Become a Cosmetologist | Cosmetology Schools Dolton IL

How to Enroll In a Cosmetologist College near Dolton Illinois

nail technicians training at Dolton IL beauty school Once you have made a decision to train as a cosmetologist and attend a beauty school near Dolton IL, the task begins to find and enroll in the right school. It’s imperative that the school you choose not only furnishes the appropriate training for the specialty you have chosen, but also prepares you for passing the licensing exam. When you begin your preliminary search, you may be a little bit puzzled about the distinction between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don’t be, because the titles are essentially interchangeable and both refer to the same kind of school. We’ll discuss a little bit further about that in the next segment. If you intend on commuting to classes you will need to locate a school that is within driving distance of your Dolton home. Tuition will additionally be an important factor when reviewing possible schools. Just bear in mind that because a school is the closest or the cheapest it’s not always the ideal choice. There are a number of other qualifications that you should weigh when analyzing schools, for example their reputation and accreditation. We will go over what questions you should ask about the cosmetology schools you are looking at later in this article. Before we do, let’s talk a bit about what cosmetology is, and what types of training programs are offered.

Defining Cosmetology

Dolton IL makeup ar4tist applying makeup Cosmetology is an occupation that is all about making the human anatomy look more attractive through the application of cosmetics. So naturally it makes sense that numerous cosmetology schools are regarded as beauty schools. Most of us think of makeup when we hear the term cosmetics, but basically a cosmetic can be almost anything that improves the appearance of a person’s skin, hair or nails. If you want to work as a cosmetologist, most states mandate that you undergo some kind of specialized training and then become licensed. Once you are licensed, the work settings include not only Dolton IL beauty salons and barber shops, but also such businesses as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, once they have acquired experience and a clientele, launch 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 go by many names and work in a wide variety of specialties including:

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

As previously mentioned, in most states working 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. Others working in cosmetology and less skilled, including shampooers, are not required to become licensed in those states.

Cosmetology Degrees and Certificates

Dolton IL hairdresser cutting hair There are basically two pathways offered to receive cosmetology training and a credential after completion. You can enroll in a certificate (or diploma) course, or you can pursue an Associate’s degree. Certificate programs typically require 12 to 18 months to finish, while an Associate’s degree usually takes about 2 years. If you enroll in a certificate program you will be trained in each of the major areas of cosmetology. Shorter programs are offered if you prefer to concentrate on just one area, for example hair coloring. A degree program will also likely include management and marketing training to ensure that graduates are better prepared to operate a parlor or other Dolton IL business. More advanced degrees are not prevalent, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are offered in such specialties as salon or spa management. Whichever type of program you decide on, it’s imperative to make sure that it’s recognized by the Illinois 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 decide on in the following section.

Online Beauty Classes

student attending cosmetology school online in Dolton IL Online beauty classes are convenient for Dolton IL students who are working full time and have family obligations that make it difficult to attend a more traditional school. There are many online cosmetology school programs available that can be attended by means of a personal computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More traditional beauty programs are frequently fast paced due to the fact that many programs are as short as 6 or 8 months. This means that a large amount of time is spent in the classroom. With internet courses, you are dealing with the same volume of material, but you are not spending many hours away from your home or commuting to and from classes. However, it’s essential that the school 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 portion of the training, it’s impossible to gain the skills required to work in any facet of the cosmetology industry. So make sure if you decide to enroll in an online program to verify that internship training is available in your area.

What to Ask Cosmetology Training Classes

Questions to ask Dolton IL beauty schools Following is a list of questions that you need to research for any cosmetology training program you are considering. As we have already discussed, the location of the school relative to your Dolton IL home, in addition to the expense of tuition, will probably be your initial qualifiers. Whether you want to pursue a certificate, diploma or a degree will undoubtedly be next on your list. But once you have reduced your school choices based on those initial qualifications, there are additional factors that you must research and consider before enrolling in a cosmetology school. Following we have compiled some of those supplemental questions that you should ask every school before making a final decision.

