A Minute With SpaBeautySchools

With so many beauty schools out there how are you supposed to choose?? Each week SpaBeautySchools spotlights a different school to give you an idea what each offers. Otherwise, it seems rather overwhelming to figure out where you’ll fit in the best. Check out these beauty and wellness schools and get going on your search for the perfect Spa or Beauty School. And don’t forget to take a peak at some of our past Featured Schools.

California Academy for the Healing Arts
Energy healing, Reiki, and massage therapy are just some of the concentrations you’ll find at the California Academy for the Healing Arts. With structured programs, practice in the field, and a variety of training courses, you’ll be able to earn your certification in no time at all!

Cameo Beauty Academy
Cameo Beauty Academy is a Redken premiere school that has been educating cosmetologists for almost 50 years. Full-time and part-time possibilities ensure that each student can obtain a flexible schedule to fit their lives.

Center for Massage and Natural Health
Equine massage courses and herbalism are some of the unique programs offered at the Center for Massage and Natural Health. These 600-hour certificate programs prepare students to sit for the licensing exams so that they may work in the field of their choice.

Adrian’s Beauty College
Adrian’s Beauty College uses the Pivot Point International curriculum to teach its students esthetics, color theory, makeup, and more.

ACI Career College
ACI Career College is more than just a massage therapy school. From pharmacy technicians and medical assistants, students get to choose from a wide spectrum of programs.

I need to be pampered. Seriously. I haven’t had a massage in almost two years and my hair is an absolute disaster! Luckily, I’m at ease (to an extent) about the professionals who can provide these services to me.

Really I love the beauty and fashion industries. Nothing thrills me more than a good pair of shoes or a beautiful leather bag. Being a stylist, I feel, would be so cool, but I don’t have the experience or training to deserve a stranger’s trust. The same goes for makeup. I’ve taught many-a-friend some tricks for their face, but that doesn’t mean I can make a career out of it. What separates me from someone who doesn’t know anything about fashion or makeup?

It comes down to credibility. Employers are far more probable to trust my journalistic judgment than to hire me as a stylist or makeup artist because that’s what my degree is in and that’s where I’ve worked before. However, if I wanted to I should definitely reach for the stars and get myself to beauty school.

I’ve seriously been considering a change lately in my appearance. Like I said, my hair is driving me crazy but I’m kind of nervous to just take the hair plunge! And I never know what to tell my hairdresser - how short do I want it? Do I want layers? Bangs? Ahhhh so many decisions!! Another problem is the fact that I’ve decided to switch hairdressers. I’m unhappy with mine and need a change. But who can I trust?! I’d love it if I really knew what to look for or if I could wear my hair differently than just my typical straight and oh-so-boring.

I need to spice it up! Maybe someone who’s like me can benefit from searching for a beauty program. And although I may stick to writing for now, a beauty career switch may be the way to go one day. And it’s then that I’ll be able to present my skills in a way that others can trust.

-Amanda Fornecker

Cosmetologists in training: take note. If you aspire to be THE hair stylist to the stars, to see your name in lights at your very own salon on the likes of fancy schmancy Madison Avenue, or to see your work all over the Red Carpet, then take a look at the story of Julien Farel. He’s made $3,600 in the past for completing only 30 minutes of work. Of course, he was styling a celeb’s hair at 2 a.m., but that’s just a minor detail…

MSN CareerBuilder had an article up today about this hair stylist and how he got to where he is today. Seems like it took a lot of training, practice, and mentoring. But eventually Farel was able to open up his own salon. Dreams do come true. While he was star struck at first when he started styling celebrities, he now claims that this job comes second nature to him and that his goal is making all his clients look like celebrities.

Says Farel in the MSN article, “Opening my own salon and seeing my name on Madison Avenue was always a dream,” Farel says. “To see it happen still fills me with such pride.”

And you can do it too. It’s not impossible at all. Farel started out at beauty school, worked in the field, and was noticed by someone with more experience. He just continued to move up from there.

“There is no secret to success,” points out Farel in the article, “there’s just determination.”

So turn that determination into some motivation for a beauty program so you can own your dream salon and make thousands of dollars in just minutes.

-Amanda Fornecker

You already know beauty pros are cool, but here are 7 more reasons why a career in beauty is the way to go.

1. Free samples
Why pay retail when you can get the latest and greatest products for a deep discount, or for nothing at all? If you’re into beauty products (which you are, of course), you may as well save money on ‘em.

