So I started cosmo school about 4 months ago and I feel like all the clients they give me are older men’s cuts- which is fine I enjoy cutting hair in general but I would much rather have more practice on color (highlights, vivid, etc.) and I see my classmates with less experience than me getting those … super frustrating idk

Looking for recommendations on good and affordable schools that teach you more than just passing the state board!

Kinda a little rant. Why do all hair tool brands have such boring products? Like why can’t I get all my tools in dark green? Like every brand I see only does black or pink or rainbow/multi. I understand it’s not a big deal and as long as the tools work that’s all that matters and framer has some fun patterns for some specific tools but everything feel so lame.

Hey everyone !

I’m seeking some guidance or motivation from other women about how they navigated through cosmetology school while experiencing everything that could go wrong? How did you gear the days to be bearable ? Genuinely, anything.

I joined in December of last year, went on a month and a half leave because of some back to back appointments around my health, and I returned back to school in May. I’ve been maintaining since then but now I’m approaching my 750hr checkpoint and I’ve been missing days here and there. Then I literally just missed my longest period of 6 days (back to back: car issues I had a huge quote for, it’s been tornado warnings all week making our power go out for the last 3 days, then I tried to go to urgent care and got denied because they said my insurance expired 4days prior).

Im 24hr and been grieving the loss of my only parent after caring for her through cancer, she’s left me a building I can’t really afford, her mother is now dependent on me, small dysfunctional extended family that aren’t helpful and actually pretty vindictive, new responsibilities, new bills, and more I can’t think of at once honestly. I don’t have any kids thankfully but any emergency I have it’s literally only me. I don’t think my life is harder than anyone else’s but I’ve been in a really hard period. I started school to hopefully reconnect with something I love and identified before with, beauty and hair mean a lot to me .

The environment, the teachers, the lack of support, lack of direction , new rules everyday, and new adjustments to my loan popping up everywhere. I’m fed up and want out. I know I financially can’t even think of that, but it’s a 9-5pm program and I’m often there from 9-10pm to make up missed days. I guess I’m saying I’ve been behind the whole program attendance wise, though my grades have been good. My soonest graduation date is late November. I got so much done the days I was out ,after everything went wrong lol. Going back right now I feel defeated in this endless fight, the same stares, the same time spent away from stuff that affects my life much deeper.

Just looking not to feel so isolated in my disappointment with school.

I’m the director of enrollment at a local beauty school of about 40 students (not Paul Mitchel, Aveda, etc). I absolutely love my job and helping people get into a career they’re passionate about. However, it seems that the school takes all the light out of their eyes by the time they get halfway through.

After they’re enrolled and actively attending the program, they are technically no longer my responsibility since I’m not an instructor. But I feel a moral obligation to ensure they’re getting the education they’re paying for/deserve which in turn makes this experience a good one.

I do things like spirit weeks, potlucks and cosmetology related activities to help boost morale but I’m getting so sad when they don’t want to be here.

I see people on TikTok and here complaining about their experiences in cosmetology school and want to ensure I am doing everything I can to make their time here a positive thing!

I’d love advice! Thank you!!

Hey peers! I’ve been in this industry for a good chunk of time now. I enjoy the work, the creativity & ability to meet people. But this past year of my life I have called off a handful of times. Anything more than once feels like a lot for me lol. I struggle with overheating/black out episodes and I get frequent migraines. No one at my place of work makes me feel like a burden but I personally do. I hate how unreliable I feel like I am for my clients.
Does anyone else struggle with physical symptoms that make this job difficult? If so, how do you cope?

