Find Your Future in Cosmetology

Have you ever wanted to enter the beauty industry? Are you intrigued by the idea of working as a licensed cosmetologist? If so, then you’ve come to the right place. In this blog post, we’ll explore some of the many career options available to licensed cosmetologists. We’ll also discuss why now is an ideal time to get into this field and what steps you should take to start your cosmetology career. At The Salon Professional Academy, we’re honored to be endorsed by Redken for excellence in education and are here to help you succeed. 

What Is a Licensed Cosmetologist?

A licensed cosmetologist has formal training in hair care, makeup application, skincare, nail care, and other beauty services. In addition, they must pass a state-approved licensing exam before becoming certified and practicing professionally. 

Career Opportunities for Licensed Cosmetologists

Licensed cosmetologists have numerous career opportunities available to them. Depending on their skills and interests, they may work in salons or spas, teach at beauty schools, or even open their own business. 

Here are just a few of the many possibilities that await licensed cosmetologists:

  • Hair Stylist/Colorist: A hair stylist/colorist provides haircuts, colors, and styles for clients in salons or spas. They may offer additional services such as perms and keratin treatments as well.
  • Makeup Artist: Makeup artists use their knowledge of makeup techniques and products to create looks for special events such as weddings or photoshoots. Some may even specialize in creating looks for television shows or films.
  • Platform Artist:  Platform artists travel to different locations nationwide to showcase their expertise. At TSPA, you have the opportunity to meet with these amazing Redken Platform Artists and learn from the best in their craft.
  • Film or theater stylist:  This creative role allows cosmetologists to style a television or movie character’s hair, makeup, and nails in accordance with the director’s vision. Those who are successful in this field need to know the basics of cosmetology and have exceptional coordination between themselves, the actor/actress, and the director. 
  • Salon Owner/Manager: Salon owners/managers are responsible for running a salon successfully by providing excellent customer service while ensuring all staff members meet their goals. They may also be responsible for hiring new employees and providing them with training on proper procedures and safety protocols within the salon environment.   
  • Educator: Educators are responsible for teaching students at beauty schools about various aspects of cosmetology, such as hair care, skincare, makeup application, etc., as well as preparing students for state boards license exams.  See firsthand how our educators empower our students to reach their goals.

Why Now Is an Ideal Time To Become a Licensed Cosmetologist? 

Now is an ideal time to become a licensed cosmetologist because of the growth that this industry has seen over recent years due to an increase in demand from both men and women alike wanting professional services done at salons/spas.

With more people interested in enhancing their appearance through these services, more job opportunities will be available, which means greater potential earnings! So check out our Cosmetology program and get started on your future! 

Becoming a licensed cosmetologist is not only rewarding but can also be incredibly lucrative too! There are so many different career paths that you can take with this profession – from working in salons/spas to owning your own business – so it’s important that you do your research and start exploring the many possibilities to determine which best suit your skillset and interests! 

Now is definitely an ideal time to get into this field, so don’t miss out on this amazing career in high demand with nearly unlimited opportunities just waiting for you to take the first step! So schedule a Tour and start exploring your future today!

The Interview: What to Ask

It’s impressive that over 3.2 million high school students graduated in 2020 in the US! 

Post-graduation can often feel like an overwhelming time in a person’s life, especially if you’re unsure what to do next. One of the most promising careers involves working as a cosmetologist or manicurist at a salon, for instance.

Are you wondering how to nail the best interview? The good news is that you can turn the interview around in many ways to work in your favor. Get the best tips on how to interview the interviewer.

Ease Into Asking Your Interview Questions

If you want some interviewing tips, then first, you must prepare yourself to answer the questions that are put to you. Anyone who starts the interview by asking a significant amount of questions could come off as overbearing.

Instead, it’s essential to ease into interviewing the interviewer after you’ve answered at least a portion of their major questions. However, they may ask you at the beginning if you have any questions, and you should tell them you do. Then, out of consideration for them, you can ask if they’d like to hear them all now or later in the interview.

Ask the Right Questions

Are you still wondering how to get a job? The last thing you should do is ask questions that can be quickly answered by browsing the salon’s website, for instance. Instead, you should spend some time reviewing their website and social media.

You can get answers to some of your questions that way. Looking over the spa’s official pages may even help you come up with new and more in-depth questions.

