| Cosmetologists
help make people look and feel beautiful. Because they
usually have long lists of clients, meeting interesting people
is part of their daily routine. So if you like doing hair,
nails, skin, or make-up—and enjoy making new friends—this
could be the occupation for you. The down side: cosmetologists
often stand for hours at a time. Not much sitting on the job in this occupation!
Cosmetologists
can work in many different areas:
Barber/Beautician/Hair
Stylist—If you can't wait to get your hands on
someone's hair, consider specializing in this area.
Nail
Technician—Maybe you’re the go-to gal (or
guy) for nail painting at sleepovers. If so, being a manicurist
may be your thing.
Make-Up
Artist—Can’t get enough of America’s
Next Top Model? If you like the way models look in magazines—and
think transforming a face sounds fun—being a make up
maestro could be up your alley.
Interview
with a Beautician: Laurie Colon
 Laurie
has loved styling hair for as long as she can remember. So, she began cutting
hair in her early teens, and entered beauty school soon after.
Then,
at 24, she took the final steps toward becoming a full-fledged
barber. Armed with the extra schooling, she hoped to establish a loyal following.
Growing
up with a grandma who owned a wig shop, you could say hairstyling
was in Laurie's roots.
" I used to always braid and style the (hair pieces),
put them on, and I even modeled them in a fashion show every
year,” she says.
Over the years, Laurie has done a lot with wigs for other people,
too. She even offers free cuts to anyone donating hair to Locks
of Love, a charity that creates wigs for children undergoing
chemotherapy.
Plus,
she volunteers for the American Cancer Society to get wigs
for adults with the disease. "People would come to me
totally bald, balling their eyes out, but when I showed them
the beautiful wigs they could get—and that I'd style
them—their faces lit right up."
Although
that's been the highlight of Laurie's career, as a barber
she has many other fringe benefits.
"I
get to work my own hours and set my own fee."
Laurie
has always worked in a busy beauty salon. In fact that's how
she first got started 21 years ago. "My first job was
basically walk-ins," she says. But the new customers
were very pleased with how well she cut hair, and Laurie built
up a reputable business in no time.
Her advice
to anyone wanting to be a hair stylist?
Go to
barber school.
"You’ll
not only learn everything a beautician learns, but you’ll
learn the proper shaving and shearing techniques. Not to mention
a bunch, bunch more," says Laurie. Sounds hair-y interesting!
What You Can Do to Get Ready:
As in Laurie's
case, you'll eventually have to attend beauty/barber school
and get your license. In the meantime, you might want to practice
on family and friends, like she did. Just don't turn their hair green the night before a prom or
wedding!
What
it Pays:
With so much competition, pay can really vary in this type of work.
A lot depends on building a loyal customer base, which means getting and keeping clients is key.
On average, barbers/cosmetologists
can make anywhere from $15,000 per year,
to $100,000 depending on location and clientele. Since there's such a wide range, some people
depend on cosmetology as a second income. But in Laurie's case, her
love for hairstyling has been paying off.
Other
Resources:
Choosing
A Career In Beauty:
Check out what beauty school’s all about.
How
To Become A Cosmetologist: The ins and outs of a “pretty”challenging
profession.
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