I'm starting beauty school and while at my orientation I saw the most darling rolling makeup trunks a lot of the girls were using to haul their kit. I was poking around Amazon and there are so many to pick from! I'm curious, will I need it? I'm definitely considering one to at least haul my mannequins. But I'm seeking suggestions on what to be looking for. What's your favorite? Do I even waste my time?

I got into a really good cosmetology school and I am very excited; however I know many students will have done things such as tutorials and such in the past, I have not I simply had an idea of being a stylist and I got in wishing to make that a reality, so I am going in totally new to the trade. Are there any things I should do in the next couple of days to feel better prepared? The school said it’s good if you know nothing because then you can learn things their way, but I am not sure if that will put me at a disadvantage compared to my classmates.

Hi, I just got on the floor about a month ago and Im still not sure what I should be doing. Im going to night school so there’s not a lot of clients, so most days I just have my mannequin to work on. My instructor doesn’t give us exact directions on what to work on so I get overwhelmed with what to do. Does anyone have any advice on what’s most important to work on or where to find inspiration? All my teacher puts on the board is blowouts, irons, updos, braids. That seems too broad to me that I don’t know where to start.

Hey everyone! I love the salon I’m currently at. I’m an apprentice though, so bottom rung of the ladder. The last couple weeks a lot of our books have been pretty empty.

Because I’m an apprentice, I’m paid hourly. So, if my books are empty, I’ve mostly been asked to stay home.

I’m trying to find a second job that makes sense with this career, and single mom life. I’m struggling hard this season.

Hi so i dm’d rhis salon looking to see if they’re hiring, they dm’d me back saying ti text this number and never replied to my text. i’m wondering if it would be weird to contact them again? i’ve been searching for salons for so long and i can’t see to find one, i got hired at a commissions salon but left because it gave me really bad vibes. i regret it now, bc no one else is hiring right now. i think i might have to pursue something else.

Hi all,

My sister will be beginning cosmetology school next fall and I have been trying to think of ideas for Christmas. I know you get a kit when you begin school but is there anything not in it you would recommend? Or anything not necessarily for school that you think a cosmetology student would like? Sorry if that’s not very specific lol. Thanks in advance!

Hi everyone I am currently enrolled in paul Mitchell in the core classes and there is a male student in the class that is wildly inappropriate with the younger girls in the class. He’s close to 40, and a felon (not that that has to do with the issue)but is constantly saying things and touching some of the girls in class. Though he’s very talented and polite to everyone in class, he is still extremely inappropriate. Some of the girls have come to and I encourage them to report him but they refuse. I have taken pictures and video if evidence is needed, and want to take it to the higher ups of the school. My question is will I receive any flack or even have my education at risk if I report him? I fully believe he will escalate and if not now he will be in the event he is able to receive his license. Does anyone have any advice? Is there anything I can do?

What is the best place for a newer stylist to master the basics/make mistakes and not ruin their career? Like great clips, sport clips, holiday hair? Also which one has a good learning vibe? I’m not ready to go into a barber shop/ booth rent salon, but i need hands on learning to really master my technique! Thanks in advance

Hello!! I’m scheduled to take my practical manicurist exam in Michigan in less than 2 weeks. I’m looking for any tips or advice. I did an apprenticeship so I wasn’t walked through what to expect or procedures much. Are there any good videos online that helped any of you guys out? TIA ✨

What's everyone's favorite place to get shears? I'm in school currently and I like the pair I have. But I want to see if I can find one that's better fitted to my hand.

I know about lajames, but what are some other colleges of cosmetology that have dorms?

hey guys! i had a few questions since I am considering cosmetology school.

• I am a student at a college in Louisiana and I hate it, and want to/could go to cosmetology school (aveda) in baton rouge.
• I’m also from Maryland and i was considering doing aveda there, so if anyone has any suggestions or knows anything abt the schools pls lmk!!!

if you have is it like an obnoxious process? i know it depends on where you transfer to/from but im just curious

I am a licensed cosmetologist in the US and was wondering if I could transfer the license abroad, does anyone know the process of doing so ? I’d appreciate any help

So of course there's education beyond standard cosmetology school, but where do you go for that and actually receive credit for it? I'd love to learn now to cut curly hair, and even working with type 4 hair and how to do black hairstyles, but I'm unsure of where to go to learn these skills aside from YouTube and the rest of the internet.

