Empire Education Group, one of the largest cosmetology school systems in the United States, has officially been named winner of the “Excellence Award for Expansion” by the Manufacturers and Employers Association (MAEA) of Northeastern Pennsylvania.

Empire received the award for their incredible growth and expansion over the past 12 months, of new and existing beauty schools. Empire Education Group merged their cosmetology schools with the school division of the Regis Corporation in August 2007 to form 87 beauty schools across the U.S.

Empire was also recognized for increasing the number of people they employ in Pottsville, PA, as well as the state of Pennsylvania and across the United States.

The Manufacturers and Employers Association is a non-profit organization serving companies in Carbon, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Northumberland, and Schuylkill counties in Pennsylvania.

Cosmetology offers a variety of opportunities for you to explore and dive into. Deciding which path to take will quickly develop over time. As you begin your Cosmetology Education, you’ll get incredible exposure to all kinds of fields such as Esthetics, Massage, Nails, Make-up Artistry, and so much more.

Whether you become a Make-up Artist working on Broadway actors or a Hairdresser cutting and styling hair locally, you’ll always be in-demand and you’ll have the diverse background to go virtually anywhere in the world!

Consider this; regardless of experience, nearly all cosmetology fields report job openings in specialized and full service salons. And with a specialty comes increased earning potential. According to the NACCAS 2007 Job Demand report, specialized Cosmetologist earned over $38,000, Braiders earned $33,502, and Hair Colorists earned nearly $43,000 in a full-service salon and over $46,000 in a specialized salon.

Spa Trends

One of the most noticeable growths in the industry is with the increase in spas. The spa industry employs over 267,000 professionals, and garnered $9.4 billion in revenue, according to the International Spa Associations 2007 industry study. ISPA’s 2008 Trend Watch indicates a movement toward all types of spa experiences for teens to expectant mothers, and the most requested service is massage therapy. This increase demand for spa services inevitably opens the door for more job opportunities.

Nail Down A Lucrative Career…

Manicured nails are becoming a necessity for an overall polished look. And, this increased need for beautiful nails has given the Nail Technology profession a boost. The demand for highly skilled and trained Nail Technicians is gaining speed and the outlook is positive. According to the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics, demand for manicurists and pedicurists will increase between 21-35% through 2010. Although Nail Technicians account for roughly 9% of Nail Techs in the industry, it is projected that Nail Technicians will see a 16% increase in job vacancies, notes NACCAS Job Demand Survey.

Design Your Future…

A reported 370,215 salons employed over 1,682,000 professionals, according to the NACCAS 2007 report. And, 53% of salon owners had job openings. The reality of long term employment in the cosmetology industry is strong and continues to grow. The number of salons opening by independent individuals, in other words owning your own business rather than working for a larger corporation, increased by 18% which accounted for the 65% of salons owned independently. You could create your own future and enjoy a comfortable life with unlimited earning and job potential.

They may seem similar but Estheticians and Massage Therapists perform vastly different techniques to your skin and body.

A Massage Therapist will focus their craft on the healing and relaxing techniques of various massages such as Swedish, Sports, Shiatsu, Deep Tissue, Hydrotherapy, Reflexology, and more!

A Massage Therapy program will help you develop a reputable career by incorporating anatomy, physiology, a broad range of massage techniques, hydrotherapy, business development, retail knowledge, and more in our curriculum.

• Introduction to anatomy and physiology for a basic understanding of the body’s structure and reaction to physiological effects.
• Various massage methods; Swedish, sports, shiatsu, deep tissue, and more. Develop your skills using techniques such as rolling, wringing, tapotement, vibration, hacking, and more.
• Modify reflexology skills to enhance your overall education.
• Understand the benefits hydrotherapy, using steam baths, foot baths and various methods to improve the skin and circulation.
• Learn about business development, understanding how to sell your services, manage or own your own salon or spa.
• Most schools offer a hands-on approach for practical experience within a Student Salon or Clinic, working on actual clients for a real-world approach.
• Career placement opportunities through a network of industry partners and outside sources that are always looking for talented and trained professionals

Massage Therapists work in various locations such as cruise ships, hotels, resorts, health clubs, spas…..the possibilities are endless!

An Esthetician, on the other hand (no pun intended), will cleanse and treat the skin through Facials, Waxing, Hair Removal, Aromatherapy, Body Treatments and more!

An Esthetician Program teaches you how to rejuvenate, sooth and cleanse the skin by learning the application and processes for facials, massage, waxing, makeup, business development, retail training, aromatherapy, body treatment techniques, and more.

• Introduction to various skin types, textures and conditions. Each skin type requires specialized care and treatment.
• Learn the fundamentals of skin care and understand how to use cleansers, exfoliating products, moisturizers, and more. Students also understand first aid measures such as sanitizers and antiseptics.
• Perform various hair removal methods such as waxing, tweezing, shaving, depilatories, laser hair removal, electrolysis, and photo epilation.

Hollywood’s best and worst celebrity hairstyles were recently released in The 14th annual Best Tressed® Survey commissioned by Sally Beauty.

The Top 3 vote getters for best and worst celebrity hairstyles? The envelope, please.

2007 Best Hairstyle - Women

Country crooner, Carrie Underwood, at the 50th Annual Grammy Awards. Gregg DeGuire/WireImage/Getty Images.

1. Carrie Underwood
2. Eva Longoria
3. Reese Witherspoon

2007 Best Hairstyle - Men

Johnny Depp, star of Pirates of the Caribbean and Sweeney Todd, arrives at the 80th Annual Academy Awards with his new trendy cut. Steve Granitz/WireImage/Getty Images.

1. Denzel Washington
2. Johnny Depp
3. Patrick Dempsey

2007 Worst Hairstyle - Women

Britney Spears, out and about in L.A. Chris Wolf/FilmMagic/Getty Images.

1. Britney Spears
2. Courtney Love
3. Pink

2007 Worst Hairstyle - Men

Zac Efron, star of Disney's High School Musical arrives at the 14th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards. Kevin Mazur/WireImage/Getty Images.

1. Kid Rock
2. Clay Aiken
3. Zac Efron