Become a Cosmetologist | Cosmetology Schools Bolingbrook IL

How to Select a Cosmetology College near Bolingbrook Illinois

nail technicians training at Bolingbrook IL beauty school Now that you have decided to train as a cosmetologist and enroll in a beauty school near Bolingbrook IL, the process starts to find and enroll in the right school. It’s important that the school you select not only furnishes the appropriate education for the specialty you have chosen, but also preps you for passing the licensing examination. When you begin your initial search, you may be rather confused 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 type of school. We’ll talk a bit further about that in the following section. If you plan on commuting to classes you will want to choose a school that is within driving distance of your Bolingbrook residence. Tuition will also be a critical aspect when evaluating possible schools. Just bear in mind that because a school is the closest or the least expensive it’s not always the ideal option. There are a number of other qualifications that you should evaluate when reviewing schools, for example their reputation and accreditation. We will go over what questions you should ask about the cosmetology schools you are considering later within this article. Before we do, let’s discuss a little bit about what cosmetology is, and what kinds of training programs are offered.

Defining Cosmetology

Bolingbrook IL makeup ar4tist applying makeup Cosmetology is an occupation that is everything about making the human anatomy look more beautiful with the application of cosmetics. So of course it makes sense that many cosmetology schools are described as beauty schools. Many of us think of makeup when we hear the word cosmetics, but really a cosmetic may be almost anything that improves the look of a person’s skin, hair or nails. In order to work as a cosmetologist, almost all states require that you go through some form of specialized training and then become licensed. Once you are licensed, the work environments include not only Bolingbrook IL beauty salons and barber shops, but also such venues as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, after they have gotten experience and a client base, open their own shops or salons. Others will begin seeing clients either in their own homes or will travel to the client’s home, or both. Cosmetology college graduates have many professional 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 already stated, in the majority of states practicing cosmetologists must be licensed. In a few states there is an exemption. Only those offering more skilled services, such as hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Other people working in cosmetology and less skilled, such as shampooers, are not required to be licensed in those states.

Cosmetologist Degrees and Certificates

Bolingbrook IL hairdresser cutting hair There are primarily two options offered to get cosmetology training and a credential upon completion. You can enroll in a certificate (or diploma) course, or you can work toward an Associate’s degree. Certificate programs usually take 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 all of the major areas of cosmetology. Briefer programs are available if you prefer to concentrate on just one area, for example hair coloring. A degree program will also likely include management and marketing training in order that graduates are better prepared to run a parlor or other Bolingbrook IL business. Higher degrees are not common, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are available in such specialties as salon or spa management. Whichever type of training program you decide on, it’s important to make certain that it’s recognized by the Illinois Board of Cosmetology. Numerous states only approve schools that are accredited by certain highly regarded agencies, such as the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will review the benefits of accreditation for the school you select in the following section.

Online Cosmetologist Programs

student attending cosmetology school online in Bolingbrook IL Online beauty schools are convenient for Bolingbrook IL students who are employed full-time and have family commitments that make it hard to enroll in a more traditional school. There are numerous web-based cosmetology school programs available that can be attended by means of a home computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More traditional cosmetology programs are typically fast paced since many programs are as brief as 6 or 8 months. This means that a considerable amount of time is spent in the classroom. With online programs, you are covering the same amount of material, but you are not devoting numerous hours away from your home or driving back and forth from classes. On the other hand, it’s important that the program you choose can provide internship training in area salons and parlors in order that you also get the hands-on training needed for a comprehensive education. Without the internship part of the training, it’s impossible to acquire the skills needed to work in any facet of the cosmetology profession. So don’t forget if you decide to enroll in an online school to verify that internship training is available in your area.

Questions to Ask Cosmetology Trade Schools

Questions to ask Bolingbrook IL beauty schools Following is a series of questions that you should investigate for any beauty training program you are considering. As we have previously covered, the location of the school relative to your Bolingbrook IL residence, in addition to the expense of tuition, will undoubtedly be your primary qualifiers. Whether you want to pursue a certificate, diploma or a degree will probably be next on your list. But once you have reduced your school options based on those initial qualifications, there are even more factors that you need to research and consider before enrolling in a cosmetology program. Below we have put together several of those supplemental questions that you should ask each school before making a final selection.

