Become a Cosmetologist | Cosmetology Schools Garrison MD

How to Choose a Beauty College near Garrison Maryland

nail technicians training at Garrison MD beauty school Since you have made a decision to train as a cosmetologist and enroll in a beauty school near Garrison MD, the process starts to find and enroll in the best school. It’s essential that the school you pick not only furnishes the appropriate education for the specialty you have chosen, but also prepares you for passing the licensing examination. When you begin your preliminary search, you might be rather unclear about the difference between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don’t be, because the names are essentially interchangeable and both pertain to the same type of school. We’ll talk a little bit more concerning that in the following section. If you anticipate commuting to classes you will want to choose a school that is within driving distance of your Garrison home. Tuition will also be a critical consideration when assessing prospective schools. Just bear in mind that because a school is the nearest or the cheapest it’s not automatically the ideal option. There are various other qualifications that you should evaluate when reviewing schools, for example their reputation and accreditation. We will examine what questions you should ask about the cosmetology schools you are looking at later in this article. Before we do, let’s discuss a bit about what cosmetology is, and what kinds of courses are offered.

Defining Cosmetology

Garrison MD makeup ar4tist applying makeup Cosmetology is a profession that is all about making the human anatomy look more beautiful with the application of cosmetics. So naturally it makes sense that numerous cosmetology schools are described as beauty schools. Most of us think of makeup when we hear the word cosmetics, but basically a cosmetic can be almost anything that enhances the look of a person’s skin, hair or nails. In order to work as a cosmetologist, almost all states mandate that you go through some type of specialized training and then be licensed. Once licensed, the work settings include not only Garrison MD beauty salons and barber shops, but also such venues as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, once they have gotten experience and a customer base, open their own shops or salons. Others will start servicing customers either in their own residences or will travel to the client’s house, or both. Cosmetology college graduates go by many names and are employed in a wide range of specializations including:

Hairdressers
Hairstylists
Beauticians
Barbers
Manicurists
Nail Technicians
Makeup Artists
Hair Coloring Specialists
Estheticians
Electrolysis Technicians

As earlier mentioned, in most states working cosmetologists must be licensed. In certain states there is an exemption. Only those performing more skilled services, for instance hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Other people employed in cosmetology and less skilled, which include shampooers, are not required to become licensed in those states.

Cosmetologist Certificates and Degrees

Garrison MD hairdresser cutting hair There are essentially two avenues offered to receive cosmetology training and a credential upon completion. You can enroll in a certificate (or diploma) course, or you can pursue an Associate’s degree. Certificate programs typically take 12 to 18 months to complete, while an Associate’s degree ordinarily takes about 2 years. If you enroll in a certificate program you will be trained in all of the major areas of cosmetology. Briefer programs are available if you wish to concentrate on just one area, for instance hair coloring. A degree program will also probably incorporate management and marketing training in order that graduates are better prepared to operate a parlor or other Garrison MD business. More advanced degrees are not prevalent, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are available in such specializations as salon or spa management. Whichever type of training program you opt for, it’s important to make certain that it’s certified by the Maryland Board of Cosmetology. Many states only certify schools that are accredited by certain respected agencies, for example the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will cover the benefits of accreditation for the school you select in the next segment.

Online Cosmetologist Programs

student attending cosmetology school online in Garrison MD Online cosmetology schools are advantageous for Garrison MD students who are working full time and have family commitments that make it hard to enroll in a more traditional school. There are many online beauty school programs offered that can be accessed by means of a home computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More traditional cosmetology schools are typically fast paced because many programs are as short as six or eight months. This means that a considerable portion of time is spent in the classroom. With online courses, you are covering the same amount of material, but you are not devoting many hours away from your home or travelling to and from classes. On the other hand, it’s essential that the program you pick can provide internship training in area salons and parlors to ensure that you also receive the hands-on training needed for a comprehensive education. Without the internship part of the training, it’s difficult to gain the skills needed to work in any area of the cosmetology field. So make sure if you decide to enroll in an online program to verify that internship training is available in your area.

Questions to Ask Cosmetology Programs

Questions to ask Garrison MD beauty schools Following is a list of questions that you should investigate for any cosmetologist training school you are considering. As we have previously discussed, the location of the school relative to your Garrison MD home, as well as the expense of tuition, will probably be your first qualifiers. Whether you would like to pursue a certificate, diploma or a degree will probably be next on your list. But once you have narrowed your school choices based on those preliminary qualifications, there are additional factors that you should research and consider before enrolling in a cosmetology school. Below we have compiled several of those additional questions that you should ask each school before making a final selection.

