Have you ever thought about going to cosmetology school? Many people who do not want to go to a traditional university for four years, six years, or even eight years end up considering cosmetology as an alternate route.
It’s a hands-on profession; cosmetology school consists of a little training and a large amount of practice. Many schools offer discounted or free haircuts to those who are willing to let a student practice their craft. Typically, a cosmetologist can become licensed in around a year, although the amount of time it takes to finish the required number of practice hours to attain certification varies depending on the student.

If you’re undecided about cosmetology as a career versus other professions that do not require a college degree, it’s helpful to consider your options. It used to be that certain medical assistants, nurses, and dental hygienists could practice their craft without a four-year degree. The market for these jobs, however, is increasingly competitive, with more and more people opting for at least a bachelor’s degree in such fields.

Trade professions continue to offer viable options. Plumbers, electricians, carpenters, mechanics, and landscape professionals often need special training or certification, but are not necessarily required to have a typical college degree. Certain office jobs, like secretarial or paralegel work, might require only an associate’s, or two year, degree.

Those working in computer science or the arts can certainly benefit from a degree in their field, but talent, skill, and know-how often trump everything. If you know what you’re doing, there are jobs to be had. A number of specialized computer courses that do not require a degree are offered (where else?) online, allowing aspiring computer specialists to hone their skills and acquire new knowledge without having to attend a college.

After reviewing all of the options, it’s clear that there is still a way forward for those looking for an advanced education and viable profession outside of traditional college. To be sure, a college degree is useful, and many people choose to go that route. But if you’re seeking different direction, there are still plenty of options out there.

If you’ve looked at your options and decided on a career in cosmetology, it can be a quite satisfying and productive job. There is often opportunity for advancement, and the level of pay can often depend on your skill and hard work. What’s not to like?

Learning vital career skills doesn’t mean you have to wait for college – at least that’s what two Salem, Oregon high schools are doing. Students of Sabin-Schellenberg Technical Center of the North Clackamas School District and Robert Ferrell High School at Hillcrest Youth Correctional Facility are learning cosmetology skills before they graduate from high school.

These technical schools also offer high school students other career training options in addition to cosmetology. The cosmetology curriculum is the latest installment that offers new career options to students.

These beauty and cosmetology classes cover many of the same topics they will encounter in a full beauty school course. Students are exposed to:

• Sanitation practices
• Hair techniques
• Microbiology
• Anatomy
• Business skills

Upon completion, these high school students should have the knowledge and skill set to take their state cosmetology licensing examinations. There are some technical schools nationwide that are taking the same route as these Oregon high schools. If interested, check with your local cosmetology board to see if any high schools in your area offer cosmetology training programs at the high school level.

I’m frequently shocked by the vast number of people who ask, “Am I too old for cosmetology school?” Reality check! It’s never too late to achieve your dreams of becoming a beautician.

Diane Rickard was 59 when she enrolled in cosmetology school, unable to find work in another field in today’s rickety economy.  Now, just a few of years later, she is the proud owner of her very own beauty business – AvaShay, a natural nail spa in Brighton, Michigan.

If you are passionate about beautifying people and you’re ready for a change of scenery, switching to a cosmetology career may be perfect for you – regardless of your age. Some things to think about are balancing current career responsibilities with getting your beauty education, your family’s reaction, and facing your fear of the big change!

In today’s tough job market, jobs are hard to find – particularly for someone who is older or interested in switching careers.  But the beauty industry still offers opportunities for someone who is people-oriented and not willing to let anything stand in their way. Diane Rickard was the oldest person in her cosmetology class when she enrolled at Brighton Institute of Cosmetology – and now she’s her own boss.

Live the dream. Find out what it takes to enroll in cosmetology school - no matter how old you are.

There are countless reasons cosmetology professionals attend beauty school to learn their trade – cutting, coloring and styling hair isn’t something that everyone can do. Well, at least … isn’t something that everyone should do. So here are five more great reasons to see a professional.

My own experience with self-styling started early. When I was little, my mom used to trim my bangs, and got the blunt, straight-across look by pulling a piece of Scotch tape across my fringe and then cutting under that. Seemed easy enough. Until I tried it myself, and ended up with at least an inch difference in length from the left to right side of my forehead. I remember my mom hiding a laugh behind her hand when I begged her not to tell Dad, and she replied, “Oh honey, I don’t think we’re going to have to!”

I also used to cut my own hair in college, when I was broke. I tried to fool myself into thinking it looked halfway decent, but I’m pretty sure that was the reason why every day of the week was a bad hair day and I wore ponytails for four years straight.

