How to Become an Esthetician | Esthetician Schools Brighton MI

How to Choose an Esthetician Course near Brighton Michigan

Brighton MI esthetician client with cucumber facial Since you have decided to enter the field of cosmetology and attend an esthetician school near Brighton MI, the task begins to find and enroll in the right program. It’s imperative that the program you pick not only provides the appropriate education for the specialty you have selected, but also preps you for passing the licensing examination. When you begin your initial search, you might be rather puzzled about the distinction between beauty schools and cosmetology schools. Well don’t be, because the titles are pretty much interchangeable and both refer to the same kind of school. We’ll talk a bit further regarding that in the next segment. If you intend on commuting to classes you will want to locate a school that is within driving distance of your Brighton home. Tuition will likewise be a critical aspect when reviewing prospective schools. Just remember that because a school is the closest or the least expensive it’s not necessarily the right option. There are various other qualifications that you should evaluate when analyzing schools, such as 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 talk a bit about what cosmetology is, and what types of training programs are offered.

Definition of Cosmetology

esthetics facial toners Brighton MI Cosmetology is an occupation that is everything about making the human body look more beautiful through the use of cosmetics. So of course it makes sense that many cosmetology schools are described as beauty schools. Most of us think of makeup when we hear the word cosmetics, but basically a cosmetic can be almost anything that enhances the look of a person’s skin, hair or nails. In order to work as a cosmetologist, the majority of states require that you undergo some kind of specialized training and then become licensed. Once you are licensed, the work environments include not only Brighton MI beauty salons and barber shops, but also such places as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, after they have gotten experience and a client base, establish their own shops or salons. Others will start servicing customers either in their own homes or will go to the client’s home, or both. Cosmetology college graduates go by many titles and work in a wide variety of specializations including:

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

As already mentioned, in the majority of states practicing cosmetologists have to be licensed. In a few states there is an exemption. Only those offering more skilled services, for instance hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Others working in cosmetology and less skilled, including shampooers, are not required to be licensed in those states.

Esthetics Degrees

Brighton MI esthetician client with face mask There are basically two pathways offered to receive esthetician training and a credential upon completion. You can enroll in a certificate (or diploma) course, or you can pursue an Associate’s degree. Certificate programs typically take 12 to 18 months to finish, 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 wish to specialize in just one area, for example esthetics. A degree program will also probably include management and marketing training in order that graduates are better prepared to run a parlor or other Brighton MI 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 imperative to make sure that it’s recognized by the Michigan Board of Cosmetology. Many states only recognize schools that are accredited by certain respected agencies, for instance the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). We will discuss the advantages of accreditation for the school you choose in the upcoming section.

Online Esthetics Classes

woman attending esthetician school online in Brighton MI Online esthetician schools are advantageous for Brighton MI students who are working full time and have family commitments that make it challenging to attend a more traditional school. There are many web-based cosmetology school programs available that can be attended via a home computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More traditional beauty programs are frequently fast paced given that many courses are as brief as 6 or 8 months. This means that a considerable amount of time is spent in the classroom. With internet courses, you are dealing with the same amount of material, but you are not spending many hours outside of your home or commuting to and from classes. However, it’s imperative that the school you pick can provide internship training in area salons and parlors in order that you also receive the hands-on training required for a complete education. Without the internship part of the training, it’s difficult to acquire the skills required to work in any area of the cosmetology industry. So make sure if you decide to enroll in an online program to confirm that internship training is provided in your area.

Questions to Ask Esthetics Training Classes

Brighton MI models benefit from esthetic treatments Below is a series of questions that you should research for any esthetician training program you are contemplating. As we have previously covered, the location of the school relative to your Brighton home, in addition to the cost of tuition, will undoubtedly be your first qualifiers. Whether you want to earn a certificate, diploma or a degree will no doubt be next on your list. But once you have narrowed your school options based on those initial qualifications, there are even more factors that you must research and take into consideration before enrolling in a cosmetology school. 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 certain that the esthetician college you select 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 meet their high standards assuring a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be essential for acquiring student loans or financial aid, which typically are not obtainable in 48114 for non- accredited schools. It’s also a requirement for licensing in several states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, a number of Brighton MI employers will not employ recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more positively upon those with accredited training.

