How to Become a Beauty Professional: Step-By-Step Guide

You shouldn’t judge a book by its cover. We have all heard of this one phrase, haven’t we? But in today’s day and age, when one needs to dress to impress, how can one not want to take care of their beauty and other such personal needs? 💇

If you are interested in hair care, nail designs, or even makeup, becoming a beauty professional is just the job for you!

It has good pay as well, and many people enjoy doing something they love. This article is the proper guide you should refer to if you want to become a beauty professional. 📑

Question and Answer

There might be some doubts in your mind when you think about becoming a beauty professional for your livelihood. This is completely normal, and I am here to help.

The questions I have mentioned below are extremely helpful. All you need to do is answer them honestly.

Do I know enough about makeup and beauty to advise others about it?
Do I want to pursue this as a profession, or is this just a hobby?
Can I handle performing the same tasks repeatedly?
Am I comfortable with working so closely with other people?
Am I willing to learn more as I become more experienced in the field?

If the answer to most of these questions is a yes, then you are to become a good beauty professional. You are also ready to begin your journey to become one!

Let’s start talking about the process now. 😉

Who is a Beauty Professional?

A beauty professional is an umbrella term for a lot of jobs that fall under this category. If you are aiming to become a beauty professional, you would first need to recognize what field you would want to gain expertise in.

You can be someone who has expertise in multiple fields or someone who has become a master in one particular skill. Now, what are these fields we are talking about? These include makeup, spa treatments, hair care, nail design, and even beauty advisors. 💄

So, you have a lot of options to choose from. You have to focus on your skill set and interests and then decide which field you want to go in.

All of these are growing industries. Contrary to popular belief, beauticians have good pay and can sufficiently sustain themselves quite well. 😄

There are a lot of famous beauty professionals who have worked hard to reach where they are now.

Scope of Beauty Professionals

The beauty industry earns quite a lot – it has been estimated that it earns about $100 billion all over the world per year.

Skincare is a relatively newer extension of this field, and it alone will accumulate a market of $177 billion by the year 2025. These are stats published by the source Explodingtopics,

There was a point in time when all of this was just associated with women. But now, another stat tells us that the men’s skincare market is also going to generate around $276.9 billion by the year 2025 as well.

L’Oreal is currently the biggest player in the market, with over $35 billion in sales worldwide. American women have been found to spend over $3,756 per year on beauty products and services. It looks like the beauty industry is going to be successful for a long time. 😉

Skill Set required to become a Beauty Professional.

Every job has a specific set of skills and abilities attached to it. This is also the case for beauty professionals. They have to work on some very particular skills. I have mentioned some of them below.

Learn how to pay attention to detail.
Technical proficiency is also important when using certain gadgets.
Proper communication and methods of customer service should be mastered.
Learn more about client relationship building.
Manual dexterity is also required.

Use this course to learn more about customer service, use these courses.

How much can a Beauty Professional earn?

The pay for all of the different fields we have talked about above has a different pay range. If we were to talk about the average pay for beauticians in general, it would be a total of $62,879 per year as of 2023.

This pay can be divided into the actual pay, which is $46,651 per year, and an additional pay of $16,228 per year. These additional charges take into account the bonuses, custom commissions, and tips you might get during your tenure. 💵

If we talk about fields individually, then the average pay for a hairstylist as of 2023 is $20.72 per hour and a median salary of $40,900. The average income for a nail technician is $57,741 per year. This can include an average additional pay of $13,155 for any extra services.

A spa specialist can earn a total average of $63,623 per year. This consists of an actual pay of $ 51,734 per year and an additional pay of $11,889 per year.

This just highlights the fact that all of these are growing industries and have a growing and good enough salary trend. 📈

How to Become a Beauty Professional? (More Tips)

Below are all of the steps that have been explained in detail for your benefit. You can note them down if you want because these are what you have to do to become a beauty professional. ✅

Get a diploma

If you want to become a beauty professional, the first step is for you to get a high school diploma.
A high school is necessary and more than enough for you to get basic knowledge about the foundational requirements.
A diploma is proof that you know how to do the basic stuff, that is, reading, comprehension, math, etc. You can also go for a GED diploma if you want. 🏫

Complete your specialization

After finishing and obtaining your high school diploma, since you have to get specialized skills in any one field, you can try to go to a vocational school and enroll in a specific program, such as one for cosmetology.
You can also try to get enrolled in technical schools or community colleges. It just needs to have your course.
You can expect to get proper theoretical education as well as hands-on knowledge. They give you experience as they provide training in a variety of skills, such as hair styling, eyebrow shaping, makeup application, and more. They also tell you about how to deal with clients.
These programs go on for at least two years, and you can opt to pursue these part-time or full-time according to your convenience.🧑‍🎓
Use this platform to understand more about such diploma programs.

Do some apprenticeships

It is a given that employers prefer to hire more experienced individuals. So, after completing your education, it is time for you to apply for apprenticeships under other professionals.
This helps you get all the experience you require to get hired. The professionals you would work under will be able to provide guidance and tips to improve your skills. The duration depends upon the apprenticeship you choose. 👁️‍🗨️
You can learn more about finding apprenticeships using this article.

