Earning your cosmetology license doesn’t limit you to only hairstyling or working in a hair salon. There are numerous career opportunities that are opened to you when you become a licensed cosmetologist.
Cosmetologists help clients beautify their hair, skin, and nails. A cosmetologist is licensed to do the same things a licensed esthetician or manicurist can do. No matter what your passions, there is a career in the beauty industry for you.
What is a Licensed Cosmetologist?
In California, you must earn a cosmetology license by completing a training program and passing an exam given by the State Board of Barbering and Cosmetology. A cosmetologist can cut, style, perm, color, relax, bleach, permanent wave, tint, straighten, dye, brush, and treat hair. They can also do skin care, advanced makeup, and nail care.
Here is a non-exhaustive list of everything you can do with a cosmetology license in California.
Hair Stylist
One of the most common jobs for licensed cosmetologists is hairstylist. You can cut, color, style, chemically treat, trim, texturize, perm, bleach, and relax hair. Most hairstylists work in a salon, some work in spas or barbershops, others work in fashion and entertainment. This is a fundamental skill for professional cosmetologists.
Makeup Artist
With your license, you can offer professional makeup services. You can work at various places, including salons, spas, and beauty counters. A makeup artist is responsible for applying makeup to make their clients look their best. Some makeup artists work at fashions shows, in the entertainment industry, or in theatrical makeup. A few makeup artists work freelance in their own independent business.
Skin Care Specialist
Cosmetologists trained in skin care can perform exfoliations, facials, and skin care treatments. This does not include any invasive procedures such as Botox or collagen injections. You can work in med spas, resorts, or holistic skin centers.
Nail Care Technician
Licensed cosmetologists can also work as nail techs, doing manicures, pedicures, buffing and shaping nails. A cosmetologist can also nail art, nail acrylics, and applying gel polish or nail polish in a salon. You may also do hand-painted nails with decorative components like glitter or rhinestones. Typically, you would work in a nail salon, but some cosmetologists open their own shops.
Hair Color Specialist
Hair colorists are hairstylists who specialize in advanced techniques such as like balayage, ombré, highlights, lowlights, bronde, bleaching, color melt, corrective color, and full color dye. A professional hair colorist must have extensive knowledge of color theory, hair types, hair porosity, and chemical processing.
Salon or Spa Owner
After several years of experience, you may choose to open your own beauty salon. Numerous cosmetologists make the transition to salon operator. This comes with an expanded set of responsibilities, but often the salon owner still sees clients regularly. You’ll be responsible for business planning, financial management, staffing, business operations, sales and marketing, and more.
Braiding / Natural Hair Specialist
Some cosmetologists work with natural hair, coily hair, and braiding hair. They may also create natural hairstyles with extensions woven in.
Bridal & Special Event Stylist
Wedding hairstylists can make a lucrative living doing hair for the bride on her special day. Brides always want to look beautiful for their wedding photos, and hairstylists can spend a lot of time preparing the bride’s hair. Proms are another occasion when women will splurge on getting their hair done.
Theatrical Makeup Artist
With a cosmetology license, you can do hair and makeup for actors in movies, television, and theater. Hair and makeup artists are an essential part of filming and performance.
Beauty Instructor
A cosmetology instructor helps train the next generation of beauty professionals. You’ll need some years of experience working as a cosmetologist, and you may need additional certification, depending on state regulations. You’ll train students in hair styling, hair coloring, nail care, skin care, and sometimes makeup application. The beauty instructor develops lesson plans and ensures students follow the required curriculum and learn the skills they need to pass the certification exam and begin their career.
Beauty Products Sales Representative
Some cosmetologists work as sales reps for beauty products, or promote the brands. A few cosmetology pros even work behind the scenes helping develop their own product lines. You work with major beauty companies, helping teach other beauty professionals the best way to use the products.
Stylist for Ship Cruises or Resorts
Luxury resorts and cruise ships often have built-in salons for their guests. You can work as a beauty professional seeing exotic locations and helping clients enjoying their vacations.
Social Media Beauty Influencer
Some cosmetologists become beauty influencers on social media platforms like Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok. In most cases, they create content like makeup and beauty tutorials, product reviews, and personal insights. Learning to share your expertise and teach others through visual and video content is a way to build a following and get product sponsorships while practicing your cosmetology skills.
Celebrity Stylist
A select few cosmetologists rise to the top of their field and are sought out by celebrities to be their hairstylist or beautician. It’s common for these elite cosmetologists to get referrals to other people in those social circles.
Traveling Freelance Cosmetologist
If you have a certification in one or more states, you may become a traveling cosmetologist, helping clients at special events or different locations with hairstyling, professional makeup, or beauty treatments.
Earn Your Cosmetology License in About 30 Weeks
Paul Mitchell the School at Campus Sacramento will help teach you the skills you need to become a licensed cosmetologist in our world-class cosmetology program. You’ll learn all about cosmetology, hair styling, skin care, and nail care, and get the information you need to pass the state licensing exam. You’ll also get insights on marketing your services. Learn from a professional curriculum and some of the best instructors in California at our Sacramento beauty college. For more information on class schedules, start dates, and financial aid, contact our friendly Admissions team.