Open the door to a world of beauty with a great cosmetology school education. You’ll be prepared for a variety of career opportunities. This growing $56 billion industry with 300,000 plus U.S. salons/spas needs more salon professionals than can be supplied. You can enjoy a rewarding career with increased earning potential and the ability to work flexible hours.

Plus, as one of the Top 10 Hospitality Careers around, you can work virtually any where in the world, in a variety of positions:

• Hair Stylist
• Hair Color Specialist
• Nail Artist/Manicurist
• Esthetician
• Makeup Artist
• Salon/Spa Manager
• Salon or Day Spa Owner
• Cosmetology School Instructor
• Cosmetology School Director of Education
• Manufacturer's Sales Representative
• Beauty Care Product Distributor
• Platform Artist/Educator
• Photo & Movie Stylist
• Image Consultant
• Medical Esthetician
• Beauty Magazine Writer/Editor
• And much more!

Hairstyling is an always-popular position in the cosmetology field, perhaps because it is something so many of us have wanted to do since we were young! Hair styles and designs constantly change—from bobs to beehives to bouffants to the feathered look—and being able to express your creativity every day of your career makes hairstyling the career choice of thousands.

Colorists have many opportunities to reach their creative heights. Fitting styles and colors to meet the needs of women and men with different types of hair, skin tones, facial shapes, personalities, and professions keeps coloring as a challenging but rewarding career.

Many in the industry consider nail artistry the hottest segment of the salon and spa business. Today, in-demand nail artists work in full service salons, day spas, nail salons, hotels, resorts, health clubs and more.

These skin care professionals work to improve the long-term health and beauty of skin. By knowing the latest in skin care products and spa techniques, estheticians remain at the forefront of a field helping people change their lives for the better.

The field for makeup artists is very broad. Choose from special occasion makeup, camera-ready makeup, performance makeup media and fashion makeup, permanent cosmetic makeup and more.

With more than 400,000 salons in the U.S., opportunities for salon and spa managers abound. From chain and franchise salons to boutiques and day spas, there has never been a better time to enter the field.

This is a unique field where there are so many opportunities to own your own business. Whether you open a franchised location, start a new salon or spa, partner with another owner, or purchase an established salon, you achieve the income, flexibility and creativity benefits salon ownership brings.

While you may not initially enter the field of cosmetology, you may be interested in teaching others to be stylists and hairdressers. Many experienced cosmetologists enjoy the challenge, rewards and benefits of teaching future professionals. Instructors often receive health care, insurance and other benefits that a salon employee may not receive.

Many of the larger cosmetology schools have positions which are responsible for the entire instructional program. These are choice positions combining creativity, knowledge of the industry, and managerial skills.

These highly skilled artists perform at trade shows in front of hundreds or sometimes thousands of people, teaching and demonstrating to stylists the latest cuts, colors and styles. Platform artists often work at a salon as well, working weekends or part time as a platform artist.

This is a glamorous position, where you could work on movies, television, theatre, fashion, corporate communications and more. A cosmetology license, with schooling in hair, skin and nails, provides you the background you need.

Many if not most beauty product companies prefer licensed cosmetologists for their positions, due to the level of professional assurance salon employees have in other cosmetologists. There are opportunities in sales, product development, working on trend releases, and training and demonstrating products and styles to various audiences.

One of the most flexible careers available, massage therapists work from their homes, offices, in a spa, at a resort, on a cruise ship—you name it. As a licensed massage therapist, you can build a practice that fits your lifestyle while enjoying the benefits of a constantly growing field.