FAQ

What are the requirements to get into beauty school?

Schools tend to accept students who qualify for a cosmetology license, and license requirements vary by state. So the real question is: what are the requirements to get a license? Some states require you to have reached a certain age and/or to have a set amount of high school education, while other states have no requirements. You do not have to take college entrance exams like SAT to be admitted to cosmetology school.

What is the curriculum?

Typically, coursework includes both classroom instruction and "clinical work that takes you into a real salon setting to do mannequin heads and actual clients who get hair services at the school for very reasonable prices. Your courses will be appropriate to your field of study; hair students have a different curriculum from skin care or nail students. Many schools also offer classes in fashion, sales, business and life skills.

A major goal of the curriculum is to prepare students to pass their state licensing exam. Therefore, all the basics must be covered. For example, hair students will master the fundamentals of cutting, setting, coloring, perming, blow-drying and styling hair. Complex techniques more often are learned on the job or in an advanced program.

How long does it take to graduate?

An average program for hairdressers lasts about as long as a normal school year-nine or ten months, and some last longer. You can graduate as a nail technician in as little as two or three months. The schedule revolves around each state's requirements for hours spent in the classroom and/or in a clinical salon setting. Normally, students attend school as they would attend a full-time job-five days a week, six to eight hours a day.

How much does beauty school cost?

Tuition varies widely, both by geographic location and school ownership. A typical range is $10,000 to $15,000 for students in hair stylist programs, although it can go a little higher in major metropolitan areas. Nail and esthetics programs typically cost much less.

Do beauty schools place graduates in jobs?

Most beauty schools place a high priority on job placement. They staff job placement offices, hold career fairs, establish ties with local salons and help students to find salons where they can apprentice while they're still in school. NACCAS-accredited schools must maintain a high placement rate to keep their accreditation.