Become a Cosmetologist | Cosmetology Schools Barstow CA

How to Select a Cosmetology College near Barstow California

nail technicians training at Barstow CA beauty school Since you have decided to become a cosmetologist and attend a beauty school near Barstow CA, the task starts to locate and enroll in the best school. It’s important that the program you pick not only provides the appropriate training for the specialty you have chosen, but also readies you for passing the licensing exam. When you begin your preliminary search, you might be somewhat puzzled about the difference between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don’t be, because the names are basically interchangeable and both relate to the same kind of school. We’ll discuss a bit more concerning that in the following section. If you plan on commuting to classes you will need to find a school that is within driving distance of your Barstow residence. Tuition will likewise be a critical aspect when evaluating prospective schools. Just remember that because a school is the nearest or the lowest cost it’s not automatically the right option. There are a number of other factors that you should weigh when reviewing schools, for instance their reputation and accreditation. We will examine what questions you should ask about the cosmetology schools you are looking at later in this article. Before we do, let’s discuss a bit about what cosmetology is, and what types of programs are offered.

Definition of Cosmetology

Barstow CA makeup ar4tist applying makeup Cosmetology is an occupation that is everything about making the human anatomy look more beautiful through the use of cosmetics. So of course it makes sense that a number of cosmetology schools are described as beauty schools. Many of us think of makeup when we hear the term cosmetics, but really a cosmetic may be almost anything that enhances the appearance of a person’s skin, hair or nails. In order to work as a cosmetologist, almost all states mandate that you take some kind of specialized training and then be licensed. Once you are licensed, the work settings include not only Barstow CA beauty salons and barber shops, but also such places as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, once they have gotten experience and a client base, launch their own shops or salons. Others will start seeing clients either in their own residences or will travel to the client’s home, or both. Cosmetology college graduates are known by many names and work in a wide variety of specializations including:

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

As formerly stated, in the majority of states working cosmetologists must be licensed. In a few states there is an exception. Only those offering more skilled services, such as hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Other people employed in cosmetology and less skilled, such as shampooers, are not required to get licensed in those states.

Cosmetology Degrees

Barstow CA hairdresser cutting hair There are essentially two options offered to obtain cosmetology training and a credential after completion. You can enroll in a certificate (or diploma) course, or you can work toward an Associate’s degree. Certificate programs normally require 12 to 18 months to complete, while an Associate’s degree usually takes about 2 years. If you enroll in a certificate program you will be trained in all of the major areas of cosmetology. Briefer programs are offered if you wish to concentrate on just one area, for instance hair coloring. A degree program will also likely include management and marketing training to ensure that graduates are better prepared to manage a salon or other Barstow CA business. Higher degrees are not typical, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are offered in such specialties as salon or spa management. Whatever type of program you decide on, it’s important to make sure that it’s certified by the California Board of Cosmetology. A number of states only approve schools that are accredited by certain respected agencies, for example the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will examine the advantages of accreditation for the school you select in the upcoming segment.

Online Cosmetology Classes

student attending cosmetology school online in Barstow CA Online cosmetology programs are accommodating for Barstow CA students who are employed full-time and have family commitments that make it challenging to enroll in a more traditional school. There are numerous online beauty school programs available that can be attended through a personal computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More traditional cosmetology schools are typically fast paced because many courses are as short as six or eight months. This means that a considerable amount of time is spent in the classroom. With online courses, you are covering the same volume of material, but you’re not spending many hours away from your home or travelling back and forth from classes. On the other hand, it’s essential that the training program you choose can provide internship training in area salons and parlors so that you also obtain the hands-on training needed for a complete education. Without the internship part of the training, it’s impossible to gain the skills required to work in any facet of the cosmetology field. So be sure if you decide to enroll in an online school to verify that internship training is provided in your area.

Questions to Ask Beauty Training Courses

Questions to ask Barstow CA beauty schools Following is a list of questions that you will want to research for any cosmetologist training program you are considering. As we have previously covered, the location of the school relative to your Barstow CA home, in addition to the cost of tuition, will most likely be your initial qualifiers. Whether you would like to pursue a certificate, diploma or a degree will no doubt be next on your list. But once you have narrowed your school options based on those initial qualifications, there are even more factors that you need to research and take into consideration before enrolling in a cosmetology school. Below we have compiled several of those additional questions that you need to ask every school before making a final determination.

Is the School Accredited? It’s essential to make certain that the cosmetology training program you choose is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged local or national agency, such as the National Accrediting Commission for Cosmetology Arts & Sciences (NACCAS). Programs accredited by the NACCAS must comply with their high standards guaranteeing a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be necessary for obtaining student loans or financial aid, which typically are not obtainable in 92311 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a criteria for licensing in some states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, many Barstow CA businesses will not employ recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more positively upon individuals with accredited training.

