May 21, 2013
Building Your Portfolio
Pictures are a perfect way to network–portfolios are your best friend as a beauty professional and they’re just a blast to create. Building a portfolio can be taxing but immensely rewarding and are a cosmetologists secret weapon. If you really want to stand out in an interview–they’re the perfect tool! From the beginning of hair school you should have your camera in hand and document EVERYTHING. Whether it be the memories with your fellow classmates, or that incredible feeling when you successfully create a design you’ve always wanted to learn, you won’t want to forget a thing. Portfolios should be neat and professional, but don’t hold back on throwing your own personality into them. Gather all your images together and organize them into categories to give the viewer a sense of fluidity.
What you need:
- A scrapbook (Found at your local arts & crafts store)
- Sheets of white or black paper
- Laminated pages
- Your Resume
- A personalized first page
- Scissors
- Glue or Tape
Run over to your local art supply store and pick up a simple scrapbook; black or white works best but don’t be afraid to get a little creative with it. They come with some different designs but again, keep it fun yet professional…here’s mine:
I went for the simpler approach when it came to my chosen scrapbook, I saved all my flare for my title page and how I went about organizing my individual sections.
Title Page:
Creating your title page is the first thing (other than your resume) that your portfolio should contain. I created a template on Word that had pictures surrounding the text and just wrote a small paragraph of when my career began, where my education took place, some of the competitions/extracurriculars I participated in, and where my work has been featured. Don’t worry if you don’t have all of those things under your belt, just give some insight of who you are as a person, and a professional. Here are my first 2 pages within my port:
 After that, all you need to do is organize all of your work into sections: Updos, Cut & Style, Color…etc and just throw it all together! Have fun with it…it’s the perfect tool to showcase your talent and creativity, be creative with it! If you have an interest in make up then throw another section in there, you never know if the salon your looking at also have a type of make up program.
That’s all you’ll need! You’ve picked a wonderful industry that has too many experiences for one life time. Keep your portfolio in mind while you’re still in school, think of how you’ll appear on paper. Make sure to document everything…chances are you can throw it into your resume and portfolio. Start your career in beauty today!
Source: Beauty School Advisor
May 20, 2013
On the Fence Between Cosmetology School and Other Advanced Education?
A lot of people who consider enrolling in cosmetology school compare it against other fields that also do not require a four-year college degree. In my last post, I talked about jobs that demand nothing more than a high school diploma, if even that. There are a lot of professions, though, that require one or two years of education. Other than a cosmetology career, what’s out there?
If you like the medical field, you could become a physical therapy assistant, a dental hygienist or even a nurse. But more and more people going for these jobs do have four-year degrees, so the best posts will be competitive. This is also true in the computer field, where jobs are available for programmers, web designers and helpdesk personnel who both do and do not have a bachelor’s degree. In law, paralegals and legal assistants can be hired with a two-year degree. In the trades, carpenters, plumbers and electricians need specialized training but not a full degree. Some office jobs like bookkeeping, claims processing and secretarial work also require only experience or community college. And if you’re in the arts’music, painting, drama, fashion design’your work speaks louder than any degree.
I wanted to list some of these jobs to help you consider all of your options. Cosmetology school can put you on a wonderfully fulfilling career path, and if you’re still interested after reviewing everything else, then I bet you’ll love being a cosmetologist and have much success.
Source: Beauty School Advisor
May 16, 2013
photography by amy nadine, post by carissa ferreri, graphic design by eunice chun
The Beauty Department has given cat eyes a lot of attention (revisit their Get Catty Video Tutorial and even our Double Line Tutorial)
The challenge, however, is to get the “wings” to look symmetrical without spending all day to do it. Here is a trick they’ve discovered that does just that. And remember: Q-Tips are your friends!
TOOLS:
- A felt-tip black liquid liner
- A pointed cotton swab
STEPS:
- Look at yourself straight on in the mirror. Where your eyebrows end should be the direction your liner goes. So if you kept drawing, your liner and eye brow would connect. But let’s not do that. Now tilt your chin upwards and look back down at the mirror with your eyes. This really does make the angle easier to see. Take your felt tip liner, which is my favorite to use to achieve this look , and start at the outside corner of your eye. Draw a “flick” up toward the end of your eyebrow. It doesn’t have to be perfect. Repeat on the other eye.
- This is the time to make sure your “wings” are symmetrical with one another. Take your friend, the Q-tip, and perfect your line. Take out any harsh marks and erase them away.
- Once you have the angle of your wing, draw on your eyeliner like you normally would and connect it to your “flick.” Here you can control how thick or thin you want your line!
