Before you can find work in any top barber shop or hair salon, it's necessary to become licensed by the state you are residing in or wish to work in. To get this type of cosmetology and esthetician barber license, there are a few solid steps to take. The first step towards becoming licensed, if you have no experience in the beauty industry, is to enroll in an accredited cosmetology college or barber academy. These are beauty schools designed to help students gain the required skill sets and experience necessary to excel with examinations, so that they have a thorough understanding of the latest procedures, techniques, hygiene issues, and forms of technology used in cosmetology today.

Not all cosmetology schools are created equal, so it's best to shop around before you find the right training program to help you gain your cosmetology and esthetician barber license. One of the first things to think about is what type of school it is. Trade schools, community colleges, and online programs are all available to help students learn the skills necessary to get ahead in this field. If you are already working, and wish to fit classes into your spare time evening or weekend hours, you might want to look into online courses to begin with. In all cases, you will need a certain number of hours of hands-on practice to meet the licensing requirements in most states, so that is something to budget into your schedule.

Another way in which these schools might vary is in the types of degrees or certifications that they offer. Although most of them will give you the information you need to earn your cosmetology and esthetician barber license, if you want to go on to run your own salon or learn specialty skills, you will want to see if they offer an Associate's degree that goes into further depth in business, legal issues, or other aspects of the beauty industry. Be sure to look at each curriculum carefully to see if they offer business or computer technology courses, if that is something you are interested in. It can take anywhere from 9 to 24 months to go through these programs, in most cases.

Some of the typical course materials you might see offered in a beauty academy or cosmetology school includes those related to hair care. Hair straightening techniques, hair styling techniques, the latest hair cutting techniques, permanent waves, relaxants, and dyeing is all part of this field of study. However, this is not the only topic you might need to learn about in order to obtain your cosmetology and esthetician barber license. Other topics to consider include waxing, skin care techniques, makeup aesthetics and application, manicures, pedicures, and spa treatments.

Finally, once you have gone through the training program of your choice, ensuring that it is accredited by your state, you will then be ready to take the exam. These may include a written portion as well as a practical portion to practice for. Once you have passed the licensing exam, you should be awarded your cosmetology and esthetician barber license, and be ready to start working.