A strong interest in a career path is certainly necessary to begin your schooling in a particular subject. Particular knowledge, however, is not always necessary.

As I recently sat to get my nails done, my nail technician worked diligently to give me the best manicure. She asked me if I wanted my cuticles pushed back and I responded that I would rather have them cut. I told her that I always liked to get cleaned up the best I could. To this, she responded that she didn’t think I needed them cut and that it was actually not the best to always have that done. This is when I thought about how beauty school and work experience really shapes the professional you can become. I’m fairly certain that before my nail technician started her nail career that she didn’t know that little fact. It was through time and learning that she was able to learn such things.

So is this case with most people. You start your career out with some knowledge and then eventually learn more as you go along. You work your way to the top by working diligently and persevering. That doesn’t mean that it isn’t tough at the bottom, but you have to start somewhere. There are lots of different career path stories. Start your own today and read up on a hair stylist, a celebrity makeup artist, and a foundation expert.

-Amanda Fornecker

In Jordan, the first group of blind beauty students have become certified to work as beauticians. The truth of the matter is that those who are disabled have very little chance to make a living in Jordan and even those who find jobs, struggle to fit in in the workforce. That’s when Maram Nawas came up with the idea to teach blind women a skill with a beauty career.

At first, Nawas was met with extreme criticism and no one took her idea seriously, claiming she simply had too much time on her hands. The idea, to most, was preposterous. How could you teach blind individuals to work in a career that depends on helping another by enhancing their appearance to the general eye?

It seems that Nawas has been successful and she is working hard to go further. Her first group of beauty students have become certified and she is looking to get them eventually licensed as well. She has also just started another class for new students and an advanced class for returning beauty students. For these women who have been met with adversity in their lives, they are finally being given a chance to give something of themselves to the world. One student expressed her excitement at the prospect of becoming a hairdresser’s assistant.

These beauty students in this Jordan beauty school were mainly instructed to apply makeup and complete basic hairstyling tasks simply by touch. You can imagine that there is a learning curve with these things and Nawas has worked hard to instruct her students. It is by her example and this pioneer group of beauty students that will hopefully change the lives of these blind ladies for the better.

-Amanda Fornecker

In an age of trade schools, licensing laws, and tests to ensure beauty and spa professionals are capable of providing services effectively and safely, some individuals (who have learned their trade through family) have been forced to work away from the eyes of the public. Hair braiding has been around for centuries, but some hair braiding business have had to close their doors because state governments have started to require that hair braiders have a cosmetology license in order to legally practice. But hair braiders don’t agree with this new legislation because they don’t feel they learn anything relevant to their trade at cosmetology school. So the questions is: are hair braiders cosmetologists?

Hair braiding has been around for quite some time and most hair braiders learn their trade from family and friends. Once they become good enough at what they do, many go on to form their own businesses. Public storefront businesses have recently been the target of state governments in places like Illinois. And licensed cosmetologists are supportive of this new legislation. It makes sense.

Cosmetology is the study and practice of beauty treatment. Hair braiders do fall into that category as they provide a service to enhance the beauty of their clients. Licensed cosmetologists find it unfair to be required to study and get licensed, when hair braiders do not need to complete the same set of guidelines. But then we look at it from a hair braider’s perspective. Those who attempted to follow the rules enrolled in cosmetology school and quit after completing a certain amount of hours, claiming that cosmetology school didn’t have anything to do with their trade. So what, then, should the alternative be?

Since many hair braiders have closed their doors and have been forced to work underground with the their established clientele base, Illinois lawmakers have begun to propose a new rule. Those hair braiders who can prove at least two years of established hair braiding practice can receive their hair braiding license. And those who are new to the profession can become licensed by undergoing 300 hours of hair braiding training. This makes much more sense because hair braiders will receive proper education and will be licensed to work with clients in the community. It seems that this law, should it pass, will be a nice compromise between the Illinois government and hair braiders.

For more information on this story check out the Associated Press article.

-Amanda Fornecker

I was walking through a Virginia mall this weekend and passed by the cutest thing ever. It was a kids’ spa party! The little girls had their hair in plastic shower caps and were wearing robes and flip flops. They were seated at a counter getting their manicures, while some of their other friends were getting their pedicures. Passersby watched the party, and I, for one, thought it was the best party idea ever, rivaling my hair birthday party in the first grade.

I think this is just another interesting place your spa career can take you. Just because you receive your spa certification, doesn’t mean you have to go straight to a typical salon and spa and massage clients in the traditional way that comes to mind. If you love kids and have some sort of beauty or spa certification then you can certainly find a way to marry your two passions into one career. The possibilities are open. And if you have an idea for a career that doesn’t exist, well maybe you can look into starting your very own business. You may need to take a few business courses or partner up with someone who is looking to start a business, but it might be well worth it.

Earning your spa degree is just a first step into being successful. Where you continue once you’ve flipped your tassel, is your choice. Could working at a kids’ day spa be for you? Only you will know the answer to that question. So begin your spa schooling today and work toward a career that will help you help even the smallest spa-goers happy.

-Amanda Fornecker