Voila! Perfectly symmetrical Cat Eyes!!
May 14, 2013
What Can I Expect to Learn in Beauty School?
Most beauty schools teach the fundamentals of cosmetology—enough to prepare you to pass state licensing exams. Beauty school is seen as a rite of passage by many cosmetologists—one that is both fun and challenging.
Many beauty schools set strict policies for attendance, dress code, and punctuality. They want their students prepared for a competitive job market. That means they demand more than just learning how to perform hair, skin, or nail procedures; they also demand personal discipline so that students will be early to work, clean their stations, and maintain high levels of professionalism long after they graduate.
In addition to classroom study, many beauty schools also have their own on-site salons where students can practice their skills on real clients (who pay discounted prices for the services).
The actual curriculum used by many cosmetology schools is the same as, or very similar to, what is found in Milady’s Standard Cosmetology textbooks. A full cosmetology program generally includes the following subjects:
- Basic life skills (such as setting goals and maintaining a positive attitude)
- Developing a professional image
- Communication skills
- Infection control (including how to prevent the spread of hepatitis, HIV, or other infectious viruses or bacteria in a salon)
- General anatomy and physiology
- Basics of chemistry and electricity
- Hair and scalp characteristics
- Principles of hair design (such as how to enhance a person’s look based on facial shape)
- Basic hair care (shampooing, rinsing, and conditioning)
- Basic haircutting (including core cuts)
- Hairstyling (including how to use the proper tools and techniques)
- Hair braiding and braid extensions
- Hair coloring
- Chemical hair texturing
- Wigs and other hair enhancements
- Properties of skin and nails (including how they grow)
- Skin diseases and disorders
- Hair removal (such as waxing and tweezing)
- Performing basic facials
- Makeup
- Nail diseases and disorders
- Performing manicures
- Performing pedicures
- Creating a resume and portfolio
- Preparing for job interviews
- Basic business skills
- Preparing for state licensure exams
May 13, 2013
Beauty careers are usually thought of as salon-only. Maybe someone will branch out and work in an entertainment setting. However, outside of these cosmetology areas, there are many other careers in beauty to choose from. You could go into marketing- working for a cosmetics or hair care company, writing about beauty in a magazine, editing a beauty magazine or blog. There are many beauty career opportunities in this field.
Another alternative beauty career is ownership and management. Beauty schools, salons and the franchises of both need managers and owners to keep things running smoothly. A person who is a good cosmetologist and a good leader would be excellent in this area.
Finally, there are more behind-the-scenes beauty careers. You could work to develop and design the beauty products we all use each day. These products also need to be sold – yet another new cosmetology career opportunity! If you want to work in cosmetology, but step out of the box a little bit, there are plenty of new beauty career ideas out there.
Source: beautyschool.com
May 6, 2013
Ideas for Creating a Standout Resume and Portfolio
BTC Facebook BFF Kayla DeHart is nearing graduation and needs some help. “I’m 100 hours away and would love to know what salon owners look for in a resume, a portfolio and in a stylist,” she says. “I have checked out a couple of salons, but before I make that professional visit I want to make sure I have this down.” BTC BFFs to the rescue! Here are some ideas and suggestions:
“I graduated from beauty school in September 2010. What worked for me was a clean, well structured resume. I put all my schooling, beauty school and college first. Next, I listed all the additional industry related training offered by my school and my distributor, along with awards for competitions. For my work history I only summarized and highlighted key points that were important for my new career. Make sure to keep the resume down to one page. To land the interview, contact the salon owner/manager immediately and introduce yourself and ask him/her what time would be good for them to possibly meet and have a chat. During the interview, remain confident and cheerful. Body language can make or break the moment. Don’t be nervous if you see an ad that says, ‘with clientele.’ Remember, your friends and family members are instant clientele! Also, you might be asked to do a technical interview so keep a model in mind. The requirements will vary, but most often, I have been asked to perform layered haircuts and place foils.”
—Jovan Stearns
Beauty Brands
Paradise Valley, AZ
“Construct a well written resume free of all typos. Also, if you have completed college courses, even if you didn’t complete a degree, include that information. I personally love it when an applicant has completed some college coursework. If you have ever worked in a restaurant, add that. It shows that you can handle working in a fast-paced industry, have the ability to multi-task and you’re not afraid to work hard. Most importantly, clean up your Facebook page! It’s the first place I go after I see a promising resume. I don’t hire smokers, people who look like drunks or those who appear to be wild. Present yourself in a professional manner—dress fashionably with non-chipped nails, hair nicely done, refined make-up and bring a smile and a positive attitude!”
