Esthetic School Ashland KY

How to Choose the Right Cosmetologist Training Program near Ashland Kentucky

Ashland KY wedding makeup artist with client Since you have decided to train as a cosmetologist and enroll in a beauty school near Ashland KY, the task starts to find and enroll in the best school. It’s important that the program you choose not only provides the appropriate training for the specialty you have decided on, but also readies you for passing the licensing examination. When you begin your initial search, you may be rather confused about the contrast between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don’t be, because the names are pretty much interchangeable and both pertain to the same kind of school. We’ll speak a bit further about that in the next section. If you plan on commuting to classes you will need to choose a school that is within driving distance of your Ashland home. Tuition will likewise be a critical aspect when reviewing prospective schools. Just bear in mind that because a school is the closest or the lowest cost it’s not automatically the right choice. There are a number of other qualifications that you should weigh when comparing schools, for instance their reputation and accreditation. We will examine what questions you should ask regarding the cosmetology schools you are thinking about later in this article. Before we do, let’s discuss a bit about what cosmetology is, and what kinds of programs are available.

Definition of Cosmetology

Ashland KY hair stylist cutting hair Cosmetology is an occupation that is all about making the human anatomy look more beautiful through the application of cosmetics. So of course it makes sense that numerous cosmetology schools are described as beauty schools. Most of us think of makeup when we hear the word cosmetics, but really a cosmetic can be almost anything that enhances the look of a person’s skin, hair or nails. If you want to work as a cosmetologist, almost all states mandate that you go through some form of specialized training and then be licensed. Once licensed, the work environments include not only Ashland KY beauty salons and barber shops, but also such venues as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, after they have acquired experience and a clientele, open their own shops or salons. Others will start seeing clients either in their own homes or will travel to the client’s residence, or both. Cosmetology college graduates have many titles and are employed in a wide variety of specializations including:

Hairdressers
Hairstylists
Beauticians
Barbers
Manicurists
Nail Technicians
Makeup Artists
Hair Coloring Specialists
Estheticians
Electrolysis Technicians

As formerly mentioned, in the majority of states working cosmetologists have to be licensed. In some states there is an exemption. Only those offering more skilled services, for example hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Others employed in cosmetology and less skilled, such as shampooers, are not required to become licensed in those states.

Cosmetology Degrees

nail techs training at Ashland KY beauty school There are basically two pathways offered to receive cosmetology training and a credential upon completion. You can enroll in a certificate (or diploma) program, or you can work toward an Associate’s degree. Certificate programs usually call for 12 to 18 months to complete, while an Associate’s degree ordinarily takes about 2 years. If you enroll in a certificate program you will be instructed in each of the major areas of cosmetology. Shorter programs are offered if you prefer to focus on just one area, such as hair coloring. A degree program will also likely include management and marketing training in order that graduates are better prepared to operate a salon or other Ashland KY business. Higher degrees are not prevalent, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are available in such specializations as salon or spa management. Whichever type of training program you opt for, it’s important to make certain that it’s approved by the Kentucky Board of Cosmetology. Numerous states only approve schools that are accredited by certain reputable organizations, such as the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will discuss the advantages of accreditation for the school you select in the next segment.

Online Beauty Classes

student attending online beauty school in Ashland KY Online beauty programs are accommodating for Ashland KY students who are employed full-time and have family responsibilities that make it challenging to attend a more traditional school. There are numerous web-based cosmetology school programs available that can be attended by means of a desktop computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More traditional cosmetology programs are often fast paced due to the fact that many courses are as brief as six or eight months. This means that a significant portion of time is spent in the classroom. With internet programs, you are covering the same amount of material, but you’re not devoting many hours away from your home or commuting to and from classes. On the other hand, it’s vital that the school you select can provide internship training in nearby salons and parlors in order that you also obtain the hands-on training necessary for a complete education. Without the internship portion of the training, it’s difficult to acquire the skills necessary to work in any facet of the cosmetology profession. So don’t forget if you choose to enroll in an online program to verify that internship training is available in your area.

What to Ask Beauty Programs

Questions to ask Ashland KY cosmetology schools Following is a series of questions that you will want to investigate for any cosmetology training school you are considering. As we have already discussed, the location of the school in relation to your Ashland KY home, in addition to the price of tuition, will most likely be your primary qualifiers. Whether you wish to pursue a certificate, diploma or a degree will probably be next on your list. But once you have reduced your school choices based on those preliminary qualifications, there are even more factors that you should research and consider before enrolling in a cosmetology program. Below we have compiled some of those additional questions that you should ask every school before making a final determination.

Is the School Accredited? It’s necessary to make certain that the cosmetology college you choose is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education certified local or national agency, such as the National Accrediting Commission for Cosmetology Arts & Sciences (NACCAS). Programs accredited by the NACCAS must measure up to their high standards assuring a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be important for obtaining student loans or financial aid, which frequently are not available in 41101 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a criteria for licensing in several states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, a number of Ashland KY businesses will not hire recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more positively upon those with accredited training.

