Cosmetologists

Employers

Approximately 649,400 cosmetologists, hairdressers, and hairstylists are employed in the United States. The most common employers of hair stylists are, of course, beauty salons. However, hair stylists also find work at department stores, hospitals, nursing homes, spas, resorts, cruise ships, and cosmetics companies. Considering that most cosmetology schools have placement services to assist graduates, finding employment usually is not difficult for the majority of cosmetologists. As with most jobs in the cosmetology field, opportunities will be concentrated in highly populated areas; however, there will be jobs available for hair stylists virtually everywhere. Many hair stylists/cosmetologists aspire ultimately to be self-employed. This can be a rewarding avenue if one has plenty of experience and good business sense (not to mention start-up capital or financial backing); it also requires long hours and a great deal of hard work.

Starting Out

To be a licensed cosmetologist/hair stylist, you must graduate from an accredited school and pass a state test. Once that is accomplished, you can apply for jobs that are advertised in the newspapers or over the Internet, or apply at an employment agency specializing in these professions. Most schools have placement services to help their graduates find jobs. Some salons have training programs from which they hire new employees.

Scholarships or grants that can help you pay for your schooling are available. The organization, Beauty Changes Lives (https://beautychangeslives.org/cosmetology-student), offers several opportunities. One such program is the The Arnold M. Miller | Find-a-Way Scholarship, which awards up to $15,000 toward tuition to newly accepted and currently enrolled students. Visit the Beauty Changes Lives Web site for more information.