Choosing a cosmetology career means aspiring to make clients feel beautiful for a living – either through styling, cutting or coloring hair, applying makeup, selling cosmetics, or giving manicures and pedicures. These are just a few things that a cosmetology career will involve. So if you think that beautifying people is your calling and that you want to break out from the conventional career paths, studying cosmetology will suit you best.
Regardless of which cosmetology career you choose, training is not optional. It is a step toward obtaining your license to practice cosmetology. While training to become a nail stylist will generally take less time, a full time career in cosmetology will typically take 9 months to complete. Those who wish to pursue a cosmetology career must be at least 16 years of age, must hold a GED or a high school diploma, and must pass a licensing exam.
A career in cosmetology is quite a storied one. The concepts of styling hair and applying makeup are centuries old. The career is primarily service-oriented and established to make each client feel their best. It can be a labor intensive job, with quite a bit of standing still or sitting.
When enrolling in a cosmetology course, you don’t have to choose your specialization immediately. Try out a holistic course first – dabble in makeup, hair, skincare, and nails. This way you can determine what your strengths and weaknesses are, and eventually, you can personalize and shape your career.



