
Focus Cities:
Each city's specific licensing requirements, cost of education, and average income may vary slightly based on local regulations and the cost of living. However, the information provided gives a general overview applicable to these primary cities.- New York
- Atlanta
- Detroit
- Houston
- Miami
- Los Angeles
Natural Hair Stylist
A Natural Hair Stylist specializes in hair care and styling techniques for natural, unprocessed hair textures, including curly, coily, and kinky hair. They focus on maintaining the health and beauty of natural hair without the use of chemicals.Services Provided:
- Hair twists
- Braids
Box braids
Cornrows
Micro braids
French braids
Fishtail braids
Goddess braids
Lemonade braids
Crochet braids
Senegalese twists
Havana twists
Loc maintenance - Bantu knots
- Afro shaping
- Natural hair treatments
- Haircuts for natural hair
- Updos for natural hair
- Scalp treatments
- Protective styles
Braider
A Braider specializes in braiding techniques, creating various styles of braids for clients.Average Income Yearly: $20,000 - $35,000 Average Cost of a Service: $50 - $500 States Requiring Licensing: New York, Georgia (Atlanta), Florida (Miami), California (Los Angeles). States Not Requiring Licensing: Texas, Michigan (Detroit). Length of Education Required: 200 - 500 hours Average Cost for Education: $1,500 - $5,000 Average Cost for Exam & State License: $50 - $150
Waxing Specialist
A Waxing Specialist provides hair removal services using wax.Services Provided:
- Eyebrow waxing
- Lip waxing
- Chin waxing
- Leg waxing
- Arm waxing
- Back waxing
- Bikini waxing
- Brazilian waxing
- Underarm waxing
- Full body waxing
Master Barber
A Master Barber is highly skilled in barbering techniques and can perform advanced services.Services Provided:
- Advanced haircuts
- Precision shaving
- Beard sculpting
- Advanced hair coloring
- Scalp treatments
- Hair styling
- Razor fades
- Hot towel shaves
- Facials
- Hair restoration services
Apprentice Barber
An Apprentice Barber is training under a Master Barber to learn the trade.Services Provided:
- Basic haircuts
- Shaving
- Beard trimming
- Line-ups
- Hair coloring
- Scalp treatments
- Shampooing
- Facial massages
- Hair styling
- Razor work
Esthetician
An Esthetician specializes in skincare treatments and services.Services Provided:
- Facials
- Chemical peels
- Microdermabrasion
- Waxing
- Eyebrow tinting
- Eyelash extensions
- Acne treatments
- Anti-aging treatments
- Body wraps
- Makeup application
Cosmetologist
A Cosmetologist is a licensed professional skilled in various beauty services, including hair, skin, and nails.Services Provided:
- Haircuts
- Hair coloring
- Hair styling
- Manicures
- Pedicures
- Facials
- Makeup application
- Waxing
- Perms
- Scalp treatments
Cosmetology Apprentice
A Cosmetology Apprentice is training to become a licensed cosmetologist, learning various beauty techniques.Services Provided:
- Basic haircuts
- Shampooing
- Blow drying
- Basic hairstyling
- Basic hair coloring
- Basic manicures
- Basic pedicures
- Basic facials
- Basic makeup application
- Scalp treatments
The Part they dont teach you in school:
Business Formation
DBA
sole proprietor
LLC
S Corp / C Corp
personal credit
business credit
banking
credit union
bank
sic codes
Lenders prefer to lend into certain industries but not others. SIC and NAICS codes are one way they identify the industries to which they will lend.
There’s no “best NAICS code for credit” list, but if your business falls into a lender’s high risk category, you may find it harder to get business funding, or you may get approved for smaller loan amounts or credit limits. (We will talk about high-risk NAICS codes in a moment.)
Lenders breakdown NAICS into multiple different categories:
- Preferred Industry (expedited approval and/or better financing terms)
- Normal Risk Industries (normal underwriting)
- High Risk Industries (additional documentation may be required)
- Prohibited Industries (will not lend)
So even if the bank generally likes to lend to a particular industry— say healthcare, for example— if they’ve already reached their lending threshold for that industry, your loan application could get rejected even though you meet other approval criteria.
And remember the top factors many small business lenders consider when evaluating small business loan applications are:
- Credit scores,
- Revenue/income, and/or
- Time in business
branding
graphic design:
logo design/ business colors
hosting / website
social media
story
problems you solve
services you provide
product(s) you sell
marketing & promotion
social media ads
Tik-Tok
Youtube
Google My Business
Yelp
Meta Business Account
craigs list
Apprentice Education
Skin Care Basics (for Cosmetologists):
- Skin Types and Conditions: Identifying different skin types and common skin conditions.
- Facial Techniques: Basic facial techniques and treatments.
- Product Knowledge: Understanding various skin care products and their ingredients.
Hair and Scalp Health:
- Anatomy and Physiology: Basics of hair and scalp anatomy and physiology.
- Common Conditions: Identifying and understanding common hair and scalp conditions such as dandruff, alopecia, and psoriasis.
- Treatment Plans: Developing and implementing treatment plans for various hair and scalp conditions.
