Candid Talk: Beauty School is for Everyone?

Ninety percent of all beauty schools are in existence to teach you basic haircare, basic styling, basic ways not to spread disease, and how to pass State Board exams. Once you pass the state Board exam, then you become qualified to practice without supervision. This does not mean that you know advanced haircutting techniques. This does not mean that you know everything about every product on the market. This new hair license means that you can start learning "what you want to learn about hair, when you want to learn it."

In beauty school, you are limited to using school approved hair products. Also, the clientele that comes into the beauty school for you to practice on may or may not be diversed. So your ability to service all hair types may not be achieved in beauty school.

Are there advantages to picking one beauty school over another? Yes, if you want to work in an Aveda concept salon, then attending an Aveda school will acquaint you early with the Aveda culture. If you want to master all hair types including extremely overcurly hair, then it will be better to attend a beauty school such as Dudley who will have more overcurly clients to learn from.

Typically, if you master overcurly hair, then all other hair types will be easy to service.

When touring the beauty schools, ask instructors about their demographics of people receiving hair services by the students. Hopefully, they will be honest with you. There are always times when a school may make a special initiative to advertise for more diversified clientele to give their students more exposure. However, most beauty schools have some "regular" clientele. Ask about their "regular" beauty school clientele to give you a better idea what your core hair services will be. For example: will you be performing more haircuts and haircolor or more straighening services?

Is beauty school for everyone? Yes, everyone should consider beauty school because everyone tries to be a stylist for their own hair. People are coloring their own hair at home. People are relaxing their own hair at home. People are straightening their own hair at home. You name it . . . people are doing a lot of hair at home. Why not learn the rules about hair? Once you are licensed to do hair, you still are only halfway to becoming an independent hairstylist. Similar to becoming licensed to teach school and becoming licensed to sell real estate, your hair license arms you to practice hair and really begin learning and getting more vast exposure. Or you can just be the family hairstylist without trying for a career in hair. Everyone with a hair license does not have to work in the beauty industry. It is an option; not a requirement.

Can beauty school teach you how to style hair? No. In the hair industry, there are mechanics and artists. Mechanics perform as told. Artists naturally can create an image. Styling can not be taught; you have to be born with the ability. Similar to playing music by notes versus playing music by ear. Playing music by ear is a talent that you are born with. However, anyone can be taught the basics. In music, you learn notes. In hair, you learn basic hairstyling techniques such as rolling up hair, straightening hair, but only a real artist can complete the final styling where it is absolutely becoming to the client.

Does the beauty industry have a lot of hairstyling jobs? There are a lot of hairstyling jobs, but they are not well paid positions. Maybe averaging around $8 per hour. . . Usually, newly licensed hairstylists are more a liability versus an asset. So if you are wanting a career change, a job in the hair industry right now will NOT be an upward move. Just like any other "start-up" business, you have to invest more into it at the beginning in order to reap the benefits later . . . possibly years later.

I am a graduate of Dudley Beauty School System. I also have a Bachelors degree along with corporate experience. A well-balanced individual learns to communicate and adapt to different social settings. I strongly recommend both a four-year degree along with your hair licensing if you are a woman. Men seems to excel in the beauty industry with minimal education. I think it is just the law of attraction that benefits the men more than the women. Happy "beauty school" searching and please mention this article if you enroll at any beauty school!