Become a Cosmetologist | Cosmetology Schools Southfield MI

How to Select a Cosmetology College near Southfield Michigan

nail technicians training at Southfield MI beauty school Once you have decided to become a cosmetologist and enroll in a beauty school near Southfield MI, the process begins to locate and enroll in the right school. It’s imperative that the school you select not only provides the appropriate instruction for the specialty you have decided on, but also preps you for passing the licensing exam. When you begin your preliminary search, you might be rather confused about the distinction between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don’t be, because the names are basically interchangeable and both relate to the same kind of school. We’ll speak a bit further regarding that in the upcoming segment. If you intend on commuting to classes you will want to find a school that is within driving distance of your Southfield home. Tuition will also be a critical consideration when reviewing potential schools. Just remember that because a school is the closest or the lowest cost it’s not necessarily the best choice. There are various other factors that you should evaluate when reviewing schools, for instance their reputation and accreditation. We will review what questions you should ask about the cosmetology schools you are considering later within this article. Before we do, let’s talk a little bit about what cosmetology is, and what types of training programs are available.

Defining Cosmetology

Southfield MI makeup ar4tist applying makeup Cosmetology is a profession that is everything about making the human anatomy look more attractive through the use of cosmetics. So of course it makes sense that many cosmetology schools are described as beauty schools. Most of us think of makeup when we hear the word cosmetics, but basically a cosmetic may be anything that improves the appearance of a person’s skin, hair or nails. In order to work as a cosmetologist, the majority of states mandate that you take some kind of specialized training and then become licensed. Once you are licensed, the work environments include not only Southfield MI beauty salons and barber shops, but also such places as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, once they have acquired experience and a customer base, launch their own shops or salons. Others will start seeing customers either in their own residences or will go to the client’s house, or both. Cosmetology college graduates are known by many titles and work in a wide variety of specializations including:

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

As previously mentioned, in most states practicing cosmetologists must be licensed. In some states there is an exemption. Only those conducting more skilled services, such as hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Other people working in cosmetology and less skilled, including shampooers, are not required to become licensed in those states.

Cosmetology Degrees and Certificates

Southfield MI hairdresser cutting hair There are essentially two avenues available to receive cosmetology training and a credential upon completion. You can enroll in a certificate (or diploma) program, or you can pursue an Associate’s degree. Certificate programs typically call for 12 to 18 months to finish, while an Associate’s degree ordinarily takes about 2 years. If you enroll in a certificate program you will be trained in each of the major areas of cosmetology. Shorter programs are offered if you wish to specialize in just one area, for instance hair coloring. A degree program will also probably feature management and marketing training to ensure that graduates are better prepared to manage a parlor or other Southfield MI business. More advanced degrees are not prevalent, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are offered in such specializations as salon or spa management. Whichever type of program you choose, it’s important to make sure that it’s certified by the Michigan Board of Cosmetology. Numerous states only approve schools that are accredited by certain respected agencies, such as the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will examine the benefits of accreditation for the school you select in the upcoming section.

Online Cosmetologist Classes

student attending cosmetology school online in Southfield MI Online beauty schools are accommodating for Southfield MI students who are employed full-time and have family responsibilities that make it difficult to attend a more traditional school. There are a large number of online beauty school programs available that can be accessed via a personal computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More conventional cosmetology schools are frequently fast paced because many programs are as short as six or eight months. This means that a large amount of time is spent in the classroom. With internet courses, you are dealing with the same amount of material, but you’re not devoting many hours outside of your home or driving to and from classes. On the other hand, it’s important that the school you pick can provide internship training in nearby salons and parlors in order that you also get the hands-on training needed for a comprehensive education. Without the internship portion of the training, it’s impossible to acquire the skills required to work in any area of the cosmetology industry. So don’t forget if you choose to enroll in an online program to verify that internship training is available in your area.

What to Ask Cosmetologist Degree Programs

Questions to ask Southfield MI beauty schools Following is a series of questions that you need to look into for any beauty training program you are considering. As we have already discussed, the location of the school in relation to your Southfield MI home, together with the cost of tuition, will undoubtedly be your initial qualifiers. Whether you would like to earn a certificate, diploma or a degree will no doubt be next on your list. But once you have reduced your school options based on those initial qualifications, there are even more factors that you must research and consider before enrolling in a cosmetology school. Following we have compiled some of those additional questions that you should ask every school before making a final determination.

