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What is a cosmetologist and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
Quoted Expert
Charley Sain
introduction image

A cosmetologist specializes in beauty treatments for hair, skin, and nails. They offer services including haircuts, coloring, styling, facials, waxing, and manicures/pedicures. Cosmetologists may work in salons, spas, or freelance. They work to keep up with industry trends and maintain a clean and safe environment. They also use communication skills to understand client needs and provide personalized recommendations. A cosmetologist aims to help clients feel confident and satisfied in their appearance.

What general advice would you give to a Cosmetologist?

Charley SainCharley Sain LinkedIn Profile

Cosmetology Instructor, Program Coordinator for Cosmetology, Esthetics, and Manicuring, Cleveland Community College

My advice to a new professional would be to work hard, continue your education, and never give up. The beauty industry rapidly changes, due to modern technology, so it is imperative to continue your education and continue your professional growth. It is essential to work hard because building a clientele can be challenging, especially during these times. Do not let those challenges get you down; stay focused, and keep your eye on your goals.
ScoreCosmetologistUS Average
Salary
2.9

Avg. Salary $37,122

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level
5.6

Growth Rate 11%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity
8.5
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.77%

Asian 7.52%

Black or African American 11.47%

Hispanic or Latino 14.62%

Unknown 4.77%

White 60.84%

Gender

female 92.65%

male 7.35%

Age - 39
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 39
Stress Level
5.6

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity Level
6.5

Complexity Level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance
10.0

Work Life balance is excellent

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a Cosmetologist?

Pros

  • Flexibility in scheduling and potential for self-employment

  • Potential for high earnings, especially with loyal clients

  • Job stability as people always need haircuts and beauty services

  • Opportunity to work in various settings such as salons, spas, or freelance

  • Possibility of advancement to management or education roles

Cons

  • Exposure to chemicals and fumes that can be harmful if not handled properly

  • High competition in the industry, especially in densely populated areas

  • Limited benefits and lack of job security if working as a freelancer or independent contractor

  • Expensive initial investment in education and equipment

  • Difficulty balancing work-life balance with evening and weekend hours

Cosmetologist career paths

Key steps to become a cosmetologist

  1. Explore cosmetologist education requirements

    Most common cosmetologist degrees

    Associate

    27.5 %

    High School Diploma

    23.2 %

    Bachelor's

    16.9 %
  2. Start to develop specific cosmetologist skills

    SkillsPercentages
    TIP20.80%
    Customer Service14.25%
    Retail Sales10.58%
    Spa Services5.76%
    Hair Color5.36%
  3. Complete relevant cosmetologist training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New cosmetologists learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a cosmetologist based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real cosmetologist resumes.
  4. Obtain the necessary licensing

    Becoming a licensed cosmetologist usually doesn't require a college degree. However, you need to pass an exam to become a licensed cosmetologist in most of states. 43 states require cosmetologists to have license for their work. You can see the list of states below.
    StateEducationExamLicense Url
    AlabamaSpecific course requiredState exam requiredLicensed Cosmetologist
    ArkansasSpecific course requiredBoth state and third-party exams requiredCosmetologist
    CaliforniaSpecific course requiredState exam requiredCosmetologist
    ColoradoSpecific course requiredState exam requiredCosmetologist
    ConnecticutSpecific course requiredState exam requiredHairdresser/Cosmetician
  5. Research cosmetologist duties and responsibilities

    • Manage beautiful hairstyles with the use of flat irons, curling irons, blow dryers, and other hair products.
    • Provide basic nail care service, sculpture nail and tip applications, oil and water pedicures
    • Apply sculptured nails, tip overlays, overlays, wraps, gel nails, manicures, and pedicures.
    • Used POS systems and software to track clients personal profiles.
  6. Prepare your cosmetologist resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your cosmetologist resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a cosmetologist resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose From 10+ Customizable Cosmetologist Resume templates

    Build a professional Cosmetologist resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Cosmetologist resume.
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  7. Apply for cosmetologist jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a cosmetologist job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How Did You Land Your First Cosmetologist Job

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Are you a Cosmetologist?

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Average cosmetologist salary

The average Cosmetologist salary in the United States is $37,122 per year or $18 per hour. Cosmetologist salaries range between $25,000 and $53,000 per year.

Average Cosmetologist Salary
$37,122 Yearly
$17.85 hourly

What Am I Worth?

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How do cosmetologists rate their job?

2/5

Based On 1 Ratings

5 Stars

4 Stars

3 Stars

2 Stars

1 Star

Cosmetologist reviews

profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Mar 2021
Cons

Poorly managed practices that don’t prioritize patient’s satisfaction through care.


profile
2.0
A zippia user wrote a review on Aug 2020
Pros

I like the satisfaction of doing someone’s hair and they love it.

Cons

Working all weekends, being in tons of social interactions a day, high stress situations, work comes home with you, getting criticism online, lots of disinfection and cleaning, lots of interaction with coworkers. Some days at work I want To go hide in the bathroom to avoid anymore social interaction and stress from dealing with the public all day.


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on May 2019
Pros

•talking n building relationships w awesome people • doing art everyday and learning mastering my craft •not sitting all day with tons of freedom to express myself through unconventional fashion and hairstyles •feeling like i have something to offer that makes people feel happy about themselves •having having clientele that is loyal

Cons

•pay is not what i expected nor is my passion as lucrative as i thought it would be. •feels less like an artist and more like an unskilled service worker or like I'm the 'help' •working weekends and holidays


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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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