I miss the days of the old Disney cartoon movies. I grew up on The Little Mermaid, Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast, and others. These are some of the greatest movies of my childhood and when I think of them a little deeper, I can see some great lessons…

Cinderella
OK, so we may not all have a fairy godmother, but this can be seen as a lesson (although extreme) in paying your dues. Sometimes, you may feel that you have been working up your way for quite some time at your job. But one day, your prince will also come and you’ll finally flourish into the princess you’ve always been. So with a little hard work and some patience, the clock striking midnight will not turn the carriage back into the pumpkin, but may indicate your advancement in your beauty career. Don’t let your evil stepmother get you down!

The Little Mermaid
We all know that Ariel wanted more and what’s wrong with thinking outside of the box (or the ocean)? Although you may sometimes need to make sacrifices to get where you want to be, it can be worth it in the end. Obstacles come up (let’s just hope they’re not as scary and crazy as Ursula) and you can overcome them with a little perseverance, honesty, and hard work. Maybe a little rearranging of your life may be in order, but just think of how happy you can be in the end when you finally get your yummy Eric.

Beauty and the Beast
Yes, this was certainly a lesson in beauty being more than just skin deep and going beyond first impressions. But it was also about taking chances, standing up for what you believe in, and even hitting the books. Belle loved books and got everything she wanted. Of course, she had to overcome some tough situations, but her curiosity and zest for life (and beasts) helped her to get her gorgeous golden gown and her gallant gent (even though he was kind of a giant gargoyle before…).

These were all Disney love stories between two people, but your love affair can be translated to a beauty or spa career. Do what you love, work hard, and you will triumph in the end.

-Amanda Fornecker

I watched MTV’s “Jersey Shore” last night and can I just say I was definitely entertained. But it doesn’t take a beauty school professional to know that these looks are part of a culture very different from other parts of the country. In fact, many people who have been born and raised in that very area (aka me) don’t necessarily fit that stereotypical bill. The following are some beauty adjustments a beauty professional might love to make on these young partygoers.

The Poof
If volume is what you want, then you may be able to achieve this look with just the right cleansing and styling regimen. No need to tease and spray like the days of the ’80s. By visiting your hair stylist, you’ll get tips and tricks that will look more natural, instead of passe and exaggerated.

The Tan
This is an esthetician’s nightmare. By tanning, you’re killing the top layer of your skin. But the worst part is that it normally looks pretty fake when you put yourself in a box all year long or decide to get an orange spray-on tan. Tanning all summer or on your vacay is one thing but creating a fake appearance is not always the best for your image.

The Gelled Spike
Do boys really sit there for 25 minutes, gelling and blowing out their hair? Unfortunately, I’ve met some who do. Don’t let the gel go to your head. Take a trip to the barber shop to stay groomed. Use the gel, but you don’t need to create a weapon with your hair that wouldn’t allow you to pass through airport security.

The Fake Nails
I’m sure a nail technician would agree – sometimes less is more. In fact, the more natural and light-colored manicure is what’s in this season. Tips and wraps are still totally fine, but there are some out of control claws out there that seem extremely unnatural if you ask me.

Now, not everyone in the vicinity of the Jersey Shore is like those portrayed on MTV’s new show. And they’re not bad people, either. But I bet some beauty professionals would love to do a Jersey Shore makeover. Who would you make over?

-Amanda Fornecker

Happy Black Friday! I was up bright and early with my mom and out the door at 5am today. I’m completely exhausted and didn’t have much of a chance to catch up on the sleepy daze of my Thanksgiving turkey. I thought about it (as I repeatedly handed over my credit card to the salespeople) and it must be pretty cool to be in fashion design and wardrobe styling. Some collections are made specifically for this time of year and it has to be fun to plan these out. This reminds me of an article a colleague of mine wrote about the wardrobe styling industry. How fun must it be to style such an iconic fashion masterpiece as Sex and the City?!

The possibilities are endless when you work in fashion. You’re not limited to retail; you can go big with the pros. Designing, styling, sewing, sketching, and more make up the fashion industry. You can also work in women’s fashion, men’s fashion, shoes, handbags, and other areas. It’s such a great place to be because, let’s face it, fashion never goes out of style. It would be so cool to be on the very pulse of fashion as it happens. You might even be able to bring a trend to life or style famous celebs. Whatever you are interested in, you’ll certainly be able to work your way up the fashion ladder after you’ve attend fashion school. So check out the possibilities today and get yourself recognized with the best. Maybe your collection will be the center of attention during Black Friday madness!

-Amanda Fornecker

It’s always a fear. What if you pick the wrong career path? It is possible to study for two or four years, come out with a degree, and start working in a field that doesn’t excite you or even have anything to do with what you want to do. So then what do you do?

It’s important to look at what you feel a passion for. If it’s cooking, you may become a chef; if it’s beauty products, you may become an esthetician; and if it’s helping others you may pick any of the beauty fields because they all contribute to making individuals feel genuinely good about themselves.

This kind of thing happens all the time. One instance: Andrea Hirsekorn. Starting out with a typical job in marketing, Hirsekorn quickly became restless with the stress and long hours. It is a job with nightclubs and bars in Sydney, Australia, that would help her along her path to massage and wellness school. Read her story here.

Others may have the passion, but they don’t exactly get into their beauty career right away. Joey Noufal earned his degree in graphic arts before he fully pursued his true passion of hair color. Today he owns his own salon in Tysons Corner, VA. See how he went from painter to big time hair colorist here.

A career in beauty doesn’t necessarily follow a traditional route of study. Some beauticians may start out in one place that will lead them into another. But it’s the true passion that really comes through in the end and helps these individuals be successful in a beauty career.

-Amanda Fornecker