2. Beautiful people
Let’s face it–when you make it to the top of the beauty chain, you get to meet some pretty beautiful people, celebs and civilians alike. Not only do beauty pros get to stargaze, they get to go behind the scenes and find out what makes the beautiful people tick, and what kinds of products they prefer. They hold the secrets to the beautiful looks.

3. Service for yourself
When you’re in the beauty business, you can get high-quality beauty services as well as you can give ‘em. That’s because your best friends are fellow beauty pros who can work their magic on you, and vice versa. Never pay top dollar for beauty services again.

4. Time to trendwatch
Some people read celeb and fashion magazines as a hobby, but beauty pros get paid to trendwatch. After all, the pros who stay on the cutting edge of cool are the ones who get the best word of mouth and the most business.

5. Spa work
Wouldn’t it be great to spend your days at the spa? According to the International Spa Association, 74 percent of U.S. spas–that includes club spas, day spas, medical spas, and resort/hotel spas–offer salon services. It’s an ideally luxurious work environment.

6. Always hiring
As long as the world turns, there will be a need for salons and spas filled with hair stylists, makeup artists, nail technicians, and more. There will always be work, in every city, in any economy. Not many people can cut and style their own hair, or do their own nails, or apply makeup professionally.

7. Never boring
Unlike the traditional desk job, beauty pros get to work with different people every day. There’s always someone new coming through your door, and there’s always a new look to try, or a challenge to meet. You have to be alert and proactive to do this job.

Now just try to come up with 7 reasons not to be a beauty pro….

-Robyn Tellefsen

Whether you’ve decided on, or are still contemplating, a spa or beauty school it’s important to start searching for financial aid early and often. Though it may not always be necessary, spa beauty scholarships can make the difference between a quick and easy education, and struggling to make tuition payments. In order to help you out, we’ve collected info on three upcoming spa beauty scholarships…

The Name: The International Spa (ISPA) Foundation’s Mary Tabacchi Scholarship
The Game: Part- and full-time undergraduate students who have an interest in spa management, and who plan on enrolling in a two- or four-year spa-related degree program, may apply. Scholarship application essentials include: your college transcript, recommendations, and an essay outlining your skills, credentials, and goals.
The Date: March 1, 2008
The Prize: A $2,500 scholarship, plus airfare, hotel, and registration fees for attending either the ISPA Asia-Pacific Conference or ISPA Conference & Expo.

The Name: Joe Francis Haircare Scholarship
The Game: Available only to cosmetology students who can demonstrate either an enrollment with, or acceptance by, a cosmetology school by August of this year. Applicants are judged by their skill, commitment to cosmetology, and financial need.
The Date: June 1, 2008
The Prize: A $1,000 scholarship.

The Name: The Massage Therapy Foundation’s Student Case Report Contest
The Game: Open to currently enrolled massage therapy students, this contest asks each applicant to conduct a case study into the benefits of massage therapy on a new patient. Students then submit a 2,000 - 3,000 word document that outlines the pertinent aspect of their study.
The Date: March 1, 2008
The Prize: Prizes range from $1,500 to $2,500 and may include being published on the Massage Therapy Foundation’s Web site or the Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies. Depending on whether a student wins the “Gold” or “Bronze Award” additional awards may follow.

-Genevieve Blaber

Special occasions like Valentine’s Day do a great job of drawing attention to all the great services that spa professionals have to offer. That is if you’re lucky enough to have your significant other treat you to a spa day!

But beyond Cupid’s holiday, the job prospects for those in the spa industry are good year round and for years to come. Skin care specialists, for instance, constitute one of the fastest growing occupations, with employment expected to increase 34 percent between 2006 and 2016, compared to the average growth of 10 percent for all occupations, according to the latest projections from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. You read right–spa professionals are in demand!

Not only that, spa professionals get to have fun. Where else can you flex your creative muscles in a calm, nurturing atmosphere? And on holidays like Valentine’s Day, spas get to pull out all the stops and celebrate with gusto. Check out these creative, specialty packages that pay homage to the holiday of love:

Yummy retreat >> Spa professionals give couples a chance to get away for the weekend and get treated to a facial or massage for two. One spa even provides an in-home, four-course meal prepared by a gourmet chef, complete with candles, wine, and rose petals. Sign me up!

Chocolate dream >> Calling all chocoholics–as a spa professional, you can help clients experience the ultimate indulgence at the spa this V-Day. In a unique twist on a standard spa service, some spas offer chocolate body wraps, chocolate scrubs, chocolate and cherry facials, and chocolate and cherry pedicures. Call it “fantasy spa.”

