Become a Cosmetologist | Cosmetology Schools Thornwood NY

How to Enroll In a Cosmetology School near Thornwood New York

nail technicians training at Thornwood NY beauty school Once you have decided to become a cosmetologist and enroll in a beauty school near Thornwood NY, the task begins to search for and enroll in the ideal school. It’s imperative that the school you pick not only furnishes the necessary instruction for the specialty you have decided on, but also prepares you for passing the licensing exam. When you start your initial search, you may be somewhat confused about the contrast between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don’t be, because the names are pretty much interchangeable and both pertain to the same kind of school. We’ll talk a bit more concerning that in the next segment. If you intend on commuting to classes you will want to choose a school that is within driving distance of your Thornwood residence. Tuition will additionally be a critical aspect when evaluating potential schools. Just bear in mind that because a school is the closest or the lowest cost it’s not automatically the best choice. There are various other considerations that you should weigh when comparing schools, such as their reputation and accreditation. We will go over what questions you should ask regarding the cosmetology schools you are considering later within this article. Before we do, let’s discuss a little bit about what cosmetology is, and what kinds of training programs are offered.

Defining Cosmetology

Thornwood NY makeup ar4tist applying makeup Cosmetology is a profession that is everything about making the human body look more beautiful with the use of cosmetics. So of course it makes sense that a number of cosmetology schools are described as beauty schools. Many of us think of makeup when we hear the word cosmetics, but really a cosmetic can be anything that improves the appearance of a person’s skin, hair or nails. If you want to work as a cosmetologist, almost all states mandate that you undergo some kind of specialized training and then be licensed. Once you are licensed, the work environments include not only Thornwood NY beauty salons and barber shops, but also such businesses as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, once they have gained experience and a customer base, launch their own shops or salons. Others will start servicing clients either in their own residences or will travel to the client’s residence, or both. Cosmetology college graduates have many names and are employed in a wide range of specialties including:

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

As earlier mentioned, in the majority of states working cosmetologists must be licensed. In certain states there is an exemption. Only those offering more skilled services, for example hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Others employed in cosmetology and less skilled, such as shampooers, are not required to be licensed in those states.

Cosmetology Degrees and Certificates

Thornwood NY hairdresser cutting hair There are basically two pathways offered to receive cosmetology training and a credential after completion. You can enroll in a certificate (or diploma) course, or you can pursue an Associate’s degree. Certificate programs normally call for 12 to 18 months to complete, while an Associate’s degree usually takes about 2 years. If you enroll in a certificate program you will be trained in each of the major areas of cosmetology. Briefer programs are available if you prefer to focus on just one area, for example hair coloring. A degree program will also most likely feature management and marketing training in order that graduates are better prepared to run a salon or other Thornwood NY business. Higher degrees are not typical, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are offered in such areas as salon or spa management. Whatever type of program you decide on, it’s important to make sure that it’s certified by the New York Board of Cosmetology. Numerous states only certify schools that are accredited by certain highly regarded organizations, such as the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will discuss the advantages of accreditation for the school you decide on in the next section.

Online Cosmetologist Schools

student attending cosmetology school online in Thornwood NY Online beauty schools are accommodating for Thornwood NY students who are working full-time and have family commitments that make it difficult to attend a more traditional school. There are many online beauty school programs offered that can be attended by means of a personal computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More traditional cosmetology schools are often fast paced since many courses are as brief as six or eight months. This means that a substantial portion of time is spent in the classroom. With online courses, you are covering the same volume of material, but you’re not devoting numerous hours away from your home or driving back and forth from classes. On the other hand, it’s important that the program you choose can provide internship training in local salons and parlors in order that you also get the hands-on training required for a comprehensive education. Without the internship portion of the training, it’s difficult to obtain 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 confirm that internship training is available in your area.

Questions to Ask Beauty Training Classes

Questions to ask Thornwood NY beauty schools Below is a list of questions that you should investigate for any cosmetology training school you are considering. As we have already covered, the location of the school relative to your Thornwood NY home, in addition to the price of tuition, will undoubtedly be your primary qualifiers. Whether you want to pursue a certificate, diploma or a degree will probably be next on your list. But once you have narrowed your school options based on those initial qualifications, there are even more factors that you need to research and take into consideration before enrolling in a cosmetology school. Following we have compiled some of those supplemental questions that you need to ask each school before making a final selection.

