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Attending Beauty School in a Tricky Economy

Published: September 27, 2008
by Rosanne Ullman

How does this somewhat shaky economy impact hair styling school and esthetics school students and the salon industry in general? One thing we’ve learned lately is that if you’re taking out a loan to cover your tuition, you should be truthful on every form you fill out. But the aspect you’re probably worrying about is whether you can make a living in cosmetology during an economic

downturn. On that score, I can offer some assurance.

While the beauty industry is not “recession-proof,” I would call it “recession-resistant.” Women will always set aside a budget for beauty, particularly for make-up products and hair styling. Clients may space out their appointments longer or go without highlights for a few months, but salons do not tend to experience the extreme drop-off that many other service businesses do. And as long as a salon is in business, the owner will always be on the lookout for new talent.

Perhaps what matters more than ever is skill level. In good economic times, a passion for cosmetology work combined with a hard-working attitude will get you a job in this industry; normally salons can train you on skills. But today salons and spas may be cutting back their education budgets, and they want people who at least have a solid foundation. So choose your school carefully. When you graduate from esthetics school, particularly, you’ll be expected to achieve results that keep the client coming back even when money is tight.

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Want to Be a Spokesmodel? Go to Beauty School!

Published: September 23, 2008
by Rosanne Ullman

One door you may not realize that beauty school will open is the opportunity to become a “spokesmodel” for products and tools that you’ll be using as a professional cosmetologist. However, as someone who writes for this industry, I can assure you that companies will shower you with free products if you work on celebrities and will go public with how well you truthfully think their products work. In some cases, there is also monetary payment for doing ads for these companies or becoming their creative consultant.

Around this time of year, it’s hard for me to miss all of the spokesmodeling going around. The launch of the new TV season combines with the Emmy Awards to generate a lot of p.r. releases on why this hairdresser uses this curling iron or that make-up artist uses those cosmetics. It always revolves around working on the set of some hot TV show or preparing one of the Emmy nominees for the big show.

A typical example is the email I received from FHI Heat about the tools that “Gossip Girl” hair stylist Jennifer Johnson is using on set for the show’s second season. To achieve character Blair Waldorf’s perfect look, Johnson is quoted as saying, “I take half-inch sections of hair and use the FHI Heat Curling iron to curl them in different directions, which creates big curls. I put the headband on after.” After you get your beauty school degree, that could be you talking about some cool actress’s style!

Photos: Prive Products sent me this photo of Tina Fey from the 2008 Emmy Awards along with company owner/celebrity stylist Laurent Dufourg’s description of how he styled Tina’s hair. In addition, NARS sent me the mascara photo with professional cosmetologist Vanessa Scali’s description of how she did the make-up for Emmy nominee “Ugly Betty” America Ferrara.

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Future Beauty School Students, Make Your Voices Heard!

Published: September 19, 2008
by Rosanne Ullman

Most of you looking at cosmetology schools are in the 18-29 age bracket that’s the target of a new campaign, STOPandVOTE, which aims to have elected officials pay attention to the concerns of this demographic by encouraging all of you to register to vote—and then to actually vote! As I tell you often, once you’re in beauty school and part of this wonderful industry, you’re an

adult member of the workforce with all the privileges and responsibilities that the status implies.

The stopandvote.com website is really fun. You can upload any image you want as part of your get-out-the-vote message, and they’ll post it on the STOPandVOTE wall. But first, click on “start” to

find the location of your polling place and learn about your rights as a voter. For example, did you know that most states require employers to give their workers two hours off work on Election Day to go vote?

This year’s election on Tuesday, November 4, is super important because it’s for the U.S. President as well as for various senators and members of the House of Representatives. But I vote even in off-year elections when the only races are local. Do I really care who wins for Water Reclamation Board commissioner? Not so much. Still, before voting, I find out whom my preferred newspapers and websites support. Since you’re researching cosmetology schools, I know you respect yourself and your opinion. STOP and VOTE to let the people who make the laws know what you think.

Photos are courtesy of stopandvote.org.

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Yikes! Krissy’s First Time on “The Floor” at Cosmetology School

Published: September 15, 2008
by Rosanne Ullman

At the beginning, beauty school is all about classes and homework. It’s not just books, though; you get to do a lot of hands-on practice with manneq

uin heads. But, for a while, they don’t let you anywhere near a real client! And that was just fine with Krissy Simmons, who is giving us an exclusive here with her memories of recently being a student at CHIC University of Cosmetology an Empire School in Portage, Michigan. Krissy didn’t feel intimidated until that highly anticipated first day on the floor.

