Become a Cosmetologist | Cosmetology Schools Lake Forest IL

How to Find the Right Cosmetology College near Lake Forest Illinois

nail technicians training at Lake Forest IL beauty school Since you have made a decision to train as a cosmetologist and attend a beauty school near Lake Forest IL, the task starts to search for and enroll in the right school. It’s important that the program you select not only furnishes the necessary training for the specialty you have decided on, but also preps you for passing the licensing examination. When you begin your preliminary search, you may be rather confused about the difference between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don’t be, because the titles are essentially interchangeable and both pertain to the same type of school. We’ll discuss a bit further about that in the following section. If you intend on commuting to classes you will need to find a school that is within driving distance of your Lake Forest residence. Tuition will likewise be an important consideration when assessing possible schools. Just keep in mind that because a school is the nearest or the lowest cost it’s not always the best choice. There are many other factors that you should weigh when comparing schools, for example their reputation and accreditation. We will go over what questions you should ask concerning the cosmetology schools you are considering later in this article. Before we do, let’s discuss a little bit about what cosmetology is, and what kinds of training programs are available.

Definition of Cosmetology

Lake Forest IL makeup ar4tist applying makeup Cosmetology is a profession that is everything about making the human anatomy look more attractive with 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 word cosmetics, but basically a cosmetic can be anything that improves the look of a person’s skin, hair or nails. In order to work as a cosmetologist, the majority of states require that you take some type of specialized training and then be licensed. Once you are licensed, the work settings include not only Lake Forest IL beauty salons and barber shops, but also such places as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, once they have gained experience and a customer base, open their own shops or salons. Others will begin servicing clients either in their own residences or will travel to the client’s house, or both. Cosmetology college graduates have many names and are employed in a wide variety of specialties including:

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

As earlier mentioned, in most states working cosmetologists must be licensed. In some states there is an exception. Only those performing more skilled services, such as hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Others employed in cosmetology and less skilled, such as shampooers, are not required to get licensed in those states.

Cosmetology Degrees and Certificates

Lake Forest IL hairdresser cutting hair There are primarily two pathways offered to get 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 generally call for 12 to 18 months to finish, while an Associate’s degree commonly 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 offered if you want to specialize in just one area, such as hair coloring. A degree program will also probably feature management and marketing training so that graduates are better prepared to run a parlor or other Lake Forest IL business. More advanced degrees are not common, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are available in such specialties as salon or spa management. Whatever type of training program you decide on, it’s important to make sure that it’s recognized by the Illinois Board of Cosmetology. Many states only approve schools that are accredited by certain highly regarded organizations, for instance the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will discuss the benefits of accreditation for the school you decide on in the next section.

Online Beauty Courses

student attending cosmetology school online in Lake Forest IL Online cosmetology classes are accommodating for Lake Forest IL students who are working full-time and have family responsibilities that make it difficult to enroll in a more traditional school. There are many web-based cosmetology school programs offered that can be accessed by means of a personal computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More conventional cosmetology programs are frequently fast paced since many programs 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 amount of material, but you are not devoting many hours outside of your home or travelling to and from classes. On the other hand, it’s vital that the program you select can provide internship training in area salons and parlors so that you also get the hands-on training required for a complete education. Without the internship portion of the training, it’s difficult to gain the skills necessary 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 available in your area.

What to Ask Beauty Training Programs

Questions to ask Lake Forest IL beauty schools Following is a series of questions that you need to research for any cosmetology training school you are considering. As we have previously covered, the location of the school in relation to your Lake Forest IL home, together with the cost of tuition, will probably be your initial qualifiers. Whether you want to earn a certificate, diploma or a degree will no doubt be next on your list. But once you have reduced your school choices based on those preliminary qualifications, there are additional factors that you need to research and take into consideration before enrolling in a cosmetology school. Below we have put together some of those additional questions that you need to ask every school before making a final selection.