Get a license

After completing all of this, the last step of this process is to get certified. For this, you need to get a license.
There are a lot of licenses that you can choose from and get for yourself. The process to get one depends upon what you choose. The duration, as well as the fee, also depends upon the particular license you choose to get.
What they have in common is that all of these would require you to pass some test to get qualified, so it’s better if you stay ready with your preparations. 📄

Certifications to Become a Beauty Professional

Getting a certificate would speak volumes for your experience and skills when you get ready for job hunting. The list below includes seven such certifications that will help you a lot in the long run. 📄

Professional Makeup Certification

The Art Institute of Makeup is an organization that provides the ‘Professional Makeup Certification’ certificate for makeup artists. Hence, this certification is for people who want to specialize in makeup.
People who want to get this certificate can take a month-long course to learn about the syllabus and then attempt the practical exam for it. The process involves the application of makeup on independent clients or under an apprenticeship. 💄

Master Makeup Certification

After getting the previous certificate, makeup artists can then get Master Makeup Certification, which is also provided by the Art Institute of Makeup. This certificate is there so that makeup artists can further advance in the field.
It is similar to a master’s program in its functioning. For this certification, you need to have the basic makeup certification from the same institute and should have worked as a professional makeup artist for at least one year.
If you fulfill these conditions, then you can again take the one-month course and then appear for a written exam and a practical exam. ✨

BarberSAFE Children Safety Certification

This certification is provided by the American Barber Association (ABA). If you want to appear for this process, you need to have about 1 to 7 years of experience, membership in the ABA, and an active barber license.
After achieving this certification, you will get recognition as a good children’s barber. This can be quite a difficult task as kids can be very restless during a haircut. Getting this license will convince parents that you can cut their kid’s hair safely. 💇

BarberSAFE Professional Barber

This certification is also provided by the American Barber Association (ABA). It has the same requirements as the BarberSAFE Children Safety Certification if you want to appear for the process. It would be proof of being a professional barber. ✂️

National Esthetician Certification

This certification is provided by the National Coalition of Estheticians Association (NCEA) and requires you to apply online and then take a four-week course.
After finishing the course, you can attempt the exam and get your license after passing it.
This certification is for people who want to make a career in facial treatments.

Board Certification in Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork

This certification is provided by the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork and is for people who want to specialize in massage treatments.
If you want to attempt this license, you need to have a background check, graduate from a school the organization recognizes, and have a state license in the field. 🧖

Responsibilities of a Beauty Professional

Be a good confidant.

A beauty professional is someone who works on a very intimate and personal level with all of your clients.
The customers trust you with very personal information about themselves.
This means that you have to maintain a professional relationship with them and not do anything that might be uncomfortable for them.
You also have to keep their secrets and information to yourself and not tell anyone else about it. Gossiping about the clientele’s treatment can backfire very quickly and badly. 🤐

Give them the right advice.

It is also your job to give them the right advice. It can be something scary or uncomfortable, but since they have placed so much trust in you by coming to you, it is your responsibility to be truthful to them and give them the right advice.
Take care of their interests and keep them before handing out any advice. In simpler terms, the advice you give them should align with their interests and should be honest. 🤝

Top Beauty Professional Courses in the United States

Below, we have compiled some courses you can access that will help you get more training and help for becoming a beauty professional. 🔽

Manicure Program

The location for this course is Oakland, USA, and the study format is on-campus only. It is offered by the International College Of Cosmetology.
This year, the program started in September 2023.
You can expect to get hands-on training and learn about traditional as well as modern types of nail design applications.
Nail Tech is a growing field, and his program aims to teach its students about the importance of advancing with the times and learning the techniques used in Nail Tech. 💅

Cosmetology Instructor

The location for this course is Greenville, USA, and the study format is on-campus only. It is offered by the Alexander Paul Institute of Hair Design.
This year, the program will most likely start in September 2023.
You can expect to get to know how you become a cosmetology instructor and what you are supposed to do after becoming one. Financial Aid is also available for those who need it. 💠

Diploma in Luxury Facials, Facial Machines, Chemical Peeling

The study format is online mode. It is offered by the Institute of Beauty Secrets Accreditation Academy.
The program is divided into eight sections that further include 34 lessons to complete. This makes this a total watch of 3 hours.
After finishing this diploma, you will be familiar with facials and other sorts of beauty treatments. It is a good option for people who want to open up their very own facial businesses. 🥒

Brow Lamination and Lash Lift, Brow Tint and Lash Tint 2023

The study format is online mode. It is offered by the Hajar Beauty Academy. The program is divided into three sections that further include 19 lessons to complete.
This makes this a total watch of just one hour.
After finishing this diploma, you will be familiar with applying brow laminations, tinting the brows, skin patch tests, and lash lifting. It is a good option for people who want to specialize in the field of facial beauty and makeup application. 👁️