Any help is appreciated!

i realize this is kind of niche, but i figure someone’s got an answer or at least a jumping off point

does anyone have experience transferring a cosmetology operator license from TX to colorado?

even if it’s not from tx specifically, any experience people can share about DORA would be helpful <3

thanks yall!

hi all, so i was wondering if i were to start school in the states and then move to canada, would my credits transfer? im set to start school literally next week here in the US lmao. what are canadas requirements to hold a cosmetology license, and are there paul mitchell schools in canada?

Hi! So I just applied to go to cosmetology school in FL to be a hairstylist. I'm not super sure what to expect because this is a huge passion of mine and I've heard different things from everyone about what to expect. I'm also not yet done with high-school and doing this through dual enrollment while finishing up my education. I'm wanting to specialize in alternative hairstyles and hair colors and possibly open up my own salon in the future so any advice really helps. I'm wanting to know anything I could use that's not usually on the list of supplies and what exactly I should expect from school and getting certified with a license. Any and all advice and suggestions is appreciated!

Today I went to take my practical and I didn’t feel prepared at all. I actually had to leave. My anxiety was so horrific. Needless to say I failed. I’m retaking it next week, but I don’t feel prepared at all. I’m in the state of Michigan and if anybody has any advice on how to pass it, feel free to DM me, the first 10 minutes were blur. I had to unpack my bag because it was too big so I’m looking for something smaller because that threw me. I don’t even remember trying to section out my manikin for the haircut. I know I got on her but I could not section her out. I didn’t have enough time with how often I was changing my gloves and sanitizing my hands. Is there anyway to get faster? I also know I would’ve immediately failed because I was trying to desperately section out my manikin for the chemical wave because she wasn’t section at all and I put my comb down at that point I left because I felt like I was going to pass out, seeing my psychiatrist on Friday hopefully she’ll be able to give me some sort of medication to help. Any tips and tricks to passing this practical would be so helpful right now whether it be a good packing list because my cosmetology school gave me the wrong one they didn’t prepare me at all. I would appreciate no hateful comments and just some kind helpful direct messages or comments. I really would appreciate no hateful comments or rudeness. I’ve already really beat myself up about failing. I spent hours crying and I really don’t feel like doing that for the rest of the night over, some judgmental opinions

I passed my Practical this morning with an 85 and I'm so happy cause I forgot to fill 3 of my bottles with water, forgot to use the primer on my nail, and truly thought I failed. But I needed to tell someone.

hi guys, i’m in cosmetology school and we have to create a social media account and i want a really cute/catchy username! i do not what to do “hairby__” i love short and simple like “blondie.” but i’m brunette and know people who use blondie. my name is madison but i also go by madi! any help is appreciated! extra points if it’s funny! THANK YOU!

I graduated cosmetology school about 3 weeks ago. I took my first theory test last week and made a 69. I even purchased the practice test through PSI. The practice test questions were not on the actual test. I wasted my money there. I took it again today and made a 68. You only need a 70 to pass. How did y’all study for the theory portion? I have studied with Quizlet, Kahoot and Chatgp. I feel helpless! Any recommendations or advice would be greatly appreciated.

I start PMTS next month and i was initially really excited but now all i see are girls being my absolutely traumatized by the school. I’ve been to other beauty schools so i understand that’s kind of the norm, but is Paul Mitchell worse? Are the girls THAT mean? Does the school really just want your money and that’s it? I’m 26 so i already feel super scared of not relating to everyone and I don’t have the funds for the school to mess with me 🥲

