subject: Exploring A Career In Cosmetology Training [print this page] If you are interested in a career that is never dull and that will allow you to use your creative ability, than cosmetology is the one for you. This is especially true if you have been interested in using different techniques concerning hair and makeup. Excitement starts from the moment you enter into a cosmetology training program and continues when you graduate and go out into the field.
Cosmetology is taught at Beauty Schools and some Junior/Community Colleges. There are regular programs and specialty programs with the number of hours required regulated by the state licensing board where the training takes place. A regular program averages from 1,400 to 1.600 hours. Specialty hours are electrology 500, nail technology 550 and skin care and aesthetics 300. The length of time is also influenced by whether you attend full time or part time.
If you attend full time and take the complete program you can finish in less than two years. If you choose to take something such as nail technology or another specialty program, it will be less. Regardless of the number of hours in the course, a state exam must be taken to be a licensed beautician.
Training in this career takes both bookwork and practical work. Part of each morning is spent in a classroom, with textbook learning. The rest of the day is spent working with customers. At all times, there is a teacher present to see that you are doing things correctly. You receive a grade on all work done and that goes into the over-all grade point average.
Examinations are given periodically and you will move from one section of the program to another. For example, you will probably start out shampooing hair. Having studied the subject in the classroom, you will know how to properly apply shampoo, massage the scalp, rinse, apply conditioner, rinse again and dry. From shampooing, you may move to doing nails or setting hair, depending on the school's program.
You will also learn all about chemicals and how they affect the hair and scalp, when doing hair coloring. You will learn how to detect any adverse chemical reaction to the scalp, which occasionally happens. When learning about nail technology you will learn all about nail art and design, wraps, gels and other things that are popular with many women.
There is no doubt that this is an exciting career where you can find satisfaction in your work. Being able to change a woman or man's appearance, so they look better than when they came in, gives a great sense of a job well done. With the expected increase in demand for people with this schooling, there is no doubt that cosmetology training is an excellent career choice.
