When you decide to enroll in beauty school, you have to choose between becoming a cosmetologist or an esthetician. But what’s the difference between these two professions? Let’s define each one to help you determine which beauty industry profession is right for you.
Cosmetology vs. Esthetics
Cosmetology and esthetics do have some similarities. For example, they’re both parts of the beauty industry and require professionals to work with clients. Both professions require students to learn skin care basics, anatomy, safety and hygiene practices, waxing and hair removal, and makeup application techniques. The two professions diverge beyond these similarities, though. Here are summaries of cosmetology and esthetics requirements in the state of Tennessee and what each type of professional does on a daily basis:
- Cosmetology: In Tennessee, a licensed cosmetologist must be at least 16 years of age and complete 1500 hours of practice and theory at a cosmetology school like Brillare. According to the state, “a cosmetologist performs, for compensation, arranging, dressing, curling, waving, cleansing, cutting, singeing, bleaching, coloring, or similar work on the hair.” Cosmetologists may perform these services on clients’ hair or on wigs and hairpieces. They may also massage or clean the face, neck, arms, hands, and feet with creams and lotions; wax and remove hair; shave clients using a safety razor; or give facials and apply makeup and false eyelashes. Cosmetologists often focus mainly on hair, but they can also perform facials and makeup application when necessary.
- Esthetics: The state of Tennessee requires that a licensed esthetician be at least 16 years of age and have 750 hours of practice and theory in an esthetics program at a beauty school. The state also says that an esthetician “does one or more of the following; massage, clean, stimulate, manipulate, exercise, beautify or perform similar work with hands or mechanical or electrical apparatus or by use of cosmetic preparations, tonics, lotions or creams; places or applies artificial eyelashes, gives facials, applies makeup, gives skin care or removes superfluous hair by tweezing, depilatories or waxing.” Estheticians focus specifically on performing skin care services and do not provide hair services at all, except in cases where they perform waxing or laser hair removal to take excess hair off the face.
Why Choose a Career in Cosmetology?
A career in cosmetology leads to a fast-paced work environment where you can provide many different services in one day. This is particularly true if you work in a salon. For example, you may provide a succession of color services, haircuts, and hair removal services over the course of one day. You may also have to perform multiple updos in the spring, when many high schools hold their proms. If you enjoy styling hair in a busy environment, a career in cosmetology is right for you.
Why Choose a Career in Esthetics?
Esthetics jobs are often located in quieter, calmer environments than salons. You could become a licensed esthetician and perform skin care services in day spas. Or you could get more training and become a medical esthetician, working alongside medical doctors to heal intense skin conditions. Whether you want to work in a day spa or a doctor’s office, an esthetics career allows you to deliver healing skin care to your clients in a calm environment.
Choose Your Beauty Career At Brillare
Choose your program track and enroll at Brillare today. We provide the skills and equipment you need to excel as a licensed cosmetologist or esthetician.
