THINKING ABOUT A CAREER IN BEAUTY?Thinking about working in the beauty industry? Starting your cosmetology career may seem intimidating, but in reality, choosing the right school and program for you isn’t as scary as it seems.

In the cosmetology industry, you’ll express your creativity through hair and makeup. You’ll meet new people on a daily basis, and you’ll be surrounded by passionate individuals who love beauty as much as you. No matter which career path you choose, this rewarding industry offers something for everyone.

Let’s get started!

In this guide, we’ll walk you through the research process, discuss how enrolling in beauty school works, and show you what you can expect with your courses and post-graduation life.

VICI Aveda Institute4111 S. 108th StreetMilwaukee, WI 53228

YOUR GUIDE TO A CAREER IN BEAUTYBY: VICI Aveda Institute

VICI Beauty School5780 N. Port Washington RoadMilwaukee, WI 53211

Choosing the right school is vital when starting your cosmetology career. The right school will keep you motivated and help you find your first cosmetology job. When looking for schools, ask yourself:

DOES THE SCHOOL’S ATMOSPHERE MATCH MY PERSONALITY?Is it bright and creative? Is it holistic and organic? Is it modern and sleek? If you’re a boisterous person, a quiet, naturalistic campus might not be the right choice for you. Ask Admissions about the tone of the school. Talk to students who are currently enrolled and make sure you tour the campus to see if you’d be willing to spend the next year there.

HOW LONG HAS THE SCHOOL BEEN AROUND?Established schools with long-standing reputations will have a better understanding of how to successfully run curriculums. While there’s nothing wrong with starting your training at a newly established beauty school, remember that they may not have all the kinks figured out yet.

HOW MANY OF THEIR GRADUATES ARE EMPLOYED?Several factors will impact whether or not a cosmetologist finds a job after graduation besides where they attended school, but this is still an important figure to know. The goal is to find a career you love, after all.

HOW MUCH DOES SCHOOL COST?Tuition will vary from school to school, and it’s important to have a chat with Admissions about your budget. The Admissions and Financial Services department can help you with grants, scholarships and loans to reduce the cost of school.

WHERE IS THE SCHOOL LOCATED?If you take the transit system or you walk, you’ll need to find a school nearby. If you drive, your options expand. Make sure you have reliable transportation. Without it, you’ll miss school which can seriously set back your goals. If you choose a school in a metro area, make sure you’re OK with traffic and find out if there is adequate parking.

RESEARCH YOUR OPTIONS

SELECT A PROGRAMWHEN SELECTING A COSMETOLOGY PROGRAM, KEEP WHAT’S REALLY IMPORTANT TO YOU IN MIND. NO MATTER THE PROGRAM, YOU’LL LEARN THE BASICS OF MANY BEAUTY SKILLS. CERTAIN PROGRAMS WILL FOCUS ON SPECIFIC AREAS OF COSMETOLOGY, THOUGH.

If you’re interested in hair cutting, hair styling, braiding and hair color - cosmetology is the program for you. If you love makeup, skin care, or waxing, then consider an esthiology education. If you love creating nail art, then you’re destined to enter a nail technician program.

When considering which program to enter, talk to your beauty school’s advisers about career outcomes, program lengths and cost. Each program and school differs. At VICI Beauty Schools, for example, students complete our cosmetology program in about a year, while esthiology students graduate around four months.

Keep in mind that you’re going to school to do what you really love – don’t be intimidated by the length, outcome, or cost of a program too much. You’re investing a lot of time, energy and finances into your education – when you graduate, you should be passionate about your career choice!

THE ENROLLMENT PROCESSEnrolling in beauty school is nothing to fear – it can actually be a pretty easy process. Students will tour the facilities and chat with Admissions. If you’re ready to enroll, you’ll fill out an enrollment application and give your high school transcripts to your admissions adviser (GED or HSED transcripts also work.) If you haven’t graduated from high school yet, a letter from your guidance counselor will also work. Then, you’ll submit your application along with a letter of intent.