Is the School Accredited? It’s necessary to make sure that the cosmetology school you enroll in 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 meet their high standards guaranteeing a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be essential for securing student loans or financial aid, which typically are not offered in 60440 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a requirement for licensing in many states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, numerous Bolingbrook IL businesses will not hire recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more positively upon those with accredited training.

Does the School have a Great Reputation? Every cosmetologist institute that you are seriously considering should have a good to outstanding reputation within the field. Being accredited is a good starting point. Next, ask the schools for endorsements from their network of businesses where they have placed their students. Check that the schools have high job placement rates, showing that their students are highly demanded. Visit rating companies for reviews as well as the school’s accrediting agencies. If you have any connections with Bolingbrook IL salon owners or managers, or anyone working in the field, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are reviewing. They may even be able to recommend others that you had not thought of. And finally, contact the Illinois school licensing authority to find out if there have been any complaints submitted or if the schools are in complete compliance.

What’s the School’s Specialty? A number of beauty schools offer programs that are comprehensive in nature, concentrating on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a particular specialty, such as hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs commonly broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it’s imperative that you enroll in 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 respected for that program. If your desire is to open a hair salon in Bolingbrook IL, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Picking a highly regarded school with a poor program in the specialty you are pursuing will not provide the training you need.

Is Enough Hands-On Training Provided? Learning and refining cosmetology skills and techniques involves plenty of practice on volunteers. Find out how much live, hands-on training is included in the cosmetology classes you will be attending. A number of schools have salons on campus that make it possible for students to practice their growing skills on volunteers. If a beauty school furnishes minimal or no scheduled live training, but rather relies mainly on using mannequins, it may not be the best alternative for cultivating your skills. Therefore search for other schools that provide this kind of training.

Does the School have a Job Placement Program? When a student graduates from a beauty school, it’s crucial that she or he receives assistance in landing that first job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that furnish aid maintain relationships with Bolingbrook IL businesses that are searching for qualified graduates available for hiring. Confirm that the schools you are looking at have job placement programs and find out which salons and establishments they refer students to. Also, ask what their job placement rates are. Higher rates not only affirm that they have wide networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.

Is Financial Aid Offered? Almost all cosmetology schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Find out if the schools you are looking at have a financial aid department. Speak with a counselor and learn what student loans or grants you may get approved for. If the school is a member of the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships available to students also. If a school satisfies all of your other qualifications except for cost, do not eliminate it as an option until you learn what financial assistance may be offered.

Enrolled in Cosmetology School near Bolingbrook IL?

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

Bolingbrook, Illinois

The village of Bolingbrook is a southwest suburb of Chicago in Will and DuPage counties in the U.S. state of Illinois. As of the 2017 US Census, the population is 75,201[5]. It is the 17th largest incorporated place in Illinois and the state's 2nd largest village.

According to the 2010 census Bolingbrook has a total area of 24.257 square miles (62.83 km2), of which 24.05 square miles (62.29 km2) (or 99.15%) is land and 0.207 square miles (0.54 km2) (or 0.85%) is water.[7]

Interstate 55, locally the Stevenson Expressway, runs through the southern part of the village heading northeast toward Chicago and southwest toward Plainfield and Joliet. Interstate 355, also known as the Veterans Memorial Tollway (formerly the North-South Tollway), runs along the far east side of the village between New Lenox and Addison. Illinois Route 53, locally known as Bolingbrook Drive, runs north–south through the middle of the village.

Select the Right Cosmetologist Training Program near Bolingbrook IL

Bolingbrook IL barber blow drying client's hair Choosing and enrolling in the right beauty college is essential to receive the necessary training to become a licensed cosmetology specialist. Be sure to ask all the questions that you need to so as to feel certain about your decision. Make sure to organize all of the responses you receive from the cosmetology school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then utilize that data to compare schools. A good beginning in your due diligence process is to make sure that the academy and program you pick are accredited and have outstanding reputations within the field. If you begin with that base, and answer the additional questions provided in this post, you will be able to reduce your list of schools so that you can make the ideal choice. And when you graduate and pass your licensing exam, you will be confident that you are qualified to start your new career as a professional cosmetologist in Bolingbrook IL.