—Dot Hachey
TEN PACHI Modern Salon
Seattle, WA
“Your resume needs to be easily scanned in 30 seconds or less. The only thing we want to see is what is relevant to the position you are applying for. Your past experience is nice, but not always pertinent and could take up space where more important information can be placed. And most important, your hair needs to be current and free of regrowth!”
—Eric Dean Jansson
Salon Gregories
Newport Beach, CA
Source- Behind The Chair
May 2, 2013
We found this article on Behind the Chair to be a great resource for our students, and what awaits them in the world, after their education!!
 BTC member and soon-to-be graduate Cori Lynne Dudley found herself in a situation that most new grads find themselves in—where do I go from here? “Hey BTC—I want your opinion on something!” she said. “I’m about to graduate beauty school and I’m starting to look into salons to go work in. What is your advice for a fresh new stylist that doesn’t know much about the salon life? How do I find the ‘right’ place? Is going straight into commission a good idea? Any advice would be awesome! Thank you!” Cori posed her question to our amazing Facebook BFFs looking for answers, and boy did she get them! Here’s a selection of the advice our Facebook Fans had to offer.
Apply for an assistant’s job at a salon with a great reputation. Be a WONDERFUL assistant. Watch, listen, and learn. Work HARD. Attend classes. View professional DVDs and read industry books and magazines. Sign on to behinthechair.com all the time. And make the person you assist think you are the very, very best.
—Beth Minardi
As an owner, I am looking for extreme motivation. You are only worth your weight when you can carry your weight. Does that make sense? I find paying stylists hourly often makes them unmotivated to work hard to build their business, so instead I will pay for education and have competitions for them to win shears and other pro tools that can be quite expensive. I knew nothing about the salon industry when I started out. I watched stylists that I respected and learned their techniques and built from there. I knew the money would come from hard work. No matter what job you start at, private or corporate, set yourself apart by working hard and serving others and you will propel yourself forward, always. Ultimately this industry is about our creativity and pleasing a client, so create awesome environments with your own attitude and doors will open if you end up in a place that doesn’t fit you. No boss should touch you, disrespect you, or treat you as insignificant even if you are in an assistant position.
—Stephanie Price Jordan
Find a salon that fits your style and personality then ask for a tour of the salon. Interview them—how many walk-ins do they get? Do they have assistants? Do they have a continuing education program? That’s key! Then think location, location, location—how far away is it? Traffic? Good area for walk-ins? Finally, make sure they are there to build you into an artist not a robot!
—Jared Joyner
Don’t go into your first salon expecting it to be the perfect fit for you. It might take a while. For example, I worked at about four or five salons before I found the right fit. Make sure you are good at your speed and technique and connect with each guest. Never have an attitude—unless it’s a good one!
—Lindsay Minturn
You will starve on straight commission. I would suggest a base salary to start and then move to commission once you’re established. Look for a strong education focus where you can build your skills and more importantly, ask to shadow for a day or two when it’s busy to see if the culture fits your needs. Remind yourself often that you are new, look at every interaction as an opportunity and read David Wagner’s Life as a Daymaker book. It will change your career and your focus on why we do what we do.
—Daniel M. Lynch
This is important: Don’t call and ask a salon if they are hiring. Dress professionally, go into the salon on a slower day, and give them your resume. If you call when it’s busy, it’s easy to get blown off.
—Linda Welsh
I started off at a place I knew I didn’t want to retire from. It was in a great location for walk-ins and I was able to build enough loyal clientele there that when I did go to a nicer, privately owned place (making commission), I had a full book. It took me four years to build that clientele and it’s still growing. It was good for me just leaving school because I was guaranteed a pay because of the volume of people through the door and I always had a pocketful of tips—I never suffered bad pay on my way up. Some friends of mine who began as assistants complained they were still treated as an assistant long after graduation. If you do it this way, just be careful that you are not taken advantage of!
—Maggie Taylor
Hey! I’ve been licensed for seven years now and while that seems like a long time, I feel I still feel like the new kid because, for me, every day is still exciting. I love hairdressing more than life itself. I believe this is due to how I began. I started as an assistant at TONI&GUY in Dallas, TX. I was immersed in a salon full of talented, passionate hairdressers who have inspired me to this day. Although I have moved to Kansas, I still feel the way I did the first day I walked into that salon, because of the people I surrounded myself with—people I aspired to be like, because I wanted to one day inspire others. Immerse yourself in as much education as you can. Surround yourself with people who inspire you to be the best hairdresser you can be. This career can take you anywhere you want to go. Fall in love with the art of hairdressing! That’s the best advice I can give you. A huge shout out Anthony Mascolo and the whole TIGI Haircare family for inspiring me to fall in love with hairdressing every single day!