Thankfully, I’m not the only one. Some other misguided wannabe amateur hairstylists have provided their own hair horror stories here:

“Oh my, I am the hair disaster queen! I let my dad cut my hair in the 8th grade. He cut it way too short and uneven. I cried. The very next day was our holiday play and there was not enough time to go somewhere to get it fixed so I looked like an idiot! I also tried to touch up my roots once with a drugstore hair color kit and they turned bright orange. I called around and found a salon that could fix it the next afternoon, but I had to come to work in the morning with orange hair. I wore a hat. I had only worked here for a few months at the time and even with the hat I was super embarrassed. It has been a long road, but I have finally learned to leave my hair in the hands of professionals!” -Angie

“Sometimes, when I am between haircuts, I’ll do a little styling to delay paying the 15 bucks on a haircut for another week or so. Using what scissors happen to be in the kitchen junk drawer, I stand on my tippy-toes – like it helps – in the bathroom mirror and cut around my ears, thin out my sideburns, trim the bangs, and try my best to angle the blades to fade my hair on the sides. This means I do nothing to the back, which results in a strange effect in which I look relatively well-groomed straight on … for a few seconds. But if you spend any time looking at me, you can see the back come hulking around. I would compare this look to a batting helmet I wore in little league – minimalistic in front with excessive padding in the back.” -Kevin

“When I was probably 13 or 14 I used that Sun-In stuff when I was at the lake. I didn’t think it was doing anything, so I kept spraying on more and more. I had used the whole bottle before I realized that my hair wasn’t turning platinum – it was turning orange.” -Lacey

“I tried to color my hair once with one of those box dyes. I went ahead and got the premium kind that included do-your-own highlights. Yeah, that was a bad idea. I freaked out halfway through letting the highlights sit and washed it all out. So first off, the color turned out dark red instead of light brown and I had these blonde patches were the color took. I looked like a sunburned leopard… or something like that. Red hair plus blonde spots equals not good.” -Chris

So what about you? Have you ever tried to color or cut your hair and ended up horrified by the results? Share your stories below – we’ll commiserate. And next time? Make sure to go to a licensed hairstylist who has legit training from a cosmetology school, eh?

Something big is brewing in Texas. Cosmetologists and barbers are both feeling pretty indignant, and judging by the comments in articles like this, their clients have pretty strong feelings, too.

So here’s the deal: some Texas cosmetologists are challenging laws that allow barbers – but not cosmetologists – to shave customers. Cosmetologists want to be able to legally shave their customers, but barbers (who feel that cosmetologists are encroaching on their monopoly over men and boys already) want to keep the razor-wielding privileges for themselves.

Now, Texas law has allowed cosmetologists to trim beards and mustaches since 2001. But where does trimming end and shaving start? Texas has no legal definition of shaving, or even of a “razor.”

That means we’re not just talking about Sweeney Todd-style straight razors? Umm … nope. Legally, Texas cosmetologists can’t even take a pink Lady Bic to the bottoms of a client’s sideburns. The cosmetologists feel like this is silly – they’ve been handling safety razors since they were preteens, and even tattoo artists in Texas are allowed to use disposable razor to shave the area they’re going to tattoo.

Barbers, on the other hand, feel like their exclusive right to shaving customers represents the last thing that sets them apart from cosmetologists. Trained in the 14 distinct strokes of the classic straight-razor shave, they feel they’ve earned the right to at least a small population of men.

So … what do you think? Is it silly that cosmetologists (who often undergo longer beauty training programs) cannot shave their customers, even with safety razors? Or do barbers have a right to hang on to something that’s set them apart since the days of white-and-red striped poles?

If you’re anything like me, you find something you like and you stick with it. I’m definitely not known among my friends as the “adventurous one,” because I usually stay loyal to anything I already know that I like.

However, one thing I can’t resist experimenting with is a great fragrance. This week, I found a cool online feature from one of my favorite magazines, Real Simple. This article listed some fragrances that are perfect for dreary winter days. A new fragrance really can be a refreshing break in your winter routine.

I’m no perfume scientist (or esthetician, or makeup artist), but this article did a great job of separating and categorizing scents and fragrance notes. Here are some of their favorite fragrances that cost less than $50. Because smelling nice doesn’t have to break the bank!

Soft and Warm Fragrances
These fragrances share an amber base note (the base note adds depth to a fragrance and serves as its foundation). Amber scents are often described as rich and powdery, with a hint of sweetness.

Try these “soft and warm” fragrances:
• GapBody White Amber Eau de Toilette, $28
• C.O. Bigelow Chemists Perfume Oil in Amber, $15

Spicy and Flowery Fragrances
These floral scents are a little bit deeper and richer than the light, summertime florals. These scents are described as complex and inviting.

Try these “spicy and flowery” fragrances:
• Ralph Lauren Notorious Body Lotion, $45
• Susanne Lang Midnight Orchid 72, $50

Woodsy and Earthy Fragrances
Fragrances with woodsy, earth notes often combine the strength of masculine scents with more delicate, feminine notes.

Try these “woodsy and earthy” fragrances:
• Kiehl’s Original Musk Essence Oil, $16
• Tokyomilk Parfum in Dead Sexy 06, $28