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Editor's Blog

Weather the Recession in the Climate of Cosmetology School

Published: November 30, 2008
by Rosanne Ullman

Schools and colleges tend to prosper when unemployment is high. The thinking is that as long as you can’t find work, you might as well bide your time by getting a degree or certification. So if you are having trouble landing a well-payi

ng job, this is the perfect year to try cosmetology school. But following the crowd is not why I think the timing is good. Rather, I’ve been doing a little research and want to expand upon my previous blog post about becoming a professional cosmetologist even though consumers are spending less.

It seems that I’m not the only one promoting cosmetology as a great career choice during a tough economy. At hrworld.com, “beauty, health and erotic services” is listed among the top 25 careers that do well during hard times. This entry says, “Regardless of a recession, people who enjoy being pampered will seldom give up the simple pleasures in life.” And, yes, we’ll just skip over the “erotic services” part; better to stick with beauty! Over at ezinearticles.com, an item called “Top Careers to Pursue and Refrain From During a Recession” has this listing under the “pursue” category: “Beauty $30,000+. Presentation has always been and will continue to be important to an individual and required by their boss. Examples include: Hairdressers and Barbers.”

There’s still another reason that this is an ideal time to enroll in cosmetology school, which I’ll reveal in my next blog post. Can’t wait to tell you, because you’ll love it!

Photo credit: I took the photo during my visit to Empire School in Arlington Heights, IL.

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State Cosmetology Boards Crack Krissy’s Cool

Published: November 26, 2008
by Rosanne Ullman

The morning after her 26th birthday, recent beauty school graduate Krissy Simmons stood in an office building hallway with five other candidates waiting to be admitted into the room where they’d take the practical portion of Michigan’s state cosmetology board

exam. “The exam proctor finally came out and explained very clearly what we were to do,” Krissy recalls. “We each had to verify who we were and ‘sign our lives away.’ There were two proctors and eight candidates.”

Krissy describes the room as clinical and “like a doctor’s office exam room.” Each candidate was assigned to one of eight stations; they brought their own supplies. Says Krissy, “I wasn’t nervous about taking my practical portion until I started emptying out the contents of my ‘suitcase.’ I was scared to death that I had forgotten something. I started shaking and it was just so intimidating. The proctors didn’t mean to be abrupt, but they have to be very professional. They don’t say anything that’s not on a script. It’s just very sterile. It makes you jumpy just being in that environment.”

Despite her jitters, Krissy had her supplies in order and felt optimistic that she had passed this portion. Two hours later, she went online and confirmed that she had passed. Other beauty school friends had similar good news. “I had several friends who all had forgotten something important and still passed,” Krissy says. “My friend Adam forgot his mannequin stand and still passed!” Next: Krissy takes the theory portion.

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Cosmetology Career Offers Flextime Options

Published: November 22, 2008
by Rosanne Ullman

One of a cosmetology career’s many benefits is that flextime is part of the deal. While your friends work

ing in offices must show up for a 9-to-5 type of schedule and those in retail or food service have shifts dictated by their supervisors, after you’ve been out of beauty school for a few years you can pretty much set your own hours. You’ll either lease space as an independent contractor, which means you’ll work for yourself, or you’ll be on staff at a salon, where typically you can arrange a schedule that suits your life. Maybe you want to be home in time to greet your kids from school, you’d rather work busy Saturdays in return for having Tuesdays off or you prefer to work four long days a week.

A short piece on NPR radio discusses how so many companies continue to have difficulty wrapping their heads around flextime even though the policy has proved to keep valuable employees. For cosmetologists, though, it’s just business as usual. In fact, did you know that flextime was first introduced by a salon owner? Her name was Martha Matilda Harper, and she figured out the advantages of flextime more than 100 years ago!

Your life and needs change from year to year, and having control over your career and the hours you work takes a huge burden off your mind. Whatever comes along, you can shape your cosmetology career to fit snugly into your lifestyle.

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Cosmetology School’s a Good Choice for Veterans

Published: November 18, 2008
by Rosanne Ullman

With so many veterans ending their tour and coming home, there’s been a lot of buzz about what they’ll want to do next. Cosmetology sch

ool can be a great next step for you if you’re a veteran and, if not, you might want to mention the opportunities beauty school offers if you know a veteran who’s artistic and loves hair, skin or nails.

After serving in the armed forces, you certainly don’t lack for discipline! While other students may have a tough time tackling the school routine with homework and tests, I have a feeling you’ll be dedicated enough to spend whatever time is necessary. After putting your life on hold to perform such noble service for our country, you deserve the chance to study something as creative as hair styling, as fun as nail technology or as rewarding as skin care or massage.

Tuition may be easier for you to handle as well. Perhaps you’ve been able to stash away some of your income from being in the service. There’s also a possibility you could obtain funding from the new GI Bill set to go into effect in 2009. To do that, you would have to choose a school that grants an associate’s degree for completion of a cosmetology program. But even many cosmetology schools that do not offer AA degrees work with the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs to provide funding. Thank you for your service to the country. Any beauty school would be lucky to have you!