“I was scared to death to screw up!” Krissy recalls. “I was very confident in my skills—had a 4.0 grade in the classroom even—but it was just different when it came to working on a real person! I’ll never forget my first client, a 14-year-old boy who wanted a simple clipper cut. I’m sure I shook the entire time I worked on him! As the other students did manicures and pedicures, I remember thinking how lucky they were because they got the ‘easy’ stuff. I just smile about that now. I think that first clipper cut probably took me an hour and a half. Oh my! Working on real clients still can be nerve-wracking, but now I know that you only get better the more you do it.”

As time went on, Krissy grew calmer on the floor and could appreciate all of the great aspects of cosmetology school. Next time she’ll tell us about the wonderful people she’s met there.

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Professional Cosmetologists Mark Today’s Anniversary

Published: September 11, 2008
by Rosanne Ullman

I often talk about the amazing generosity of the industry you’re entering when you become part of any beauty school family. As you’ll soon learn first-hand, professional cosmetologists are some of the greatest people you’ll ever meet, always donating their time to numerous causes. On this seventh anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, I’m recalling how that day impacted the salon world.

Maybe you remember the mood that Americans carried with them for a long time afterward: somber and grieving. Late night talk show hosts didn’t tell jokes for a while, and it just wasn’t the time to run to the salon to get a sassy cut with hot pink streaks. But you know what? People did go the salon anyway. Their regular salon became a place of refuge for them, a familiar setting where they could see friendly faces, talk about what happened, get a scalp massage.

And, as is their routine in any disaster, salons rushed to the aid of the victims. Staffs mobilized to hold cut-a-thons and other fundraisers to donate to the families of those whose lives were taken. Even now, seven years later, this hasn’t ended. I came across an online report that the staff at Hair Experts Salon and Spa in Lawrence, Kansas, were marking the anniversary this year by donating all of today’s sales to benefit troops stationed in Iraq and their families. When you enroll at beauty school, take pride in being part of a loving, giving industry.

Photo shows the fire station that lost so many of the firemen when they responded to the World Trade Center attacks across the street.

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You Don’t Mess With the Beauty School Student

Published: September 07, 2008
by Rosanne Ullman

Now that you’re considering enrolling in beauty school, your radar may have picked up some buzz about the Adam Sandler movie, “You Don’t Mess With the Zohan.” The plot revolves around Sandler as an Israeli counter-terrorist agent who fakes his

death and moves to New York City to live his dream as a Manhattan hairdresser. Has Zohan gone to cosmetology school and attained a license? I guess I’ll have to see the movie to be able to tell you that.

And I probably will see the movie, as I urge you to do as well. Everyone cares about hair, people know what a hairdresser does and scriptwriters seem to enjoy crafting stories that give a glimpse into the hairdresser’s world. Check out a piece that Boston Globe reporter Wesley Morris wrote, “Getting Snippy,” inspired by the “Zohan” film and looking back at some of the other cinematic tales of hair styling. Morris writes: “The movies actually take hair and the people who do it pretty seriously, the salon being a realm of exposed truth—a strange, often fantastical space where anything is possible and everything goes.”

So true. The salon is a cherished place for stylist and client alike. The DVD of “You Don’t Mess With the Zohan” will be released on October 7, with an extended version that has lots of special features. Then rent “Shampoo” from 1975 and some of the other hairdressing movies. As a beauty school student, you should know how Hollywood views your new profession.

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5 Things NOT To Do In a Job Interview After Beauty School

Published: September 03, 2008
by Rosanne Ullman

The year that you attend beauty school will fly by, so I like to prepare you for what will come next: the job. Some of you probably are already job hunting so you’ll have cash while attending cosmetology school and, by the

way, I repeat an earlier suggestion to go for a salon receptionist position.

The other day I was listening to Chicago-area talk radio, so here’s a shout-out to the DreX in the Morning show on 103.5 KISS-FM, which is where I heard callers talk about mistakes job applicants have made. Five tips I noted:
1. Don’t dress too casually. The caller remembered a candidate whose thong underwear rose above her pants.
2. Don’t forget your manners. Someone recalled an applicant who threw his gum into the wastebasket—from the whole way across the room!
3. Don’t arrive on the dot: “on time” is the new “late.” It’s more professional to arrive about 10 minutes ahead of your interview appointment.
4. Don’t list your chief reason for wanting to work there as “it’s just seconds from my house.” Instead, mention something special about the company that fits with your talents or personality.
5. Don’t leave home without knowing what’s available about you on the Internet. Check out an article I wrote for firstchair.com called, “What Does Your Online Portfolio Say About You?”

Once you have a beauty school degree, you will be considered a professional. Think of yourself that way, and you’ll start acting like it!

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