Hairstylists offer a variety of services at salons and spas. They cut and color hair, style hair for special occasions, and offer advice on home hair care for their clients. Hairstylists may also be trained in makeup application and massage techniques such as scalp massages.
Typical costs:
Training is required to be a hairstylist. Tuition varies significantly between training programs at private technical programs and training programs at state-funded community colleges, but all programs should prepare students to work as a hairstylist in the state. On the lower end of the scale, expect to pay around $8,000 for tuition, fees and books. On the higher end of the scale, costs can exceed $20,000.
Average tuition costs [1] at the Aveda Institute[2] run about $17,000 for tuition in a 1,700-hour program.
Tuition at community colleges can be significantly less expensive than private schools for in-state students. At Everett Community College in Washington State, tuition[3] is about $7,500 for a 93-hour program[4] resulting in an associate's degree; tuition costs are significantly higher for out-of-state students, totaling about $23,000.
Typically, schools offer training in hair cutting, styling, coloring and permanents. In addition to hair care, some schools offer training in skin care, hair care and makeup application.
Training begins in the classroom, moves to wigs and mannequins, and then to real people at the beauty school's salon.
States have different program length requirements, typically around 1,500 hours (the requirement in Louisiana[5] ) and reputable training programs should meet these requirements.
Some schools include access to job banks and other job placement services.
Additional costs:
Hair stylists must be licensed, and fees for a license vary by state. Typically, fees are less than $100. Renewals are required every one to two years, and are also typically under $100.
State exams are typically part of the licensing requirements. State exam requirements and costs vary by state. At the higher end of the scale, California[6] charges $110-$125 for its exam. At the lower end of the scale, Kentucky[7] charges $75 for its exam.
Books costs for barbering programs are what students usually pay at community colleges, several hundred dollars per semester.
Discounts:
The amount of aid available to students varies significantly by program. Some schools offer federal financial aid[8] such as Pell Grants, Stafford loans and PLUS loans.
Some schools provide aid through veteran's benefits.
Check with the financial aid office at each school for information on specific programs.
Shopping for hairstylist training:
Some states, such as West Virginia[9] and Arizona[10] list accredited schools on their state licensing board websites.
State licensing boards may also keep pass/fail rates for licensing exams for graduates of programs in their state; check with individual states for details.
Most private schools require contact information such as e-mail address, phone number and addresses before they release tuition costs to prospective students.
Admissions offices may have information on the success of the school's past graduates, such as pass rates for the state exam and job placement rates.
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