The Bellus Academy of Beauty & Spa recently hosted an evening in San Diego to honor those who have been working hard to further the beauty industry. By providing mentoring and externship programs, these businesses and campaigns work tirelessly to give the community a further knowledge of beauty careers and the beauty industry. And they have even pledged scholarship money to help those looking to get into a beauty career.

“These beauty industry leaders have inspired so many others with their knowledge and generosity by taking students under their wing and serving as mentors,” said Lynelle Lynch, President of Bellus Academy. ”By nurturing the future of the beauty industry and sharing their passion for their jobs with the community, it has helped us take another step further in changing the perception of beauty as a fallback career. Beauty industry professionals are just that – professional, while also being creative, business-minded and in love with what they do.”

Businesses and campaigns were given the special award at a ceremony on June 9, 2010. Some of these honorees included the Hard Rock Hotel, the Travis Parker Salon in La Jolla, The Loft in Escondido, The Doves in Santa Monica, and Salon Radius in Del Mar. Through campaigns, such as We Love Our Jobs, those in the beauty industry have been able to give more than $1 million in scholarships to deserving and aspiring beauty students. This just shows us that there are lots of opportunities in fields that we love. And the beauty industry is just one more.

-Amanda Fornecker

This story proves that it’s never too late to go back to school – and enjoy it! Ann Dauk is an 85-year-old beautician who decided to go back to school after being in a salon for almost 70 years. At the age of 17, Dauk began styling in a hair salon at a time when cosmetology schools and degrees were not as popular as they are today. She recently told a Minnesota news station that she decided to get with the times and officially obtain her re-certification.

Dauk learns not only from the instructors at her Mankato cosmetology school, but also from the other students. In fact, Dauk is able to influence the students around her, as well. She’s one of the most outgoing and excited students at the school and seems to be enjoying every minute of it.

The point of this is that it really is never too late to go back. No matter what you’re interests or experience, you can always go to school to pursue your dreams. Sometimes it’s after the kids have grown up and grandkids are on the way. Other times it’s solely to go after a goal. And then there are times when you’ve been in an industry so long, you want to brush up on the latest skills out there.

No matter what your dream, you can always have the option to go back to school. You just need to do the research first. Get started today on a career path that will help you fulfill your goals.

Check out this link for more on Dauk’s story.

-Amanda Fornecker

This is the story that proves that you need to research the beauty or spa school you’re pursuing. The NY Post reported this weekend that a Chinatown beauty school was shut down for committing fraud.

USA Beauty School allegedly collected millions of dollars in federal aid over the past two years when they weren’t technically entitled to it. Federal officials called into the school recently to pose as prospective students. What they learned was disturbing: school officials told the “prospective students” that they could fudge details of their education and work history in order to get more financial aid from the government. It was reported that a handful of students who were receiving Pell grants weren’t even eligible for them, as they didn’t even have their high school diplomas or GEDs – a requirement of Pell grants that help those pursuing post-high school education cover their school expenses for tuition and other fees.

Research is imperative when checking out schools. It’s not even just about accreditation anymore – USA Beauty School is accredited by the National Accrediting Commission of Cosmetology Arts & Sciences (NACCAS). What you need to do is visit the school, talk to school officials and current students, and see what else you can find out about a school that you may not have heard of before. Reputation is imperative and if you hear something negative (and I’m not talking about the normal complaints people have), then you should probably go with your instincts. Becoming educated before you actually receive your education is one of the first important steps on the school hunt. Don’t put yourself in a precarious situation that may end up costing you in the end.

Start your research today.

-Amanda Fornecker

One of the most difficult parts of school, in my opinion, is choosing the right one. Once you’ve picked your school, you just need to go the distance to make the grades and be successful. Here, I’ve picked out some articles that may help you in your quest for choosing just the right school.

How to Choose a Beauty School
Beauty school includes a wide scope of professions. So with a few interviews from those who have been there, done that, and made it to the top, you’ll find sound advice that you may find helpful as you search for and make the big beauty school decision. Preparation, personality traits, and curriculum expectations are just some of the great things you can read about and learn more about here.

How to Choose a Cosmetology School
Cosmetology is a more specific category of beauty. Cosmetology school is where your beauty career begins but it can be overwhelming picking the right one. Here, we guide you along the path to looking at reputation, programs, quality, and skill sets. Once you’re in, you’ll be able to explore cosmetology careers and pick just the right specialty for you.

How to Choose an Esthetician School
Esthetics is an even more specialized field of the beauty industry. It deals with skin care and makeup application. Choosing an esthetician school involves licensing options, esthetician school visits, and talking to those who have already walked in your eager shoes.

Picking the right school, no matter what your specialty, involves taking care, research, and time. But with the right information you can choose the right beauty school for you and start out on a successful career path.

-Amanda Fornecker