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More Students, Older Students Considering Florida Beauty Schools

Published: September 30, 2009
by Rosanne Ullman

I noticed that the Florida Association of Beauty Professionals is reporting a 5 to 15 percent increase in students at Florida cosmetology schools, which mirrors my own research showing an “uptick,” as one school owner called it, in many parts of the country. Some cosmetology schools that never needed a waiting list are now establishing one.

The current high unemployment situation is the driving force behind the surge in enrollment. Other colleges, especially community colleges, are also receiving record numbers of applications. When people are out of work, they figure they might as well go to school. But I think cosmetology has a special lure for creative people who passed up the career the first time around. “We’re seeing more people in their early 30s and 40s coming into this industry,” Bradenton Beauty and Barber Academy Director Liz Galdamez told a Bay News 9 reporter. “It’s something that’s not going to be replaced by technology. It’s a field that everybody utilizes.”

A 43-year-old Bradenton student who was laid off after working as an administrator for 15 years told the reporter that she was excited about her new career path because of the freedom and entrepreneurship it provided. She was thrilled “just to be my own boss, make up my own hours, be more independent.” As I said, Florida beauty schools aren’t the only ones handling an enrollment boost. Check back when we travel north and ask the follow-up question: Are there jobs for the increased number of graduates?

Photo courtesy of Graham Webb International.

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Scholarships Available for Students at California Cosmetology Schools

Published: September 26, 2009
by Rosanne Ullman

A lot of people are interested in attending California beauty schools. If you’re one of them and reside in the state, look over these resources for acquiring financial help to pursue your cosmetology school dream. Follow the links for applications and information; you may need to submit proof of enrollment, an essay, letters of recommendation and/or high school diploma or equivalency.

1. CAPPS Memorial Scholarship Program. The California Association of Private Postsecondary Schools (CAPPS) awards two scholarships of $5,000 each to students enrolled in a cosmetology, esthetics or massage program at any CAPPS member school. The 2009 program just ended, so the next deadline for this award will be August 2010, giving you plenty of time to apply to the qualifying school of your choice.
2. John Pelloni Memorial Scholarships. The Cerritos College Foundation annually awards $300 to students in the cosmetology department of Cerritos College in Norwalk, CA, where the late Mr. Pelloni was a respected professor. An application will be online soon for an April 2010 deadline.
3. NAHRO scholarships. The National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO) offers scholarships throughout the country. In California, students demonstrating financial need and residing in a residence owned by the Housing Authority in Alameda County or the city of Los Angeles are eligible to apply for $750 grants to attend a qualifying community college or licensed vocational school.

Remember, to receive assistance to attend California beauty schools, you generally must already reside in California. Good luck!

Photo ©California Travel and Tourism Commission

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Phoenix Beauty Schools Mentioned in “Hot Jobs” Article

Published: September 22, 2009
by Rosanne Ullman

Cosmetology regularly shows up among careers that stay viable during a sluggish economy, especially for people who want to spend only a year or two in school, so I wasn’t surprised to see two Arizona beauty schools mentioned in “Hot Jobs for 2 Years of Education,” an article published recently on azcentral.com that included skin care technician as one of the six fastest-growing careers.

Under the question of “why it’s hot,” the article maintains, “With the recession, people lose self-confidence, so they turn to services such as hair and skin care to help them feel better.” Author Anne Ryman explains that you can go into skin care through training as a general cosmetologist or by attending a more specialized program in esthetics, with either option taking “a year or less.”

Ryman cites the case of a 51-year-old woman who enrolls at Empire Beauty School in the Phoenix suburb of Avondale, AZ, after being downsized from her insurance billing position. “This kind of gave me the kick in the butt to go to something I really wanted to do,” she explains. Also quoted is the director of cosmetology at Maricopa Beauty College in Avondale, as well as Empire Beauty Schools Chairman Frank Schoeneman. Phoenix beauty schools are not alone in seeing a rise in older students rediscovering cosmetology. It’s a trend throughout the country. Too bad it took a recession for people to decide to follow their dream—but at least they’ll have a career they love!

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Advice to Beauty School Students: Hairdress to Impress

Published: September 18, 2009
by Rosanne Ullman

Continuing from my last post, when I quoted some inspirational advice Aquage founder Luis Alvarez had recently in an address to beauty school students at Pivot Point Academy in Evanston, Illinois, I’d like to also report on his more direct tips for succeeding in this business.

These suggestions included: “Concentrate on the basics. Do pin curls 1,000 times, and then ask yourself: ‘I wonder if…?’ You’ll always advance as long as you master the basics; they are the foundation to creating masterpieces....Define clients’ attitude and style by asking about their lifestyle, or how they arrived at their current style. Take the attitude that you know what’s best for your clients. They look to you for style direction! If you find yourself in a personal conversation with your client, always bring it back to their hair....You are more than a service provider. You have to understand the whole world of beauty. You need a great eye. Train your eyes day and night to come up with great ideas and concepts. Impress your clients. You have to learn how to impress somebody. It’s not what you say, it’s what you do.”

