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Cosmetologist skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted experts

Cynthia Vancura,

Dee Gay

Below we've compiled a list of the most critical cosmetologist skills. We ranked the top skills for cosmetologists based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 20.8% of cosmetologist resumes contained tip as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a cosmetologist needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 cosmetologist skills for your resume and career

1. TIP

Here's how cosmetologists use tip:

Applied sculptured nails, tip overlays, overlays, wraps, gel nails, manicures, and pedicures.
Provide basic nail care service, sculptured nail and tip applications, oil and water pedicures

2. Customer Service

Customer service is the process of offering assistance to all the current and potential customers -- answering questions, fixing problems, and providing excellent service. The main goal of customer service is to build a strong relationship with the customers so that they keep coming back for more business.

Here's how cosmetologists use customer service:

Book keeping, money managing and responsible for multitasking including answering phones while providing excellent customer service.
Maintained customer service, accounting, inventory control and supply requisition in a self regulated salon environment.

3. Retail Sales

Retail sales are the method to track consumer demand for finished goods by assessing the purchases of durable and non-durable products over a definite period. Data on retail sales is accumulated monthly by the U.S. Bureau of the Census.

Here's how cosmetologists use retail sales:

Maintained long-standing client base through provided services* Customer Consultations* Scheduled Appointments* Retail sales
Provided excellent retail sales customer service.

4. Spa Services

Spa Services are beautification and relaxation services including manicures, massages, and other body treatments. Depending on the spa, these services may include aromatherapy, reflexology, and reiki (a form of energy healing). All spas strive to improve a client's health, both physical and mental, through relaxation and stress release; however, these health services are often not medical treatments.

Here's how cosmetologists use spa services:

Provided pedicure and manicure spa services to guests/customers.
Developed large customer base for custom hair design and spa services through quality technical skills and excellent customer service.

5. Hair Color

Here's how cosmetologists use hair color:

Provide hair coloring/ bleaching/ conditioning services.
Perform various beauty services such as haircuts, hair color, waxing, facials, makeup application, and chemical treatments.

6. Clips

Here's how cosmetologists use clips:

Utilized Great Clips customer information software.
Followed Great Clips consultation procedure.

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7. Make-Up

Make-up is the way something is put together or arranged to create a story that is not true.

In fashion, makeup is a colored substance, a decorative cosmetic that people use on the face to enhance their appearance and express everything about a person's personality, including their mood.

Here's how cosmetologists use make-up:

Wash, Blow Dry, Natural Hair Braiding, Glue in Weaves, Hair Cuts, Manicures, Pedicures and Make-up.
Performed other aspects of a full service salon and spa including manicures, pedicures, facials, waxing and make-up application.

8. Appointment Scheduling

Here's how cosmetologists use appointment scheduling:

Use of creativeness in styles that everyone loves, answering phones, appointment scheduling, and assisting with all clients
Assisted with reception and shop management duties to include appointment scheduling and re-booking.

9. Front Desk

Here's how cosmetologists use front desk:

Maintained the front desk and reception area, in order to meet team requirements, in a neat and organized manner.
Answered and directed calls to front desk and made appointments in the high volume salon and spa with almost 50 employees.

10. Cosmetic Services

Here's how cosmetologists use cosmetic services:

Performed cosmetic services- Monitored services throughout salon- Greeted and scheduled clients- Sold various products and upgrades
Provided a range of cosmetic services and promoted business development through various marketing strategies.

11. Product Knowledge

Product knowledge is the skill of having better information and knowledge about the product you are selling. Product knowledge is essential for the employees of the companies so they can communicate and inform the customers about the product. Having great product knowledge is essential for a better sales pitch and to give the customer a better and complete idea of the product that will influence him to buy the product eventually.

Here's how cosmetologists use product knowledge:

Provided outstanding customer service, one-on-one consultations and competitive product knowledge.
Provided excellent product knowledge and recommended specific products for individual customers.

12. Wigs

Here's how cosmetologists use wigs:

Promoted to Team Lead after only 2 years in the company, as well as a trainer for shows and wigs.
Performed various processes such as highlighting, frosting, and streaking hair in addition to styling wigs and hairpieces.

13. Nail Care

Here's how cosmetologists use nail care:

Handled all aspects of nail care as salon manicurist including the upkeep and sanitation of the manicure and pedicure stations.
Assisted with the maintaining of healthy hair, skin, and nail care while building personal relationships with clients.

14. Hair Removal

Here's how cosmetologists use hair removal:

Provide bridal/party makeovers, facial/body hair removal and facial treatment services.
Perform an assortment of minimally invasive body treatments including hair removal (Waxing/Sugaring) and facials.

15. Beauty Services

Here's how cosmetologists use beauty services:

Performed quality professional beauty services including styling consultation and product promotion to clientele.
Provided exceptional beauty services and consultation services specially designed for each customer.

5 Cosmetologist resume examples

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What skills help Cosmetologists find jobs?

Tell us what job you are looking for, we’ll show you what skills employers want.

What cosmetologist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?

Cynthia Vancura

Instructor, Daytona State College

I would suggest keeping up with the trends through social media, practicing on friends and family and if possible find jobs in salons as a receptionist, or any of the Beauty stores. Hair cuts and color application is a critical importance to the Cosmetology field.

What type of skills will young cosmetologists need?

Dee Gay

Department Chair, Daytona State College

Young graduates need to have an entrepreneurial mindset. When people hear the word entrepreneur they tend to think of someone who owns a business. An entrepreneurial mindset motivates people to "go the extra mile" at work, come up with solutions, and become a leader wherever they work. These are the people who are on a path to success. They are not just coming to work, they love what they do, and it is reflected in their performance.
Besides the obvious of being able to do hair, one must possess great communication skills, be a team player, a creative thinker and problem solver, diverse, equitable-all of these would be an asset for any salon. Having these skills directly impacts the clientele numbers. Without these twenty-first century skills, the average stylist will struggle to build a good clientele list, regardless of their abilities to do hair. I like to tell our students that you do not have to be the "best" at doing hair, but you will need to have the best personality.

Do you want to know more?

List of cosmetologist skills to add to your resume

The most important skills for a cosmetologist resume and required skills for a cosmetologist to have include:

TIP
Customer Service
Retail Sales
Spa Services
Hair Color
Clips
Make-Up
Appointment Scheduling
Front Desk
Cosmetic Services
Product Knowledge
Wigs
Nail Care
Hair Removal
Beauty Services
State Board
Retail Products

Client Appointments
Physical Features
Product Sales
Nail Services
Product Inventory
Safety Standards
Client Consultations
Bank Deposits
Tweezers
Repeat Business
Styling Hair
Hair Care
Hairstylist
Sanitize Tools
Inventory Control
Hair Salon
Facial Hair

Client Satisfaction
Liquid Soap
Hair Care Products
Scalp Treatments
Makeup Application
Beauty Products
Book Appointments
Cash Registers
Hair Treatments
Clients Hair
Greeting Clients
Pleasurable
Chemical Services
Skin Care
Aveda
Curling Irons

Updated January 8, 2025

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.

Updated January 8, 2025

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