Couples classes >> When you work at the spa, you can help your love last past the holiday with insight gleaned from romance classes in the spa community. Enhance your relationship and take steps toward total mind-body balance by exploring the real magic of love.

Solo suggestion >> V-Day isn’t just for couples, and spa professionals know it. For gals with hearts that need mending, one spa is offering a weekend getaway, including a chocolate martini and strawberries, bath salts and lavender candles, and women’s magazines. What better place to heal your heart than at the spa?

The spa is a great place to visit on holidays and every day, but it can be an even better place to work and live. Where else can you experience all that chocolate without the calories?!

-Robyn Tellefsen

Nail technicians are emerging from the shadow of higher-profile salon professionals with s super-bright career outlook for 2008, according to NAILS Magazine 2007 industry stats and trends. As a nail tech, how can you get a bigger piece of the nail salon services pie? Follow the trends …

1. Charge more.
Nail techs give clients what they pay for and then some. Don’t sell yourself short. If you’ve got just as much to offer as the pricey salons do, why shouldn’t your rates reflect that reality? NAILS suggests following this formula to raise your rates: Provide custom services unique to your salon, deliver the results you’ve promised, then charge prices that reflect your quality of products, service, and exclusivity. Make sure your clients are paying for everything they’re getting.

2. Branch out.
If people can get manicures while they’re waiting for their cars to be fixed, why can’t you diversify your services too? Thinking big will set your business apart from the rest. Expand your retail offerings beyond cuticle oil and nail polish. Offer head and neck massages while clients’ nails dry. Consider adding services like a spray tanning booth. Bottom line: Don’t be afraid to offer more than nail care.

3. Get dirty.
People come to you for beauty, but sometimes what they bring you isn’t pretty at all. The fact is, everyone gets natural buildup on their heels; that’s why callus management is in demand. As a nail tech, the callus products at your disposal provide a gentle, yet powerful, alternative to a blade. While callus removal and management may not be the most glamorous addition to your services, it’s a profitable one.

4. Buy direct.
Each new year brings new distribution opportunities for nail techs. Why pay a traditional full-service dealer when you can buy products direct from the manufacturer? With your products in more online stores than ever, you’ve got a better selection and better options for buying. NAILS also predicts that more nails-only dealers will spring up, which will make it even easier for you to find the products you seek.

5. Learn more.
Nail techs and salon owners are going back to school, and not just for standard continuing education courses. According to NAILS, we can look forward to the availability of more college-level salon specialization courses as well as farther-reaching curriculum being designed by manufacturers and independent outlets. Highly specialized technical courses in areas like medical pedicures, anti-aging treatments, and solution-oriented natural nail care based on biology and chemistry will crop up as well. And salon owners will pursue business degrees, while more MBAs will make their way into the nail industry and start their own salons.

Whether you’re considering becoming a nail tech, you’re on your way to getting licensed, or you’re already established in your career, rest assured that the industry is full of opportunity. It’s never looked better!

-Robyn Tellefsen

Can there be relief after hunching over my computer all day until my neck is in knots and I’m seeing spots? It’s hard to imagine.

After all, I don’t always have the opportunity to stop by a spa for a blissful, hour-long massage after a hectic day. But what if, instead of my heading to the spa, the spa came to me?

It may sound dreamy, but that’s the reality in a growing number of offices today. This year, the Society for Human Resource Management reported that 13 percent of its 210,000 member companies offer workplace massage. And an earlier “Working Mother” article found 77 percent of the top 100 U.S. companies offered massage at work.

That’s why workplace massage presents a fantastic career opportunity for aspiring massage therapists. Just think–all the people who have neither the time nor the inclination to book a full massage at the spa will suddenly have access to your services in the place they frequent most. For some, this will be their first exposure to professional massage. And once they’ve been treated to your massage techniques, they’ll be tempted to come back for more!

Aside from the obvious relaxation results, here are a few other amazing benefits your massage therapy services can provide:

• According to a 2003 “Annals of Internal Medicine” report and a 2000 “Canadian Medical Association Journal” report, massage therapy is an effective method of treating persistent back pain.

• According to “The Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies” in 2004, massage reduces carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms.

• Massage therapy has also been shown to strengthen the immune system, according to research published in “The Journal of Neuroscience” in 1996 and “Psychosomatic Medicine” in 2000.

