If you’ve got a passion for beauty, beauty school is the perfect place to hone your skills, learn your trade, and kickstart your career. But whether you want to study massage therapy or have ambitions to become a makeup artist picking out the right beauty school for you and your goals is important.
With so many different options to choose from, it can feel like an enormous challenge to tackle. Follow these 10 steps to identify the key aspects that you should be thinking about to apply for the beauty school that matches you.
Review the specific courses on offer
Not all beauty schools cover every specialization and when you’re researching you should already have an idea of which branch you want to go into, such as cosmetology, esthetician, or nail design. There’s no point in looking into the pros and cons of a school only to discover it doesn’t cover the course that you want to study.
With an area in mind, you’ll be able to better focus your time on researching which of the options open to you are better placed to help you achieve your goals.
Ask about the schedule
Which schedule will work best for you will depend on your other commitments, but it will have an impact on how well suited you are to the course.
For example, if you need your course to work around another job or childcare, part-time options may be the best option. However, if you want to graduate as quickly as possible and you have the time to focus your full attention on beauty school, intense courses may suit your lifestyle. Enquiring about the schedule ahead of applying is a critical step for picking out a course that matches your personal style.
Visit the school to get a feel for the environment
A beauty school that is an excellent fit for someone isn’t necessarily the one that will be best for you. You want an environment that you can feel comfortable in when you’re learning. For some, this might be a setting where it’s fast-paced and lots of opportunities to get hands-on, others might prefer a method that’s more classroom based to begin with. You can get a feel for the beauty school by looking at its brochures and online content but it’s best to visit in person where possible.
Look over the curriculum
With a concentration in mind, it’s time to investigate the curriculum further. You want to make sure that it covers all the basics that you need to get your career going. You want to strike the right balance of practical and lesson based learning to match
It’s also worthwhile looking at the other aspects of the course that could help you along. For example, does it cover the business side of things? If you have dreamed of opening your own salon, it could make all the difference.
Learn about the instructors
If you get an opportunity, take the time to chat with your potential instructors and tutors. They’ll have a big influence on the skills you develop and your time at beauty school. Ideally, you want instructors that have a mixture of teaching and professional experience that they can pass on to you. If you have a particular focus in mind with your studies, such as a specific technique or a technology development, feel free to ask if they have an interest or experience in it too.
Ask about past students
At the end of the day, you have a goal in mind when you apply for beauty school. Whether you’re envisioning yourself working on a TV set as a make-up artist, opening up your very own nail salon, or working with a prestigious hairdresser, you want to make sure that your chosen course matches these expectations.
That’s why asking about past students is important. Beauty schools should be happy to let you know how many of their students go on to work in the industry and, if they have case studies available, it can give you a good indication of whether the course will equip you with the skills you’re looking for.
Read through reviews
Of course, while asking a beauty school about their past students it’s important to recognize that they’ll pick out the exceptionally successful candidates. This is where online reviews can help you, they can give you an honest account from a huge range of perspectives, allowing you to weigh up the positives and negatives.
Check the accreditation
There’s a huge range of beauty schools, some with accreditation and some without it. Accreditation shows that the beauty school has met certain requirements, for example, how students are tested, the basics that they cover, and how lessons are taught. Completing a course that’s been accredited by a body or organization from within the industry can add extra weight to your qualification, which will be useful when you’re searching for a position with an established business or building up your own client list.
Beauty schools that aren’t accredited can still provide valuable opportunities though if they’re well-known and offer recognized qualifications. It’s a factor that you will have to weigh up depending on your personal circumstances.
Ask about job placement opportunities
Including some form of a job placement within your course can really boost your potential once you leave. When searching for a course, ask if this is an available option or if it’s something you’ll be responsible for sorting out yourself. Some beauty schools offer services to customers, giving you plenty of opportunities to build up experience and your service skills.
Evaluate the price
The cost of tuition is undoubtedly important and will influence which beauty school option you choose to go with. Keep in mind that many beauty school programs offer scholarships and bursaries too, so don’t just dismiss your favored options because of expenses without exploring potential support you could receive too.
If you’re ready to explore programs and schools, use our search functions to start drawing up your shortlist of possible options.