As I reach the end of my time in cosmetology school (one more week YES!!) there has been so many unexpected extras packed in to this 1,500 hour course, and I'm here to tell all!
The good:
Not only is the cosmetology course jam packed with awesome hair care and to-die-for end results, one of the best perks to cos course is the work you get to do with your classmates. Mani-pedi week is heaven, as being able to sit down on a massage chair proves relaxing. Plus, having cute nails and toes is a bonus! Many students soon learn to style their own hair, and take time to help their peers. It is fun to watch your peers grow in their talents, whether it's a small cut or a total color change. But besides looking as cute as one can be, the community you find at cosmetology school is unlike any other. Not only will you meet people you will be friends with for life (shout out to Genevieve!) the connections your school may give you can set you up with a job. I got the pleasure of working with many salons, product line distributors and tool reps in the cosmetics industry. Amongst my favorite were Hanzo Shears, my personal go-to for hair tools. They are very flexible to work with on payments, they're always right there to clear things up on how the shears are supposed to work. Personally, I purchased the Arashi HH31 because they cut very easily and (add another benefit here). Also, If your school offers a partial that includes cosmetology and esthetics you may get an extra bonus. As a "senior" (finished with classes and approaching my last checkpoint) I am taking full advantage of the needed models in the esthetics department. So If you've never had a microderm abrasion, you're really missing out. Additionally, they also give the most incredible massages for your hand, shoulders, and/or back. It's sure to be the best hour nap you'll ever take!
The bad:
They don't call it "beauty school" for nothing. The course requires you to have your hair done and makeup on daily, as looking professional is what will make you professional. Wearing head to toe black will become your new dress code, and if you do not enjoy wearing black you better learn how to soon. You also must keep a sharpie on hand for those bleach spots that might pop up out of nowhere; not everything will have to do with learning to braid or balayage hair. But the glory of the cosmetology program doesn't end there. You are required to learns the bones in the face, head, hands and minimal of the feet, as well as how to recognize the layers of the skin when they become oily, dry, etc. This is done so that the stylist can detect skin diseases and disorders to potentially operate on. And knowing how to properly blow dry hair isn't the end of it either, because guess what you need to still know about? Electricity! Direct current and alternating currents, closed and open circuits, how to deal with shock, anaphoresis and cataphoresisandfaradiccurrentandsinusoidalcurrentsand(takes deep breath) takes a lot more work than you might think. The science of chemistry also plays a big part in our lesson plans because you're using elements from the periodic table on someone's skin. From atoms to bonds all the way to the PH scale, you will need to study to have it all memorized. The hair stylist who knows what products can and can't be mixed in order to not burn hair or cause scalp off is valuable knowledge for the cosmetic industry. So be advised then, as our curriculum is quite more demanding than the average person knows.
Overall:
Attending cosmetology school can be a roller coaster of emotions. In the year and a half I've been at school, there have been a million times when I wanted to quit. It takes an uncanny amount of motivation to push through the year and a half of school daily, and being a part time student is especially challenging. There is little off time, as Cos schools may only allow one week of Christmas break and one week of summer break, with a few day breaks scattered during necessary holidays. The full time program offers 11 months to graduate, with 8 hour school days. But my love for pursuing a career I am passionate about will always trump any road blocks presented to me. Most importantly, seeing the bright look on clients faces after I've amped up their look will forever keep my heart pumping into this program.
