiliated company of Random House, Inc. < previous page page_ii next page > < previous page page_iii next page > Page iii Contents Introduction v Why enter the Cosmetology Field? Chapter 1 1 So You Want to be a Beauty Professional Chapter 2 21 All About Training Programs Chapter 3 41 Directory of Cosmetology Training Programs Chapter 4 139 Financial Aid for the Training You Need Chapter 5 155 How to Land Your First Job Chapter 6 177 How to Succeed Once You've Landed the Job Appendix A 207 Professional Associations Appendix B 217 Additional Resources < previous page page_iii next page > < previous page page_iv next page > Page iv About The Author Journalist and editor Lorraine Korman worked at American Salon magazine for six years and was editor-in-chief from 1996 to 1998. This is her first book. Acknowledgments The author gratefully acknowledges the assistance and inspiration of Francois Baron, Mary Bemis, Amanda Hathaway, Wayne Henninger, Ken Korman, Heather Landau, Norma Lee, Saralynne Lowrey, Robbin McClain, Kathy McFarland,Kathy Nestor, Colleen O'Rourke, Larry Oskin, and David Wieme. < previous page page_iv next page > < previous page page_v next page > Page v Introduction Why enter the Cosmetology Field? Yes, cosmetology is about hairdressingbut it's also about much more than that. Yes, it's about being in a service industrybut it's also about getting a chance to show your creative side. Cosmetologists can be hairdressers, skincare specialists, nail technicians, massage therapists, or makeup artists (or all of the above). The possibilities in the beauty field are as many and varied as the individuals in the field. It's truly an occupation in which you can create your own path. Few fields offer the flexibilityand potential rewardsof cosmetology. In this book you'll learn more details about the field and the possible paths you can take. You'll learn about training programs on the high school/vocational school and postsecondary levels. You'll learn what's required to get your license, and you'll learn why getting your license is only the beginning of your career. Chapter 1 looks at the different types of cosmetology specialties. It covers hiring trends, demographic data, and salary information and < previous page page_v next page > < previous page page_vi next page > Page vi includes sample classified ads for different jobs and information on trends in cosmetology education. Chapter 2 includes information on the training you'll need to become a licensed beauty professional. It offers sample course curricula and tips from educational experts on how to pick the right beauty school for you. Chapter 3 provides an extensive listing of accredited postsecondary training programs across the country. And yes, education costs money. Chapter 4 will explain how to get financial aid for school and training programs. It covers the various funding options and tells you how to take advantage of every opportunity to get the funding you need. Chapter 5 explains what to do when you're done with schoolhow to conduct a job search, write a resume, and research employers, as well as how to network and promote yourself. Finally, Chapter 6 takes you to the next level, providing all the information you need to succeed in your first job and beyond. Interviews with top beauty professionals in every specialty appear throughout the book, providing you with valuable advice on what it takes to make it in the real world of cosmetology. These professionals share their own experiences and discuss changes in the beauty field. The appendices at the back of the book not only list the most important organizations in the field but also point you toward helpful resources (books, Web sites and the like). With this book in hand, you're well on your way to learning all aspects of the beauty profession. So let's get started. < previous page page_vi next page > < previous page page_1 next page > Page 1 Chapter 1 So You Want To Be A Beauty Professional In this chapter, you'll learn more about what being a cosmetologist really means. You'll learn about different specialties in the professional beauty field, see examples of job descriptions and sample salaries, and discover what current cosmetologists think about the profession. It's hard to imagine what the day-to-day work life of a chemical engineer, or an accountant, is like. But you may have a picture in your head of what a cosmetologist's life is likeprobably because one or more of them have played a large part in your life already. After all, everyone needs a haircut now and then. And there are memorable images from the mediafrom Dolly Parton's trailer-run operation in Steel Magnolias to Janet Jackson in Poetic Justice to the less-than-flattering "Beauty School Dropout" musical number from the movie Grease. But none of these images is entirely accurate. Successful beauty professionals today work in all sort of capacities, with all sorts of specialties. Tens of thousands of success stories from across the country prove that cosmetology is a field with options, flexibility, and the potential to make a lucrative living. What more could you ask for? < previous page page_1 next page > < previous page page_2 next page > Page 2 What Is a Cosmetologist? A cosmetologist is a beauty professional licensed to perform services for the public. In some states, the cosmetology license permits you to perform nailcare, skincare, and makeup services as well as hairdressing. In other states, separate licensing procedures have been established for nail technicians and for estheticians (skincare specialists). Other licensed specialties in the professional beauty industry include electrologist (hair removal specialist), massage therapist, and permanent makeup artist. Is Cosmetology for You? Please respond yes or no to the following questions: 1. I consider myself a highly creative individual. 2. I thrive on structure; I like to know exactly what the next day will bring. 3. I'm good with my hands. 4. Given a choice, I'd work alone. 5. I wouldn't mind putting in extra hours to learn. more about specialties in my field. I consider that an investment in myself. 6. More than anything, I want to work less than 40 hours a week but still make a good income. 7. I really enjoy with working with people. 8. I just want a job that I don't have to think about when I'm off the clock. 9. People tell me that I "have a way with people." 10. I'm pretty impatient. I get antsy easily. If you answered yes to questions 1,3,5,7, and 9, then you're probably a pretty good candidate for a cosmetology career. If, however, you answered yes to questions 2,4, 6, 8, and 10, then you won't find a fulfilling career in cosmetology. Why? Because cosmetology is, first and foremost, a service industry. Yes, it provides tremendous outlets for your creativity, but the success of beauty professionalsfrom the hottest editorial hairstylist to the first-year traineedepends on your ability to service your client well, thoroughly, and with a smile. To do that, you need to be flexibleto be willing to rearrange your schedule to accommodate a last-minute client, for example. You also need to enjoy being around people all the time. Their happiness has to mean something to you. Few solitary types have ever thrived in a salon environment. < previous page page_2 next page > < previous page page_3 next page > Page 3 Just the Facts There are some 285,000 salons in the United States and 1,345,000 licensed cosmetologists (according to a 1996 NACCAS report)more than either the number of elementary school teachers or lawyers. You should note, however, that this figure includes a fair number of people who are licensed but not currently practicing. In fact, some estimates maintain that 20 percent of people who pass the state boards never use their license. Salon cosmetologists are generally divided into three categories: full-time employees, part-time employees, and booth renters. The last are those who operate as independent contractors and pay a percentage of their gross, or a flat fee, to the salon owner for the space they rent within a salon.