Illinois Archives - Train to Become a Barber

How to Enroll In a Barber School near Woodlawn Illinois

Woodlawn IL barber blow drying hair Now that you have made a decision to enroll in a barber school near Woodlawn IL, the process starts to search for and enroll in the ideal school. It’s imperative that the program you choose not only provides the appropriate instruction for the specialty you have decided on, but also preps you for passing the licensing examination. When you start your initial search, you might be rather puzzled about the distinction between beauty schools and cosmetology schools, which both may offer barbering programs. Well don’t be, because the titles are pretty much interchangeable and both pertain to the same kind of school. We’ll talk a little bit more about that in the upcoming segment. If you plan on commuting to classes you will need to choose a school that is within driving distance of your Woodlawn home. Tuition will additionally be an important consideration when evaluating potential barber schools. Just bear in mind that because a school is the closest or the cheapest it’s not automatically the best choice. There are several other qualifications that you should weigh when analyzing schools, for instance their reputation and accreditation. We will review what questions you should ask concerning the barber colleges you are considering later in this article. Before we do, let’s discuss a little bit about what cosmetology is, and what kinds of courses are available.

Defining Cosmetology

Woodlawn IL barber razor cutting hair Cosmetology is a profession that is everything about making the human body look more attractive with the application of cosmetics. So of course it makes sense that a number of cosmetology schools are referred to as beauty schools. Most of us think of makeup when we hear the term cosmetics, but actually a cosmetic can be anything that enhances the appearance of a person’s skin, hair or nails. If you want to work as a barber and a cosmetologist, almost all states mandate that you go through some form of specialized training and then become licensed. Once you are licensed, the work settings include not only Woodlawn IL beauty salons and barber shops, but also such places as spas, hotels and resorts. Many cosmetologists, after they have acquired experience and a customer base, open their own shops or salons. Others will begin servicing clients either in their own homes or will travel to the client’s home, or both. Cosmetology college graduates are known by many names and work in a wide variety of specialties including:

• Hairstylists
• Beauticians
• Barbers
• Manicurists
• Nail Technicians
• Makeup Artists
• Hair Coloring Specialists
• Estheticians
• Electrolysis Technicians

As already mentioned, in the majority of states working cosmetologists must be licensed. In a few states there is an exemption. Only those offering more skilled services, for example barbers or hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Other people working in cosmetology and less skilled, such as shampooers, are not required to get licensed in those states.

Online Barber Colleges

Online barber colleges are advantageous for students who are working full-time and have family obligations that make it hard to enroll in a more traditional school. There are many web-based barbering programs offered that can be attended by means of a home computer or laptop at the student’s convenience. More conventional barber programs are frequently fast paced because many programs are as brief as six or eight months. This means that a significant portion of time is spent in the classroom. With online courses, you are dealing with the same volume of material, but you are not devoting many hours outside of your Woodlawn IL home or commuting to and from classes. On the other hand, it’s important that the school you choose can provide internship training in local Woodlawn IL shops or salons in order that you also receive the hands-on training necessary for a complete education. Without the internship portion of the training, it’s difficult to acquire the skills required to work in any facet of the cosmetology field. So make sure if you choose to enroll in an online barber program to confirm that internship training is available in your area.

What to Ask Barber Schools

Woodlawn IL barber trimming beard Following is a list of questions that you should investigate for any barber college you are contemplating. As we have already covered, the location of the school relative to your Woodlawn IL home, in addition to the price of tuition, will probably be your primary qualifiers. Whether you would like to earn a certificate, diploma or a degree will no doubt be next on your list. But once you have narrowed your school options based on those initial qualifications, there are additional factors that you need to research and take into consideration before enrolling in a barber college. Following we have collected several of those additional questions that you need to ask each school before making a final selection.

Is the Barber School Accredited? It’s essential to make sure that the barber school you enroll in is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education certified local or national agency, such as the National Accrediting Commission for Cosmetology Arts & Sciences (NACCAS). Programs accredited by the NACCAS must measure up to their high standards guaranteeing a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be essential for securing student loans or financial aid, which typically are not obtainable in Woodlawn IL for non- accredited schools. It’s also a criteria for licensing in some states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, many businesses will not hire recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more positively upon those with accredited training.

