Beauty School?

Dec 12, 2011

Trinity T.

Hi guys! I know this isn't exactly a beauty question but I need some help and I know you guys would give me the best answers :) One of my dreams is to go to beauty school and so, my questions are; what are the top beauty schools? I know of the widely known beauty schools like Aveda and Paul Mitchell but what are others? What are the further education schools? I only know of Vidal Sassoon Academy.

Another thing I'm confused about is how some hairstylists make SO much more than others. I know it mostly comes down to experience and what schools you were trained at (right?) But is there any other factors? Like, how can I make sure I get a job at a really nice salon instead of just an average salon? I know this may seem stupidly simple but I just want to know how I can be REALLY good at what I do (and make alot too!)

Thanks so much in advance for any replies!<3

Dec 13, 2011

Miss Manny S.

So many questions, where do I start??? LOL

Well Paul Mitchell is well know, so are Vidal Sassoon, Toni and Guy, and Aveda. Don't get TOO caught up in the name though, I've known people who graduated from big name schools and still left feeling overwhelmed when they got to a salon.

As for further education schools, they teach you more about practical techniques and stuff that you're really going to use with clients. In school you'll learn a lot about sanitation and some of the basics, but it's nothing really that you'll leave and say "YES, I know everything about hair now." Extended education will teach you cutting techniques, color techniques, and whatever kind of classes you choose.

To make a lot of money, honestly you really have to develop your clientele. You end up making most of your money off a handful of people who religiously come back to you. So in order to really get your clientele to stick, you have to have a good personality and you have to do good, fast work. I honestly say the quality and speed of your work are really what matter most. Not necessarily your school, because I rarely see salons that care where you went to school. I've seen a few say they want someone who was trained at such-and-such, but you can go for a bit of extended education at those places and get it done. Stylists basically learn everything that they actually use once they're done with school. If you wanted to work in a high end salon, I'd say once you're done with school, go and become an assistant. Get all the experience under your belt, learn some things, and try to develop a clientele there because with high end salons, come high end booth rents and you'll definitely need a few people coming to you to support that. Good luck!

Dec 14, 2011

Tara B.

Hey Guys,
Miss Manny you are so right! I took beauty school in high school and thank god it was free! Besides the great clientele, I think a big thing you have to consider is if you have a real passion for hair? So many people start school thinking of how much money they can make and that the industry is so glamorous, but at the end of the day it is really hard work. You really have to love what you do to keep you talent fresh and moving forward. I say try Paul Mitchell schools ( I have a few friends that love it) and they help with job placements. Best of luck to you and keep us posted!

Dec 14, 2011

Jen C.

Don't worry so much about the school. A good friend of mine went to her local beauty school (which actually closed and she transfered) and she never felt like she went to a glamorous school. However, she now works for Paul Mitchell and they fly her everywhere. The bottom line is she loved her job, she loved hair and was passionate. As long as you have the passion, you'll be okay.

Dec 19, 2011

Julianna S.

I live in a small town in southern illinois an hour east of st.louis,mo and I'm still one of the biggest towns/cities in the area. Back when I first went to cosmetology school I was very limited on my choices so I went with a community college. It was a 40 minute drive 5 days a week and they made me work my ass off. At first I thought my god I want my life back and I skipped a lot, missed out on stuff and I quit. I went back eventually and now I am super thankful for how hard they were on me.
The point to my story is, I was prepared. They pushed me to a point I thought I couldn't take it anymore but it made work for what I want.
I love what I do every single day, even when it sucks and clients seem obsolete. Part of being a stylist is constant self promotion and advertising. It will take you close to 2 years to build up a base clientele and about 5 to really be where you want and need to be.
heres a heads up:
independent schools not associated with a college are great if they are consistent but often times, they are not. when I say consistent I mean they actually keep a record of when you're there,etc.
You are a walking advertisement. The way you dress,look,speak,project yourself,attitude, AND what you post on facebook. If you want to loose clients fast post how much you hate or dislike a certain group or thing.
You will get into a great salon if you start in school and prove yourself and bug the shit out of the owner. Most people don't want to take on some one whos fresh out of school and wants to waste space they could be renting out to some one who will make them money. being an assistant isn't always a bad thing.
The most important thing I can also repeat is this:
HAVE PASSION! Be passionate about your work, yourself, and your art.
One final thing. I'm dyslexic, not severe but its there. I had to work twice as hard as every one when it came to book work and tests. I went to a tutor 6 hours a day studying and I wanted to give up but I got what I wanted. If some one like me can be a cosmetologist, I believe you can too.
good luck:)

Dec 19, 2011

Jena O.

