Do I want (and need) a fancy hair education?
March 2, 2013 2:46 PM   Subscribe

I'm looking at several schools to become a hair stylist and would like to know your experience with cosmetology schools. Is this the correct training to begin a career in hair? I would love to hear about your experience and advice for a person who is curious about a career in hair.

I am looking at a local institute, a community college program, and the Paul Mitchell institute for training. They are all nearby my home and seem to have great reputations. Cost is the main concern for me, as they are all approximately 1 year programs.
They are all cosmetology programs, so they have some classes/training focus on nails/make up. From my understanding the bulk of the training is on hair cutting and color.
I'm not sure if this is the kind of program that I need to enter to begin a career as a hair stylist- are there better (learning wise) routes? Or is a cosmetology program the standard way?

I'm also curious about "brand name" training. I've had my hair cut at the Vidal Sassoon Academy and I would love to have my training through VS if costs were not a concern. I've been doing a lot of research and trying to list pros and cons, as well as reaching out to some alumni but am still indecisive.

If you've had experiences at both smaller schools and places such as VS, PM, and Aveda, could you share your thoughts and comparisons? What your first impressions were, why you chose the school you attended, and if you would do anything differently? Were you able to find a job after graduating?
Is there anything you wish you knew before you started a program? Questions I should ask potential schools prior to enrolling?
Are the brand name institutes worth their higher tuition costs? (Easier to get hired with a recognizable name?)
What should I be doing now to prepare and understand the job?
How does apprenticing work?
Is this something you can do prior to entering a school or is it for graduates with their first gig?

Thank you!
posted by penpenne to Work & Money (5 answers total)
 
Best answer: When I lived for a few years on Long Island in the early '90s, I went through a private cosmetology school - it cost around $5500 for 8.5 months of full-time (Mon-Thurs, 9-4, Fri 9 -1). I don't believe they had any of those specialty "brand name" schools around where I lived at the time - I could be wrong. Anyway, just throwing that out there for comparison sake.

I'm not sure if this is the kind of program that I need to enter to begin a career as a hair stylist- are there better (learning wise) routes? Or is a cosmetology program the standard way?

Yes, you need to go through an official cosmetology program that will enable you to get a license. You will have to be licensed in your state to work with the chemicals, etc.


If you've had experiences at both smaller schools and places such as VS, PM, and Aveda, could you share your thoughts and comparisons? What your first impressions were, why you chose the school you attended, and if you would do anything differently?


I really loved the program I went through; and the instructors were golden. I'd say that is really important - maybe you can visit the school and ask to speak to one of the main instructors. You may want to visit the different schools anyway and see what kind of vibe you get from them. That said, I've worked with others who went through the PS or Aveda schools, and from what I remember, they had a lot of praise for the programs. (I naively chose the program I did simply because it was only a few miles away; and easy logistics were important - and I lucked out!)

Were you able to find a job after graduating?


Our school had a bulletin board where local salons could advertise their need for apprentices (or assistants...). I inquired about one, interviewed and ended up with the job. It was his own very nice salon behind his house, he had a very "high status" clientele and he needed an assistant. I ended up taking the position; I busted my ASS for 8 months and I loved every minute of it because I absolutely loved his work (I left because I ended up moving back home). He greatly influenced my career and was an AWESOME mentor and friend; we laughed as we worked and it was (almost) like a party every day. I was very, very lucky and thankful to take that position becuase I learned soo much (many fellow classmates went straight into a salon behind a chair). I cannot emphasize that enough - take an apprentice/assistant position for a while; because while I thought I was ready once I graduated, man, I didn't know shit - and being an assistant let me know how much more I stood to learn (but, happily, ya know...).

Are the brand name institutes worth their higher tuition costs? (Easier to get hired with a recognizable name?)

It may be easier to get hired from a reputable name brand program, sure. But I personally never had a problem finding work. Usually part of the stylist interview requires you to do a haircut and blowout at the salon.