Is the Program Accredited? It’s necessary to make sure that the cosmetology training program you enroll in is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education certified local or national agency, such as the National Accrediting Commission for Cosmetology Arts & Sciences (NACCAS). Programs accredited by the NACCAS must comply with their high standards assuring a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be necessary for getting student loans or financial aid, which often are not obtainable in 48034 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a criteria for licensing in several states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, many Southfield MI employers will not recruit recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more favorably upon individuals with accredited training.

Does the School have an Excellent Reputation? Any beauty college that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to outstanding reputation within the profession. Being accredited is a good beginning. Next, ask the schools for references from their network of employers where they have referred their students. Verify that the schools have high job placement rates, attesting that their students are highly regarded. Visit rating companies for reviews along with the school’s accrediting agencies. If you have any contacts with Southfield MI salon owners or managers, or any person working in the trade, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are considering. They might even be able to suggest others that you had not thought of. And finally, contact the Michigan school licensing authority to find out if there have been any complaints submitted or if the schools are in total compliance.

What’s the School’s Specialty? A number of beauty schools offer programs that are comprehensive in nature, focusing on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a specific specialty, such as hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs often broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it’s essential that you select a school that specializes in your area of interest. If your objective is to be trained as an esthetician, make certain that the school you enroll in is accredited and well regarded for that program. If your aspiration is to start a hair salon in Southfield MI, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Selecting a highly rated school with a weak program in the specialty you are pursuing will not provide the training you require.

Is Any Hands-On Training Provided? Studying and refining cosmetology techniques and abilities demands lots of practice on people. Check how much live, hands-on training is furnished in the cosmetology lessons you will be attending. Some schools have salons on campus that enable students to practice their growing skills on real people. If a beauty academy provides little or no scheduled live training, but rather relies heavily on utilizing mannequins, it might not be the most effective alternative for cultivating your skills. So try to find other schools that furnish this type of training.

Does the School have a Job Placement Program? When a student graduates from a beauty academy, it’s imperative that she or he gets assistance in landing that very first job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that provide aid maintain relationships with Southfield MI employers that are looking for trained graduates available for hiring. Confirm that the programs you are contemplating have job placement programs and find out which salons and organizations they refer students to. In addition, find out what their job placement rates are. Higher rates not only verify that they have wide networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.

Is Financial Assistance Available? Many cosmetology schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Check if the schools you are investigating have a financial aid office. Consult with a counselor and learn what student loans or grants you might qualify for. If the school belongs to the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships offered to students as well. If a school meets all of your other qualifications with the exception of expense, do not eliminate it as an option until you find out what financial aid may be offered.

Enrolled in Cosmetology School near Southfield MI?

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

Southfield, Michigan

Southfield is a city in Oakland County of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is a northern suburb of Detroit. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 71,739.[6] A part of Metro Detroit's upscale office market, the city's marque is a cluster of five golden skyscrapers – known as the "Golden Triangle" – that form the contemporary 2,200,000 square feet (204,400 m2) Southfield Town Center office complex with a Westin Hotel and a conference center. In addition, a 33-story luxury residential high-rise is separate from the complex. To the west, near the confluence of I-696/Reuther Freeway and M-10/Lodge Freeway, is the American Center.

Southfield was surveyed in 1817 according to the plan by Michigan territorial governor Lewis Cass.[7] The first settlers came from nearby Birmingham and Royal Oak, Michigan, as well as the states of New York and Vermont. The area that would become Southfield was settled by John Daniels in 1823. Among the founders were the Heth, Stephens, Harmon, McClelland and Thompson families.

Town 1 north, 10 east was first organized as Ossewa Township on July 12, 1830, but the name was changed seventeen days later to Southfield Township.[7] The township took its name from its location in the "south fields" of Bloomfield Township. A US post office was established in 1833 and the first town hall built in 1873.

Pick the Right Cosmetology School near Southfield MI

Southfield MI barber blow drying client's hair Choosing and enrolling in the right cosmetology program is essential to get the necessary training to become a licensed cosmetology practitioner. Make sure to ask all the questions that you need to so as to feel positive about your decision. Make certain to organize all of the responses you get from the beauty school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then use that information to contrast schools. A good beginning in your due diligence process is to make certain that the academy and program you decide on are accredited and have exceptional reputations within the profession. If you begin with that base, and answer the additional questions presented in this post, you will be able to narrow down your list of schools so that you can make the ideal choice. And when you graduate and pass your licensing examination, you will be self-assured that you are ready to begin your new career as a professional cosmetologist in Southfield MI.