Your Ultimate Guide to Beauty School

Beauty school is a focused training program that prepares students for a license in a specific area of the beauty industry, such as cosmetology or esthetics, and it can typically be completed in as little as a year, compared to four or more years for a traditional college degree. If you have a passion for beauty and want hands-on training instead of a long list of general education requirements, beauty school can be the more direct path to a new education in the field. At Summit Salon Academy in Tacoma, that path includes real-world practice on guests in our student salon, and guidance from experienced educators. This guide covers the benefits of beauty school, how to choose the program that’s right for you, and exactly how to get started.

Benefits Of Going To Beauty School

There are many benefits of going to a beauty school:

• Specialized Education: Beauty school offers a specialized education tailored to various areas of the beauty industry, such as cosmetology, esthetics, and more. This focused curriculum ensures that you receive the right knowledge and training in your chosen field.
• Graduate Faster Than Traditional College: When going to a traditional college, graduation time is typically 4 years or more. With beauty school, depending on the program you enroll in, a program can be completed in as little as around a year.
• Creative Expression: The beauty industry is a creative field and beauty school encourages artistic expression. With the opportunity to experiment with different styles, techniques, and trends, beauty school empowers aspiring beauty professionals to discover their unique artistic styles.
• Business And Marketing Skills: Knowing how to effectively market yourself in the beauty industry is essential to success. Beauty schools often include courses on business, marketing, and entrepreneurship.
• Practical Skills Development: Beauty school offers a real-world experience that allows you to gain practical skills. Through supervised practice, you’ll gain proficiency in techniques, tools, and industry-standard practices. With the beauty industry being very hands-on, gaining these skills is important for your growth as a future beauty professional.

Which Field Of Study Is Right For You?

Cosmetology

If you have a passion for hair, skin, and nails, then our Cosmetology Program might be perfect for you! Our goal is to take your love of hair and build a solid foundation of technical skills and knowledge.

In this program, you can expect to learn:

• Shampooing & Blowdrying
• Hairstyling including Natural Hairstyling
• Hair Color
• Haircutting
• Perms, Chemical Relaxers, Brazilian Blowout
• Introduction to Wigs and Hair Additions
• Hair removal and lash/brow tinting
• Skin Theory and basic Facials
• Manicures
• And more!

Esthetics

If you find yourself passionate about skincare and want to help people feel and look their best, then consider joining our Esthetics Program. At Summit Salon Academy in Tacoma, we’re passionate about the skin business. We believe in the power of touch to transform someone and know that some aspects of beauty really are skin deep!

In this program, you can expect to learn:

• Product Knowledge
• Skin Theory
• Facial Services
• Basic and Advanced Skincare Techniques
• Machine Knowledge, Microdermabrasion, Handheld Devices
• Chemical Peels
• Tweezing
• Hair Removal, Hard and Soft Wax, Sugaring
• Dermaplaning
• And more!

Instructor Training

If you want to inspire future cosmetology students and train the next generation, then the Instructor Training Program could be for you. It’s important to have instructors who are passionate and willing to support each student as they work toward their education in cosmetology.

In this program, you can learn:https://summitsalonacademy.edu/instructor-program/

• Teaching methods
• Classroom setup
• Subject matter overview
• Lesson plan building
• Assignment building
• Recordkeeping
• And more!

Factors To Consider

Deciding which field of study is right for you depends on what you want for your future. Here are some factors to consider when choosing a program:

• Interest And Passion: Consider which aspect of beauty you’re most interested in. If you’re drawn to hair, skin, and nails, cosmetology may be a great fit. If you’re more interested in skincare, then esthetics may be perfect for you.
• Professional Goals: Reflect on your long-term goals. Research what graduates in each field can go on to do, and choose the one that resonates with you.
• Program Duration: Another key point to consider is program length. Cosmetology programs tend to run longer while esthetics programs have a shorter duration.

How To Get Started

If you want to enroll in either of these programs, here are the steps to take:

1. Schedule a visit. For our cosmetology and instructor programs, the first step is to schedule an admissions meeting and campus tour. This will allow you to gain insight into our programs and our school. If you are interested in our esthetics program, we ask that you sign up for our quarterly information sessions first.
2. Explore financial aid. Our financial aid representative can help you learn more about your options.
3. Schedule an enrollment appointment. You’ll receive new student orientation materials and pre-enrollment disclosures before finalizing your enrollment in your selected program.

Admission Requirements

Prospective students must be:

• 17 years of age or older and have valid identification to submit as proof of age, such as a driver’s license or passport
• Able to provide a high school or GED transcript

Pursue Your Education With Us

Embarking on a journey in the beauty industry can be an exciting and rewarding path. Let us help you turn your passion into an education in the beauty industry. Fill out the form here and we’ll reach out to you as soon as we can to chat, answer your questions, and schedule your tour. We can’t wait to meet you!

Financial aid is available to those who qualify.