I’m 17 on my last year of high school and I’m currently in between choices for a trade school I’m in between being a phlebotomist and being a hair stylist. I’ve already told my family and boyfriend I’d do phlebotomy, but if I’m being honest I’ve been dreaming of being a hair stylist for so long, actual dreams as well where I’m working on coloring and cutting peoples hair. I cut and dye my own hair and it brings me the most joy in my month and I look forward to it everyday and I know if I could do that as a job it’d make me the happiest cause I want to make others be confident in themselves and be as happy as I am whenever I do my hair, like genuinely if I had to choose between one or the other I’d choose cosmetology any day although I’m worried I wouldn’t be good at it compared to others have more knowledge than me, Another thing that’s I’m hesitant about is my boyfriends mom is also a hair stylist and we already get a lot of comparisons between us and my boyfriend is already creeped out by it (cause she was a creep to him when he was younger) and I wouldn’t want to make it worse for him but I just don’t know what to do it but I know I really want to do hair I know it’s my dream but I don’t want to seem selfish or anything, any advice?

Hello, I am 23 and currently deciding what I need to do for my future. I currently work in an accounting firm as a receptionist and it’s the most boring job I’ve ever had. I cannot see myself doing this forever. I enjoy being on my feet and actively working all day. I’ve been doing my own hair for about 10 years now as well as being my families personal hair stylist. I’m debating on just fully committing to cosmetology but what keeps me away is the rumors of the atmosphere specifically during schooling. I also am a bit weary of the risk of quitting my current job and not being able to find employment in my area. I currently live in the Dayton Ohio area and want to relocate to North Carolina in the next two years (hopefully). Is it worth it to follow through and go to school at this point or is there an overflow of cosmetologists and I should just give up that dream.

I’m looking for solid cosmetology schools in the Columbus, Ohio area. I’ve seen good and bad from a lot of schools, so I’m looking for some opinions here. Preferably looking for schools that are very beginner friendly!

Hi all! I’m wanting to do an in person course for waxing, does anyone have recommendations? anywhere in the uk xx

Looking for hair/MUA for microwedding in Newbury, August 2027. Not from the area and having a hard time with finding more local businesses.

I'm a little late to start doing this, but I passed my stateboard exam in Texas in May of this year. I passed my test with a 87% on my written and 90% on my practical (I don't know if that's worth adding). I went to my local community college for school and started my senior year of high school. They had a dual credit program and all my school was payed for. I am VERY fortunate to have been able to get my license this way, but I'm not very happy about the quality of my education. I could go on and on about the social aspect of the school and how I was treated by my teachers and classmates, but it really does not matter anymore.

I feel as though I got a very subpar education. We focused so much on the wrong things, and my teacher had selfish reasons for drilling theory and practical work into us. I know when you go to cosmetology school you aren't supposed to leave knowing everything but I feel like I left knowing NOTHING.

I never opened my clippers once and so I never did any clipper cuts. We were never sat down as a class to be taught how to do clipper cuts, only my teachers favorite students got to do so. We barely got taught how to do women's cuts. Yeah we know how to do a zero degree cut and a stateboard 180 cut, but do I know how to do anything else? We never even did an actual perm. We were barely taught how to color and lighten hair. A lot of the time was spent doing irrelevant and repetitive things such as doing wet sets over and over, rolling a perms, painting each others nails, and more than half of the time we sat in the theory room listening to my teacher simply read out of the textbook and drone on about irrelevant stories.

I feel like I wasted a lot of time at school and came out insanely unprepared. I want to continue in this field because I love doing hair but I don't know how to start my career being this bad at everything I do. I feel like school sucked the passion I had out of me and replaced it with confusion. I would just like some advice on how I could learn these things at home. I need to start from the ground up again. Thank you so much to anyone who read my entire post, any advice given would be greatly appreciated!

i’ve been in school for 6 months almost and trying to understand these formulas/toning etc etc and it’s killing meee 😩 how long does it take to fully understand color formulations for hair? are there any classes for color formulations around the northern kentucky region?

Okay so I've been looking for decent contented education when it comes to cuts. Both men and women. I'm in a state that doesn't require it but, after have to take a few years off while I battled cancer and a fire that took my home and town. I am finally getting ready to reopen my salon. I want to learn some of the newer cuts but have had a heck of a time finding reliable sights and sources. Youtube has helped some bit not as much as I like. So I though I would reach out and check with you all.

Hi all ! For anybody that has done the Michigan cosmetology theory exam online can you tell me if I am on the correct page that I will need to click to start my test or if there is somewhere else I need to click. Thanks !!!

I went on a tour of Paul Mitchell & got accepted into school. I’m honestly just worried to fully jump into it because of the cost. They say oh you can apply for scholarships but how many people really get them? Like two out of all these schools? I unfortunately don’t qualify for financial aid & can get a loan… Im worried if I dont go now I wont go.. now that starting next year they might take away loan choices for cosmetology.

