A career in cosmetics or esthetics is unlike any other. Not only are you able to set your own rates and decide your own hours, you’ll also spend each day expressing yourself artistically while making the world more beautiful.
As an added incentive, the beauty industry is booming, and the future for budding professionals is looking bright. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the overall rate of employment prospects for cosmetologists is expected to increase much more quickly than the average for all occupations with favorable opportunities for entry-level workers.
Whether you aspire to be the next Marie Robinson, Vidal Sassoon or Ted Gibson, taming some of the world’s most fabulous tresses, or the next Pat McGrath, Michelle Phan or Bobbi Brown, contouring the faces of Hollywood’s hottest celebs, certification from a respected beauty school can set you well on your way to a successful career in cosmetology or esthetics.
To help get you started, we’ve selected a few of the finest beauty academies in Dallas. These schools offer top-notch training in all areas of the beauty industry, from hairstyling to skin care.
Ogle School offers instruction in hair, skin and nails.
This accredited beauty school is an eight-time Modern Salon Excellence in Education winner. The award is granted based on criteria such as placement, facilities, school culture, technology, community involvement and marketing innovation.
According to the school website, it boasts an 83 percent grad employment rate and a 99 percent licensure rate.
Ogle School also offers day and evening classes, as well as financial aid and scholarship opportunities.
Aveda Institute, an accredited beauty school, offers beauty, cosmetology and makeup courses, and also offers instruction in Aveda salon and spa philosophy and business best practices.
Aveda salons were named the fastest-growing in America according to Salon Today’s Top 200 issue, and graduation from the school provides students with a connection to Aveda’s global network.
Aveda also offers an e-learning course (complete with an iPad mini!) so you can learn when and where it fits best with your life. The school also offers financial aid to qualifying students.
The Paul Mitchell School in Dallas, an accredited beauty school, was the first of the Paul Mitchell institutes, opening its doors over 30 years ago.
The school offers courses in cosmetology and esthetics.
Paul Mitchell The School Dallas has partnered with major industry leaders like its namesake Paul Mitchell, as well as International Dermal Institute. As with Aveda, graduation from a Paul Mitchell Institute gives you a direct connection to one of the biggest salon networks in the industry.
This school also offers scholarships and financial assistance.
Toni and Guy Hairdressing Academy
The Toni and Guy Dallas location was the inaugural Toni and Guy Hairdressing Academy, opening its doors in 1990.
As its name suggests, this accredited institute focuses on the art of hairdressing, with a number of courses for both beginners and experienced professionals.
Toni and Guy Hairdressing Academies were recently named a top honoree by Modern Salon in their 2015 Excellence in Education Awards.
Toni and Guy is also often involved in community events, having participated in the Dallas/Fort Worth Ultimate Women’s Expo and the 2014 Charity League Fashion Show, among others.
The school also offers the Guy Mascolo Scholarship for qualifying students, and both three-day and five-day per week class options for more flexible scheduling.
The Dallas Skin Institute offers courses in subjects including permanent cosmetics, eyelash extensions, injectables, waxing, electrolysis and airbrush tanning, preparing students for employment anywhere from medical facilities to spas.
This accredited institute is also home to The Birds and the Bees. Through this non-profit, for every student certification, the same service is donated to a woman fighting cancer, or a caregiver or mother whose child is fighting cancer, who could not otherwise afford a cosmetic procedure.
CMC Makeup School is a private institution with a sole focus on makeup. The school offers training in beginning to advanced makeup techniques, as well as courses and workshops in career and marketing education and portfolio development.
Students learn the latest in makeup mastery, including hi-definition makeup and airbrush techniques, airbrush tanning, FX and body painting, as well as skills to craft expert looks fit for glamour, fashion, bridal, runway, retail, photo shoots/editorial and special events.
The Salon Boutique Academy offers programs in esthetics, cosmetology (with curriculum developed by Sassoon) and makeup, as well as a student instructor program for future teachers.
This accredited academy is yet another offering graduates a valuable leg up on the competition, with connections to industry heavy-hitter Vidal Sassoon.
The school also offers scholarship opportunities, including some available specifically to new high school grads.