The following are some examples of the more important questions you should ask:

  • What’s the growth prospect of this position?
  • How would you describe your management style?
  • What is a normal day working here like?
  • What past successes of this business are you most proud of?
  • What would you most like to improve about this business?

By asking these questions, you’ll demonstrate your passion and commitment. From there, landing the right job for you will be a surefire thing.

Remember that you’ll already be licensed, so you don’t need to worry about demonstrating your skills in person for this post-graduation job. That would be redundant, after all.

Now You Know How to Interview the Interviewer

Now that you’ve learned how to interview the interviewer, you can feel much more confident. Remember to practice these strategies and ask every question you’d like an answer to.

If you’d like to learn a new skill and make yourself a valuable candidate for a fantastic job, then consider one of our prestigious programs at The Salon Professional Academy. From cosmetology to esthetics to manicurists and advanced programs, we have plenty to offer ambitious individuals.

Feel free to reach out with questions or to sign up. We look forward to working with you.

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TikTok: Is It Right For Every Beauty Boss?

TikTok is a well-known social media app known for its beauty influencers. Learn more about it with

Beauty influencers on TikTok have an average following of over 700,000. Stylists and makeup artists have flocked to the platform to foster local communities and promote their businesses. Because of TikTok’s algorithm, beauty creators might find themselves catapulted to fame overnight.

I am not here to peddle a get-rich-quick scheme or try to sell you a false promise of becoming famous. But for aspiring hairstylists and beauty industry professionals, social media platforms, especially TikTok, offer easy and inexpensive access to marketing tools to jumpstart your career.

It also offers a creative outlet and a chance to show off what you do best. Learn more TikTok marketing tips for beauty school students.

Beauty Influencers: Earning Followers on Makeup TikTok

Most online beauty gurus have well-established platforms on Instagram and YouTube. Only a small number have migrated over to the TikTok arena and have already found more success. Engagement on TikTok has at least doubled for beauty creators, compared to their IG and YouTube counterparts.

Beauty TikTok gets as much as 7.52% engagement from its followers. Beauty experts have found audiences using the following content formats:

  • Traditional makeup/hair tutorial videos
  • GRWM (Get Ready With Me)
  • Featured products (sometimes sponsored)
  • Day-in-the-life at the studio
  • Long-form livestreams

YouTube still has value as a platform, because it allows for longer videos. This lets creators go into more detail about products and beauty tips. The idea is to give an audience a taste with free educational resources and fun content.

You want to encourage them to come to you for more services. This could translate to visiting you locally at the studio, hiring out for events, or even offering consultations.

Improving Your Chance to Be Discovered

Today, search engines and social media platforms are watching ALL of your search behavior signals and interactions while you are there – this is called search behavior targeting. As an example, you visit a shopping site, leave and then hop over to Facebook and all of a sudden you see an ad from that website you were previously on. How? It’s all about Algorithms! Algorithms on TikTok run on a highly personalized algorithm that hasn’t been seen elsewhere. You spend enough time on the app, and your FYP (short for “for you page”) starts to feel like a mirror. The algorithm learns from user-generated data, and the more data is received from you, the more targeted content comes your way.

You can easily trigger TikTok’s algorithm with your content using such tricks as:

  • Trending audio clips link your videos to a larger audience
  • Video descriptions using targeted on-trend search terms or coined-phrases
  • Audio text as another great tool

The above tips have made TikTok makeup and beauty content soar. Audiences seem especially drawn to watching influencers putting on their makeup, even while they discuss random topics. Creators from every corner of TikTok experience an uptick in engagement when showing makeup-related content, educating followers about product use or why treatments are important and more pro tips.

While you don’t need to be a trained professional to be a “beauty influencer,” for beauty school students, this is your moment to shine. If you put in the work and effort to create high-quality content, this could change your entire career.

Building Your Local TikTok Community 

Local relevance refers to how content creators improve visibility locally through geographic markers and targeted keywords (words people typically use to describe what you are demonstrating or talking about. The common lingo also known as SEO). First, you should perform an SEO audit to discover the most popular search terms in your area. You should perform search audits on both Google and TikTok’s search bars.

Including geographical and contact information in your content will make it easy to organically connect with locals. TikTok connects creators to people of similar demographics.