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Perfect Your Passion at Nail Technology School

Published: November 14, 2008
by Rosanne Ullman

I don't have a problem with nail techs who studied at a general cosmetology school and, therefore, have a cosmetologist's license that permits them to do hair, nails and skin care. But when some of them do your nails, you can tell that th

ey'd rather be doing your hair. People who go to a nail technology school attend fewer hours of class and receive a more limited license that permits them to do nails only. Because nails are their passion, often they create a very special experience for the client.

I don't know where my nail tech went to school, but she has a dedication to getting my nails perfect—not good enough, but perfect. I don't have to tell her if a little polish creeps onto the skin, because by the time I notice it she's already correcting the problem. She's also helpful when I choose a color, because she knows which polishes are sheer and which are opaque. The hand and arm massage she gives me is amazing, too. I can see the skill and care that go into her movements.

I tip her very well; it's worth it to me. I type a lot and use my fingers constantly! A lesser manicure would have my nails chipping within days, but a week later my manicure is still in good shape. If you love doing nails, attend either a nail technology school or a regular cosmetology school, and then share your gift with people who will appreciate it!

Photo courtesy of Academy of Nail Technology.

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A Beauty School Grad Registers for the State Boards

Published: November 10, 2008
by Rosanne Ullman

No sooner had Kris

sy Simmons graduated from cosmetology school (scroll back to read earlier posts about her school experience) than she had to begin preparing to take her state board exams. “In Michigan, you must pass the practical portion of your state boards before you can schedule your theory portion,” Krissy reports. She paid for the exams through her school, CHIC University of Cosmetology an Empire School. The exam cost $140, and she also was required to pay for her license, which as she recalls cost $48. Working part-time in retail, Krissy didn’t have enough money and borrowed what she needed to cover the fees.

Krissy was so eager to take the boards. “You just want to get in as soon as possible!” she says. But in Michigan they take only eight applicants at a time for the practical portion, which requires you to demonstrate hairdressing procedures on a mannequin head. The soonest Krissy could get scheduled was more than two weeks away. “I did all of my scheduling online at PSIExams.com,” she reports. “They walk you through almost everything, so it’s pretty convenient.”

She chose the closest location, Grand Rapids, although she says she would have traveled farther if she could have gotten in sooner. “I arrived at the site at 9:30am, as you have to be at the testing location a half-hour before the testing starts or you forfeit your spot,” she notes. Next time we’ll find out how the cosmetology school grad did that day.

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West Coast Report: Esthetician School Students Invited to ISPA Show

Published: November 06, 2008
by Rosanne Ullman

Esthetics is such a great field, and once you enroll in an esthetician school you’re warmly welcomed into the profession. For example, this coming Monday through Thursday the International Spa Association (ISPA) will hold its annual conference and expo in Las Vegas. All students at skin care schools are invited to join ISPA and attend the conference. For students,

membership costs just $88 for the year.

You can get a wealth of information and education at these events. A lot of business topics are presented to help you brand yourself as a professional and earn as much money as possible. There also are classrooms that focus on the technical end—teaching you new treatment methods, expanding your product knowledge and letting you ask top professionals all of your technical questions.

In addition, the speakers can be very motivating and exciting. This year, one of the keynote speakers is actor Sidney Poitier, who will be presented with ISPA’s Alex Szekely Humanitarian Award for his many charitable achievements. I happened to hear Poitier speak earlier this year at another conference, so I can tell you first hand that at 81 years old he is amazing and inspiring. As he told his life story in his beautiful speaking voice, there wasn’t a dry eye in the house! You can find more information at the ISPA website. When you become an esthetician school student, you’ll get to attend a lot of these very cool events.

Photo is courtesy of The National Laser Institute

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East Coast Report: Beauty School Students Design for a Cause

Published: November 02, 2008
by Rosanne Ullman

If you’re thinking about attending beauty school and happen to be anywhere near central New Jersey next Sunday, November 9, treat yourself to an evening at the Lab Paul Mitchell Partner School’s special event. The Paul Mitchell organization runs such great schools, and this is just one example—the students’ final project is to host and design the hair for a runway

presentation of 70 models styled under the theme “Daydreams and Nightmares.” Each of the 35 graduating students will present one “daydream” style and one “nightmare” style.

If you’re getting into beauty you’re likely to be a very creative person. Can you imagine how much fun it would be to fashion the hair for this show? The photo here is one entry: daydream or nightmare? Anybody’s guess! But that’s not even the best part of this experience. Both the Paul Mitchell product company and the school group place high priority on charity and giving back. Ticket and raffle sales from this event will benefit The Andrew Gomez Dream Foundation, which will pass the money along to Leeza’s Place, an organization founded by celeb Leeza Gibbons that provides safe haven for people with dementia, Alzheimer’s and other memory loss conditions.

The event will also feature a d.j. dance party. For the small $10 admission price, you’ll have a great time and get a glimpse into your exciting future as a beauty school student. For information about time and place, click here. Then come back and tell us how you enjoyed it!

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