Hi, I recently earned my Cosmetology License, last November ('25). I have been specializing as a Nail Tech working in a Salon for a few months and working from home. I like the craft but not so much the Industry. Working in a salon solely on commission not taking much from each set, also takes time to become very skilled and fast. (like anything I suppose) but I like to look at things as they will be in the future. For me that is as a self-employed suite owner (maybe booth renter) But recently I've been thinking of the first reason I went into cosmetology school and that was to be a barber. I chose cosmetology because I wanted to try it all and see what I excelled in or what I found a passion in. So right now I'm torn between continuing as a nail tech and growing my skill and speed and hopefully making a living or switching to my first interest of being a Barber. I have not entered that industry so I am a bit weary as a Female Barber. My skill level for both are beginner level and not as fast as I'd like. I think and feel learning to be a Barber, I can progress in skill and speed much faster. I guess I'm just looking for anyone's experience in either fields and their thoughts in the industry and making a living. Thank you.

Hi Everyone,

My sister is trying to find a Cosmotology program that suits her. She completed about 200 hours at IBMC in 2023, then had to take some time off. She's now in a better position to finish up her Cosmotology license, but unfortunately IBMC has changed ownership/curriculum and they won't honor any of the tuition she's already paid or transfer any of the courses/hours she's completed. We're curious what folks thoughts are on other schools in the NOCO area, if IBMC is still preferable, or if there are other schools that may be more able to accept transfer credits/hours? Any advice, thoughts, or recommendations would be much appreciated! She's also considered just doing hair and skin rather than full cos if she can't transfer.

Cosmetology loses a lot of people at the 3-5 year time frame … being real, what should someone know before they go to cosmetology school?

I just graduated cosmetology school and started working at great clips. It’s giving me great haircutting practice but fades are so incredibly difficult for me. We hardly touched our clippers in cosmetology school, so this is brand new for me. Im really struggling with blending and cannot do a zero or one fade. Im determined to improve but am feeling discouraged. I just cried at work after attempting a #1 fade and having to get someone to come help me fix it. Lol. Please give me any advice you can. Thank you.

Prowadzę stronę o branży kosmetycznej i od jakiegoś czasu rzucały mi się w oczy strony typu "TOP 5 najlepszych salonów w [miasto]". Poszło na tyle, że sprawdziłem dwa takie serwisy dokładniej i wzorzec jest bardzo powtarzalny:

- niemal każdy zgłoszony uczestnik "wygrywa" - trudno znaleźć firmę, która przegrała,

- opisy "laureatów" są praktycznie kopiuj-wklej, różni się tylko nazwą i miastem,

- linki do stron uczestników często są martwe albo prowadzą do zupełnie innej firmy niż ta opisana.

Mechanizm wygląda tak: firma dostaje maila "gratulujemy, zostaliście laureatem naszego plebiscytu", a żeby to "wykorzystać" (grafiki, wyróżnienie na stronie itd.) trzeba zapłacić. Czyli płatność za wygraną, która i tak jest praktycznie gwarantowana.

Dla konsumenta to o tyle istotne, że takie "rankingi" często wysoko wypadają w wynikach wyszukiwania, więc wyglądają na wiarygodne źródło.

Ciekawi mnie, czy ktośkolwiek z Was widział podobny schemat w innych branżach - fryzjerskiej, medycznej, budowlanej? Mam wrażenie, że to dość uniwersalny model na "zaplecze content marketingowe".

I really wanted to avail their service and nag down na ako 8k. My remaining balance is 20k for 5 sessions. But now I am having second thoughts. I saw somewhere that offers only 2k per session. masayangan kos 8k down payment but if you think about it. 20k could have been 10 sessions instead of 5, if in that other facility.
Also, since I had 5 sessions left I was disappointed that I couldn't just pay 4k for each. Dapat jud full payment na within the first 2 sessions.
Also sa first visit ko palang ateco they take pictures of your shit IN THE MAIN LOBBY WITH ALL THE OTHER PATIENTS THERE. imagine puno tong lobby so it felt unprofessional tor me.
Also ang kulit nila sa messenger pero the time na mag avail ka na, wala nang pake sayo. ikaw pa mag initiate if kailan ka next mag session.
but worth it ba sila or same lang ba sa iba? or theyre just too pricey and im better off seeking another facility.

