• New manicuring tables and lights
• Pedicure basins with water jets
• Gel manicuring lamps
• Paraffin wax warmers
• OPI nail polish back bar

Guest educators often come into the school to give nail demonstrations. A guest educator from Tech Nail Concepts, Esmerita Alvarez, showed the students how to do three-dimensional nail art using acrylic. The students then had to incorporate 3D nail art design into a romantic-themed manicure for Valentine’s Day.

“The competitions are fun! It’s a great way to express yourself and push yourself creatively. These are not your everyday nails,” Jenny Woodall said, a nail technician student who graduated in March.

Michelle Tretola graduated just a few days after Jenny. She enrolled in the nail technician program because she loved doing nail art and she could finish her training quickly. She also liked the thought of working flexible hours and still being able to care for her young children. She learned about the new Salon Success Academy in Corona and waited until the school opened to enroll.

“The school is really nice! Everything is really clean and it looks just like a real salon. The program is new, but it’s growing really quickly. Every day we have more and more clients coming in to get their nails done,” Michelle said.

The students said they adore Ms. Stephanie, the nail technician instructor who teaches them practical and theory. They also love learning from Ms. Vicky, the Assistant Campus Director at the Corona campus, who worked in the field as a licensed nail technician for 12 years.  She’s always showing the students tricks of the trade, like how to use monomers to change the color of the acrylic.

“The staff is really encouraging. They give you confidence and help you become the best you can be,” Jenny Woodall, a nail technician student said. “They’ve done a great job preparing me for work after I graduate. I definitely feel like I’ll be able to get a job now.”

Fill out the form to learn more about the nail technician program at Salon Success Academy.

The post New Nail Technician Program in Corona appeared first on Salon Success Beauty Blog.

Since so much depends on the outcome of this exam, it’s not unusual to become nervous and stressed at the thought of taking the exam. That’s why it’s important to be as prepared as possible before going into it!

Salon Success Academy takes the state board of cosmetology exam very seriously! Cosmetology instructors begin preparing students extensively for the exam about half-way through the program. As graduation nears, each student must take and pass their mock state board, which is administered by cosmetology instructor Ms. Rena. The mock state board is as close to the real exam as possible and takes about four hours to complete.

Ms. Rena is an expert when it comes to the state board of cosmetology exam! Here are her top tips for how to pass the exam and get your cosmetology license:

If you’re interested in training for a new career in the beauty industry, Salon Success Academy provides its students with in-depth, hands-on training on the latest hairstyling techniques and extensive preparation for the state board exam. The school offers programs in cosmetology, esthetics, and manicuring at its five locations around the Inland Empire of California. Salon Success Academy offers day and evening classes, in both full-time and part-time schedules, and Financial Aid assistance to students who qualify. Fill out the form to learn more about the training for a new career with Salon Success Academy!

The post How To Pass The State Board of Cosmetology Exam [Infographic] appeared first on Salon Success Beauty Blog.

Each state has its own state board of barbering and cosmetology. The board administers testing and licensing for cosmetology school graduates to ensure that they’re held to a certain standard in skillset, safety, and sanitation. The board also handles consumer complaints, sends inspectors in to examine salons and spas, and establishes fines if they’re not following proper procedures.

Deregulation of the beauty industry means these standards would no longer exist. There would be no inspectors to examine salons, no schooling required, no exam, no license, and no consumer complaint process.

This could lead to an increase in cases of infection and disease from administering beauty services. It also poses a serious risk to clients to have tools like scissors, razors and chemicals in the wrong, untrained hands.

“This means when you go and get any beauty service done, you’re doing so at your own risk. Deregulating the licensing procedure will mean literally anyone can perform those services. They’re not going to have any education. They’re not going to have any training. They’re not going to know the proper forms of sanitation,” Tabatha Coffey said in a new Facebook video.

The logic behind these bills is to reduce state spending. The politicians and lobbyists who support this legislation believe the cost of maintaining the state board of cosmetology is too high. They argue that once a customer experiences a bad service, he or she can always find a new stylist “without any risk of serious harm.”

For those who are currently working in the field or are pursuing a new career in the beauty industry, they know how insulting and harmful this legislation truly is. Please help stop these bills by spreading the word and educating your friends, family, and politicians about the possible effects of this harmful legislation. You can also sign to the petition at Change.org  to show your support for the licensed beauty professionals in the state of Indiana.

If you’re interested in obtaining the proper education and training you need to become a licensed beauty professional, Salon Success Academy is a cosmetology school in California with five locations across the Inland Empire. The cosmetology school also offers an esthetics and nail technician program, in-depth preparation for the state board exam, flexible class schedules, and financial aid assistance to those who qualify. To learn more about enrolling in cosmetology school in California, fill out the form or call 877-987-4247 today!

The post What Beauty Industry Deregulation Means For Cosmetology School Students appeared first on Salon Success Beauty Blog.

It’s important to note that there’s no such thing as a “medical esthetician license.” You first have to obtain your esthetics license, then complete additional medical esthetician training to be able to work in a medical office.  Because of this additional training, medical estheticians often earn higher salaries than other licensed estheticians! Skin care professionals working in the medical field earn an average of $7,000 more annually than a traditional esthetician.* If you’re wondering how much money you’ll earn as a licensed esthetician, check out the Esthetician Salary Infographic.

