Thinking About a Future in Beauty? It’s Time to Get Started! October 28, 2021

The beginning of the new year is a great time to set goals and start working towards them. Many of us like to enter the New Year focused on our resolutions and the things we hope to accomplish. For about 16% of people, their number one New Year’s goal is to change their career and find a new job. If you’re one of them and your goal has been to pursue a career in beauty, then now is the time to get started!

Unlike most educational programs that begin in the fall or spring semester, you can enroll and begin training in cosmetology school at virtually any time of the year. At The Salon Professional Academy Beauty School in San Jose, CA, we have both full-time and part-time programs for cosmetology beginning on January 10^th and 11^th in 2022!

Plus, you can complete your training faster than ever before. The state of California just passed legislation, lowering the number of training hours for cosmetology programs from 1600 to 1000 hours. This means that full-time students can finish all of their training in under a year!

If your New Year resolution is to start a career as a cosmetologist or esthetician, here are your steps to meeting your goal of working in the beauty industry:

Find a Great Cosmetology School

Your first step is to find a cosmetology program at a beauty school that’s the best fit for you. There are lots of factors to consider here and you must find a cosmetology school that’s ideal for you. This will help you to follow through on your New Year’s resolution and complete your training!

First, make sure the school is accredited for the state you intend to work in. Every state across the country has specific requirements for cosmetology school training. Accreditation ensures that the beauty school meets the state’s standards for education so graduates are approved to take the state exam to earn their license.

This also means that you should choose to attend a school that offers an educational program that really prepares you for a future in beauty. This goes beyond just checking off the boxes of techniques you’ll be tested on.

At The Salon Professional Academy San Jose, we take the time to ensure that all of our students are truly prepared for their future. We include business and marketing training in our curriculums and have all of our students practice in the student salon. Our students are also trained by educators who have excelled in the industry and offer mentorship and advice to ensure they excel in their field.

Prepare for Cosmetology Training

Once you have found the right cosmetology school, the next step is to apply and prepare for your training. Cosmetology courses focus on a wide range of beauty services, including hair styling, cutting, coloring, and makeup artistry

A cosmetology program includes 1000 hours of training or about a year for full-time classes. You can even opt to attend part-time or nighttime classes so your training works around your schedule if you have another job or other responsibilities.

Apply and Take the State Exam

Once you finish all 1000 hours of your cosmetology training, you will have to take the state exam to earn your license. The state exam is given in two parts: a written and a practical exam.

During the written portion of the exam, you will need to answer questions about the procedures you have learned in school. Much of this focuses on sanitization and health regulations, as well as state laws.

Next, you will need to complete the practical exam, where you will be observed as you complete several beauty treatments. For cosmetology students, this test may include coloring, blow-drying, and styling a mannequin head.

Once you have completed these exams, you will be notified of your score. In California, you must have a minimum score of 75%. If you have passed, you will immediately earn your state license to begin practicing!

Find a Career You Love

There are so many career options that you can pursue with a cosmetology license. Having a well-rounded education and some experience from working in a student salon will help you discover what aspects of cosmetology you enjoy the most.

The great thing about cosmetology is that it is a very wide-ranging industry. Perhaps the most common career path that cosmetologists follow is working as a hairstylist in a salon. They may work as an employee, as an independent stylist, or even open up their own business!

There are lots of other career options to pursue, too. Some jobs you can consider after earning your license are:

• Stylist coordinator for photoshoots, film production, and theatre programs
• Beauty product representative
• Makeup artist
• Hair colorist or styling specialist
• Salon manager or owner

Are You Ready to Start Cosmetology School in 2022?

Starting cosmetology school is just the first step towards achieving your goals – and this is the year to make it happen.

If you’d like to learn more about The Salon Professional Academy in San Jose’s cosmetology program, please give us a call at 408-703-8757. Our admissions team can answer any questions you may have and help you schedule a campus tour to check us out in person!