Become a Cosmetologist | Cosmetology Schools Armonk NY

How to Pick a Cosmetology College near Armonk New York

nail technicians training at Armonk NY beauty school Once you have made a decision to train as a cosmetologist and attend a beauty school near Armonk NY, the task begins to find and enroll in the right school. It’s important that the school you choose not only provides the appropriate education for the specialty you have chosen, but also preps you for passing the licensing exam. When you begin your initial search, you may be rather puzzled 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 type of school. We’ll talk a little bit further regarding that in the following segment. If you intend on commuting to classes you will need to find a school that is within driving distance of your Armonk home. Tuition will additionally be a critical factor when reviewing potential schools. Just remember that because a school is the nearest or the lowest cost it’s not always the best choice. There are several other considerations that you should weigh when analyzing schools, for example their reputation and accreditation. We will go over what questions you should ask concerning the cosmetology schools you are thinking about later in this article. Before we do, let’s talk a bit about what cosmetology is, and what types of courses are offered.

What is Cosmetology

Armonk NY makeup ar4tist applying makeup Cosmetology is an occupation that is everything about making the human body look more attractive with the use of cosmetics. So of course it makes sense that numerous cosmetology schools are regarded as beauty schools. Many of us think of makeup when we hear the word cosmetics, but actually a cosmetic may be anything that improves the appearance of a person’s skin, hair or nails. In order to work as a cosmetologist, almost all states mandate that you take some kind of specialized training and then become licensed. Once you are licensed, the work environments include not only Armonk NY beauty salons and barber shops, but also such places as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, once they have acquired experience and a clientele, establish 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 are known by many names and are employed in a wide variety 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 some states there is an exception. Only those offering more skilled services, for instance hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Other people working in cosmetology and less skilled, including shampooers, are not required to be licensed in those states.

Cosmetologist Degrees and Certificates

Armonk NY hairdresser cutting hair There are basically two avenues offered to obtain 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 generally take 12 to 18 months to finish, while an Associate’s degree commonly takes about 2 years. If you enroll in a certificate program you will be trained in all of the major areas of cosmetology. Shorter programs are available if you wish to focus on just one area, for example hair coloring. A degree program will also probably include management and marketing training so that graduates are better prepared to operate a parlor or other Armonk NY business. Higher degrees are not typical, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are available in such specializations as salon or spa management. Whichever type of program you opt for, it’s imperative to make sure that it’s approved by the New York Board of Cosmetology. Many states only approve schools that are accredited by certain highly regarded organizations, including the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will cover the advantages of accreditation for the school you choose in the upcoming segment.

Online Beauty Classes

student attending cosmetology school online in Armonk NY Online beauty programs are convenient for Armonk NY students who are working full time and have family obligations that make it difficult to enroll in a more traditional school. There are numerous web-based cosmetology school programs offered that can be accessed by means of a desktop computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More conventional cosmetology schools are frequently fast paced due to the fact that many programs are as short as 6 or 8 months. This means that a large portion of time is spent in the classroom. With online programs, you are covering the same volume of material, but you are not spending numerous hours outside of your home or commuting to and from classes. On the other hand, it’s important that the training program you choose can provide internship training in nearby salons and parlors to ensure that you also obtain the hands-on training needed for a comprehensive education. Without the internship part of the training, it’s difficult to obtain the skills needed to work in any area of the cosmetology industry. So don’t forget if you decide to enroll in an online school to verify that internship training is available in your area.

Questions to Ask Cosmetology Schools

Questions to ask Armonk NY beauty schools Following is a list of questions that you need to research for any beauty training program you are contemplating. As we have previously covered, the location of the school in relation to your Armonk NY residence, together with the expense of tuition, will probably be your initial qualifiers. Whether you wish to earn a certificate, diploma or a degree will undoubtedly 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. Below we have collected several of those additional questions that you should ask every school before making a final determination.

Is the Program Accredited? It’s essential to make certain that the cosmetology school you pick is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged local or national organization, such as the National Accrediting Commission for Cosmetology Arts & Sciences (NACCAS). Schools accredited by the NACCAS must meet their high standards ensuring a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be essential for getting student loans or financial aid, which often are not obtainable in 10504 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a criteria for licensing in many states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, numerous Armonk NY employers will not employ recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more positively upon those with accredited training.