I went to a small boutique beauty school to avoid taking out a massive loan. You don't want to start your career broke and then receive a bill for school. The bigger schools are pretty, but you need to learn state board rules to pass school. You make money by building your clientel, networking and being professional. Do your own research and just stay focused..! =)

Dec 20, 2011

Trinity T.

Thanks a lot for the replies guys!

I AM very passionate about cosmetology, but I love makeup and aesthetics more than I love hair. I just wasn't sure if I could make a solid career out of that alone. I'd be lying if I said money wasn't on my mind. As of right now I am considering Paul Mitchell as my school and possibly Aveda for their aesthetics program if I can afford it!

Julianna S. - I love that you said you're a walking advertisement because it's always bothered me when hair stylists dress crappy hahah 

Dec 21, 2011

Noelle M.

I love the school I go to. It's the Milan Institute of Cosmetology, in my area within reasonable distance(50miles or less) it's the best school. There are others in the area marinello,etc. (there's even a paul mitchell). All of them have different schedules, and things like that. I based mine on the fact that the student loan i'll be taking out has to be paid by me and I want to feel like I'm confident in my choice. I looked up my school's rating on the better business bureau's website and the only one in my area had an A rating was my school. I've gone to another beauty school(I know that sounds bad) but I couldn't finish due to distance issues.
The first school I went to was 7 days a week 8 hours a day, which was fine, but if you were absent more then 3 days in the entire 1600 hours,you got the boot, etc. They prided themselves on really stupid things like parking lot situations and little things like that, that had nothing to do with the school. The school I go to now I go to school 3 days a week 10 hours a day(sounds tough, but it's pretty nice!) And they let you make up hours as opposed to just dropping you from the program all together. They teach us so much stuff they never offered at other schools. We get business management classes, and they have a client requirement, like in the 1600 hours you're going you need to have 40 clients by the time you graduate,etc. They don't just teach you the basic knowledge of haircutting and nails and things, they teach us a lot of other things. Some people haven't heard of my school(most of their locations in California are more northern than southern). I hadn't heard of my school before I decided to go to all the schools and really tour them, and did my BBB check out. Something I never thought was going to be an issue when I started looking into beauty school from the beginning was the absent days, little things like that make a world of difference.

I'm not a hairdresser or anything yet but I imagine some make so much more then others because they have more advanced training then others. It makes sense to me that the more skills you have under your belt the more valuable you are to wherever you're working. At least in my mind that makes sense. Also about getting a good job somewhere, some schools have job placement help. Mine does, and the school I previously went to did not(it was at a community college). Some schools have special shadowing programs with salons, where you can basically volunteer to go in(on your free time) and do things and gain experience that way, that I'm sure would be very helpful to you when job hunting.

I hope some of these things help, it's what I've learned so far in my experience in dealing with Beauty Schools :)

Dec 21, 2011

Yasmin K.

Here's the thing about bigger named schools. Just because it's a big name doesn't mean you'll pass the state exam. Each beauty school is required to teach you what the state wants you to learn so why pass $20,000 at some big name school when you can go to a local cosmetology school and pay only between $5K to $13K instead? You can ALWAYS take extra classes AFTER you get a license as many have special courses for a few hundred dollars.

As for how some make more money than others, it has nothing to do with what school they went to, it's where they end up working and what that salon sets for rates. You can either become a booth renter (and you'll need to establish your own clientele), work for someone on an hourly basis or commission or establish your own salon and set your own rates. Also keep in mind where you live and to whom you're catering will also establish your rates. If you live in a small town you can't set big city prices but it you live in the big city of course you can charge more because rent in a big city is more.

Let me give you an example. My mother has been a cosmetologist instructor for decades now. She has her own salon and yet doesn't charge a ton of money. She makes up to $60K a year (after expenses including rent, supplies, insurance, etc). If she had the same salon in my town she could make three times as much because rent is more expensive (she pays $350 a month at her location because it's in an older part of her town). She charges women starting at $35 for a haircut and style. A friend of mine who works at a day spa near me charges (starting at) $95 for a haircut and style because it's a brand new day spa and it's suppose to be "posh and nouveau" (yet the vast majority of employees are fresh from cosmetology school with little to zero actual real world experience). So how much you make depends on what kind of clientele you want, where you're located at and what you set your prices PLUS if you're actually okay, good or GREAT at it.

I know I wouldn't pay Jonathan (of Blow Out fame) $500 for a haircut because I can get a fantastic haircut and style from my stylist for only $30.