Does the School have a Great Reputation? Any esthetician college that you are seriously considering should have a good to outstanding reputation within the profession. Being accredited is an excellent starting point. Next, ask the schools for testimonials from their network of employers where they have referred their students. Verify that the schools have high job placement rates, attesting that their students are highly regarded. Check rating services for reviews together with the school’s accrediting agencies. If you have any contacts with Brighton MI salon owners or managers, or any person working in the business, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are reviewing. They might even be able to suggest others that you had not considered. Finally, check with the Michigan school licensing authority to find out if there have been any complaints submitted or if the schools are in full compliance.

What’s the School’s Specialty? A number of esthetician schools offer programs that are broad in nature, concentrating on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a specific specialty, for instance hairstyling, manicuring or electrolysis. Schools that offer degree programs frequently expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it’s important that you select a school that specializes in your area of interest. If your goal is to be trained as an esthetician, make certain that the school you enroll in is accredited and well regarded for that program. If your vision is to launch a Brighton MI beauty salon, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Picking a highly rated school with a weak program in the specialty you are pursuing will not provide the training you need.

Is Plenty of Hands-On Training Provided? Practicing and mastering esthetician techniques and abilities requires plenty of practice on volunteers. Ask how much live, hands-on training is furnished in the cosmetology classes you will be attending. A number of schools have salons on campus that enable students to practice their developing talents on volunteers. If a beauty academy offers minimal or no scheduled live training, but instead depends predominantly on utilizing mannequins, it might not be the best option for acquiring your skills. So try to find other schools that provide this kind of training.

Does the School have a Job Placement Program? Once a student graduates from an esthetician school, it’s essential that he or she receives support in securing that initial job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that provide aid maintain relationships with Brighton MI employers that are looking for trained graduates available for hiring. Verify that the schools 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. High rates not only confirm that they have extensive networks of employers, but that their programs are highly respected as well.

Is Financial Aid Offered? Almost all esthetician schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Ask if the schools you are investigating have a financial aid office. Speak with a counselor and learn 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 available to students also. If a school meets each of your other qualifications except for expense, do not drop it as an option until you determine what financial assistance may be provided.

Attending Esthetician School Near Brighton MI?

Perhaps you live in the Brighton Michigan area, or have found a school that you will commute to or even relocate to attend. Either way, following is some interesting background information about the location of your new esthetician program.

Brighton, Michigan

Brighton is a suburb in Metro Detroit located in the southeast portion of Livingston County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 7,444. Brighton forms part of the South Lyon-Howell-Brighton Urban Area. It is one of two incorporated cities in Livingston County, and incorporates land that was once part of Brighton, Green Oak and Genoa townships.

Brighton exhibits what is known as a continental climate biome. Within the heart of the Great Lakes region, Brighton weather ranges from warm summers with occasional thunderstorms to cold, dry winters with moderate to heavy snowfall. Brighton has many parks nearby for fall foliage viewing including Brighton Recreation Area and Kensington Metro Park.

The median income for a household in the city in 2009 was $47,668, and the median income for a family was $77,105.[10] Males had a median income of $48,554 versus $30,877 for females. The per capita income for the city was $29,781. Brighton's surrounding townships and communities, such as Brighton and Genoa Township, have median household incomes in excess of $90,000, making it one of the more prosperous places in Michigan. Additionally, about 3.0% of families and 5.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.9% of those under age 18 and 5.2% of those age 65 or over in the 2000 census.

Choose the Right Esthetics School near Brighton MI

Selecting and enrolling in the ideal esthetician school is important to get the proper training to become a licensed cosmetology specialist. Make sure to ask all the questions that you need to in order to feel confident about your decision. Don’t forget to collect all of the responses 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 sensible start in your due diligence process is to make certain that the school and program you decide on are accredited and have excellent reputations within the field. If you start with that foundation, and answer the additional questions supplied in this article, you will be able to filter your list of schools so that you can make the right selection. Once you graduate and pass your licensing exam, you will be confident that you are qualified to launch your career as a professional esthetician in Brighton MI.