Do I need to have a degree in a particular discipline to become a cosmetologist?

No. There isn’t a specific degree you need to become a cosmetologist. You do, however, need some form of training, whether it’s a diploma, apprenticeship, internship, associate degree and/or certification in the area in which you want to work. Institutes that offer cosmetology training include Florida Technical University , Empire Beauty Schools , Lakme Academy and more. The best way to identify which training is best for you is to research the job title you want. Identify the skills you must possess to get the job and search for a program that will train you in them.

I am interested in building a career in cosmetology, but I am confused about what specialization I should get.

Cosmetology has many areas of specialization, some of which include: hairstyling, hair coloring, nail art, lashes, makeup, manicures and pedicures, skin care and more. You should choose the specialization that aligns with your interests. Do you prefer to work with hair instead of makeup? How about helping women get healthier-looking skin? Identify your preference and find a course or program that teaches you the skills you need to excel at doing those tasks. A good place to start is by looking at the requirements for various jobs you would like to do and getting trained in the skills and techniques for which most employers are searching.

Where do cosmetologists get employed?

Cosmetologists have the advantage of being able to work independently, freelance and build their own businesses. If you prefer to develop your skills working for someone else first, then you may find work in beauty salons, spa centers, nail studios and beauty departments in department stores. Another area you can work in is for theatrical organizations, drama companies and even Hollywood.

Cosmetology Resume Examples & Writing Tips

Choosing a career you’re passionate about is great, but understanding how much you can earn in that job is also essential. So here’s some earnings information to give you a clear picture of how much you can expect to earn when you pursue a career in different cosmetology jobs.

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Cosmetology Cover Letter Examples

Current trends impacting cosmetology jobs

Since the emergence of social media, the cosmetology industry has experienced a similar boom to that of the original 1930’s celeb-inspired makeup revolution. The difference lies in that back then, it was celebrities that led to makeup losing its “rich only” status and becoming available to the masses; now, it’s social media influencers that lead sales directly from their phones. Around 72% of millennials, currently between 25 and 40 years of age, purchase beauty products based on Instagram posts and other social media. This number is expected to increase in the next five years as the following generations are impacted by social media earlier in their lives, thanks to mass technological dependence.

And let’s not forget how important networking has become due to the pandemic, opening the way for businesses to invest time in growing an 1online presence. For instance, L’Oreal Paris launched virtual makeup filters on Instagram Stories and Snapchat, and Function of Beauty created quizzes to customize hair care and skin care online. However, before the pandemic, American millennials and Generation Z made almost 60% of their beauty purchases in stores. This caused 30% of beauty-centered markets to shut down post-pandemic and pivot to selling hand sanitizers and commonly searched ingredients in products to treat pain and anxiety, such as CBD, ashwagandha, melatonin and St. John’s wort. So, despite the cosmetics side of cosmetology taking a hit, the industry has adapted to the times and survived through the power of e-commerce.

Overall, much investment is being made on marketing, choosing the best distribution channels and making products affordable to low and middle-class people. Hence, the industry is only growing thanks to its 20 million new online beauty and personal care shoppers.

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Average salaries and employment outlook

Food preparation, cooking and baking

Jobs in cosmetology don’t just include the knowledge and skill to perform beauty treatments and procedures. Still, they also typically handle everything from asking customers about their requirements to fetching the best products for them. Following are two of the most common jobs in general beauty and their average pay and job outlook:

Job Outlook 2020–2030

Esthetician

From 2020 to 2030, the employment of skin care specialists such as estheticians is anticipated to increase by 29%. This is much faster than average due to the growing desire from both men and women to look good on social media and slow the effects of aging.

Job outlook

29%

Average hourly wage (2020)

$17.55 per hour

Cosmetologist

Cosmetologist jobs are projected to grow by 19% from 2020 to 2030, thanks to the industry’s recovery from the COVID-19 recession and projected population growth.

Job outlook

19%

Average hourly wage (2020)

$13.28 per hour

Source: Skincare Specialists: Occupational Outlook Handbook (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Source: Barbers, Hairstylists and Cosmetologists: Occupational Outlook Handbook (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Professional beauty specialists

Professional beauty specialists like barbers, makeup artists, hairstylists and nail technologists are a big part of the cosmetology industry. Hairstylists and barbers work with customers’ hair and provide services like washing, cutting, straightening, curling and coloring hair, providing scalp nourishing therapies, putting extensions and wigs, and other hair-related services. They also use hair masks, gels and sprays in their processes, sometimes under the direction of a marketing agreement with product brands or based on ethical or “green” practices. For example, a hairstyling business may choose to use only water-based, non-toxic shampoos, sprays and gels, which may attract a particular type of clientele.

Then there are makeup artists who focus on applying makeup on clients for various occasions, from sweet sixteens, weddings and graduations to more specialized applications such as special effects makeup for movies and performances.