Does the School have a Good Reputation? Each cosmetologist school that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to outstanding reputation within the industry. Being accredited is an excellent beginning. Next, ask the schools for references from their network of employers where they have referred their students. Confirm that the schools have high job placement rates, showing that their students are highly sought after. Visit rating services for reviews together with the school’s accrediting organizations. If you have any relationships with Armonk NY salon owners or managers, or someone working in the industry, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are looking at. They might even be able to propose others that you had not considered. Finally, consult the New York school licensing authority to find out if there have been any complaints submitted or if the schools are in complete compliance.

What’s the School’s Specialty? Some beauty schools offer programs that are comprehensive in nature, concentrating on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing training in a particular specialty, for instance hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs commonly expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it’s important that you pick a school that focuses on your area of interest. If your objective is to be trained as an esthetician, make sure that the school you enroll in is accredited and respected for that program. If your desire is to launch a hair salon in Armonk NY, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Selecting a highly ranked school with a poor program in the specialty you are pursuing will not deliver the training you need.

Is Any Hands-On Training Provided? Practicing and perfecting cosmetology techniques and abilities demands plenty of practice on volunteers. Find out how much live, hands-on training is furnished in the beauty lessons you will be attending. Some schools have salons on campus that enable students to practice their growing talents on volunteers. If a beauty academy provides minimal or no scheduled live training, but rather relies mainly on the use of mannequins, it might not be the best option for acquiring your skills. So look for alternate schools that provide this type of training.

Does the School have a Job Placement Program? As soon as a student graduates from a beauty school, it’s important that she or he gets help in finding that first job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that furnish assistance maintain relationships with Armonk NY businesses that are looking for skilled graduates available for hiring. Verify that the schools you are looking at have job placement programs and inquire which salons and businesses they refer students to. Additionally, ask what their job placement rates are. High rates not only verify that they have wide networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.

Is Financial Assistance Offered? The majority of cosmetology schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Check if the schools you are considering have a financial aid office. Talk to a counselor and learn what student loans or grants you may qualify for. If the school is a member of the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships accessible to students also. If a school satisfies each of your other qualifications with the exception of cost, do not drop it as an option until you determine what financial help may be offered.

Enrolled in Cosmetology School near Armonk NY?

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

Armonk, New York

Armonk is a hamlet and census-designated place (CDP) in the town of North Castle, New York located in Westchester County.[1] As of the 2010 census, Armonk's CDP population is 4,330 and it has a total area of 6.1 square miles (15.7 km2), of which 6.0 square miles (15.5 km2) is land and 0.077 square miles (0.2 km2), or 1.54 percent, is water. Armonk is well known as being the headquarters of IBM.[2]

Situated 10 miles from the coast in the Southeastern corner of New York, Armonk shares a border with Connecticut. The landscape is hilly and forested, with a mean elevation of 387 feet, and is home to the highest point in Westchester County with an elevation of 1,396 feet.

Armonk has a humid subtropical climate (Type Cfa) with cool, wet winters and hot, humid summers. Precipitation is plentiful, with the winter months receiving more precipitation than the summer months. Snow is common during the winter, and Armonk receives 26 inches of snow per year. Milder winters, however, may only see a few inches of snow while colder winters can see 35+ inches of snow. Winter precipitation comes mainly in the form of coastal storms that bring rain, snow and wind to New England and the Mid-Atlantic. Highs in winter average around 39° and lows around 30°. Summer brings mostly stable, hot weather with scattered thunderstorms, and the risk of a rare tropical storm in August and September. High temperatures in the summer average around 83° and lows around 72°, however 20 days per summer, highs reach past 90°. Spring and fall are transition seasons with moderate temperatures and moderate precipitation.

Enroll in the Right Cosmetology College near Armonk NY

Armonk NY barber blow drying client's hair Finding and enrolling in the ideal cosmetology program is imperative to get the necessary training to become a licensed cosmetology technician. Be sure to ask all the questions that you need to in order to feel confident about your decision. Make sure to consolidate all of the information you get from the beauty school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then use that data to compare schools. A sensible beginning in your due diligence process is to make certain that the academy and program you select are accredited and have outstanding reputations within the field. If you begin with that base, and address 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 selection. And when you graduate and pass your licensing examination, you will be confident that you are prepared to begin your career as a professional cosmetologist in Armonk NY.