Career in Cosmetology

With the advent of social media platforms, the world of fashion and beauty has evolved amazingly with a multitude of tutorials and learning guides available online for those interested in exploring this field. If you have always been inclined towards makeup, skincare as well as beautician treatments and want to actualize your passion into a profession then cosmetology is the ideal field for you to explore! There are numerous degree programs as well as training diplomas and courses that one can opt for to study cosmetology whether as a medical or a non-medical field. Through this blog, we will walk you through the key features of a career in cosmetology, from the wide range of courses on offer to top universities as well as career scope.

Also Read: Top Beauty Courses!

What is Cosmetology?

Cosmetology encompasses the study of the application of beauty treatments and therapies. It is one of those fields in healthcare that focuses on accentuating the physical appearance of a person. With the skincare industry booming with diverse applications and treatments, a career in cosmetology has become a prominent and choicest one. Cosmetology is seen as both medical as well as non-medical discipline and there is a wide range of cosmetology courses available at degree, diploma or certification level range around 3-4 years to short-term programs having 9-18 months of duration.

Skills Required

To follow a career in Cosmetology, one needs to get the right training and obtain the requisite skills. For a specialized field like this, there are some skills that you must have in order to excel in your career. Here are some of the major skills required to build your career in Cosmetology:

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
• Attention to detail
• Understanding of the effects of various beauty products on human skin.
• Creativity
• Dexterity
• Great grooming habits
• Knowledge of physiology of the skin, nails and hair.
• Familiarised with skincare and haircare treatments

Know All About Makeup Artist Courses

Specialisations in Cosmetology

Cosmetologists can specialize in different subsets of cosmetology like skincare,  skin analysis, nail care, and art, hair care, hair coloring, hair styling, anatomy, and physiology. Here are some of the broad specializations in cosmetology for specialization:

• Aromatherapy 
• Nail Art 
• Hair styling
• Hair removal
• Skincare
• Cosmetics 
• Herbal beauty care
• Facials
• Professional makeup
• Beauty therapy
• Hair Transplant
• Skincare treatments and masque
• Manicure & Pedicure

How to Become a Cosmetologist?

Cosmetology is broadly segregated into two categories, i.e. as a medical and non-medical domain. Medical or clinical cosmetology is concerned with the treatment of skin ailments while non-medical cosmetology focuses on training related to skincare, beauty treatments, and therapies. In order to pursue your career in medical cosmetology, you first need to complete your degree in Medicine such as MBBS, and then take a specialization in Dermatology, Clinical Cosmetology, amongst others. For this, you can choose from a certification or diploma program of around 1 year to begin your practice. 

For those opting for Non-medical cosmetology, you can opt for a beautician course or a certification program in Beauty or skincare treatments. Generally, non-medical cosmetology courses don’t require a bachelor’s degree and only need the candidate to have completed their senior secondary education, i.e. 10+2. 

Recommended Read: How to Become a Skin Doctor?

List of Cosmetology Courses 

The following are the popular cosmetology courses:

• Diploma in Professional Makeup
• Diploma in Cosmetology
• Diploma in Beauty Culture
• Diploma in Hair Styling
• Diploma in Aesthetics
• Diploma in Laser Aesthetics
• Diploma in Beauty & Spa Management
• Advanced Diploma in Cosmetology
• Advanced Diploma in Aesthetics
• Certificate Course in Artistry Makeup
• Certificate Course in Basic Hair Designing 
• Certificate Course in Basic Beauty
• B Tech in Cosmetic Technology
• BSc in Cosmetology
• Bachelor’s in Aesthetic Practitioner
• BVoc in Cosmetic Technology
• MTech of Cosmetic Technology
• MSc in Cosmetology

Top Universities Offering Cosmetology Courses

There is a vast range of institutions and universities around the world that offer specialized medical and non-medical programs in Cosmetology with a plethora of specializations. The following table enlists some of the prominent universities as well as colleges and their prospective courses in Cosmetology.

University	Courses
Fairleigh Dickinson University	Masters of Science in Cosmetic Science
Durham College	Diploma in Cosmetic Techniques and Management
Seneca College	Ontario College Diploma in Cosmetic Techniques and Management
Humber Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning	Diploma in Cosmetic Management
Centennial College of Applied Arts and Technology	Diploma in Esthetician
Northern Lights College	Esthetics and Nail Care Technologist
TAFE Western Australia	Diploma of Beauty Therapy
The Gordon Australia	Diploma of Beauty Therapy
Kangan Institute	Diploma of Beauty Therapy

Indian Colleges for Cosmetology

• VLCC Institute
• London School of Trends, New Delhi
• Sandip University, Nashik
• Pearl Academy, Mumbai
• Jawed Habib Hair and Beauty Academy, Pune
• LTA School of Beauty, Mumbai
• International School of Aesthetics & Spa
• Nagpur University
• North Maharashtra University, Jalgaon

Career in Cosmetology: Job Profiles and Roles

There is a multitude of opportunities for those interested in pursuing a career in Cosmetology. Moreover, cosmetologists help clients to identify their skin or hair type and tell them how and what cosmetics to apply. After completing a course in this field, you can discover job prospects at

• Skin treatment clinics
• Beauty Parlors
• Nail Salon
• Hotels and restaurants
• Beauty Therapy Clinics
• Hospitals & Health Centres (Medical Cosmetology)

Popular Job Profiles

Here are some popular job profiles in cosmetology:

• Hair Stylist
• Nail Care Artist
• Salon Sales Consultant
• Manufacturer Sales Representative
• Blogger
• Beautician
• Beauty Care Distributor
• Media Makeup Department
• Makeup Department of Celebrities

Job Profile Avg. Salary
Fashion Show Stylist 3.5 Lakh
Clinical Cosmetologist 3.0 Lakh
Makeup Artist 3.2 Lakh
Brand Manager 11.5 Lakh
Beauty Magazine Writer 3 Lakh

Must Read: Career as a Makeup Artist

Salary 

An average person with a degree in cosmetology can expect a salary of INR 21,400 per month. The average salary is likely to increase with work experience as well as position and company. Experienced professionals can expect salaries of over INR 50,000 per month and more.  

Top Recruiters

• Lakme Salon
• VLCC Cosmetics 
• L’Oréal Salon
• Kaya Clinic
• Blossom Kochhar
• Urban Company
• Clinique
• MAC Cosmetics
• NARS Cosmetics
• Sephora
• Bobbi Brown
• Nykaa
• Toni and Guy
• Emami
• Fortis Hospital

Must Read: Find Out How Nykaa Became a Beauty Leader with Falguni Nayar

Popular Books on Cosmetology

• Cosmetology and Dermatology by Deb Willis 
• Bobbi Brown Makeup Manual: For Everyone from Beginner to Pro by Bobbi Brown 
• Hair By Sam Mcknight
• Making Faces by Kevyn Aucoin
• Essentials in Dermatology, Venereology, Leprology Cosmetology by Bansal Ramesh 

FAQs

Thus, this blog has helped you understand what a career in cosmetology entails as well as the courses and scope it offers. If you are planning to study for a degree in cosmetology or any other specialization, reach out to our Leverage Edu experts and we will help you find the right course and university thus guiding you towards a rewarding career in this field.