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Career Research Essay

Master Cosmetologists care for peoples’ hair, skin and nails. Master Cosmetologists have

a more advanced knowledge and skills in the beauty field than regular cosmetologists. They are

constantly learning new techniques and furthering their education, evolving in your work and

staying on top of trends and what people want, and staying with a creative mind set and working

with people daily. Cosmetologists must go through required schooling of programs to pass a

state test. There are a variety of career opportunities and various salaries. There are many

opportunities open for Master Cosmetologists in a lot of different areas to succeed in.

There are some basic requirements that must be met before being able to be a Master

Cosmetologist. There is a required age of 17 years of age and an acquired GED or high school

diploma. It is required to attend a licensed school or complete a cosmetology program. Usually,

you need to obtain 1,500 hours of training or 3,000 hours if doing an apprenticeship. An

apprenticeship is working under someone in a salon or barbershop to obtain your cosmetology

licenses without going to beauty school but having to complete 18 months of training and 3,000

hours. Whichever route you take after you complete what is required of you, must take a

licensing exam issued by your State Board of Cosmetology. The Exams are Master Cosmetology

Practical Exam and Master Cosmetology Theory Exam. After obtaining licenses all

cosmetologist must be renewed every 2 years. Master cosmetologists must pass all these

requirements before receiving their licenses and the title as a Master Cosmetologist.

What should students most likely expect in attending a Cosmetology program? Master

cosmetologists must complete continuing education courses and have hands-on experience to
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earn the title of Master Cosmetologist. Cosmetology school is essentially “a school which offers

full-length beauty courses covering topics on makeup, hair, nails and some skin care.” On the

other hand, most beauty schools only offer specialized programs like barbering, esthetician etc

(EliteBeautySociety). The Beauty School Directory has given a rundown of the main things you

will be taught. Coursework is taught by licensed professional instructors in each program. “The

program consists of lectures and general and advanced information about cosmetology. Consists

of labs covering bacteriology, sterilization, customer service and business. Additional

coursework includes anatomy, physiology and chemistry as they apply to cosmetology.

Graduates will become proficient in chemical waving, straightening, haircutting, hair coloring,

hair treatments, waxing, makeup, facial treatments and manicures” (Study.com). Depending on

your decision of doing part time or full-time school determines when you will complete the

program. You could complete it in as little as 8 months, or it may take two years if you pursue

continuing your education. On average to complete entire cosmetology program it generally

takes 12 to 14 months (Beautyschools.com).

Most Cosmetologist go into this field to be their own boss. In the article “Master

Cosmetologist: Career Info.” it stated that 44% of hairdressers, hairstylists and cosmetologists

were self-employed. Going into Cosmetology to start a career is very helpful to set your own

hours. You can be very flexible with work and personal life. You do not have to miss out on

important events if you do not want because you get to set up your schedule. One of the

opportunities when work in a salon you can pay a weekly or monthly booth rental fee to salon

owner so the money for the services you do go to you not straight to the salon. Many master

cosmetologists go into opening and running their own salon or spas. This allows them to not

have to work in under anyone or work for someone else but themselves. This allows them to
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have total control on their work schedule and how they want the salon to succeed. If there were

things they did not like about other salons or thought, they had good ideas on how to run things

they can take their experience and grow from it. When having a master cosmetologist licenses

there are always opportunities left and right because you are more needed. Since you have a

broad variety of skills and you are not just specialized to do one thing employers will be more

interested in hiring you. Having all the skills to perform all kinds of services with give you great

knowledge if ever running a business.

Salaries are very important to people. This is our livelihood for day to day. No body

works for free and nothing in life is free. Ziprecruiter mentions that annual salaries for a master

cosmetologist can be as high as $137,500 and as low as $15,500. The Majority of Master

Cosmetologist make a salary usually ranging between $25,500 to $70,500 in the United States.