Job Outlook 2020–2030

Hairstylist and barber

Employment for hairstylists and barbers is anticipated to grow by 19%, thanks to the industry’s recovery from the COVID-19 recession and projected population growth.

Job outlook

19%

Average hourly wage (2020)

$13.28 per hour

Makeup artist

The employment outlook for makeup artists, particularly in film, theater and performance, is anticipated to grow by 13.8%.

Job outlook

13.8%

Average hourly wage (2021)

$25.75 per hour

Source: Barbers, Hairstylists and Cosmetologists: Occupational Outlook Handbook (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Source: Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance: Occupational Employment and Wages (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)

6 of the top soft skills needed for cosmetology jobs

Every job that falls under the category of cosmetology requires hard and soft skills. This is due to the field’s competitiveness, the sensitive nature of handling people’s bodies and appearance accurately to avoid negatively impacting clients’ mental health and promoting loyalty by instilling trust in your abilities. Professional skills such as hair cutting and giving facials come with practical training, hands-on experience and on-the-job training performed on dummy models and volunteers.

On the other hand, soft skills are personal traits such as empathy and communication skills that can be learned through practice and effort.

We have listed a few essential skills that are required to perform cosmetology jobs effectively.

Client rapport
Knowing how to provide customer service, listening to clients and promoting a friendly environment are necessary social traits to create connections with your clients.
Take, for instance, how a client may have asked for a haircut that they’ve never had before and are unsure if it will suit them. You must share your knowledge on haircuts suited for their face shape with honesty. Give them sincere advice on how the look they’re imagining will look according to their hair type. Avoid simply agreeing to their misconceptions about hair only to appease the client, and instead speak as though you were talking to a dear friend who will benefit from the truth, gently explaining what you know as not to upset them.
Manual dexterity
Activities like threading, waxing, massaging, hairstyling and applying makeup require fine dexterity in fingers and hand movements to provide high-quality services to increase your reputation and that of your establishment.
In a detail-oriented job such as an esthetician, precision and a steady hand for performing processes systematically leads to effectiveness, fewer mistakes and customer satisfaction.
Team player
Cosmetologists are more likely to work in a team, sharing tools and supplies for the entire salon. Exhibiting a team-player attitude and communicating with your co-workers professionally, concisely and respectfully is conducive to a positive work environment.
Listening skills
Cosmetology is part of the beauty industry, so understand how to work with an individual's beauty standards and interests. While you may know what you consider aesthetically pleasing, art is subjective, and your clients may not share your interests. Listening carefully to what they want and think is appealing is crucial to achieving positive customer satisfaction.
You must double-check that you understand the image they have of the look and colors they want, perhaps with a ready-made folder of hairstyles or by finding an image online that matches the look. This saves you from customer dissatisfaction and earns you a loyal client that may recommend you to others.
Time management skills
Staying on schedule with clients’ appointments creates a positive impression by proving your professionalism and punctuality. This also creates a positive customer experience because they aren’t required to wait more than was expected.
Organization and cleanliness
When cutting hair, applying makeup, giving a facial or applying treatments, a mess is sure to ensure. Keeping your area and tools clean between attending clients is crucial for an inviting and hygienic work environment that leads to client satisfaction and trust. Likewise, keeping your work area and tools organized will allow you to find what you need when you need it, avoiding wasting time searching for tools you may need at the moment.

Educational requirements

For cosmetology jobs, pursuing a formal college degree is not mandatory. However, most salons require an associate degree or state-approved certification and license in the appropriate specialization to get employed. It’s important to remember that practicing cosmetology for profit without a license is illegal in some states. To enroll in a cosmetology program, the candidate must be at least 16-17 years of age and have completed a high school diploma or a GED.

Cosmetology programs are usually certification courses or diploma courses, typically extending between 12-18 months. These programs train their students in a broad range of makeup, hairstyling, nail treatment, skin care and beauty equipment, among other necessary skills to run or work in a beauty business. These programs also give practical guidance on handling clients, scheduling appointments and efficiently working closely alongside other experts within the same salon.

Resume examples by experience level

Be it new entrants, beauticians with some experience, or expert cosmetologists, everyone gets a bit confused when building a resume. Almost all job seekers question which factors need to be highlighted and which should be eliminated.

Here are a few steps to create a resume for you in the field of cosmetology, based on your experience level:

Step 1: SWOT analysis Do the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT) analysis on yourself to help you draft a career improvement plan that highlights your best professional skills and separates the areas you must improve.
With the SWOT analysis, you can also identify career options that fit your qualifications and objectives by placing which skill you already possess and which areas need improvement.
Step 2: Job description Read the job description for the role in cosmetology you are interested in thoroughly and select the keywords for the job’s essential requirements. These could be specific skills, credentials and tasks that you must include in your resume to be considered the ideal candidate for the job.
Step 3: Skills It’s time to evaluate yourself on the parameters of the job description. An honest review will help you determine which skills you possess and highlight on your resume and which ones you should leave out. Don’t worry if you don’t have all the skills and qualifications they’re asking for because most employers expect an 80% match to the role, not 100%.
Step 4: Formatting Select the proper resume format. The resume format plays a vital role in structuring the information to showcase your best qualifications first. Therefore, you must select the best one for your experience level.