FINANCIAL AIDFinally, you’ll chat with Financial Services. If you have a guidance counselor at your high school, talk to them about the FAFSA. You’ll need that completed in order to receive financial aid.

The entire enrollment process can take as little as a day if you have everything you need. The time it takes to receive financial aid varies based on your FAFSA and whether or not Financial Services needs more information. It really depends on the student. When everything is set, it only takes a matter of days. Before you know it, you’re enrolled in beauty school!

WHEN TO ENROLLAt VICI Beauty Schools, you can enroll up to a year ahead of time. If you want to get into a class that starts in a week, we can help you with that, as well. It doesn’t matter when you want to start, and most beauty schools start classes multiple times throughout the year.

ENROLL IN SCHOOL

BEGIN COURSES

GETTING STARTEDYour first weeks at beauty school will be packed full of information to get you ready for hands-on work. It’s an exciting time in a student’s life. At VICI, your first thirteen weeks are in the classroom. Your instructors will take you through your textbooks and you’ll learn all the core fundamentals you’ll need to work as a stylist, such as anatomy, chemistry and electricity.

Once you complete two weeks of book work, you’ll move on to women’s and men’s hair cutting. Bring on the mannequins! You’ll also spend time learning about perms and relaxers. Everyone in the school will know when it’s perm day because, as one instructor says, “if the perm solution doesn’t stink, it won’t work.” You’ll spend time working on hair color and skin care, as well. Your final week in the classroom will be review, preparing you for the midterm. If you pass that, you’ll head to the clinic floor!

ON THE FLOOROn the clinic floor, you’ll spend your remaining time at beauty school working with real clients. It can be intimidating, but most students find they have the most fun on the floor. You’ll meet all the other students and instructors, and in less than a year, you’ll be ready to start your career.

WORK / LIFE BALANCEBalancing life, work and school is one of the biggest challenges that students face. It’s important to remember that your education should not be on a back burner. It needs to be a priority in your life.

At your job, see if you can move from full-time to part-time or see if your hours can be reduced. Create a schedule for yourself so you know where you need to be and at what time. Make sure childcare is in place if you need it, and sit down with your family so they understand your new set of responsibilities. This journey will be one of the most important moments in your life, and it’s important that you make time for it.

A REWARDING CAREERYou’ll find rewarding work no matter where you go. Being able to creatively express yourself is an amazing experience. This career is even more rewarding when someone walks in and doesn’t feel all that special. You give them a new cut, stunning color, or a makeup makeover and they finally feel like a superstar– that’s a wonderful feeling. Also, helping someone prepare for a big day like their wedding or prom is a special moment, and that kind of connection you can’t get just anywhere.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENTWhile in school, you’ll have many opportunities to meet with salon owners and managers to begin networking. At VICI Beauty Schools, we host career fairs twice a year so students can explore a variety of career options and salons can find future stylists. We also started a Salon Mentorship program where students shadow at a partnering salon and learn more about the professional world. One of our students found her career home because of it! Beauty schools will also bring in guest speakers whom you can learn from and network with.

At VICI, we also offer after school seminars on topics like interview skills to increase your chances of finding a job.

AFTER YOU GRADUATEAfter graduation, you’ll find job opportunities as stylists and estheticians at salons. You’ll work with hair, you’ll perform manicures and pedicures, or you’ll provide facial and waxing services. You can also work independently and find freelance work.

Photo studios often hire stylists to provide pampering to their clients, or you could work for a traveling bridal company. You could work for a salon chain or an independent salon, or you could find a job at a hotel spa or even a cruise ship spa (for those who love to travel.) A cosmetology license will take you as far as you want to go.

TAKE THE NEXT STEP!Cosmetology is a one-of-a-kind career that can take you just about anywhere. If you’re interested in beauty school, we encourage you to reach out to our Admissions department. We’d love to talk to you about your interests and help you towards a rewarding career in the beauty industry!

CLICK TO BOOK A TOUR AT VICÍ BEAUTY SCHOOL ONLINE TODAY!