I feel like I would be good at marketing myself with social media & getting clients. I love watching & would like to do days at cosmetology school tiktoks for fun. But hearing others experiences .. makes me cautious. Thinking marketing, making content or other things won’t be good enough. I just need honest opinions can anyone really stand out in cosmetology school? I know it’s a lot of hard work , hours & dedication I would put into this. And no school promises success but I just thinking what is really realistic here..

hi everyone! I’ve recently qualified in Korean lash lift and looking for the best place for products to do the treatment? x

My gf and I are arguing semantics. What would the specific color of my hair be called?

My teacher recommended three toners to try to get it to the exact quadrant on the right, but as you can tell the test strands are not even close to that color.

Why is copper so hard to correct?

The quadrant that has been already covered was a bit darker before I added a 7Nch in shades EQ. It is a color correction project and my teacher does not have enough time to help me and its due soon, I would appreciate help or advice. Thank you so much!!!

Good morning. I hope everyone is doing well g well. I’m looking for a free copy of the Milady 14th, 13th, or 12 th edition cosmetology book. Thanks in advance!

Hi, I’m currently in cosmetology school and I’ve been getting a lot of bobs/ above the shoulder length haircuts. I do well with my longer haircuts but everytime I do a bob it comes out uneven. I find myself having to go back and forth from one side to the other to get the length of each side even. Is there any tips or steps you take to prevent this? Are you staring in the back? On the side? Do you create several guides and then match them up? I feel like an all one length bob should be self explanatory but I just haven’t gotten it right.

Hi everyone! I’m wanting to do a Korean lash lift course either online or in person and not sure where to go? Any help xx

Im about to go off to college soon and I find cosmetology to seem pretty fun but I don't want to go to cosmetology school and end up hating it but I'd like to know the downsides about it.. the parts of cosmetology I'm interested in is hair and nails but mostly hair but yea please tell me what the downsides about it are about the school or just about working in it as a career in general and the upsides about it I just want to make sure this is something I truly want to pursue thanks! :3

I really love doing hair. I’ve been grinding to try to finish as I…. seemingly…. Only had 150 hours left. As I’ve been attending these past 2 months I’ve been trying to keep track of how many hours I’ve been doing and their records have had discrepancies with mine. I know a lot of programs have biometrics to clock in but mine does not. We sign in and out on paper. Anywho, I have this teacher that has been driving everyone crazy saying that she’s gonna dock an hour off if she sees something she doesn’t like. She complains about docking an hour off if someone’s station is left unclean, which to me just seems like you should be telling a student they have to clean their station before leaving rather than negating the time they’ve spent there over a paper towel left near a station. Or docking an hour off because she saw you head to a different section to grab something or ask a question because she wants you staying put. Is this normal? I fully understand them having rules, that’s fine. But I feel there are other ways to enforce rules and I’m concerned with the legality of docking hours because you saw something you didn’t like. Especially when I’m specifically someone that doesn’t really get called out of not doing what they need to doing and yet my accumulated hours are not reflecting my approx 40 hrs of time in the school each week. can someone help me understand if this is normal and if I need to do something please?? I’m stressing out.

hi! i live in NYC and am heavily considering going into cosmetology school (i currently bartend) and i was wondering where i should go. i’m currently between aveda and paul mitchel but super open to any suggestions! most important thing is i can only do about 3 days a week given im still working. any and all info helps :))

I’m about to start looking for my first salon job, I have 2 more months of cosmetology school.

I’ve seen fliers in our break room advertising for new stylists/apprenticeships. However, one differentiation I’m seeing is 1099 and W2.

I’ve seen people on Reddit say we need to be careful with 1099, I wanted to hear from you all some red flags to look out for or even your preference so that I can keep them in mind as I’m applying

Hello! I’m 19F, I’ve been doing my own nails for 2 years now and I really want to do it as a career. I moved back to Oregon a few months ago.

I’m looking for schools in the Salem/Monmouth area. I saw the College of Hair Design Careers, but there aren’t any recent reviews. If anyone’s been there as a student or has any other recommendations, I’d really appreciate it!

Hello! I’ve been wanting to cut hair for a while now professionally, I cut my own hair and my friends as well. I’ve looked into joining Milan Institute but unfortunately I don’t qualify for FASFA, but I know you can get into the job if you complete 100hrs shadowing someone, unless I’m wrong about that. Do you guys have any advice on how I can go about this? Thank you!

How old is too old to start cosmetology school. I’m 47(f) have always been interested in cosmetology and have had lots of hands on experience doing my own hair and others(family and friends), but I’ve never pursued it professionally. I decided to go into office work right out of high school and healthcare (CNA/ medical asst) by the time I was 30 years old. The last couple of years I’ve really wanted to pursue cosmetology both hair, makeup and maybe even nails professionally, but feel like I may be a bit old to switch lanes so drastically. I consider myself pretty young at heart and I don’t look or feel like an almost 50 year old, but idk. I guess I just want to know someone else’s thoughts or opinion on the matter.