What’s the Difference Between Cosmetology and Esthetics?

Thinking about applying for beauty school but aren’t sure which program is right for you? Choosing which program to study is one of the biggest steps of your beauty journey! The world of beauty is enormous so what you study during school will help you become more prepared for the area that interests you most. That’s why we wanted to go over cosmetology and esthetics. We’ll cover the similarities and differences between them, career options that could be available for each one, and more exciting information!

What is Cosmetology?

There’s a common misconception that cosmetologists are only trained to work with hair in a salon but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Along with hair, cosmetologists are also trained to provide services for skin and nails. In our 1600-hour program, students will learn techniques like:

• Hair coloring
• Hair cutting
• Facial massage
• Manicures and pedicures
• Waxing and hair removal
• Hair braiding and extensions

This wide range of skills a cosmetologist learns means that are plenty of exciting career paths to take your creativity. Some even find a skill they love during school like eyelash extensions and focus their job around that skillset. It’s up to you to decide how you want to use your creativity to help others feel confident about themselves!

What is Esthetics?

Estheticians mainly learn skills and services that help clients with their skincare. That could mean anything from advanced techniques designed to help with acne or other skin-related issues to makeup application. Like cosmetology, there are a variety of things to master in this field of study. Some of the lessons our students learn in our esthetics school are:

• Makeup techniques for theater, weddings, and other events
• A variety of facials
• Face and body waxing
• Eyebrow and eyelash tinting
• Massaging techniques

With so many techniques to learn, every esthetician’s career path is different based on how they want to help others achieve glowing skin! Since estheticians focus on skin and they study more advanced skincare treatments than a cosmetologist does, many get to pursue a career in the medical field to help clients with diagnosed skin problems.

Esthetics is focused on skin, so students will be able to complete this program in fewer hours than compared with our cosmetology one.

How are They Similar?

The biggest similarity is that cosmetologists and estheticians are dedicated to helping their clients with a new look and build their confidence. To do this in Arizona, both are required to gain the necessary amount of hours and pass the state licensing exam before students can start their careers.

In addition to both programs learning multiple techniques in their chosen area, our classes also teach students the business skills needed after graduation. How to market your talents, communicate with clients, and interact on social media are all important things to know as a beauty school graduate from both programs.

How Do I Know Which One is Right for Me?

When deciding on the right program for you, first think about which area of beauty you’d like to know more about. After all, there’s nothing more important than picking a career path that you feel a passion for! Esthetics is great for people who want an in-depth knowledge of skincare while cosmetology is often for those who want to learn multiple beauty skills.

The second thing to consider is your career path after graduation. If you have a specific job in mind that you want, make sure that the program you apply for can prepare you for it!

Not sure which career you want to pursue? Here are some options that could be available!

Cosmetology:

• Salon Stylist
• Product or Brand Specialist
• Platform Artist
• Image and Fashion Consultant
• Beauty School Educator
• Makeup Artist
• Manicurist
• Designer

Esthetics:

• Esthetician
• Makeup artist
• Business owner
• Instructor
• Skincare specialist
• Specialist in a specific skill like eyelash extensions

 

Learn More About Our Programs

Still trying to decide which program is right for you? We would love to talk more with you about a future education at our school! Contact us or schedule a tour to meet with our team and find out more about what it’s like to be a student at our school.

Check out our “What’s the Difference Between a Cosmetologist and a Hairstylist?” blog to start learning more about our programs!