I have a client…ugh, I’ll try to make this short. I made her beautiful blonde, she colored it blue with arctic fox 🤬& then decided she didn’t want it. Let me warn you, even tho I did a test strand, after getting done with 3/4 of her head with bleach & 20 vol, it started to get HOT & whatever is in that arctic fox caused a reaction. Her hair started to fry off after like 15-20 min…..it ended up being ok but she did lose some hair & had breakage. We put like 7wn toner over everything bcz that’s what we had to make it all 1 color again since I wasn’t about to do any more bleach & she was uneven. That was like end of August beginning of September……I thought I wouldn’t be seeing her for a long time & now she calls me bcz she can’t stand being so dark 🙄 And another stylist (who has been at it far longer than me, like 30 yrs)gave her the idea of doing hilift color…I don’t have a lot of experience with hi lift, is it really that much less damaging than bleaching? I don’t see how when it lifts 4 levels. Her wanting her hair done again this soon is my worst nightmare! It’s been so slow & just starting my own businesss I don’t want to turn down money. I’ll definitely be doing k18. Any advice would really help! Thanks

A Widow 48yrs old who lost everything my late husband & I had 2gether😔 No H. S. Diploma. Just moved back to NYC a week ago. Had my own multiple successful small businesses, but gave them up, hubby was my partner in all. A sacrifice I chose to look after my husband & his hemorrhagic Stroke. I took 2 Full years & made hundreds of beautiful Handmade Jewelry Inventory. I'm also great at as a Makeup Artist/Personal Stylist & Massage Therapy. Very creative person. But I'm completely starting over from scratch. Yes I am a bit anxious. I need a Job ASAP or Personal Investor, but since I had my own businesses for the last 16-17 yrs I figure getting a certified certificate wld help my situation financially as well. Where shld I begin? Or any hires? I need to work. I have 0.00 to my name. My mother n daughters are helping as much as they cld.😢

Hi hi! I’m a current cosmo student in North Carolina, but due to certain circumstances, I am moving to New York City. Which is exciting but also so sad because obviously my current hours won’t transfer and I’ll be starting at square one.

What schools do you recommend in the city? I’ve heard some have 6 month programs (full time) and the average is 10.5 months part time. I’ve looked into Aveda, which offers the 10 and a half month program, but I’m really interested to learn about some 6 month options. I’m also curious about tuition costs and scholarship opportunities.

Any experiences / suggestions are greatly appreciated!

I’m a college guy, what do you think the result of a $60 perm from a barber would be? Not sure if I should be worried and cancel and go to a salon.

I think I represent at least 80% of people who go into cosmetology. Much respect for the ones who managed to become successful and thrive. There are few and far between, but I still feel this should be out there for all of the people who don't already have background in it, or are just doing it out of pressure, or just not knowing what to do with their life career wise.

Because I AM most people. I am not THAT stylist, BORN TO DO IT.

Fact is, most of us ARE NOT. (Talking to the unsure reader who probably has never done hair prior to thinking about going to Cosmo school) You will most likely regret it just like me, and leave the industry for something more realistic.

If you are someone who has days where you have low social battery, do NOT pursue cosmetology....

You can not afford to be antisocial, or depressed. Ever.

If you get tired, burnt out, stressed from pressure, don't do it.

If you get back or shoulder pain, don't do it.

If you want regular weekends off, don't do it.

I want my weekends back so bad.

If you aren't good at dealing with mean, picky, or rude people, don't do it. People are stupid and crazy.

You are LUCKY to find a place to work that isn't full of drama, or crazy bitches.

People who get on my nerves ruin my day and then I'm just quiet for the rest of the day.

If people get on your nerves, don't do it.

If you want to be able to afford to live on your own, don't do it. You will not be well-off for a very long time. It will take you at least a decade of people pleasing, or more. Constant busy work!

The work never becomes passive, or easy. You have to pay fees and take classes just to keep your license from expiring. You do not get refunded.

Cosmetologists without support systems at home are very rare, and they work CONSTANTLY, and they have to be extremely passionate and popular. Rent prices are high as hell, and so are car payments, and other bills. Put a student loan bill on top of all that and consider everything below as well.

They are the kind of people who are rarely in nonchalant moods. They have to be high energy naturally. Every single day.

They have to be in demand. They have to be one of the most sought after hairstylists in town, which leaves them with very little personal time for themselves, or their families/friends, so if you get fomo and burn out, do not do it. It takes a long time to get there, and once you are there the pressure to stay there surmounts.