Is the Program Accredited? It’s necessary to make certain that the cosmetology school you enroll in is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education certified local or national organization, such as the National Accrediting Commission for Cosmetology Arts & Sciences (NACCAS). Schools accredited by the NACCAS must comply with their high standards ensuring a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be important for obtaining student loans or financial aid, which often are not offered in 60045 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a requirement for licensing in several states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, a number of Lake Forest IL employers will not employ recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more favorably upon those with accredited training.

Does the School have an Excellent Reputation? Every cosmetology school that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to outstanding reputation within the field. Being accredited is a good beginning. Next, ask the schools for references from their network of businesses where they have referred their students. Confirm that the schools have high job placement rates, showing that their students are highly sought after. Visit rating services for reviews as well as the school’s accrediting agencies. If you have any connections with Lake Forest IL salon owners or managers, or anyone 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 looked into. Finally, contact the Illinois school licensing authority to find out if there have been any complaints filed or if the schools are in complete compliance.

What’s the School’s Focus? Many cosmetology schools offer programs that are expansive in nature, concentrating on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a specific specialty, for example hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs often expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it’s essential 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 vision is to launch a hair salon in Lake Forest IL, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Choosing a highly regarded school with a weak program in the specialty you are pursuing will not provide the training you need.

Is Any Hands-On Training Provided? Learning and refining cosmetology skills and techniques involves lots of practice on people. Check how much live, hands-on training is furnished in the cosmetology lessons you will be attending. A number of schools have salons on campus that enable students to practice their growing skills on volunteers. If a beauty school provides minimal or no scheduled live training, but rather relies mainly on using mannequins, it may not be the best alternative for acquiring your skills. So look for other schools that furnish this type of training.

Does the School have a Job Placement Program? As soon as a student graduates from a beauty academy, it’s imperative that he or she gets support in finding that very first job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that provide assistance maintain relationships with Lake Forest IL employers that are seeking skilled graduates available for hiring. Confirm that the programs you are contemplating have job placement programs and inquire which salons and organizations they refer students to. In addition, ask what their job placement rates are. Higher 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 beauty schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Find out if the schools you are looking at have a financial aid office. Consult with a counselor and find out what student loans or grants you may qualify for. If the school is a member of the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships accessible to students as well. If a school fulfills all of your other qualifications with the exception of expense, do not omit it as an option before you find out what financial help may be provided.

Enrolled in Cosmetology School near Lake Forest IL?

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

Lake Forest, Illinois

Lake Forest is a city located in Lake County, Illinois, United States. As of the 2010 census it had a population of 19,375.[4] The city is along the shore of Lake Michigan, and is a part of the Chicago metropolitan area and the North Shore.

Lake Forest was founded together with Lake Forest College; it was laid out as a town in 1857, and was a stop for travelers making their way south to Chicago. The Lake Forest City Hall, designed by Charles Sumner Frost, was completed in 1898. It originally housed the fire department, the Lake Forest Library, and city offices.[5] The city used restrictive covenants to bar "African-Americans and Jews from purchasing property in Lake Forest", a practice that "continued at least until the 1960s", but which seems to have been "greatly diminished" by the 1990s.[6]

According to the 2010 census, Lake Forest has a total area of 17.246 square miles (44.67 km2), of which 17.18 square miles (44.50 km2) (or 99.62%) is land and 0.066 square miles (0.17 km2) (or 0.38%) is water.[8]

Select the Right Cosmetologist Vocational School near Lake Forest IL

Lake Forest IL barber blow drying client's hair Choosing and enrolling in the ideal cosmetology college is essential to obtain the necessary training to become a licensed cosmetology specialist. Make sure to ask all the questions that you need to so as to feel certain about your decision. Make certain to collect all of the information you receive from the beauty school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then employ that data to contrast schools. A reasonable beginning in your due diligence procedure is to make sure that the academy and program you choose are accredited and have outstanding reputations within the field. If you begin with that base, and answer the additional questions provided in this article, you will be able to narrow down your list of schools so that you can make the right selection. Once you graduate and pass your licensing examination, you will be confident that you are qualified to begin your career as a professional cosmetologist in Lake Forest IL.