Is the School Accredited? It’s essential to make sure that the cosmetology school you pick is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged local or national agency, such as the National Accrediting Commission for Cosmetology Arts & Sciences (NACCAS). Programs accredited by the NACCAS must meet their high standards guaranteeing a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be necessary for getting student loans or financial aid, which often are not obtainable in 21055 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a prerequisite for licensing in several states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, many Garrison MD employers will not hire recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more favorably upon those with accredited training.

Does the School have a Good Reputation? Any cosmetology institute that you are seriously considering should have a good to outstanding reputation within the industry. Being accredited is a good beginning. Next, ask the schools for references from their network of businesses where they have placed their students. Check that the schools have high job placement rates, attesting that their students are highly regarded. Check rating companies for reviews in addition to the school’s accrediting agencies. If you have any connections with Garrison MD salon owners or managers, or anyone working in the trade, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are considering. They may even be able to recommend others that you had not considered. Finally, check with the Maryland school licensing authority to find out if there have been any grievances submitted or if the schools are in complete compliance.

What’s the School’s Focus? A number of beauty schools offer programs that are comprehensive in nature, concentrating on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing training in a specific specialty, for example hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs frequently broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it’s important that you select a school that specializes in your area of interest. If your intention is to be trained as an esthetician, make certain that the school you enroll in is accredited and respected for that program. If your dream is to launch a hair salon in Garrison MD, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Choosing a highly regarded school with a poor program in the specialty you are pursuing will not deliver the training you require.

Is Any Live Training Provided? Studying and mastering cosmetology techniques and abilities demands lots of practice on people. Find out how much live, hands-on training is provided in the cosmetology classes you will be attending. A number of schools have salons on site that make it possible for students to practice their developing skills on real people. If a beauty academy provides minimal or no scheduled live training, but instead depends mainly on using mannequins, it may not be the best alternative for developing your skills. So search for other schools that offer this type of training.

Does the School Provide Job Assistance? When a student graduates from a cosmetology academy, it’s essential that he or she receives help in landing that first job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that offer aid develope relationships with Garrison MD employers that are looking for skilled graduates available for hiring. Verify that the schools you are looking at have job placement programs and find out which salons and establishments they refer students to. Additionally, find out what their job placement rates are. Higher rates not only confirm that they have wide networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.

Is Financial Aid Offered? Most beauty schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Check if the schools you are investigating have a financial aid department. Talk to a counselor and learn what student loans or grants you might get approved for. If the school is a member of the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships offered to students also. If a school fulfills each of your other qualifications with the exception of expense, do not discard it as an option until you determine what financial aid may be offered.

Enrolled in Cosmetology School near Garrison MD?

If you have decided to attend Beauty School in the greater Garrison MD area, following is some interesting and perhaps useful information about the location of your new school campus.

Garrison, Maryland

Garrison is a census-designated place (CDP) in Baltimore County, Maryland, United States, adjacent to Owings Mills. It consists mainly of the McDonogh area and Valley Centre. The population was 8,823 at the 2010 census.[1]

As of the census[4] of 2000, there were 7,969 people, 3,459 households, and 1,940 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 2,551.5 people per square mile (986.2/km²). There were 3,696 housing units at an average density of 1,183.4/sq mi (457.4/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 77.54% White, 17.09% African American, 0.13% Native American, 3.35% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.92% from other races, and 0.97% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.27% of the population. In 2000, 14% of Garrison residents identified as being of Russian American heritage. This was the second highest percentage of Russian Americans of any place in Maryland after Pikesville.[5] The majority of them are of Jewish ancestry. 2% of Garrison's residents were of Ukrainian descent and 1% were descended from other Eastern European countries. 8% were German, 7% Polish, 5% Irish, 4% English, 3% Italian, 2% Lithuanian, and 2% French.[6]

There were 3,459 households out of which 25.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.0% were married couples living together, 10.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 43.9% were non-families. 35.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.19 and the average family size was 2.90.

Enroll in the Right Cosmetology Program near Garrison MD

Garrison MD barber blow drying client's hair Selecting and enrolling in the ideal cosmetologist school is essential to obtain the proper training to become a licensed cosmetology professional. Make sure to ask all the questions that you require in order to feel confident about your decision. Make sure to consolidate all of the information you get from the cosmetology school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then use that data to compare schools. A reasonable beginning in your due diligence process is to make sure that the school and program you decide on are accredited and have excellent reputations within the profession. If you begin with that foundation, and answer the additional questions presented in this article, you will be able to narrow down your list of schools so that you can make the right choice. And when you graduate and pass your licensing examination, you will be confident that you are ready to start your new career as a professional cosmetologist in Garrison MD.