More to the point, studies have shown that massage actually improves employee productivity. A study by the Touch Research Institute at the University of Miami found that after five weeks, a group of 26 employees who had twice-weekly, 15-minute massages in the office experienced reduced stress and improved performance, as opposed to a control group of 24 employees who were just told to close their eyes and relax. The massaged workers even completed math problems in half the time as normal and with half the errors they made before they were massaged!

When you’re offering these kinds of regenerative massage therapy services, what bleary-eyed worker can refuse? Not me.

-Robyn Tellefsen

When I think about personal training, I think about fitness gurus helping celebs like Britney Spears and Madonna stay healthy, toned, and strong. And there are plenty of trainers who work with the adult population, even those famous few.

But there’s a whole other population demanding the services of personal trainers — kids!

That’s right, kids are jumping on the fitness train, too. According to the International Health, Racquet and Sportsclub Association, 824,000 children between the ages of 6 and 17 use personal trainers. That means children account for about 13 percent of personal trainers’ clients.

If you’re considering a career as a personal trainer, why not plan to work with this fresh-faced, fast-growing segment of the industry?

The fitness concerns unique to young people make the job of a personal trainer particularly important. Kids’ exercise programs need to be unquestionably safe and effective, especially for children who have not yet reached puberty. Parents hire personal trainers who specifically know how to work with kids whose bodies are still developing. In fact, many parents are more than willing to pay a personal trainer to ensure that their children are developing active lifestyles that will reap health benefits for the rest of their lives.

It’s no surprise that the fitness interest for the younger set has been largely motivated by the American obesity epidemic. Kids are out of shape and overweight, susceptible to future health problems such as diabetes and heart disease. Personal training along with healthy eating advice from nutritionists present an innovative solution to a growing problem.

But weight isn’t the only factor parents take into consideration when choosing personal training for their kids. They’re looking for an exercise program that will build kids’ confidence and give them a sense of accomplishment. Getting fit can also improve kids’ balance and coordination, which makes a difference in sports. And the set appointment with a personal trainer can do the same for kids as it does for adults–keep them consistent, accountable, and motivated to stick with their fitness regime.

Fitness isn’t just for the famous, and it isn’t just for grownups. The health habits of kids are just as important as, maybe even more important than, the ingrained habits of adults, since the fitness attitudes developed at an early age often carry over into adulthood. If we’re going to fight obesity and lethargy, we need to start with personal training for children.

Isn’t it time you used your talents to benefit kids?

-Robyn Tellefsen

If it’s true that a woman’s hairstyle is her most important accessory, revealing her personality and her adventurousness or conservatism, what does your hair say about you?

I suppose my short, zero-maintenance haircut points to my overall low-maintenance look. Basically, I’m a hair designer’s nightmare. I’ve never met a hair designer who hasn’t wanted to give me a chic new style or a complete color overhaul. (The one nod my hair gives to the adventurous aspect of my personality is my blonde highlights. How daring!)

After all, people are known for their hairstyle–think Farrah Fawcett’s 1970s feathered look, for one. And what about the public outcry in 1999 when Keri Russell of the TV show “Felicity” cropped her long, curly hair into a pixie do? If that doesn’t speak to the importance of hairstyles, I don’t know what does.

And when it comes to hair, it’s obvious if you’re not changing with the times. The late fashion designer Bill Blass once said, “The secret of living is not staying too long. I have learned when to leave the party.” In other words, if you’re still sporting a ’50s-era bouffant, you might want to rethink your style. Besides, if your hair designer were still pushing the “Rachel” from the 1990s, you’d probably look for another designer.

Going even further back, history provides classic examples of the ever-evolving nature of hair design. In the 1700s, during the reign of Louis XV in France, women began hiring artists to create hairstyles depicting the themes of the elaborate French socialite parties they were attending. Their hair was draped over a frame stuffed with cotton, wool, or straw and cemented with a paste that hardened. Hair was then powdered and decorated. And, get this: Women were known to sport live birds in cages, waterfalls, cupids, and naval battles in their hairdos!

As you can imagine, these hair designs got a bit out of control. Women suffered backaches from the weight of these creations. Not only that, but the pomades holding these styles together were made of beef lard and bear grease. Because women traditionally kept their hairdos for a week or two, their hair became rancid and would often attract vermin. Unfortunately, shampoo didn’t make its debut until Breck entered the market in the 1930s. Aren’t you glad you missed this chapter in the history of hair design?

Change is good. And if you’re interested in hair design, change must be a key term in your career vocabulary. Maybe you can even convince low-maintenance gals like me to consider a new style …

-Robyn Tellefsen