What should I be doing now to prepare and understand the job? I don't remember there being an emphasis on seriously how mentally and phsyically demanding the job can be. It can be backbreaking! You pretty much have to be "on" when your customers are "on" and wanting to talk, etc., you can be "off" when they don't want to chat or when they are "off". If you are an extrovert and get "charged" by being around people all the time, then that's a bonus! I am more on the introverted side, so I'd leave the end of the day just drained and the LAST thing I wanted to do was have a conversation! Understand that some one at some time will NOT like what you do to their hair, or accuse you of not doing what they asked, and it can be pretty rattling. I considered myself a very consciencious stylist; always, always made sure that I completely communicated with them and didn't just ASSUME I knew what they want to have done. But I still had a few incidents of being tested, for sure. Anyway, there are a ton of "lessons learned" from the years that I did it. Memail me with any other specific questions if you want.

How does apprenticing work?
Is this something you can do prior to entering a school or is it for graduates with their first gig?

Well, you could probably get a job in a salon as a receptionist with maybe an agreement to do some shadowing with the stylists to get an idea of what they do, but not really sure how it would work if you have not been to school. In a busy salon, as a receptionist, you will be very busy with the desk and other things. I'm not sure what the rules are where you live, but I believe in some places, you have to at least be in school to simply shampoo clients. (That's somethign you'd need to ask about specifically - and to know legally what you would be allowed to do).

Ok, that's enough for now, but like I said, memail if any other things (or ask away here!)

Hope this helps in any way.
posted by foxhat10 at 6:51 PM on March 2, 2013 [4 favorites]


Oh, and one more thing, to address the part of your question: do you "need" or "want" the fancy education. While both the fancy program and the technical college will both cover the basics, it would be my guess and ASSUMPTION that a fancy program would give you some tips and knowledge beyond the basics. I'm not sure, though.

But, if you're good, you're good. And if you have the talent, then you'll shine regardless of the program. Honestly, I don't know if my program was "good" or not! But I took it very seriously, listened to my instructors and worked hard and I can say I was a rather successful stylist.

Oh, and one other thing, keep a camera with you whenever you're messing around with hair in your free time (and makeup, too) - take quality, tasteful pictures, spend some money on nice pic printing and start building a portfolio.
posted by foxhat10 at 7:03 PM on March 2, 2013 [1 favorite]


I did not go to hair school, so I can't speak to much of this, but FWIW:
I used to get my hair cut (and dyed, once) at a Paul Mitchell school in Houston -- all the students there seemed really happy, the instructors (also all seemed really pleasant) would always come by and talk to the student and the client, and I saw a lot of great work coming out of there. My friend who cut my hair that graduated from there now works in a high-end salon, and if I remember right, he transitioned there as a junior stylist very quickly upon graduating. He started there right after graduating from high school. I can try and put you in touch with him, if you'd like.
posted by jorlyfish at 9:03 PM on March 2, 2013 [1 favorite]


One thing to consider is the post-school apprenticeships and such. I believe with Aveda if you want to work at an Aveda salon you have to spend another year basically being their assistant, you can't just go start cutting. When I lived in New Orleans there was an Aveda school, but I know a lot of stylists didn't want to work at an Aveda salon post-school (even though it was easier to get placed).
posted by radioamy at 1:01 AM on March 3, 2013


I get my hair cut at the Aveda institute and I love it. BUT, half of the folks I worked with graduate, and half don't. No matter what, the students have to pay.

One of my friends did a cosmetology program at a California Community College and she was one of the most gifted cosmotoligists ever. We all still wish Cheryl could cut our hair! She got an apprenticeship after she graduated, which I'd recommend.

If you're talented, then a Community College program with a nice apprenticeship at a top-notch salon should be fine. At the end of the day, we'll all crawl over broken glass to get our hair cut by someone who's truly, truly gifted.

Don't go into debt.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 8:18 AM on March 3, 2013 [2 favorites]


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