Is the Program Accredited? It’s important to make sure that the cosmetology school you choose is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education recognized 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 ensuring a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be important for acquiring student loans or financial aid, which typically are not obtainable in 10594 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a prerequisite for licensing in many states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, a number of Thornwood NY businesses will not hire recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more positively upon individuals with accredited training.

Does the School have a Good Reputation? Every cosmetologist institute that you are seriously considering should have a good to excellent reputation within the industry. Being accredited is a good starting point. Next, ask the schools for endorsements from their network of businesses where they have placed their students. Verify that the schools have high job placement rates, attesting that their students are highly sought after. Visit rating companies for reviews as well as the school’s accrediting organizations. If you have any connections with Thornwood NY salon owners or managers, or someone working in the industry, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are considering. They might even be able to suggest others that you had not considered. And last, check with the New York 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 areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a specific specialty, such as hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs typically broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it’s essential that you decide on a school that specializes in your area of interest. If your goal is to be trained as an esthetician, make sure that the school you enroll in is accredited and respected for that program. If your aspiration is to launch a hair salon in Thornwood NY, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Selecting a highly regarded school with a weak program in the specialty you are seeking will not provide the training you require.

Is Any Live Training Provided? Studying and refining cosmetology skills and techniques requires plenty of practice on people. Check how much live, hands-on training is provided in the cosmetology courses you will be attending. A number of schools have salons on campus that enable students to practice their growing talents on real people. If a beauty academy offers minimal or no scheduled live training, but instead depends mainly on utilizing mannequins, it might not be the most effective alternative for developing your skills. Therefore try to find alternate schools that offer this kind of training.

Does the School have a Job Placement Program? As soon as a student graduates from a cosmetology program, it’s important that he or she receives help in securing that first job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that provide aid maintain relationships with Thornwood NY businesses that are looking for trained graduates available for hiring. Verify that the programs you are considering have job placement programs and inquire which salons and establishments they refer students to. Additionally, ask what their job placement rates are. High rates not only affirm that they have broad networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.

Is Financial Assistance Offered? The majority of cosmetology schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Find out if the schools you are looking at have a financial aid office. Speak with a counselor and identify what student loans or grants you may qualify for. If the school belongs to the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships accessible to students too. If a school fulfills all of your other qualifications with the exception of cost, do not omit it as an option before you learn what financial aid may be provided.

Enrolled in Cosmetology School near Thornwood NY?

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

Thornwood, New York

Thornwood is a hamlet (unincorporated community), census-designated place (CDP), and postal designation (with zip code 10594) in the town of Mount Pleasant in Westchester County, New York. The population was 3,759 at the 2010 census.[1]

In 1891, Lewis Smadback started a very successful development at what is now Thornwood. The village of Sherman Park was incorporated in 1906 and the name was changed to Hillside in 1909. The village was dissolved in 1914, when Thornwood took its current name and became a hamlet within the Town of Mount Pleasant. It is possible that Thornwood is a derivative of "Hawthorne's Woods," since Hawthorne is an adjacent hamlet.

Thornwood once had a large and thriving Westchester marble quarry near its heart, the intersection of Route 141 and Kensico Road (known as Four Corners). Dating back to 1845, the quarry supplied white marble which helped build St. Patrick's Cathedral (hence the name of Marble Avenue which runs through the hamlet). The quarry pit was filled in during the mid-1980s, and the Town Center shopping mall was constructed over it.

Find the Right Cosmetology College near Thornwood NY

Thornwood NY barber blow drying client's hair Choosing and enrolling in the ideal beauty program is important to obtain the necessary training to become a licensed cosmetology practitioner. Make sure to ask all the questions that you require so as to feel certain about your decision. Make certain to compile all of the information you receive from the beauty school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then use that information to compare schools. A reasonable beginning in your due diligence process is to make certain that the college and program you choose are accredited and have outstanding reputations within the field. If you begin with that foundation, and address the additional questions presented in this article, you will be able to filter your list of schools so that you can make the right choice. And when you graduate and pass your licensing test, you will be self-assured that you are qualified to begin your career as a professional cosmetologist in Thornwood NY.