Mar 06 2009
So You Want To Be A Hair Designer
So you’ve decided to pursue a career in hair dressing? Choosing your school is one of the most vital decisions you’ll make. Think about it. What you study there will influence the rest of your life. So make sure you choose the best in your area. Where do you start off? I would start my search by talking to my hair stylist and asking where she went to school or even if she could recommend one to you. Honestly that’s how I was able to find the best school in my area; I asked my hairdresser. You can also begin by looking in the yellow pages but that may be a little more time consuming.
After you get a list of cosmetology schools you should probably call a few different hair salons and ask about the reputation of each school. I would say something like “Hi I’m researching beauty schools and was wondering if you have a minute to answer a few questions for me?” Remember to appreciate their time since they are at work and could be busy. If they don’t have a moment ask if there is a more convenient time to call. If they do have time you can say something like “Have you heard of XYZ cosmetology school and could you tell me about them?” Also ask if they could recommend a school. Call the nicest salons in your area and find out where they learned to style hair. That should give you a good place to start. If you ask the best salons you can bet they’ll recommend a good school.
Now it’s time to contact the school and set up a meeting. I’m sure you might have a few questions for them. You can bet they will give you a lot of information. So if you don’t want to forget your questions so it’s a good idea to write them down before you get there.
I have a few suggestions for things you might want to ask. You should know if they accept financial aid. If you need to take out student loans you’re going to want to choose a beauty school that takes financial aid. I would be skeptical of a beauty school that doesn’t, it usually means they don’t meet the federal requirements. Also remember to check if the school meets the standards for your state board. The state board is where you get your license to practice cosmetology from.You’ll be taking an exam with them to earn it after you graduate from beauty school. It’s probably illegal for a beauty school to stay open if they’re not registered with your state board. But it’s better to be safe than sorry, so don’t forget to ask.
Another thing I would ask is how many of their students pass the state board exams on the first try. This should give you an idea of how prepared the students are. If you were referred by a top notch salon these things should all check out.
You might also want to see if the cost of the tool kit is included your financial aid. Sometimes financial aid doesn’t cover it and you usually need your kit before the first day of class. A kit can cost you anywhere from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars. So be prepared to pay out of pocket to get started.
You might want to ask what brand of products do they use. You want to go to a school that has name brand products, not the stuff you buy at Sallies. It’s better to work with the actual products you will be using in a professional salon.
When you tour the school pay attention. Remember be selective this is the rest of your life we’re talking about. Look at the hairstyles students and teachers are wearing, are they on trend? What about the school itself is it clean? Is this somewhere you want to be everyday for the next year of your life? Is the decor on trend? If not you might want to look for a school that that is more with it.
Remember this is a big decision so don’t let someone pressure you into signing a contract until your sure you’ve found the right school. The contract is legally binding and you could end up owing them money if you decide later that you want to change schools.
Hopefully you’ll find this useful if you have any questions you can post them and I’ll do my best to answer them.
-Christy
