When you enroll in a cosmetology program, you’ll learn all sorts of fantastic new skills. These include skin care techniques and makeup artistry as well as haircuts and hair dyeing techniques. However, you will also learn to style hair! This is an extremely important skill to acquire, because once you’ve begun your cosmetology career, many salon clients want their hair styled for special events such as proms or a galas, or even their wedding day. Other clients may want simple styling to change up their everyday look. Let’s look at some of the hairstyles you’ll learn as a beauty professional in training.
Braids
One of the most essential and most popular hairstyles you’ll learn to do is the braid. You’ll learn a basic braid and a French braid, as well as how you can work them into updos. You’ll also learn a Dutch braid, which is an inverted version of a French braid. Once you know how to do these three braids, you can work them into elaborate styles and learn variations such as waterfall braids.
While many clients you meet may be able to braid their own hair, your beauty school training and tools will allow you to create neater braids than their DIY versions. You’ll also be able to combine your styling skills with what you learn about the science and chemistry of hair, so you can discern which kinds of braids will work best with particular hair textures and colors. Additionally, you’ll be able to give clients tips and advice on how to braid their hair at home if they ask you about it.
Perms
Perms, short for permanent waves, are long-lasting styles that involve chemical treatments. There are hot perms and cold perms, and perms use either acidic or alkaline solutions. Alkaline solutions work best on coarse hair that resists curling, while acidic solutions are milder on the client’s hair and create gentler, shinier curls. Some individual types of perms include:
- Spiral Perm: To create this perm, the stylist uses long perm rods to create tight, bouncy corkscrew curls.
- Body Wave Perm: For this look, the stylist uses large perm rods to create loose curls with a slight wave. This perm is great for clients with flat and thin hair.
- Pin Curl Perm: With this perm style, the stylist curls sections of hair with the help of bobby pins.
- Stack Perm: For this look, the stylist curls the ends of the client’s hair with different-sized perm rods. This adds volume and creates the illusion of layers.
Hair Straightening
Sometimes, clients with thick, coarse-textured hair will want their hair straightened. You can help help them achieve this look with straightening techniques, including thermal relaxers. Relaxers are straightening chemicals that stylists apply to the hair for about 20 minutes. It’s important not to over-process the hair when applying thermal relaxers because this can lead to breakage and hair loss.
Updos
Updos, of course, involve putting the hair up, but they go beyond simple messy buns. You can combine braiding, curling, and other hairstyling techniques to create updos. Certain updos can highlight particular cuts and colors, so make sure you speak with your client to understand exactly what kind of updo hairstyle they want and how they’d like it to look.
Start Your Hairstyling Career Today
If you love styling hair and want to make a career in the beauty industry, contact us today. We will give you the hairstyling and hair care knowledge you will need to earn your cosmetology license. Our training will open up many career opportunities, so don’t hesitate to reach out if this interests you!
