What’s the Difference Between a Cosmetologist and a Hairstylist?
Trying to find the right beauty school program but aren’t sure what to pick? Two common programs that are often used interchangeably are: cosmetology and hairstyling.
The main differences between a cosmetologist and a hairstylist is the type of education they can pursue and the license they obtain after completing the required hours.
Licensed cosmetologists can learn a bit of everything in haircutting, hairstyling, manicures, pedicures, and even makeup and facials. In comparison, a licensed hairstylist focuses their skills on haircuts and styles, and can do everything from short hairstyles to long ones, plus perms and treating and relaxing natural hair.
Here’s a brief overview of these two programs:
| Cosmetology | Hairstyling | |
| Hairstyling and haircutting | x | x |
| Chemical texturizing | x | x |
| Hair coloring | x | x |
| Manicures and pedicures | x | |
| Makeup application | x | |
| Waxing | x | |
| Facials | x | |
| Basic understanding of product chemistry | x | x |
| Arizona rules and regulations | x | x |
| Sanitation techniques and standards | x | x |
| Marketing and business best practices | x | x |
| Hours required for licensure | 1,600 hours | 1,000 hours |
| Length to complete | As little as 16 months | As little as 7 months |
| Type of license obtained | Cosmetology | Hairstylist |
| Program offered at The Studio Academy of Beauty | Yes | Yes |
More About Cosmetology
What Is Cosmetology?
Cosmetology is the study of caring for the hair, skin, and nails. To become a licensed cosmetologist, you can expect to go through an extensive curriculum that covers how to provide services such as:
- Chemical texturizing
- Hair coloring
- Hair cutting
- Scalp care
- Facial massage
- Manicures and pedicures
- Waxing and hair removal
- Hair braiding and extensions
- And more!
An education in cosmetology is more than just the hard skills of providing beauty services. Licensed cosmetologists also learn how to market themselves as beauty professionals and provide customer service that makes guests want to come back.
They also get the basics of chemistry to understand how certain products interact with someone’s hair, skin, or nails and provide the right treatment plan for each guest! After all, you wouldn’t want your cosmetologist to recommend a product to treat oily hair if your hair is dry!
Want to learn more about what a cosmetologist can do? We’ve got you covered.
Advantages of Choosing a Cosmetology Program
Getting an education in cosmetology provides a number of opportunities unique to this field! Licensed cosmetologists can pursue a wider range of careers, as they have a more broad education.
You might find a licensed cosmetologist at your local salon or spa, or they could be providing hair and makeup services as a fashion show stylist, special effects artist in movies, or a special occasion stylist.
Because they learn the basics of hair, skin, and nails, they can take care of the whole look from start to finish. While this program takes longer to complete, it can be a satisfying career, especially if you love doing both hair and makeup.
More About Hairstyling
What Is Hairstyling
Hairstyling is a unique license to Arizona, and there are a few other states that allows beauty professionals to get an education solely in hairstyling. Licensed hairstylists learn how to provide services in:
- Chemical texturizing
- Hair coloring
- Hair cutting
- Scalp care
- Braiding and hair extensions
- Scalp massage
- And more!
Much like cosmetologists, hairstylists also learn how to market themselves as a beauty professional. They learn about what products are right for each guest, based on hair type, color, and length.
Speaking of career opportunities, you can find a hairstylist almost anywhere a cosmetologist might be, including hair salons, fashion shows, and even as the owner of their own salon. Although, it’s much more likely a hairstylist will be working with a team to create the whole look instead of being solo.
Advantages of Choosing a Hairstyling Program
Hairstyling is a great option if you know exactly what you want out of beauty school! If your passion lies in hairstyling and hair care, an education in hairstyling could be for you.
One of the biggest benefits of choosing hairstyling over cosmetology is that this program is often much shorter than other cosmetology programs and can be completed in as little as seven months. This makes it possible to enter the beauty industry in less than a year!
Because this program is much shorter than a cosmetology program, it often costs less than a traditional cosmetology program, too. But, you don’t have to worry about the costs of school. Like other beauty school programs, financial aid may be available in the form of grants, loans, and scholarships. You don’t have to let the cost of school hold you back!
How Are These Two Programs Similar?
Both programs cover an extensive hair education, but that’s not all they have in common. At The Studio Academy of Beauty, we put a huge emphasis on the marketing and business side of beauty in both our cosmetology and hairstyling programs.
Both fields are required to learn:
- Proper sanitation and business management
- How to market yourself on social media and other platforms to get more clients
- Arizona state laws and requirements for salons
Our goal is to prepare each student to become successful in their future careers, and that means teaching students how to get clients. We set the foundation to help our students learn how to get and maintain a positive reputation online and use Instagram as their hairstyling portfolio.
How Do I Become a Cosmetologist or Hairstylist
If you’re still deciding on what program to pursue, the process of entering these two careers is quite similar! As a first step, you should find and enroll in an accredited cosmetology or hairstyling program, depending on what you decide.
From there, you’ll need to meet all graduation requirements, from fulfilling the required hours to preparing to sit for the state board. Once you sit for the state board, you’ll be issued a license! Then, you’ll be required to keep up with Arizona’s rules and regulations to keep your license up to date and renew when necessary.
If you want some more tips on becoming a cosmetologist, read more about how to become one in Arizona.
Learn How To Get Started at The Studio Academy of Beauty
Have you decided on whether you want to pursue cosmetology or hairstyling? Learn more about each of these programs and take the next step! Get in touch with one of our locations to schedule a tour of the school to see yourself with an education in beauty.
Still have questions? Check out our FAQ of some commonly asked questions about each of our programs.