Does the School have an Excellent Reputation? Each beauty school that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to exceptional reputation within the profession. Being accredited is a good starting point. Next, ask the schools for references from their network of employers where they have referred their students. Confirm that the schools have high job placement rates, signifying that their students are highly regarded. Check rating services for reviews along with the school’s accrediting organizations. If you have any contacts with Barstow CA salon owners or managers, or any person working in the industry, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are looking at. They might even be able to recommend others that you had not considered. And last, consult the California school licensing authority to see if there have been any grievances submitted or if the schools are in complete compliance.

What’s the School’s Focus? Some beauty schools offer programs that are expansive in nature, focusing on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a particular specialty, for example hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs often broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it’s imperative that you pick a school that focuses on your area of interest. If your intention is to be trained as an esthetician, make sure that the school you enroll in is accredited and respected for that program. If your dream is to open a hair salon in Barstow CA, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Selecting a highly rated school with a weak program in the specialty you are pursuing will not provide the training you need.

Is Enough Live Training Provided? Practicing and mastering cosmetology techniques and abilities demands plenty of practice on people. Find out how much live, hands-on training is furnished in the cosmetology courses you will be attending. Some schools have salons on campus that make it possible for students to practice their growing talents on volunteers. If a beauty school furnishes limited or no scheduled live training, but instead depends predominantly on utilizing mannequins, it might not be the most effective option for acquiring your skills. So search for alternate schools that furnish this type of training.

Does the School have a Job Placement Program? As soon as a student graduates from a cosmetology school, it’s essential that she or he gets aid in finding that very first job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that furnish aid develope relationships with Barstow CA employers that are seeking trained graduates available for hiring. Verify that the schools you are considering have job placement programs and inquire which salons and establishments they refer students to. In addition, ask what their job placement rates are. Higher rates not only verify that they have wide networks of employers, but that their programs are highly respected as well.

Is Financial Assistance Available? Many beauty schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Check if the schools you are reviewing have a financial aid department. Talk to a counselor and identify what student loans or grants you might qualify for. If the school belongs to the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships accessible to students as well. If a school satisfies each of your other qualifications with the exception of expense, do not eliminate it as an option until you determine what financial aid may be offered.

Enrolled in Cosmetology School near Barstow CA?

If you have decided to attend Beauty School in the greater Barstow CA area, following is some interesting and perhaps useful information about the location of your new school campus.

Barstow, California

Barstow is a major transportation center for the Inland Empire. Several major highways including Interstate 15, Interstate 40, California State Route 58, and U.S. Route 66 converge in the city. It is the site of a large rail classification yard, belonging to the BNSF Railway. The Union Pacific Railroad also runs through town using trackage rights on BNSF's main line to Daggett 10 miles (16 km) east, from where it heads to Salt Lake City and the BNSF heads to Chicago. Barstow is about 15 miles (24 km) from Yermo, 30 miles (48 km) from Victorville, 62 miles (100 km) from Baker, California and 114 miles (183 km) from Primm, Nevada. Barstow serves as a midway point for drivers traveling between Los Angeles, California (120 miles (190 km) southwest) and Las Vegas, Nevada (150 miles (240 km) northeast).

The settlement of Barstow began in the late 1830s in the Mormon Corridor. Every fall and winter, as the weather cooled, the rain produced new grass growth and replenished the water sources in the Mojave Desert. People, goods and animal herds would move from New Mexico and later Utah to Los Angeles, along the Old Spanish Trail from Santa Fe, or after 1848, on the Mormon Road from Salt Lake City. Trains of freight wagons traveled back to Salt Lake City and other points in the interior. These travelers followed the course of the Mojave River, watering and camping at Fish Ponds on its south bank (west of Nebo Center) or 3.625 miles up river on the north bank, at a riverside grove of willows and cottonwoods, festooned with wild grapes, called Grapevines (later the site of North Barstow). In 1859, the Mojave Road followed a route was established from Los Angeles to Fort Mojave through Grapevines that linked eastward with the Beale Wagon Road across northern New Mexico Territory to Santa Fe.

Indian troubles with the Paiute, Mojave and Chemehuevi tribes followed and from 1860 Camp Cady, a U.S. Army post 20 miles (32 km) east of Barstow, was occupied sporadically until 1864, then permanently, by soldiers occupying other posts on the Mojave Road or patrolling in the region until 1871.[15] Trading posts were established at Grapevines and Fish Ponds that supplied travelers on the roads and increasingly the miners that came into the Mohave Desert after the end of hostilities with the native people.[16]

Enroll in the Right Beauty Program near Barstow CA

Barstow CA barber blow drying client's hair Locating and enrolling in the right beauty college is important to receive the proper training to become a licensed cosmetology technician. Make sure to ask all the questions that you require in order to feel confident about your decision. Make sure to consolidate all of the responses you receive from the cosmetology school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then utilize that data to compare schools. A reasonable beginning in your due diligence process is to make sure that the institution and program you select are accredited and have impressive reputations within the field. If you start with that base, and address the additional questions supplied in this article, you will be able to narrow down your list of schools so that you can make the proper selection. And when you graduate and pass your licensing test, you will be self-assured that you are ready to begin your career as a professional cosmetologist in Barstow CA.