Business Skills Contribute To Success In The Beauty Industry

By Denise Freese

Attending Cosmetology school isn’t just about learning to style hair, apply makeup, give manicures, or understand skin care.   A thorough curriculum will offer you courses that teach business skills as well, and will prepare you in many ways for your eventual entry into the professional beauty industry.

The beauty industry offers many flexible, fun, and creative career paths. But there are behind-the-scene tasks that are important to your business, whether you work for yourself, own a salon and manage other people, or work for someone else.

business womanCommunication is an important skill that will serve you well as you establish your business. Knowing how to listen to your clients, and understanding what they want and need, is crucial, and is what will keep them coming back to you. Offering personalized attention will help establish a terrific working relationship with your clients.

Knowledge of accounting and its related areas, including budgeting and inventory control, , is critical.   Having a realistic budget will help with planning for your business; generating revenue and controlling expenses will increase your net profit. Understanding inventory control and ordering processes will reduce waste, keep costs down, help with efficient ordering of supplies, and will help you know what to charge your clients.

Marketing is another key area that requires good business skills. Today’s market requires that a business owner be technologically savvy in order to make good use of social media; visual and verbal marketing techniques will also increase your visibility in the marketplace. Establishing and maintaining a professional image will increase your appeal and draw clients to you. According to www.entrepreneur.com, top entrepreneurs never stop investing in the most powerful, effective business and marketing tool at their immediate disposal – themselves.

For more information about communication and business skills you can develop in Cosmetology school, contact:

The Salon Professional Academy

Focus On Your Field Of Study: Save Time and Money!

By Denise Freese

Cosmetology is a wide-ranging field that includes a variety of paths to choose from. Whether you’re interested in hair cutting and styling, makeup artistry, manicures and pedicures, skin care, or massage therapy, you can find an area to pursue that will provide you with a fulfilling career.

If you need a flexible schedule in a creative field, cosmetology is a great choice. According to www.education-portal.com, all cosmetologists and specialists are required to complete training at a certified cosmetology school to be eligible for state licensing exams.   In general, cosmetology programs take 9-12 months or sometimes longer to complete, but specialist programs in certain states can be completed In about six months.

It’s important to know the license requirements for the state you live in, or the state you want to work in. According to www.beautyschoolsdirectory.com, the Illinois Board of Cosmetology License Requirements lists the following requirements: for cosmetology or barbering, 1,500 hours; esthetician (skin care specialist), 750 hours; nail technician, 350 hours; electrologist, 600 hours; and massage therapist, 500 hours.

Man doing hair

The amount of time you spend in cosmetology school will depend on several factors, including which beauty program you enroll in, the state’s required hours for that program, and whether you attend on a part-time or full-time basis.

By focusing on a specialty within the field of cosmetology, you can complete the licensing requirements much more quickly, saving both time and money.   You can be on your way to a new career in under a year.

For more information about a career in cosmetology or any of the specialties that fall under the beauty umbrella, contact The Salon Professional Academy. They can answer all of your questions and assist you in choosing your new career!

The Salon Professional Academy