Esthetics school enrollments are on the rise thanks to the rosy outlook of the beauty industry. The US Department of Labor sees the demand for skin care specialists growing at a tremendous rate in the next decade and beyond. This translates to thousands of new jobs every year. Graduates can look forward to an exciting career that will allow them to travel the world and meet lots of fascinating people. Formal training at an accredited beauty school is one of the primary requirements by state licensing boards.
How Long Does the Esthetics Programs Last?
States dictate the minimum number of training hours that students have to complete. Esthetic schools differ in how they create schedules around this requirement. Some offer full-time programs that call for regular weekday classes from 9am to 5pm. This compressed timetable allows students to finish the course within 22 weeks or roughly 5 months. However, not everyone can cope with this demanding arrangement. Many have to work during the day to support their studies so nighttime and weekend classes are better for them. The lighter weekly load means an extended study period of 9 months.
What Can You Learn in Esthetics School?
Inside the school, students will get the chance to learn both theoretical and practical concepts. Instructors usually begin with lectures during the first part of the program. They will next move on to practical demonstrations and give students the opportunity to perform actual procedures within a controlled environment. These sessions build up confidence and sharpen skills that will be useful once they go to work in a spa, salon, clinic or other environments. Specific topics include:
- Facial Treatments
- Facial Massage
- Facial Machines
- Basic Makeup
- Basic Hair Removal
- Lash and Brow Tinting
- Skin Analysis
- Ingredient Analysis
- Sanitation
- Infection Control
- Exfoliation
- Extraction
- Aromatherapy
There will be hours devoted to the physiology, histology, diseases, and chemistry of the skin. Professionals need to be familiar with these topics to understand why treatments are done a certain way and not another, why some ingredients are effective for particular conditions, and the like. Aside from these, students will also delve a little deeper into important subjects like general anatomy and applied nutrition to get a broader view of what’s happening underneath the skin. Since estheticians deal directly with clients, they may also be taught things like client retention, clinic practice management, retailing, professional development, business management, and board exam preparation.
If you want to become an esthetician, look for an excellent esthetics school with great facilities and instructors to get the best preparation possible.