College Life

Private Schools That Are Well Known for This Major

• Aveda Institute
• Regency Beauty Institute
• Ogle School
• Paul Mitchell School
• Empire Beauty School

State Schools That Are Well Known for This Major

• Cerritos College
• Fullerton College
• Pasadena City College
• Sacramento City College
• Saddleback College

Classes in the Major

Basic Foundation of Practical Skills. This is a 101 class that covers all sides of cosmetology, from cutting and dying hair to manicuring to basic customer service tips. This will likely be one of the entry-level classes that prepares students for the more advanced ones. You have to start somewhere, right? And the beginning's a pretty great place. This course is also a chance for students to pick a concentration. Hair, nails, makeup? Dabble a little bit in each to decide for yourself.

Salon Management. Running a salon is a unique and specific business challenge. This course provides instruction on how to deal with customers, how to clean and maintain tools, the professional side of cosmetology, and much more. No one wants a haircut from a jerk, right? And no one wants their faces brushed with germy makeup tools. So for those who are interested in opening up their very own salon one day, be sure to stay wide awake during this class.

Theory. Did you know that early hairdryers were just highly stylized vacuums? Neither did we. Cool facts like this, along with much more current and relevant information, will be taught in this course. This is a class that's more about thinking than doing; it's your chance to learn about how things are done and why they're done. This way, you'll have a strong foundation (ha) about the basics of cosmetology and you won't have a blank look on your face when someone asks you what conditioner is for. "Um, for conditioning…?"

Art and Science of Nail Technology. If you guessed that this class is about manicuring, then you nailed it. Ha ha ha. Ha ha. Ha. (Sorry.) This course will revolve around basic safety and sanitation practices that are standard in the beauty industry, as well as cool stuff like how to airbrush nails, acrylic nail application, and how to use an electric file. It's your one-stop shop for all things nail-related.

Laboratory. Don't freak out: This isn't a chemistry class. It doesn't involve graduated cylinders or memorizing the periodic table. It is, however, a hands-on class for students to apply the theory they've learned to something more practical. It'll be a chance for you to actually do the stuff you came to school for, not just bury your face in books (which we bet is horrible for your complexion, by the way). It focuses on preparing students to pass the required state exam, too, which is key to legally practice cosmetology.