The average hourly pay for Cosmetologists is $39.89 per hour. One of the downsides is if you do

not show up to work or do not schedule any clients a day then you are not getting paid, unlike if

you become a teacher or get paid by salary no matter if you miss a day or not. Other careers in

the cosmetology field having ranging salaries different from master cosmetologists. Barbers

generally make $16.07 dollars an hour and an annual salary of $19,000 ranging to $40,000

dollars a year. Hairstylists generally make $21.17 per hour with a yearly salary of $18,000 –

$42,000. Esthetician is someone who cares for the skin and they make about $21,000- $40,000 in

a year with an hourly pay of about $31.77. Another specialized jobs could be a nail tech which

receive about $29,648 a year. They generally make $14.50 per hour. Of course, salaries will vary

stated by Indeed and Ziprecruiter from the information in the tables provided by both websites.

Rural or urban areas play a role on how much money you could be bringing in. Also doing or

having something that sets you aside from others may attract more clientele. How well you
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interact and communicate with clients and the type of experience you give them when they come

into get a service done by you. Whether it be a haircut, how you treat them, give amazing

shampoos, or how productive you are at work, all these factors will contribute to how much you

gain or lose in your career.

There are many career opportunities with being a Master Cosmetologist. There are

everyday careers you have to stay close to home and stay in your town or state without traveling.

Ibmc.edu gives amazing information on some of the most commonly chosen career as a Master

Cosmetologist. A hairstylist is one of the most common careers cosmetologists go into. This

involves cutting, styling and coloring the hair. Since it’s so common any salon will have a

hairstylist always. A Hair Color Specialist is a great way to go when it comes to money and stay

busy. These are people who decide to specialize in altering color or tint of client’s hair. They

choose to just work as coloring hair instead of doing everything with the hair like a hair stylist.

Nails is a part of the cosmetology curriculum so many graduates may come out to work as a Nail

Technician. A Nail Technician performs manicures, pedicures, and apply acrylics as well. This is

a heavily creative career because of the amount of art put into designing nails their customers

wish for. Becoming a Makeup Artist can become a full-time job with a lot of problem solving,

time management, and being able to think on your feet. Make up artists use their talents,

education, and tools to transform and improve a person’s appearance. Their work corrects

imperfections while highlighting the qualities of their clients they love (MakeupArtistEdu). An

Esthetician is someone who focuses on the care and health of your skin. They want you to look

your best naturally with healthy skin. They specialize in facials, waxing services, chemical peels,

full body treatments and more dealing with your skin. After experience or completing the

cosmetology program and teacher training program many may want to become a Cosmetology
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Instructor. This means they will become a teacher who teaches the cosmetology curriculum in a

cosmetology school or high school. Many choose to do this after years of experience and

working in a salon. There are many more career options that are out there without having to

leave your family or travel.

Just as there are lots of careers for people who wish not to travel or take this career full

time there are just as many dream careers possible. Many want to work hard for their skills and

cosmetology education to take them off to become successful and well known in multiple cities.

To some being successful just in their city is not what they strive for. They may want to become

influential by having their work for the world to see. In the article “6 Surprising Careers that

Start with a Cosmetology Licenses.” it informs of some cosmetology careers that are very

influential. A Fashion Show Stylist works behind scenes of fashion. Fashion Show Stylist have a

big impact on the world of trends because so many look at the runways for inspiration when it

comes to the fashion, makeup, or hair. An Advertising Stylist works on getting models camera

ready for editorial and commercial shoots. This is an amazing opportunity for artists who can

execute a wide variety of hair and makeup looks from following trends or creating something

next in fashion. A career that has a little bit of both of those careers is a Celebrity or Personal

Stylist. You will have the amazing opportunity to promote yourself and work while bringing out

the best appearance of the celebrity. They are responsible for doing their hair and makeup. This

could be actors, singers, models etc. Personal Stylists are responsible for making them look their

best before going on camera or stage. A platform artist is a good choice if you have always been

interested in teaching others. They travel and perform on stage beauty shows, hair shows, and

other events showcasing techniques or products on live models. Finally, another option could be

a Beauty Writer. This is perfect for people who enjoy writing, researching, and traveling for
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beauty. It requires a thick skin for editorial feedback but has lots of rewards that are worth it

(Health and Style). There are a lot of career possibilities for different kinds of people and with

the dreams they strive for. There are so many doors that can be opened for Master

Cosmetologists and endless amount of opportunities. Whitney Nicole explains ways to advance

in this career. It is important to build a clientele and have amazing people skills to do so

(CareerTrend).