Does the School have a Good Reputation? Each barber school that you are seriously considering should have a good to outstanding reputation within the industry. Being accredited is a good beginning. Next, ask the schools for endorsements from their network of employers where they have referred their students. Verify that the schools have high job placement rates, indicating that their students are highly demanded. Check rating services for reviews as well as the school’s accrediting organizations. If you have any contacts with Woodlawn IL barber shop owners or managers, or anyone working in the business, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are reviewing. They might even be able to suggest others that you had not looked into. And finally, consult the Illinois school licensing authority to find out if there have been any complaints submitted or if the schools are in total compliance.

What’s the School’s Focus? Some beauty schools offer programs that are comprehensive in nature, focusing on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing training in a particular specialty, for instance barbering. Schools that offer degree programs typically broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it’s important that you select a school that specializes in your area of interest. Since your goal is to be trained as a barber, make sure that the school you enroll in is accredited and well regarded for that program. If your aspiration is to open a barber shop in Woodlawn IL, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will instruct you how to be an owner/operator. Choosing a highly regarded school with a weak program in barbering will not provide the training you require.

Is Enough Live Training Provided? Practicing and refining barbering techniques and abilities demands lots of practice on people. Ask how much live, hands-on training is provided in the barber courses you will be attending. A number of schools have shops on site that make it possible for students to practice their growing talents on real people. If a Woodlawn IL barber school offers little or no scheduled live training, but instead relies mainly on using mannequins, it might not be the best alternative for developing your skills. So search for alternate schools that furnish this kind of training.

Does the School Provide Job Assistance? When a student graduates from a barber college, it’s imperative that she or he receives aid in finding that first job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that provide aid maintain relationships with local employers that are looking for trained graduates available for hiring. Verify that the schools you are considering have job placement programs and find out which Woodlawn IL area shops and organizations they refer students to. Also, ask what their job placement rates are. High rates not only verify that they have broad networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.

Is Financial Assistance Available? Most barber schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Check if the schools you are considering have a financial aid department. Consult with a counselor and find out what student loans or grants you might get approved for. If the school belongs to the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships available to students too. If a school meets each of your other qualifications with the exception of expense, do not drop it as an alternative until you find out what financial assistance may be available in Woodlawn IL.

Considering Barber School near Woodlawn IL?

Woodlawn, Illinois

As of the census[6] of 2000, there were 630 people, 241 households, and 185 families residing in the village. The population density was 882.3 per square mile (342.6/km²). There were 260 housing units at an average density of 364.1/sq mi (141.4/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 98.57% White, 0.16% African American, 0.16% Native American, 0.32% from other races, and 0.79% from two or more races.

There were 241 households out of which 41.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.3% were married couples living together, 13.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.2% were non-families. 20.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 2.99.

In the village the population was spread out with 31.4% under the age of 18, 6.7% from 18 to 24, 34.8% from 25 to 44, 16.0% from 45 to 64, and 11.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 88.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.4 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $40,000, and the median income for a family was $46,250. Males had a median income of $40,104 versus $19,643 for females. The per capita income for the village was $16,013. About 8.0% of families and 11.4% of the population were living below the poverty line, including 18.1% of those under the age of 18 and 11.1% ages 65 or older.

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Choose the Right Barber School near Woodlawn IL

Picking and enrolling in the right barber training program is important to receive the proper training to become a licensed professional. Be sure to ask all the questions that you require so as to feel certain about your decision. Don’t forget to organize all of the information you receive from the barber school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then use that information to contrast schools. A reasonable beginning in your due diligence procedure is to make sure that the school and program you select are accredited and have excellent reputations within the profession. If you begin with that foundation, and address the additional questions presented in this article, you will be able to narrow down your list of schools so that you can make the right selection. And when you graduate and pass your licensing exam, you will be self-assured that you are prepared to start your new career as a professional barber in Woodlawn IL.