Top Beauty Professional Schools in the World

Since we are done with extracurricular courses, we should now take a look at proper programs and the colleges that are offering them. A lot of schools offer a good foundational degree in this field. 🏫

Aveda Training Institute, United States

Located in the USA, the Aveda Training Institute offers you a diploma in their Cosmetology Program readily.
It is reputed to be one of the best cosmetology schools in the world, as it trains you in both the field of beauty and business.
The business side is to teach you about how to deal with customers. The beauty side of their program will focus on teaching the students a plethora of topics, such as business development, retail management, makeup application, and hair-cutting. 🎒

Empire Beauty School

Empire Beauty School offers you a diploma in their cosmetology program at its premises located in New York, USA. The program includes skincare in the other foundational courses offered.
This places it a bit above other institutes as it is going to teach you basic courses such as communication skills, business development, beauty analysis, and skincare.
The hair-cutting styles you are going to learn here are also one of a kind and will surely strike better than the rest. 💈

Pivot Point Academy, United States

The Pivot Point Academy in the United States offers you a cosmetology program at its premises, which is going to include the usual training. What is different is that their program only lasts for twelve months, and the students have to be present from Tuesday to Saturday.
This leaves for them a gap of just two days, which again might be used up in completing assignments, etc.
The program has four phases – Cosmetology’s foundational knowledge, practicing in spas and salons on their own, texture services, and lastly, passing the Illinois Licensure Exam. 📝

Tricoci University, United States

Tricoci University offers you a cosmetology program that includes specialization in different fields such as aesthetics, barbering, nail tech, and more.
It also includes a digital curriculum for students all over the world to use. 🌏

The Ogle School

The Ogle School offers you a cosmetology program at its premises in Stafford, Texas. This school allows students to be free on the weekends and makes them regular during the weekdays. It also focuses on the business aspect of becoming a beauty professional.
They believe that one can’t become a full-fledged beauty professional if they don’t know how to navigate through business development and deal with customers. 🧍

Hollywood Institute of Beauty, United States

The Hollywood Institute of Beauty, United States, also offers a diploma that is going to help you specialize in very specific fields of beauty. For example, you will be taught how to specialize as an event stylist or even a wedding stylist.
The students are given the liberty to delve into whatever field and technique they want to master. They are also given kits. 💄

Xenon Academy, United States

The Xenon Academy is known for the joyous environment on the campus, as they believe their students should have fun while they learn.
Their program includes the latest techniques and skills, which will help you keep up with the trends. 🤳
Phew, that’s a lot of colleges to choose from. 😫 You should sit down, think about it, and choose the best one for you properly, as it will pave the path for your career. 💻

Where to find Beauty Professional opportunities online?

It is important to keep track of whatever sources you might have that will help you secure your career.

Although it is difficult to find work as a beauty professional online and find such jobs, some sources do provide some information that can come in handy. 💼

LinkedIn is the go-to job-hunting website, which is a source for thousands of jobs and career options.
It has a variety of options to choose from, and you can find all types of jobs on it.
Be it remote jobs, work from home, part-time, or full-time jobs, all you need to do is enter your list of preferences, and LinkedIn will help you find the best option possible for yourself.
In the current age of tech advancement, LinkedIn helps you find the best virtual matches for yourself quite easily.
All you need is a LinkedIn account, and you get access to all the resources available. 💻

SimplyHired

SimplyHired is another great source for job-hunting, which you can access easily online. Quite similar to LinkedIn, it also requires you to open an account to avail yourself of all of the features on the platform.
Right now, there has been an advancement in the field of visual beauty.
In simpler terms, visual beauty is when beauty professionals operate online and help their customers by providing advice and tips regarding their beauty and maintenance.
It is a growing field and saw more growth after the COVID-19 pandemic, which forced everyone to operate via online mode. 😷
Both LinkedIn and SimplyHired offer a lot of job opportunities in this growing field, and hence, people should be more active on these two sites if they wish to work in the field. 📳

BeautyCareer

The third site that we will talk about now is BeautyCareer.
Unlike the two platforms we talked about above, BeautyCareer, as the name suggests, is exclusively for finding job opportunities in careers that are related to beauty.
This site also requires you to make an account to start using the resources available on the site. If you are a student, you can create your resume on the site and then send it to find job opportunities.
If you are an employee who is looking to hire people, you can do the opposite quite easily, that is, posting career opportunities, browsing through resumes, and then selecting people. 💄

Conclusion

Now, becoming someone whom people can rely on on such a personal level is indeed very gratifying. Hence, it becomes a very morally satisfying job to work as a beauty professional.

The pay is also good, which means you can easily survive using your pay even in the current times when inflation makes it more difficult to live every day. Just focus on what you like doing and never take people’s negative comments about your job seriously.

What you have chosen to do is a one-of-a-kind job, and you will succeed in it if you pour in the right amount of hard work. If you want to ask me anything else, you can do so in the comments section below. I will answer as soon as I can. 😄