Sanitation and Sterilization:
- Sanitation Protocols: Proper sanitation protocols to prevent the spread of infections and diseases.
- Sterilization Techniques: Techniques for sterilizing tools and equipment.
- Regulatory Compliance: Understanding and complying with health and safety regulations.
Skin Care Basics (for Cosmetologists):
- Skin Types and Conditions: Identifying different skin types and common skin conditions.
- Facial Techniques: Basic facial techniques and treatments.
- Product Knowledge: Understanding various skin care products and their ingredients.
Nail Care (for Cosmetologists):
- Manicures and Pedicures: Techniques for performing professional manicures and pedicures.
- Nail Disorders: Identifying and treating common nail disorders.
- Nail Art: Basics of nail art and design.
Business Skills:
- Salon Management: Basics of managing a salon, including staff management and customer service.
- Marketing: Marketing strategies to attract and retain clients.
- Financial Management: Basics of financial management, including budgeting and pricing services.
- Client Relations: Building and maintaining positive client relationships.
Ethics and Professionalism:
- Code of Conduct: Understanding the professional code of conduct and ethics.
- Client Confidentiality: Importance of maintaining client confidentiality.
- Professionalism: Maintaining a professional demeanor and appearance.
Communication Skills
1. Active Listening:Active listening involves fully concentrating, understanding, responding, and remembering what the client is saying. For barbers, cosmetologists, and natural hair stylists, this skill helps in understanding clients' needs, preferences, and concerns, ensuring they feel valued and heard.
2. Empathy:
Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of another person. In the beauty industry, demonstrating empathy can help build a strong rapport with clients, making them feel comfortable and respected during their services.
3. Communication:
Effective communication involves both verbal and non-verbal skills to convey messages clearly and respectfully. For beauty professionals, clear communication ensures clients’ expectations are understood and met, and it helps in giving proper care instructions or advice.
4. Patience:
Patience is the ability to stay calm and tolerant, especially when clients are indecisive or require more time to explain their needs. This is crucial for beauty professionals to provide high-quality service without making the client feel rushed.
5. Confidentiality:
Confidentiality involves keeping private information shared by clients secure and not disclosing it without permission. This is essential for building trust, as clients often share personal stories and preferences during their appointments.
6. Problem-Solving:
Problem-solving skills involve identifying issues, analyzing possible solutions, and implementing the best one. For beauty professionals, this might mean addressing a hair or skin issue the client is experiencing or finding ways to meet their specific style requests.
7. Boundary Setting:
Setting boundaries means establishing clear guidelines about what is acceptable behavior and what is not. This helps beauty professionals maintain a professional relationship with clients, ensuring mutual respect and comfort.
8. Cultural Competence:
Cultural competence involves understanding, appreciating, and interacting with people from diverse cultures and backgrounds. Beauty professionals need to be aware of different cultural practices and preferences related to hair and beauty to provide appropriate and respectful services.
9. Stress Management:
Stress management skills help in maintaining composure and efficiency under pressure. For beauty professionals, managing their own stress and helping clients relax during appointments is key to providing a pleasant experience.
10. Positivity:
Maintaining a positive attitude involves being cheerful and encouraging, which can significantly enhance the client’s experience. A positive atmosphere in the salon or barbershop can make clients feel more comfortable and happy with their services.
Applying Counseling Skills in the Beauty Industry
Active Listening:When a client explains their desired hairstyle or expresses concerns about their hair or skin, the professional listens attentively, asks clarifying questions, and paraphrases to ensure they understand the client's needs correctly.
Empathy:
A client may feel self-conscious about hair loss or skin issues. Showing empathy involves acknowledging their feelings and offering supportive and reassuring responses, making the client feel understood and accepted.
Communication:
Clearly explaining the steps of a procedure, potential outcomes, and aftercare instructions helps clients know what to expect and how to maintain their look. This also includes non-verbal cues like maintaining eye contact and using positive body language.
Patience:
Some clients may take longer to decide on a style or might be chatty. Being patient allows the client to feel they have ample time to make decisions and feel comfortable during their visit.
Confidentiality:
Ensuring that conversations about personal matters or preferences are kept private builds trust. For example, not discussing a client's personal stories with other clients or staff.
Problem-Solving:
If a client is unhappy with their service outcome, the professional calmly assesses the situation, discusses possible solutions with the client, and implements the best course of action to address their concerns.
Boundary Setting:
Establishing clear boundaries ensures that the professional relationship remains respectful and professional. This includes politely declining inappropriate requests or comments and maintaining professional distance.
Cultural Competence:
Understanding and respecting cultural differences in hair care practices or beauty standards helps provide services that are culturally appropriate and appreciated. For example, being knowledgeable about natural hair care for different ethnic groups.
Stress Management:
Maintaining composure during a busy day or when dealing with difficult clients ensures that all clients receive high-quality service and that the professional remains efficient and effective.
Positivity:
Creating a welcoming and upbeat environment helps clients feel relaxed and satisfied with their experience. A positive demeanor can make even a routine appointment enjoyable and memorable.
By integrating these counseling skills, master barbers, cosmetologists, and natural hair stylists can enhance their client interactions, build stronger relationships, and provide more personalized and satisfying services.