Finding Beauty Schools in Pennsylvania

There are dozens of beauty schools in Pennsylvania – each of which promises to be the “best” at preparing students for their future careers. It’s important to remember, however, that not all beauty schools are created equally and if you want the best education possible, you need to do your homework first.

To make the task of finding a beauty school in Pennsylvania less daunting, we’ve broken down the steps necessary for finding a good beauty school. Follow our advice and consider the following factors to get your cosmetology career started on the right foot.

How to Find the Right Beauty School for You

The first step in selecting a beauty school is to determine what program you want to study. If you’re interested in skin care, for instance, make sure to only look at schools that offer an esthetics curriculum. Many of the top beauty schools offer coursework in cosmetology, nail technology, esthetics and barbering, while other schools only focus on one or two program areas.

Next, you’ll want to find out about a school’s reputation by speaking with prior graduates, asking your trusted hairdresser for her input or by contacting local salon owners in the area. Perhaps they’ve graduated from the school themselves, or have worked with someone who has. This can be a great way to weed out schools and narrow down your list to the top beauty schools in your area. Other important considerations when looking at a school’s reputation include: graduate success, career placement rate, accreditation status and the quality of the instruction.

Once you’ve narrowed down your list to a few beauty schools in Pennsylvania, you’ll want to schedule your school visits. Many schools offer job shadowing opportunities where prospective students are allowed to sit in on classes, speak with instructors and experience first-hand what it’s like to be a beauty school student. While you’re at school, ask yourself the following questions:

• Do students seem engaged and enthusiastic?
• Are class sizes small enough to ensure plenty of personalized attention?
• Is there a student clinic where students can practice their techniques?
• Does the curriculum include business and professional training to prepare students for salon management and ownership?

Two beauty schools in Pennsylvania with a reputation for excellence are Jolie Hair and Beauty Academy in Wilkes-Barre and Hazelton. These accredited institutions offer flexible scheduling, hands-on learning, preparation for the state licensing exam, career placement assistance and other benefits aimed at giving students a head start in their new careers.