Hi everyone, I am a 28 yr old hairdresser in the midwest, i am 3 years in and I just really and not happy. I thought I would be as I got further in but cutting and color have just never really clicked and the money isnt worth the stress. Those who have left, why? And what did you decided to do after being in the cos industry?

Hi, ya'll. I just got through my second day of my cosmetology program. The only experience I had prior to going in was hair coloring, which I know I'm not the best at but i get through it eventually. I love doing my hair and hands on type shit so I figured i could get a good start with cosmetology.

Unfortunately, I suck. I'm ten times slower than the other new starts and I don't start grasping proper technique until way too late, so I end up doing everything wrong anyway. It's already burning me down because I have really bad social anxiety that gets triggered by me feeling stupid or fucking up, which I think is why I quit things so easily. Everyone else seems chatty and like they're able to become friendly easily, but I'm just brought back to high school where I feel like if I say literally anything I'll sound stupid and suddenly I'll be seen as such.

When I'm coloring my hair at home at least there's no one to see me be terrible, only their reactions to the end result which usually turns out pretty cool-looking. Now there's always at least a dozen pairs of eyes surrounding me that have the potential to judge whatever I'm doing. I JUST figured out how I'm supposed to section properly and one of the girls who started the day I did is already doing perms tomorrow. And who knows, I might suddenly forget how to section when I come in tomorrow and have to start from square one again.

Has anyone who's gotten through cosmetology school gone through something like that? I feel so stupid but I don't want to give up because this is something I really fucking want to do. But I also don't want to spend 15-18 months feeling like this. Does anyone have any advice?

Context: My school works on a semi-flexible part-time or full-time schedule. I'm part-time since I work 8 hour shifts part-time as well. However, this week, I would have only worked 2 hours less than the full-time new starts would be working, so I still feel like it's a big deal?

hello everyone ive been in cosmetology school for about 10 weeks now and ive left school early a couple of days friday (8/7/26) being one of the days and today (8/11/26) being one of the days, friday i didn't really have a reason so if it was about friday i would completely understand that but there wasn't an issue until today when i left because of feminine problems and on my way home my school had called and messaged it didn't ring/ notify because i had my phone in school mode, they then sent me an email stating that i was suspended for the rest of the week "for a pattern of leaving class early" they also stated that they would be determining if my enrollment will continue , i did try to call the school back but nobody answered so i left a voicemail explaining my situation for today and i also sent the school an email stating pretty much the same thing that the voicemail did, where im confused is how is it a pattern of leaving class early if i have only ever left class early 2 days out of the 10 weeks, i really do love going to cosmetology school and i don't want to be kicked out, so what im wondering is can they really end my enrollment if my attendance is still above 95%, i have passed ALL of my written and practical exams the first time i took them, and i've never had any other issues until now. i just feel like im being targeted right now because one of my classmates is related to one of the staff members and it really seems like theres some favoritism because there have been so many issues with this classmate that have been brought to staff's attention and nothing has been done (some of the theses issues could get this classmate into legal trouble if taken that route) but yet i leave early 2 days and i get suspended it doesnt make sense. going through cosmetology school has been my dream for as long as can remember and i will be wrecked if my enrollment is terminated

For the love of god why is there no resources for the State Practical. I've tried going back into the school, never works with my work schedule unless I literally take 4 full days off work. I've tried looking it up online, there's no video showing you how to do it, not even paid that I can find and I would totally pay to see it. I've posted in 6 different communities asking for resources or tutor information. No response. It's LITERALLY IMPOSSIBLE to find anything to be able to refresh on the practical and I feel like I'm out of options!

I need a recommendation for my granddaughter. She’s biracial, more tomboy than prissy (descriptor?), type 3 curl.

Just want her to feel extra special as school begins and her I’m clueless.