Is the Program Accredited? It’s essential to make certain that the cosmetology college you select is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged local or national organization, such as the National Accrediting Commission for Cosmetology Arts & Sciences (NACCAS). Schools accredited by the NACCAS must measure up to their high standards ensuring a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be essential for getting student loans or financial aid, which typically are not obtainable in 60419 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a criteria for licensing in many states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, a number of Dolton IL businesses will not recruit recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more favorably upon individuals with accredited training.

Does the School have a Good Reputation? Any cosmetology school that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to excellent reputation within the field. Being accredited is an excellent starting point. Next, ask the schools for endorsements from their network of employers where they have placed their students. Verify that the schools have high job placement rates, attesting that their students are highly demanded. Visit rating companies for reviews in addition to the school’s accrediting organizations. If you have any relationships with Dolton IL salon owners or managers, or someone working in the business, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are considering. They might even be able to recommend others that you had not looked into. Finally, check with the Illinois school licensing authority to see 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, 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 typically broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it’s important 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 respected for that program. If your desire is to start a hair salon in Dolton IL, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Selecting a highly ranked school with a poor program in the specialty you are seeking will not deliver the training you require.

Is Enough Hands-On Training Provided? Practicing and perfecting cosmetology techniques and abilities demands lots of practice on volunteers. Check how much live, hands-on training is furnished in the beauty lessons you will be attending. Some schools have salons on site that allow students to practice their developing talents on real people. If a beauty academy furnishes minimal or no scheduled live training, but rather depends mainly on the use of mannequins, it may not be the best option for acquiring your skills. So search for alternate schools that furnish this kind of training.

Does the School Provide Job Assistance? As soon as a student graduates from a cosmetology program, it’s crucial that she or he gets help in landing that initial job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that furnish help develope relationships with Dolton IL businesses that are looking for skilled graduates available for hiring. Confirm that the schools you are looking at have job placement programs and inquire which salons and establishments they refer students to. Also, find out what their job placement rates are. Higher rates not only verify that they have broad networks of employers, but that their programs are highly respected as well.

Is Financial Aid Offered? Almost all cosmetology schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Ask if the schools you are considering have a financial aid department. Talk to a counselor and learn 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 as well. If a school meets all of your other qualifications with the exception of expense, do not omit it as an alternative until you find out what financial assistance may be provided.

Enrolled in Cosmetology School near Dolton IL?

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

Dolton, Illinois

Dolton (pronounced "DAWL-ton") is a village in Cook County, Illinois, United States. The population was 23,153 at the 2010 census.[3] Dolton is located just west of the expressway Interstate 94 and immediately south of the city limits of Chicago. Its most common ZIP code is 60419.

According to the 2010 census, Dolton has a total area of 4.68 square miles (12.12 km2), of which 4.56 square miles (11.81 km2) (or 97.44%) is land and 0.12 square miles (0.31 km2) (or 2.56%) is water.[7]

As of the census[9] of 2000, there were 25,614 people, 8,512 households, and 6,494 families residing in the village. The population density was 5,627.6 people per square mile (2,173.5/km²). There were 8,944 housing units at an average density of 1,965.1 per square mile (759.0/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 82.4% African American, 14.3% White, 0.6% Asian, 0.2% Native American, 1.4% from other races, and 1.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.1% of the population.

Pick the Right Cosmetology Vocational School near Dolton IL

Dolton IL barber blow drying client's hair Picking and enrolling in the ideal cosmetology program is imperative to get the appropriate training to become a licensed cosmetology professional. Make sure to ask all the questions that you require so as to feel certain about your decision. Don’t forget to organize all of the information you receive from the cosmetology school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then use that data to compare schools. A reasonable start in your due diligence procedure is to make sure that the school and program you pick are accredited and have exceptional reputations within the field. If you start with that foundation, and address the additional questions presented in this article, you will be able to reduce your list of schools so that you can make the proper choice. Once you graduate and pass your licensing exam, you will be confident that you are prepared to start your career as a professional cosmetologist in Dolton IL.