Maybe you knew from the first time you cut your Barbie’s hair into a chance choppy bob that you were born to run with scissors. Or perhaps you discovered your calling later in life when you coifed your best friend’s hair for her wedding. Either way, your career as a hairstylist had to include a stopover at beauty school. How did you find one? How did you pay for it? Did you find a great college that was “on target,” or did you languish in a school where you felt neglected and used? Whatever the case might have been, it had to be a struggle—working three jobs, trudging to school in the snow, barefoot and uphill—both ways.

OK, maybe it wasn’t that bad. But there’s no doubt that today’s aspiring stylists have one big advantage: the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), whose new site, careersinbeauty.org, is making a career in beauty more attractive and accessible than ever before.

To ensure its success, AACS is casting a wide net. The website provides information for prospective students, those who are currently attending beauty school and even parents and counselors who may be advising young people about potential careers in the beauty field. “One of our main missions is to work with everyone in the industry to improve the image of cosmetology and upgrade the quality of students coming through the door,” explains executive director Jim Cox.

Potential students can download a 20-page booklet, “Cosmetology as a Career,” that addresses common questions, such as which jobs are most in demand, salary expectations and school accreditation. The site also features a web page dedicated to financial aid that lists scholarships and detailed information on ACE grants, including an online application form and a list of ACE Grant schools.

Appealing to future beauty makers, separate sections entitled “Events and Competitions” and “Student Works Gallery” provide hairstylists-in-the-making with a first opportunity to show off their budding expertise to the world. The site also offers referrals and links to AACS member schools, as well as convenient locator maps that enable students to find a school close by, eliminating that snowy trudge uphill—both ways.

— Karen K. Ford

To past Cyberia's