The following section delves into which format to choose to display your match for the role you want based on your experience in the field.

Barber

No experience

No experience? No problem. Bet you’ve never heard that one before! However, it is possible to get the job of your dreams even if you don’t have experience yet. The trick lies in focusing on the skills you have to make you a fit for the role. That’s where the functional resume format comes to the rescue! This format allows you to discuss your skills and how you’ve applied them in unpaid work, in class, or even as a volunteer basis or hobby. To make an outstanding functional resume, you must include:

Write an attention-grabbing objective statement. Writing two to three sentences summarizing your best qualities allows employers to see a deep yet brief portrait of you regarding your professional focus and intentions. Begin by describing yourself as “passionate,” “determined” or “hard-working,” and then mention what's most impressive about your resume; be it having three years of self-learning nail art or 180+ hours practicing makeup. Describe how you work with positive values such as being “punctual,” “energetic” and “confident.”
Give attention to your skills. No experience doesn’t mean you don’t have the skills to be successful in cosmetology. Detailing your skills is precisely the key to convincing employers you can benefit them. Divide your skills into professional and soft skills to give an encompassing view of your qualifications that replace missing years of experience.

When writing down your professional skills, think of three main areas of knowledge you have; for instance, ”hairstyling,” ”time management” and ”beauty product knowledge.” Under each category, make a brief and concise sentence that illustrates what you have done or can do that makes you suitable for this skill. For example, under “hairstyling,” you can add a bullet point that says, “Practiced ironing and straightening hair for x amount of hours on family members, friends and volunteers.”

In a separate section titled “Skills,” mention at least six skills that are relevant for your intended work. Skills such as “excellent verbal communication” and “makeup for formal occasions” are highly desirable for a makeup artist.
Add education and training. At the end of the resume, list your educational qualifications and certifications. First, list in detail any training programs where you gained practical knowledge in cosmetology, such as free or paid courses on nail art, hairstyles and makeup, any certifications, shadowing or volunteer hours and personal time spent self-learning. These bullets will demonstrate your professional dedication to the field to employers looking for passionate workers ready to start their professional journey. Add the name, place and date on which you completed your highest education, be it a high school diploma or an associate degree.

Makeup artist

Entry level

Being at the entry-level means, in general, that you have from zero to three or four years of experience in the field. If you qualify under these criteria, then this section is for you.

Here you can see the resume of Kathleen Lopez, a makeup artist with four years of experience. She used a combination resume format to discuss her previous relevant experience in detail while emphasizing her skill set.

The professional summary: In the first section at the top of the resume, called the professional summary, write about your years of experience, most prominent skills and state what makes you the ideal candidate for the job.
Listing your skills: Now that you have some experience, you can list your skills in bullet form instead of going into detail on them. Alternatively, you can opt to go more in-depth on your best skills since this format allows it. Don’t overdo it and list all your skills, though. Hone in on the ones you excel at and the ones that are listed on the job ad.
Listing your work history: In this section, start by listing your current or most recent job first, then work your way backward to the oldest experience you have. Make sure you include each job’s start and end date and list the tasks you performed for each. For example, Kathleen mentioned how in her current job, she provides makeup services for over 15 clients per week. Notice how she said the minimum number of clients she attends and how often. This makes her experience more specific and clear for the employer to understand what she has done and can bring to the table.

Cosmetology instructor

Mid-level

If you have five years of experience or more in cosmetology, then Aracelis Acuna’s resume is an excellent example for you. She used a chronological resume format to zero in on her experience above anything else. This format is best for people with a long work history, including all the relevant knowledge the employer is looking for in their ideal candidate. Let's break down some significant highlights of this resume:

Professional experience: Similar to the combination resume format, this one also starts with a professional summary. Use this section to list your years of experience, job title, most outstanding achievement, and top skills. The tricky part of this section is fitting those details within two to three sentences, as demonstrated in the example below.
Highlight your work experience: This format focuses on the details of your work history above your skills, so make sure to use it well. List your experience from most recent to oldest, making sure to include your job title, the name of the company and your start and end dates for each one. Then, under each role, list in bullet points the tasks you performed for each. Be as specific as possible, and ensure you mention the duties the employer listed in the job ad that you will be performing or that they want the ideal candidate to have experience doing. For example, notice how Aracelis mentioned that when she was a hairdresser, she performed complex color corrections on a wide variety of hair types.
The skills section: Despite this section not being the main focus in this format, it should still include your top soft and technical skills. Make sure to include between six to eight skills, taking extra care to mention the ones you have that were also listed in the job post.
List your education: In this section, you must simply list the name of the degree, diploma or certification you received (or the name of the course you took), followed by the name of the institution and the year you graduated or completed it.