As Luis implies, the head you send out the door does your speaking for you. At the same time, “people” skills are so important, because you have to relate well to your clients. And mastering the basics? That’s what you’ll be working on at beauty school, and it’s key to your later success.

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Industry Giant Has Wise Words for Cosmetology School Students

Published: September 14, 2009
by Rosanne Ullman

When you join this wonderful beauty industry, you’ll find that the veterans love to meet with newer people and exchange wisdom. This happened recently when beauty school students at Pivot Point International Academy in Evanston, Illinois, enjoyed a two-hour presentation by Luis Alvarez (photo at left), co-founder of the hair product line Aquage. As a Pivot Point graduate himself, Luis had a lot to share with the next generation.

In some cases, Luis provided simple inspiration. Key inspirational quotes included: “Beauty can transform people’s lives!...Luck is where preparation meets opportunity! Embrace failure. It is your best teacher. For every mistake you make, you will learn that much more....I hope you never truly ‘graduate’ from Pivot Point. Your curriculum will continue with every style you create. Become a student of life....I don’t believe in natural talent. If you work at something hard enough, you’re going to have talent!....It is important to recognize what you do best and love what you do. Clients will notice how talented you are.”

It’s apparent that Luis believes that if you have the passion for the work, you will not have to worry about having a high enough skill level. That will come with study and practice, which is the natural result of the passion. Luis also offered useful tips in making the most of a career in hair. Check back next time for some of the tangible advice he gave the beauty school students he met with at Pivot Point.

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On the Fence Between Cosmetology School and Other Advanced Education?

Published: September 10, 2009
by Rosanne Ullman

A lot of people who consider enrolling in cosmetology school compare it against other fields that also do not require a four-year college degree. In my last post, I talked about jobs that demand nothing more than a high school diploma, if even that. There are a lot of professions, though, that require one or two years of education. Other than a cosmetology career, what’s out there?

If you like the medical field, you could become a physical therapy assistant, a dental hygienist or even a nurse. But more and more people going for these jobs do have four-year degrees, so the best posts will be competitive. This is also true in the computer field, where jobs are available for programmers, web designers and helpdesk personnel who both do and do not have a bachelor’s degree. In law, paralegals and legal assistants can be hired with a two-year degree. In the trades, carpenters, plumbers and electricians need specialized training but not a full degree. Some office jobs like bookkeeping, claims processing and secretarial work also require only experience or community college. And if you’re in the arts—music, painting, drama, fashion design—your work speaks louder than any degree.

I wanted to list some of these jobs to help you consider all of your options. Cosmetology school can put you on a wonderfully fulfilling career path, and if you’re still interested after reviewing everything else, then I bet you’ll love being a cosmetologist and have much success.

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Four-Year College Isn’t For You, So Is a Cosmetology Career?

Published: September 06, 2009
by Rosanne Ullman

If you’ve decided that you don’t want to take four years for your post-high-school education, what are your options? You’re here because beauty school is one of the possibilities you’re considering. If you’re a good fit for a cosmetology career, I enthusiastically encourage you to follow your heart. But before you enroll, I want you to be sure.

Instead, you might decide that high school is as much classroom experience as you can handle. Without any further training, your options will be limited. You can be on the wait staff at a restaurant and make decent money. If you’ve taken some trade classes at high school, you may be able to score a job as a car mechanic and also bring in a nice paycheck. Construction is seasonal, but not bad pay. You could be an office receptionist, a sales clerk or have the proverbial “do you want fries with that” job.

To me, there’s nothing wrong with putting in an honest day’s work no matter what it is you do. My problem with jobs that require no advanced education is that you may find your career not very challenging or, after a few years of same old same old, downright boring. Without another certificate or degree, it’s harder to get promoted from an entry-level position. I just think that you deserve better odds at loving your life’s work. Next time I’ll discuss professions that, like a cosmetology career, require only a year or two of advanced training.

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The Green Movement Is Coming to a Beauty School Near You

Published: September 02, 2009
by Rosanne Ullman

Because the beauty salon and spa industry is in the forefront of the “green” movement, the cosmetology school you choose may incorporate a lot of environment-promoting policies. Recently I was talking to Frederic Holzberger, who owns Aveda Institutes in Cincinnati and Indianapolis. Frederic is passionate about this topic. And Aveda, not just as an academy but also as a product company, has always championed the environmental cause.

Aveda even builds this into its mission statement: “Our mission at Aveda is to care for the world we live in, from the products we make to the ways in which we give back to society. At Aveda, we strive to set an example for environmental leadership and responsibility, not just in the world of beauty, but around the world.”

Holzberger feels it’s his responsibility to educate his faculty and students by showing them how to recycle the aluminum foil used for highlights, providing statistics such as how many water bottles go into landfills each year and conveniently placing containers for recycling paper, cans and bottles. Because cosmetology schools must use so much heat, air-conditioning and, especially, water, there are many measures a school can take to reduce its carbon footprint. Also, trimming energy use helps schools to save money and hold down tuition costs. Holzberger says he gets a lot of positive feedback about this from students and prospective students. So if the environment is a cause dear to your heart, choose a school that has environmental responsibility on its radar.

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