If you have sleeping problems, DO. NOT. DO. IT.

Being tired at work SHOWS in your work, and you can't help it.

Don't even think about staying up late for fun.

This isn't a career you can just casually go into and make a comfortable living. You have to have fiery passion every single day to be a good stylist.

It is demanding physical labor.

You have to be in love with it. You can't just "not be in the mood." Ever. Days like that will cost you dearly. If you have depression, or social anxiety, do not do it. If you don't have a passion for style every day do not do it.

I do not have passion like that. I'm very good at it, but I am tired of it. The pay is not worth the debt I went into to get certified. It's just so exhausting, and isn't much better than serving tables. I actually made more money for way easier work serving tables....

And that didn't cost me anything to get into.

Cosmo school is very expensive.

You're taking on a student loan to barely get paid better than waitressing.

The only way to live comfortably is if you own your own business and have a clientele list that is a mile long. It can take over a decade to build a clientele like that, and good luck saving up for a business in this economy.

You need to be supported at first, and for a while. You will be miserable if you go work at great clips to pay your rent. It is one of the worst, most toxic work environments.

People are starting to do their own hair more since covid. Booth renters are extremely competitive, and will shit-talk you publicly to take potential clients.

I have depression and anxiety, but I'm not on disability. I just don't want to do this anymore. I can not imagine doing this for the rest of my life. I do not want to be competitive, or bust my ass to stand out.

I don't want surviving to be a competition, or a hamster wheel. I want to relax more. I don't want to have to worry about bills AT ALL.

My interests have evolved beyond hair, so I know I'll never have the passion for it to really stand out and thrive. I only got into it because at the time I really liked doing hair and I liked the idea of it. I didn't know any of the cons. I didn't know how much of a scam beauty school is, or how unforgiving the industry is. I didn't know how unstable it can be... How exhausting.... How socially draining....

I was young and naive.

How public it makes you. You have to be okay with your name being out there.

How people can be impossible to please, and then they leave bad reviews about you just because you can't do magic and give them something impossible.

There are people who don't understand genetics, hair, or even inches. That'll still be your fault, though.

You have to walk people through it, speak step by step like you're explaining something to a stupid monkey, or you risk miscommunication which messes up the cut, or color.

I'd do anything for a time machine. I'd go to school for something that pays consistently, and well, with weekends off. I plan to go back to school, but it hurts a lot to have wasted this much time.

I can't stand people anymore. I never want to work with the public again. There are just too many finicky weirdos to depend on for money.

Hairstylists are more than stylists. They're therapists, and people will trauma dump on you, talk your ear off, and drain you. It's so annoying.

I'd turn down serving so many people if I didn't need the money, or risk getting fired.

People. Are. Shitty.

Let me repeat the thing about weekends. You do not get them, unless you booth rent and can afford to make yourself unavailable. ( Yeah right ) You better be charging hella and be in demand for some niche skill no one else has! You'd better be damn good at it too, and the whole town has to know!

Fresh out of school your options will be slim. You will not be able to afford booth rent and living expenses.

You're most likely going to go to great clips, who is open 7 days a week, standing you on your feet cutting heads for 10 to 11 hours a day, and they only give you a 30 minute break. They are extremely inhumane and operate similar to sweat shops, but for haircuts. It's a good place to learn, and get experience, but other than that they burn you out very quickly, and they do not offer benefits to their employees.

A better option is cost cutters, but they don't like to hire without experience, and the pay can be even lower than great clips due to being less busy, but at least you're treated more humanely there, and can get experience with color and styling, not just cutting. Full timers get benefits, and minimum wage compensation for the slow weeks. Part timers are expected to be there for free if it's super slow, so even that sucks. Actual slavery baby sitting a store for free. (If you have a big clientele you can focus them into your part time days, but starting out you need to be full time to avoid slave shifts) They are at least closed on Sundays so you're guaranteed a day for yourself. You're also legally entitled to an hour break, unlike great clips who somehow get away with skimping you, and will reprimand you for using the bathroom too much. God forbid you get a UTI , or your period at great clips.