Here’s how to become a medical esthetician:

1. Go to Esthetician School – You’ll need to graduate from an accredited esthetician school in order to obtain your esthetics license. There you’ll learn the basic fundamentals of skin care and get to practice your new skills by performing treatments on real clients. Once you graduate, you’ll have to pass both portions of your State Board exam (written and practical) in order to obtain your esthetics license.
2. Get Certified – Once you have your esthetics license, you’ll have to attend advanced training and certification classes through an esthetics school or a popular skin care line. Salon Success Academy recently incorporated more advanced education into their esthetics program, so students have the opportunity to obtain certifications and medical esthetician training while they’re still enrolled in school!
3. Get Medical Training – Once you’ve been hired by a medical office, they’ll train you on the legalities of working in a medical office and about the strict medical guidelines. They should also give you additional training on how to use the equipment in their office.
4. Continue Your Education – There seems to be a new treatment or procedures popping up nearly every day! This means you’ll need to receive additional medical esthetician training so you can know how to perform these procedures properly and be able to offer these new in-demand services to your clients.

The esthetics program at Salon Success Academy can prepare you for a new career as a medical esthetician! The esthetician program features advanced, hands-on training and in-depth preparation for the State Board exam. Salon Success Academy has five locations throughout the Inland Empire of California and offers flexible class schedules and financial aid assistance to those who qualify. If you would like to learn more about training to become a medical esthetician, fill out the form or call 1-877-987-4247 to get started!

* Statistics generated from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, www.payscale.com, and www.indeed.com.

The post Hot Beauty Jobs: Medical Esthetician appeared first on Salon Success Beauty Blog.

Here are some highlights of the report:

• Spa revenues are up by 4.5% year-over-year to $13.4 billion
• Spa visits are up 4.1% to 156 million visits
• Employment in the spa industry held steady, with full-time employment estimating to have risen 9.3%. With declines in part-time and contract employment, this suggests that the industry is getting back on track in the wake of the economic downturn.
• The number of spa locations was broadly unchanged compared to 2010.

The study reveals that 83% of spas have made one or more changes to their business including increased number of treatment offerings, new retail product offerings, and shorter treatment options. These changes helped to stimulate demand and increase the total number of spa visits, resulting in an increase in revenue for the spa industry.

“The spa industry is growing at a healthy rate in revenues and visits. Overall confidence remains high across the board as the spa industry is outpacing economic growth,” said ISPA President Lynne McNees.

The ISPA survey is updated every year with five key statistics crucial to the spa industry including revenue, spa visits, the number of spa locations, total employment in the industry and square footage.

Check out the complete ISPA 2012 U.S. Spa Industry Study for yourself.

If you’re interested in working in the spa industry and training to become a licensed esthetician, fill out the form to the right or call 1-877-987-HAIR (4247).

The post Spa Industry Shows Signs of Steady Growth appeared first on Salon Success Beauty Blog.

Becoming a hair color specialist is something that takes skill, patience, and lots of practice. Here are some steps to follow if you want to become a hair color specialist:

1. Go to cosmetology school. You’ll need to enroll in cosmetology school to learn the basic fundamentals of hair color and hair care. Not only will you learn about the theory of hair color in cosmetology school, but you should also receive hands-on training and be allowed to color the hair of real clients under the supervision of a cosmetology instructor.
2. Get your license. Once you graduate from cosmetology school, you’ll need to pass your State Board exam before you can begin working in the beauty industry. You must pass both parts of the exam – the written portion and the practical portion – in order to obtain your license.
3. Master the formulas. Once you start working in a salon, do everything you can to learn the advanced techniques of hair coloring. If you’re working as an assistant, try to work closely with the other stylists who are considered to be hair color experts. Cosmetology school will give you a good understanding of the fundamentals, but you’ll learn how to master the formulas and the advanced techniques of hair coloring by working behind the chair.
4. Get certified. The best way to establish yourself as a hair color specialist is to take advanced coloring classes and become certified. One of the most popular and renowned certifications is through the American Board of Certified Haircolorists. The exam costs $375 to register and you must pass all three portions – written, performance, and interactive.
5. Market yourself as a hair color specialist. Once you’ve become certified, it’s time to begin specializing in hair color at your salon. Market yourself and price your services accordingly. Let all of your clients know that you’re a certified hair colorist.
6. Continuing your education. Trends in hair color are continually changing. Continue to stay on top of these new trends by taking advanced coloring classes regularly. Now that you’re a hair color specialist, you need to be able to give your client whatever new, crazy hair color he or she is requesting.

Becoming a hair color specialist starts with picking a cosmetology school to enroll in that’s just the right fit for you. The cosmetology school at Salon Success Academy can give you an education in the basic techniques of hair coloring. You’ll receive valuable hands-on training working with real clients on the salon floor and extensive preparation for your State Board exam.

Salon Success Academey offers five locations across the Inland Empire of California, flexible class schedules, and Financial Aid available for students who qualify. Call 1-877-987-HAIR (4247) or fill out the form to schedule a school a tour!

The post How To Become A Hair Color Specialist appeared first on Salon Success Beauty Blog.