Whether you have a passion for hair, love the creativity that nail design offers, or want to make others feel and look their best, enrolling in a beauty school program can be a great way to get yourself on the road to making your dreams come true. Beauty schools offer more than just cosmetology. They provide options for focusing on any (or all) aspects of aesthetics, training, or owning your own business. So if you're ready to jump start an exciting and new career, here's what you can expect when you enroll in a cosmetology school program.

Programs for a New Path  

When you enroll in a cosmetology school, you have options for developing skills you need to embark on a new career path, though general cosmetology is not your only option. Cosmetology schools often offer more than just learning the trade of cosmetology and the business skills you may need to have your own salon or parlor. You can also choose to learn how to become an aesthetician, an educator, or makeup artist. Programs can highlight specific aspects of each trade, too, like massage therapy; facial aesthetics; hair color, cut, or design; and makeup artistry.

Though each program covers a broad category of learning, and you'll have to develop several skills at once, if you lean toward one aspect more than others you can develop the skills you need through focusing on hands-on training. Programs often teach you for half of the training and set you free to practice and gain experience the other half.

What Does It Take?

Though every program, state, and school differs in tuition costs and length of certification training, you can generally expect to be in school for up to two years. Regardless of the program, obtaining a license depends on the amount of time you've accumulated in class, and though part-time options are acceptable at some schools, others may not allow you to work and study at the same time.

Cost is one big factor, but it can sometimes be eased with scholarships and grants. Beauty schools can cost a couple of thousand all the way up to $20,000, but they can not only put you on the path to gaining a license but can also help you develop a rapport with key members of the industry. So when you go to find the right school for you, don't select just on a name or price, but look for the school that can give you access to the best hands-on training and teaching in the area of your interest.