The industry is cruel, it's pimped out by greedy franchises and salon owners who do not give a crap about your health, or success.... They want to make an easy buck off your labor while they sit on their ass. You may have the opportunity to grow clientele through them, and that's worth being grateful for, but my God it is tiring busting your ass for less than bare necessities.

So many people who have never worked behind a salon chair want to own salons, and profit off your labor. They do not know, or care how unhealthy it can be. They will overwork the life out of you while sitting fat and happy.

You have to get up early and touch people every day and hope they aren't a nut job first thing in the morning.

If you hate mornings, don't do it.

If you don't like talking to strangers, don't do it. If you don't like meeting new people, don't do it.

If you care about politics, or any societal matters, don't do it. You're not allowed to talk politics, or social issues. It's also very risky because of how divided people are. You could risk starting an argument and making people around you uncomfortable.

There will be people who try talking about it anyway, and all you can do is bite your tongue, try to remain agreeable, or change the subject even if the person is a shit head with bigoted, or ass backwards views.

If you dwell on things, or overthink don't do it. You'll be too silent. Can't afford to have anything on your mind. People need you focused on them and caring only about them.

If you get acne easily be ready for constant break outs from other people's hair, skin and oils flying all over the place. You can only protect yourself so much.

If you get squeamish from gross things , like a ton of skin flakes flying around in your face, DON'T DO IT.

You will also be expected to trim old man ear hair. You can't have a problem with that, and they tend to be the crustiest.

Old people are A LOT of the clients. They are nuts, they are nasty, they are mentally declined. They can be some of the rudest, and most difficult,especially the old women who expect you to make them look like Lisa Rinna, or Jaime Lee Curtis for 20 bucks.

The average home needs at least 30,000 in renovations to be considered legally able to operate a business in, but how are you going to afford the house? Let alone the renovations.

We don't even get approved for loans because the industry is so unstable. Your pay fluctuates, and banks hate that.

People who are privileged enough to inherit a home, or a shop have an immediate advantage. Good luck competing with them in a small town.

I went to school with a few people like this. Their parent owned a salon, or they inherited a house they could renovate. They didn't have to start from scratch like most of us. They got to completely bypass booth rent, great clips, cost cutters, and the like....

They have the advantage in every single way. Getting where they started takes most people over 10 years of constant, dedicated, back breaking work.

I'm on year 5 and want to give up. It's a constant up-hill battle, and starting a business would just be one brand new hill to climb with a mountain of debt. I can't see retirement being pheasable. I just want to be able to go to work nonchalantly, do my duties, get paid the same (livable wage) every week, and be left the F alone, but no. Not in this industry.

I am at cost cutters, and my plan is to take advantage of the health benefits this year, and then go back to school. Even the cosmetologists I know have been doing this for over 15 years still can't afford to live alone. They need husbands, boyfriends, room mates, and parents. What a stressful, unfulfilling existence. I see cosmetologists in their 60s who can't retire.

I don't want that to be me. I want to be able to buy a home and not depend on anyone, and I don't want to have to break my back day in and out just for a roof over my head. I can't imagine how exhausting. I can't.

There's also the TikTok trend where people like to post your every mistake. So if something unexpected happens, or you're not an expert at their hair type, there they are filming it on their phone 🤳🏻 to blast it out for the whole damn world while they make fun of you. You just wanted to be able to eat that day. They agreed to buy a service, and now your misery is their clout. Literally. You have to be amazing 24/7 or someone will find a way to make you want to kill yourself.

Do not even think about going into cosmetology thinking you will be able to please everyone. That is mistake number 1. You will have a set skill, and you need to focus on that. Mistakes will be made, learning experiences happen. Hence why beauty school is a scam. Most of your learning happens in the real world.

The real world is much, much more cruel. I could go on and on. ANY QUESTIONS?

Practical test tomorrow. my school told me we had to cover or remove all piercings except for 1 lobe piercing but i’ve seen a couple people say that’s not necessary. don’t want an points taken off that can be avoided but don’t wanna have to take out all of the ear jewelry. as for face ill just wear a mask and possibly take out eyebrow piercing.