Everything You Need to Know About the Term “Cosmetologist”

I’m sure you’ve heard of the term “cosmetologist” quite often, especially if you visit beauty parlors regularly. So, who exactly is a cosmetologist and what do they study? These are a few doubts that come to mind before visiting a cosmetologist. Should you trust them with your skincare or haircare? Are they reliable and have they passed professional courses to achieve the title of a cosmetologist?

Don’t worry, we’re here to answer all of your questions! 

First of all, let’s get to the job description of a cosmetologist and what they offer. 

Cosmetologists are professionals who deal with cosmetically important aspects of our lives, for example, hairstyling, skincare, cosmetics, manicures/pedicures, nonpermanent hair removals such as waxing and sugaring and permanent hair removal processes, any other hair technique that affects the way we look and adds to our cosmetic appearance.

Moreover, they also deal with skincare, nail care and any other type of care that involves changing your cosmetic appearance. In skin care, they’re certified to perform facial treatments and other skincare techniques to improve the appearance of the skin. They also deal with hair removal methods like waxing and other hair removal techniques like laser treatment.

Part of their job description also includes knowing how to give manicures and pedicures in order to improve the cosmetic appearance of your hands and feet. Another major and important component that a cosmetologist deals with is the application of makeup! Although becoming a makeup artist is an entirely different career path with its own schools and institutes, a cosmetologist also knows the basics of makeup and can give you a great party makeup look that will suit you according to your face type. 

Cosmetologists learn these techniques and procedures in cosmetology schools and institutes, where they spend a few years learning these techniques along with practicing hands-on techniques on wigs and other such hair tools. Later in the years when they gain more experience, they start performing those techniques on their clients as well. 

Moreover, in cosmetology school, you’re also taught how to own and handle a business of your own because as a cosmetologist, you can own your own beauty parlor and oversee everything that happens in it! Therefore, it’s very common for cosmetologists to own beauty parlors and spas that provide the treatments mentioned above.

This is also what makes a cosmetologist different from a beautician. Cosmetologists can hire beauticians to run their parlors and businesses as employees but it’s unusual for beauticians themselves to have their own parlor settings.

Moreover, as compared to cosmetologists, beauticians may only specialize in a certain field whereas cosmetologists need to have knowledge of a wide variety of fields and techniques that are also mentioned in the paragraphs above. 

We hope this article clears up your definition of the term “cosmetologist”, in whichever context you were curious about it! If you’re thinking about choosing it as a career path, it’s a great path that will provide you with a great income. If you’re looking it up because you’re unsure whether you can trust your cosmetologist with your skin, then don’t worry and trust them because they’re trained to make your skin better.