Does the School have an Excellent Reputation? Any cosmetology institute that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to excellent reputation within the industry. Being accredited is a good beginning. Next, ask the schools for testimonials from their network of employers where they have placed their students. Check that the schools have high job placement rates, signifying that their students are highly regarded. Check rating companies for reviews together with the school’s accrediting organizations. If you have any relationships with Ashland KY salon owners or managers, or any person working in the business, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are reviewing. They may even be able to suggest others that you had not thought of. And finally, contact the Kentucky school licensing authority to find out if there have been any grievances filed or if the schools are in complete compliance.

What’s the School’s Specialty? Many cosmetology schools offer programs that are comprehensive in nature, focusing on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a specific specialty, such as hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs frequently expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it’s essential that you decide on a school that focuses on your area of interest. If your ambition is to be trained as an esthetician, make sure that the school you enroll in is accredited and well regarded for that program. If your vision is to start a hair salon in Ashland KY, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will instruct you how to be an owner/operator. Picking a highly ranked school with a weak program in the specialty you are seeking will not deliver the training you require.

Is Plenty of Live Training Provided? Learning and mastering cosmetology techniques and abilities demands plenty of practice on volunteers. Ask how much live, hands-on training is provided in the cosmetology classes you will be attending. Some schools have salons on campus that make it possible for students to practice their developing talents on volunteers. If a beauty school offers minimal or no scheduled live training, but instead relies mainly on using mannequins, it might not be the best option for cultivating your skills. So try to find alternate schools that offer this type of training.

Does the School have a Job Placement Program? Once a student graduates from a beauty program, it’s imperative that he or she receives aid in finding that initial job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that furnish aid develope relationships with Ashland KY businesses that are searching for skilled graduates available for hiring. Confirm that the programs you are considering have job placement programs and ask which salons and businesses they refer students to. Additionally, ask what their job placement rates are. High rates not only confirm that they have broad networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.

Is Financial Aid Offered? Most cosmetology schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Ask if the schools you are investigating have a financial aid office. Talk to a counselor and identify what student loans or grants you might qualify for. If the school is a member of the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships offered to students also. If a school satisfies all of your other qualifications except for cost, do not discard it as an alternative until you determine what financial assistance may be offered.

Considering Cosmetology Schools in Ashland KY?

If you are considering attending Beauty School in Ashland KY or in a nearby area, following is some interesting and useful information regarding the location of your new school campus.

Ashland, Kentucky

Ashland is a home rule-class city[2] in Boyd County, Kentucky, in the United States. Ashland, the largest city in Boyd County, is located upon the southern bank of the Ohio River. The population was 21,684 at the 2010 census.[3] Ashland is a part of the Huntington-Ashland metropolitan area; with a population of 363,000.[4] Ashland is the second-largest city within the MSA, after Huntington, West Virginia. Ashland serves as an important economic and medical center for northeast Kentucky and is part of the fifth-largest metropolitan area in Kentucky.

Ashland dates back to the migration of the Poage family from the Shenandoah Valley via the Cumberland Gap in 1786. They erected a homestead along the Ohio River and named it Poage's Landing. Also called Poage Settlement, the community that developed around it remained an extended-family affair until the mid-19th century.[5] In 1854, the city name was changed to Ashland, after Henry Clay's Lexington estate and to reflect the city's growing industrial base. The city's early industrial growth was a result of the Ohio Valley's pig iron industry and, particularly, the 1854 charter of the Kentucky Iron, Coal, and Manufacturing Company by the Kentucky General Assembly.[5] The city was formally incorporated by the General Assembly two years later in 1856.[6] Major industrial employers in the first half of the 20th Century included Armco, Ashland Oil and Refining Company, the C&O Railroad, Allied Chemical & Dye Company's Semet Solvay, and Mansbach Steel.

Ashland is located at 38°27′50″N 82°38′30″W / 38.464017°N 82.641571°W / 38.464017; -82.641571 (38.464017, −82.641571).[7] It lies within the ecoregion of the Western Allegheny Plateau.[8]

Ashland KY barber trimming hair Finding and enrolling in the right cosmetologist college is imperative to receive the appropriate training to become a licensed cosmetology specialist. You originally came to this website because you have an interest in learning more about Esthetic School. So make sure to ask all the questions that you need to in order to feel confident about your decision. Make sure to consolidate all of the responses you receive from the beauty school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then employ that information to compare schools. A sensible start in your due diligence process is to make sure that the institution and program you decide on are accredited and have excellent reputations within the field. If you begin with that base, and address the additional questions supplied in this post, you will be able to filter your list of schools so that you can make the right choice. And when you graduate and pass your licensing exam, you will be confident that you are prepared to start your career as a professional cosmetologist in Ashland KY.