Become a Cosmetologist | Cosmetology Schools Bolton MA

How to Pick a Cosmetology School near Bolton Massachusetts

nail technicians training at Bolton MA beauty school Now that you have made a decision to become a cosmetologist and attend a beauty school near Bolton MA, the process begins to find and enroll in the right school. It’s essential that the program you choose not only furnishes the appropriate training for the specialty you have decided on, but also prepares you for passing the licensing exam. When you start your initial search, you might be somewhat confused about the contrast between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don’t be, because the names are basically interchangeable and both refer to the same kind of school. We’ll discuss a little bit more about that in the upcoming segment. If you plan on commuting to classes you will need to find a school that is within driving distance of your Bolton residence. Tuition will additionally be an important aspect when evaluating possible schools. Just bear in mind that because a school is the nearest or the cheapest it’s not necessarily the ideal option. There are many other qualifications that you should evaluate when analyzing schools, for example 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 kinds of training programs are available.

Definition of Cosmetology

Bolton MA makeup ar4tist applying makeup Cosmetology is an occupation that is all about making the human body look more attractive with the use of cosmetics. So naturally it makes sense that many cosmetology schools are regarded as beauty schools. Many of us think of makeup when we hear the term cosmetics, but actually a cosmetic can 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 type of specialized training and then be licensed. Once you are licensed, the work environments include not only Bolton MA beauty salons and barber shops, but also such venues as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, once they have gained experience and a customer base, establish their own shops or salons. Others will begin servicing customers either in their own residences or will travel to the client’s home, or both. Cosmetology college graduates go by many names and work in a wide range of specialties including:

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

As already mentioned, in most states working cosmetologists must be licensed. In a few states there is an exemption. Only those conducting more skilled services, such as hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Other people employed in cosmetology and less skilled, including shampooers, are not required to get licensed in those states.

Cosmetology Degrees and Certificates

Bolton MA hairdresser cutting hair There are essentially two avenues available 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 normally 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 trained in all of the major areas of cosmetology. Shorter programs are available if you wish to concentrate on just one area, such as hair coloring. A degree program will also most likely feature management and marketing training in order that graduates are better prepared to operate a parlor or other Bolton MA business. More advanced degrees are not typical, but Bachelor and Master’s degree programs are available in such areas as salon or spa management. Whichever type of training program you go with, it’s important to make certain that it’s approved by the Massachusetts Board of Cosmetology. Many states only certify schools that are accredited by certain highly regarded organizations, for example the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will cover the benefits of accreditation for the school you choose in the following segment.

Online Beauty Schools

student attending cosmetology school online in Bolton MA Online cosmetology classes are accommodating for Bolton MA students who are employed full-time and have family obligations that make it challenging to attend a more traditional school. There are a large number of online cosmetology school programs offered that can be accessed by means of a desktop computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More traditional beauty schools are frequently fast paced because many programs are as short as 6 or 8 months. This means that a significant amount of time is spent in the classroom. With online programs, you are covering the same amount of material, but you’re not devoting numerous hours away from your home or driving to and from classes. On the other hand, it’s important that the training program you select can provide internship training in nearby salons and parlors in order that you also obtain the hands-on training needed for a comprehensive education. Without the internship part of the training, it’s impossible to gain the skills needed to work in any area of the cosmetology field. So don’t forget if you decide to enroll in an online school to confirm that internship training is provided in your area.

What to Ask Cosmetology Trade Schools

Questions to ask Bolton MA beauty schools Below is a series of questions that you should look into for any cosmetology training program you are contemplating. As we have already discussed, the location of the school relative to your Bolton MA home, together with the price of tuition, will most likely be your primary qualifiers. Whether you would like to earn a certificate, diploma or a degree will undoubtedly be next on your list. But once you have narrowed your school options based on those preliminary qualifications, there are even more factors that you must research and take into consideration before enrolling in a cosmetology school. Below we have collected several of those supplemental questions that you need to ask each school before making a final selection.

Is the School Accredited? It’s important to make sure 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). Schools accredited by the NACCAS must comply with their high standards assuring a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be essential for acquiring student loans or financial aid, which typically are not obtainable in 01740 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a requirement for licensing in several states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, numerous Bolton MA businesses will not hire recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more positively upon those with accredited training.