—Kalvin Pugh
Going straight to commission is rough! Unless a salon has a really high rate of new clients, or return non-request clients, it is going to be really hard to build your book unless you can bring in your own clients.
—Tara Lizabeth
Find a salon with an associate program and train under a stylist that is also an educator. Any Summit Salon with have that program—it’s Redken endorsed! That will help to bridge the gap between school and real life. You will start out hourly and work your way to commission and it’s built on a career path level system. Good Luck!
—Kati Hill
I really recommend applying at high end salons first. Right out of school, you just don’t know enough and a lot of high end salons want to take on newbies so they can train you their way. That’s what I did and it’s worked out great!
—Jess Handt
I think every stylist is different, as is the school they attended and their learning experience, so I can only offer my own experience as advice. I assisted a popular double booked stylist with 20 years of experience. I learned everything I know now from that foundation. Completely invaluable!
—Ashlee Joy Sundblad
Don’t be afraid to go straight to a high end salon but know that you will have to deal with crazy diva stylists and catty shampoo people, and crappy duties will be piled on you. You need to smile through all of it. Keep your mouth filled with kind words and don’t ever hesitate to pick up the broom when something is on the floor. When preparing formulas ALWAYS write them down with a notebook that you keep in your pocket. This way you will have some to work with later when you’re on your own. Make sure the salon offers training on everything and take all of the classes because they are free. Think ahead—does the client need coffee? A magazine? Don’t ever talk about your personal life—just ask about theirs. Poof! You can now work in Beverly Hills! : )
—Maria Murillo
My salon started me on a salary and I was there 40 hours a week. For six months I was only training, but had one-on-one classes with my boss weekly. Once I had completed necessary training and felt confident, she started sending all new clients my way. Once I could consistently beat my salary in service dollars for three months (to be sure I could maintain my income), she put me on commission. We also have retail commission put away monthly for education trips—local and international!
—Molly Fay
I would recommend touring salons—as many as you can! Just call up and ask the owner or manager if you can get a tour, meet the staff, see the salon traffic, and ask as many questions as possible. After touring salons you will have one that stands out to you to pursue working for.
—Ana Sinohui
Don’t sign a non-compete! If you end up at an awful salon and don’t realize it until later, you could totally screw yourself. If you do sign one, make it for six months at a time AT MOST. My friend signed a three-year one and couldn’t work at another salon within sixty miles for three years. She had to quit doing hair after she left there.
—Tiffany Beavers Busby
If you’re interested in a particular salon, go there for a shampoo and style. While you’re there, evaluate how the stylists interact with each other, the level of service that you receive and the overall atmosphere.
—Sunny Lea Weaver Resmondo
It can be discouraging for a new stylist to start in a commission-based salon if they don’t have a clientele. Switch when you have the client following along with steady money. It takes time, but with a true passion you WILL be successful! Don’t get discouraged, never stop learning—there’s always somebody you can learn from in the business and the closer you stay/keep up with your fellow cosmetology students, the more options you’ll have down the road. Good luck! There’s nothing else I’d rather do!
—Cassaundra Lynne
April 29, 2013
RSVP to Admissions@Rizzieri.com or (856) 988-8600 x2270
April 24, 2013
 Joey Joy knows that art is in his blood. Growing up in Collingswood as the son of a hairdresser and a musician, a career focusing on creativity was his destiny. Now, as the Creative Director for Rizzieri Aveda School, after working with the Rizzieri organization since 1995, he still loves the salon atmosphere.
A position as the Creative Director can be mentally challenging. Joey says, because your talking all day long. From giving students advice to working with the instructors, there really isn’t down time. Getting home and taking the time to “chill” is really important so that he can continue to give it his all each and every day, Joey says.
When students and or clients love how much you put into helping them love school or their hair, it becomes all worth it. In fact, Joey realized his influence when he received his first letter of thanks for being a student’s inspiration years ago. He continues to strive to inspire others to create beauty. Joey’s favorite part about his position is his co-workers, “They are a great group of people, and we are really lucky to be able to have fun at work.”
Joey would tell potential students that are thinking about beginning a career in beauty and wellness that they should take advantage of all of the information that the teachers have to offer. This is the beginning of a great career! Joey currently is married to a hairdresser and is a Dad to three awesome (and adorable) kids.
April 23, 2013
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