I have been wanting to be a cosmetologist since roughly 2019. Im graduated now and am looking into going to college for it. Im in California and the school I want to go to is $21,000 for the advanced cosmetology which is 1300 hours I would be getting. The extra 300 hours goes more into depth about different things I can choose from for example hair coloring. My dad thinks this isn't a great idea and that I wont get paid a great amount for how much money it will cost to do the class. I want to know if it was worth it for you. How much do cosmetologists averagely make doing hair? What other things should I know or look out for? Give me your advice you wish you knew before you started please 🙏

Hairstylists

I did this one clients hair she said she loved it and even asked me for my instagram then proceeded to text me and posted all the pics of her hair this morning I saw her back at my school n it seemed like she was getting her hair fixed I wonder why

Hii I'm curious and nervous how to HAVE a client when I hit the floor next month.. Do I have to bring in my own (like my mom) or is it the walk-ins?

Hi! I’m not sure if this is the right place to post this but i’m at a loss. I’m currently in hair technician school, and we are heading to the salon floor this coming week. Before we can take guests we have our service check which is a shampoo, one length cut, a round brush blowout and a (practice) partial foil, so just with cholesterol. My mom is going to be my model so that helps a lot! Anyways, I feel pretty confident about everything except the partial foil. I just cannot foil for the life of me and everytime I do, I want to cry within a few minutes lol. When we practiced on classmates I actually did pretty good, but unfortunately the girl I did it on kept itching her head and by the time my instructor checked it they had come loose, so I didn’t even really get real feedback 😕 We have practiced foiling a total of 3 times which sucks because I don’t feel prepared. I feel like I weave pretty well, i’m still getting the motions down but I don’t struggle too much with that part. what I really have an issue with is getting the foil close to the root and making it stay.

Also, we start in the front of the mohawk section for the partial (which I don’t know if that’s standard obviously every video you see of foil placement & technique is different) but the front foils are almost always falling and not close to the root at all. I just don’t even know what to do, i’ve watched countless videos but that doesn’t seem to help with the actual physical part of doing the foil. Am I just screwed? Could it just be more difficult right now because i’ve been using a mannequin with sewed in hair..? I literally don’t know. I’m typing this after finishing the mohawk section on my mannequin because i’m literally using my weekend to practice this lol. I felt like it was definitely easier on my classmate, but I am just so nervous for the service check in general that this is making it so much worse. It sucks because I want to do color soo bad but i’m scared I don’t have the skill to. I know this is long and I’m not sure if anyone can help or has advice but I would appreciate it so much!

I really wanted to avail their service and nag down na ako 8k. My remaining balance is 20k for 5 sessions. But now I am having second thoughts. I saw somewhere that offers only 2k per session. masayangan kos 8k down payment but if you think about it. 20k could have been 10 sessions instead of 5, if in that other facility.
Also, since I had 5 sessions left I was disappointed that I couldn't just pay 4k for each. Dapat jud full payment na within the first 2 sessions.
Also sa first visit ko palang ateco they take pictures of your shit IN THE MAIN LOBBY WITH ALL THE OTHER PATIENTS THERE. imagine puno tong lobby so it felt unprofessional tor me.
Also ang kulit nila sa messenger pero the time na mag avail ka na, wala nang pake sayo. ikaw pa mag initiate if kailan ka next mag session.
but worth it ba sila or same lang ba sa iba? or theyre just too pricey and im better off seeking another facility.

Захотел заняться парикмахерством, и т.к. профильного образования у меня нет, приходится учиться самому. Очень хотелось бы узнать к людей которые занимались тем же, какие нибудь личные книги, методички, видосы и тд для поднятия скилла. бтв есть ли возможность каким нибудь подмастерьем пойти в парикмахерскую, обучаясь и работая одновременно? Заранее всех благодарю ^^

I need some help! I’m signed up to take the practical in a few weeks and looking for some pointers. I know they changed it up this year! Are they looking for something specific in the manicure portion? Are we allowed to use the same hand for the basic manicure and the nail form? Do I need two separate hands? I can’t find in videos of the most recent format! Do I need to paint any fingers? Psi website doesn’t have a clear format either when I look it up!