Does the School have an Excellent Reputation? Every beauty school that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to excellent reputation within the industry. Being accredited is an excellent beginning. Next, ask the schools for endorsements from their network of businesses where they have referred their students. Confirm that the schools have high job placement rates, indicating that their students are highly regarded. Check rating services for reviews together with the school’s accrediting organizations. If you have any relationships with Bolton MA salon owners or managers, or any person working in the field, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are reviewing. They might even be able to propose others that you had not looked into. Finally, check with the Massachusetts 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 Specialty? Many cosmetology schools offer programs that are comprehensive in nature, focusing on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing training in a particular specialty, for example hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs commonly expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it’s important that you decide on a school that specializes in 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 desire is to start a hair salon in Bolton MA, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will instruct you how to be an owner/operator. Choosing a highly ranked school with a weak program in the specialty you are pursuing will not deliver the training you need.

Is Enough Hands-On Training Provided? Practicing and refining cosmetology skills and techniques involves lots of practice on people. Find out how much live, hands-on training is provided in the beauty classes you will be attending. A number of schools have salons on site that allow students to practice their growing skills on volunteers. If a beauty school furnishes minimal or no scheduled live training, but instead depends mainly on utilizing mannequins, it may not be the most effective option for developing your skills. So look for other schools that furnish this type of training.

Does the School Provide Job Assistance? Once a student graduates from a cosmetology school, it’s essential that she or he receives aid in landing that first job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that provide help develope relationships with Bolton MA businesses that are seeking skilled graduates available for hiring. Confirm that the programs you are considering have job placement programs and find out which salons and businesses they refer students to. Additionally, find out what their job placement rates are. Higher rates not only confirm that they have extensive networks of employers, but that their programs are highly respected as well.

Is Financial Aid Offered? Many cosmetology schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Check if the schools you are considering have a financial aid office. Speak with a counselor and find out 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 too. If a school meets all of your other qualifications with the exception of cost, do not eliminate it as an option until you learn what financial aid may be provided.

Enrolled in Cosmetology School near Bolton MA?

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

Bolton, Massachusetts

Bolton is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. Bolton is in eastern Massachusetts, located 25 miles west-northwest of downtown Boston. The population was 4,897 at the 2010 census.

The town of Bolton was incorporated on June 24, 1738, following an influx of settlers. Town historian Esther Whitcomb, descendant of one of Bolton's earliest documented settlers, cites the recorded birth of a son, Hezekiah, to Josiah Whitcomb in 1681. By 1711, according to Whitcomb, more than 150 people were living on Bolton soil, despite a local history of Indian uprisings and one massacre. Many early houses were protected by flankers, and were designated as garrisons. Bolton's history is interesting because it is reflective of early settlement patterns in the central Massachusetts area, and the conflicts with King Philip (Metacom) and his Indian soldiers. The town was formerly part of the town of Lancaster, but seceded along the Still River, where the current boundary line still stands.[2]

In the 1920s Bolton was used as a setting and mentioned a number of times in H.P. Lovecraft's fiction: as a setting in his “Herbert West — Reanimator”, and also mentioned in his “The Rats in the Walls” and “The Colour out of Space”. However, H.P. Lovecraft's Bolton was located on the North Shore near Ipswich, Massachusetts, and was described as a factory town bearing little resemblance to the actual town.[3]

Choose the Right Cosmetology School near Bolton MA

Bolton MA barber blow drying client's hair Finding and enrolling in the right beauty college is important to receive the proper training to become a licensed cosmetology practitioner. Be sure to ask all the questions that you require in order to feel positive about your decision. Don’t forget to consolidate all of the information you get from the cosmetology school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then use that information to contrast schools. A sensible beginning in your due diligence procedure is to make certain that the school and program you select are accredited and have impressive reputations within the field. If you begin with that foundation, and address the additional questions provided in this post, you will be able to narrow down your list of schools so that you can make the ideal selection. And when you graduate and pass your licensing test, you will be confident that you are qualified to start your new career as a professional cosmetologist in Bolton MA.