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Northern California Beauty School Readies Salon Professionals for Future
Style. Passion. Create. The Northern California region sizzles with forward fashion-thinking. From ultra-chic spas to cutting-edge salons, clients are seeking the latest in hair treatments, facials, body therapies, and nail services. This creative dynamism translates into a hot market for skilled cosmetologists, as almost 70 percent of California salon owners attempting to hire new employees in 2006 said they were unable to find qualified applicants. This means jobs are immediately available for talented salon professionals.
The $60 billion dollar cosmetology business is booming, with endless employment opportunities, from hair stylist, nail technician, makeup artist, salon or spa manager to educator, esthetician, image consultant and more. Salon professionals can average up to $50,000 or more, including tips, with the opportunity to set your own working hours and build satisfying relationships with your clientele.
Since all states require cosmetologists to be licensed as well as the completion of a designated number of hours and instruction and practice at a licensed cosmetology school, attending a top beauty college is a must to enter this field. But “A license does not earn a living; an education does,” a statement and philosophy coined by James Federico founder of Federico Beauty Institute. Federico Beauty Institute, now run by Gary Federico, son of James, is a third-generation, family-owned and operated beauty institute located in Sacramento, California.
It isn’t enough for today’s beauticians to merely know how to cut hair or polish nails. The cosmetology industry has undergone a transformation, so that professionals need to partner with top product purveyors and leaders in hair and beauty education such as Pivot Point International, an educational publishing house and a catalyst in beauty education operating in seventy four countries. Federico Beauty Institute has been employing the Pivot Point International curriculum since 1967.
“It’s about training from the ground up, honing skills and knowing advanced cut and color techniques,” says Adam Federico, a third-generation Federico and creative director of the AJF Salon, part of the 60-year-old Federico career college. “But mostly, it’s important to understand how to engage with a client and learning how to build rapport.”
In the rapidly evolving cosmetology field, practitioners also need to know:
• The science and art of styling: No longer is hair cutting just about knowing how to properly use a pair of shears. The Pivot Point International program, for example, emphasizes different shapes, head curvature, and how the hair is projected, using technology and hands-on practice.
• Advanced applications: Beauty-conscious consumers are requesting services beyond a manicure or facial. Specialized training qualifies professionals to do microdermabrasion treatments, air brush skin treatments, freehand scissor and razor cutting, and more.
• Self-promotion and marketing: Recognizing how to build a client base is an integral part of a successful cosmetology career. “A confident student in cosmetology and esthetics is prepared for the market,” says Gary Federico. An externship working with local shops can help students develop strong customer service skills.
With an expanding population of baby boomers, Generation X and Y, growing families, and an increasingly diverse community, the need for well-trained salon professionals who serve—and inspire—continues.
About Federico Beauty Institute
Since 1946, Federico has been committed to the highest standards in the beauty industry. This premiere accredited educational facility for cosmetology and esthetics in the Sacramento, California, includes a state-of-the-art salon, spa, school with theory and practice rooms, café, and beauty boutique. Federico Beauty Institute is dedicated to providing progressive, quality education while promoting individual creative expression. Visit www.federico.edu or call (916) 929-4242.