There are basic things to be aware of as working as a Master Cosmetologist in the future

and what a basic day contains. Both BeautySchoolDirectory and the article “9 Skills for Highly

Effective Cosmetologists” provides information of what is expected every day. Preparing for

clients is important before they arrive to be ready to get to work when they arrive and have

everything organized and ready to go. Performing a client consultation is important to have

effective communication to make sure you are understanding one another. Take care of any

issues that may affect your work, or know what is necessary to keep them healthy and

comfortable. This allows you to make sure it is safe to perform the service they want and there is

nothing you should be concerned about. Once you get that out of the way then you can perform

the desired service your customers service whether it is a hair, skin or nail service. You want to

stay very professional as well as make your customers feel important and cared for. Once

completed the service just like you were asked to do so, and your client is satisfied with the

result then now would be a good time to schedule the next appointment. You also should

recommend products or services that will benefit or help the client with an issue they may be

having. These are main things to expect and you need to work hard to continue to be successful

when working in this career.

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Cosmetologists must go through a lot of requirements, involving schooling of programs

and passing the state test. There are lots of career opportunities and various salaries for each.

There are countless opportunities out in the world for Master Cosmetologists in many different

areas to succeed in the way you wish to. There is a lot of education available to better your

knowledge and techniques in cosmetology. There are lots of career options in small towns as

well in big famous settings. There are different possible salary incomes depending on what you

want to do, where you want to go, how far you want to push yourself, your work ethic and so

much more. There are plenty of ways for you to advance and succeed in this pathway. This

offers opportunities for you to love what you do and grow in your work. The doors are endless

and there is so many open full of opportunities to achieve.

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Work Cited

Brothers, Karry. “9 Skills for Highly Effective Cosmetologists.”blog.mildred-elley.edu,

Mildred Elley, 15 Feb 2018, https://blog.mildred-elley.edu/blog/9-skills-for-

highly-effective-cosmetologists. Accessed 26 Aug. 2020.

“But Still Unsure If It's The Right Career Path For You?” elitebeautysociety.

elitebeautysociety.com/cosmetology-school/. Accessed 28 Aug. 2020.

“How long will it take me to complete cosmetology school?” beautyschools.

www.beautyschools.com/faq/long-will-it-take-me-to-complete-cosmetology-school/.

Accessed 27 Aug. 2020.

“Master Cosmetologist: Education Requirements and Career Info.” Study.com. Purdue 12 Sept.

2019, study.com/cosmetologist_master.html. Accessed 26 Aug. 2020.

“Master Cosmetologist Salary.” Ziprecruiter. Purdue 11 Aug. 2020

www.ziprecruiter.com/Salaries /Master-Cosmetologist-Salary. Accessed 25 Aug. 2020.

“6 Surprising Careers That Start with a Cosmetology License.” HealthandStyle.

healthandstyle.edu/cosmetology-career/6-surprising-careers-that-start-with-a-

cosmetology-license/. Accessed 26 Aug. 2020.

“TOP 10 CAREERS FOR COSMETOLOGY GRADS.” IBMC.edu, Nerdymind, Purdue 20 Feb.

2020, ibmc.edu/ibmc-blog/top-10-careers-for-cosmetology-grads/. Accessed 27

Aug. 2020.
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“Want a breakdown of the nuts and bolts of cosmetology and stylist careers? Here is a nutshell

of what you can expect throughout your day…” BeautySchoolsDirectory.

www.beautyschoolsdirectory.com /faq/cosmetologist.php#What-Is-A-Day-In-The-Life-

Of-A-Cosmetologist-Like. Accessed 26 Aug. 2020.

“What is a Makeup Artist?” makeupartistedu. www.makeupartistedu.org/what-is-a-makeup-

artist/. Accessed 26 Aug. 2020.

Whitney, Nicole.“Advancement in the Career of Cosmetology.” CareerTrend. 31 Dec. 2018,

careertrend.com/how-to-become-a-nail-technician-in-texas-13649915.html. Accessed 26

Aug. 2020.