This is why it’s important to be intentional about who your content speaks to and who you interact with, especially if you want to grow a diverse community.

Get an Early Start on Your Successful Career on TikTok

Don’t hesitate to get your platform set up. If you already use TikTok for fun, that’s even better! You have a leg up and know where to start. You can also get loads of other marketing tips for beauty school students by following the most popular beauty influencers on all social media platforms.

Visit us online today. We offer scholarships for qualified students who want to join one of our training programs!

2023 Salon Industry Trends For Beauty Bosses

Running a Salon Properly Requires Keeping Up with Current Trends. Here's TSPA's Salon Industry Trends List That ALL Beauty Bosses Should Follow in 2023.

Transforming your client’s ‘do from drab to fab and watching her gaze in amazement at her reflection afterward is a joy you’ll never get tired of. But that’s not the only reason you’re proud to call yourself a beauty boss.

Research shows that the demand for hairstylists in America is slated to jump by 11% — faster than the average — between 2021 and 2031. That means you can expect to enjoy job security for years to come.

However, developing or running a salon properly requires keeping up with current trends. So here’s a rundown of the salon industry trends in 2023 that you should follow to stay ahead of the competition. Let’s jump in!

Salon Industry Trends in 2023 Include Digitalization

One of the top hair salon trends in 2023 is an increased emphasis on digitalization.

For instance, if you don’t currently give your clients the option of booking their hair appointments online using automated technology, this is a must in 2023. Otherwise, you will miss some serious sales opportunities.

After all, Generation Z users and millennials prefer to book appointments online. In addition, many salon customers schedule visits outside of their salons’ opening hours.

You should also use automated technology to handle appointment confirmations and follow-ups in 2023. This will boost your client show rate.

Leveraging Social Media

Make sure that you are also more active than ever before on social media in 2023. This will allow you to gain more access to younger and new clients.

Plus, the more you interact with your social media audience, the more you’ll learn about the styles and treatments they prefer based on the advice of the beauty influencers they follow.

You can also post your own social media videos promoting the value of add-on treatments. Then, when clients come into your shop after watching your videos, upselling your clients on these products or services will be easier.

Sustainability

Another 2023 beauty salon trend worth following is an increased focus on sustainability.

For instance, consider utilizing more environmentally conscious products and treatments and trying to minimize waste. Keeping your salon system online and becoming paperless is another way to show your clients how “green” you are.

The more ethical you are as a cosmetologist, the more customers in 2023 will be willing to patronize your business.

Inclusive or Gender-Neutral Services

Finally, make sure that your salon is more inclusive than ever in 2023 to stay on trend.

This means providing services and products for all hair types, from straight to textured and curly hair. It also means introducing price lists that are gender-neutral rather than listing pricing for males and females only.

How We Can Help

The leading salon industry trends in 2023 include digitalizing the process of booking salon appointments, follow-ups, and pre-consultations. They also include providing inclusive hair care services and practicing sustainability.

Fortunately, The Salon Professional Academy offers top-of-the-line training for hair stylists seeking to take their businesses to the next level. So get in touch with us to learn more about how we can propel your business forward in 2023 and beyond.

The Beauty Industry Is a Gender Neutral Career Oasis

What is Gender Neutrality?

Gender neutrality is an approach to gender that views gender as an irrelevant social construct. Gender neutrality aims to promote inclusivity by avoiding categorizing based on gender. This approach focuses on eliminating gender norms and making everyone feel welcome. Gender neutrality is becoming more and more popular in the beauty industry, with salon professionals working to show that beauty is for everyone.

TSPA Believes…Beauty is For Everyone

The beauty industry has always been an expressive space. However, in recent years, the beauty industry has become more gender-neutral, looking for ways to become more inclusive and welcoming and ensure that people of all gender identities are able to express their unique style.

Keep reading to learn more about gender neutrality, how it shows up in the beauty industry, and why it is an inclusive workplace.

Gender Neutrality in the Beauty Industry

More people are starting to recognize that everyone can enjoy beauty treatments. Traditionally, treatments like waxing, facials, and skin treatments have been labeled as feminine. When men have taken advantage of beauty treatments, their masculinity has been questioned, deterring many men from fully enjoying this aspect of self-care. Ultimately, these gendered labels should have no place in a beauty salon.

Gender is irrelevant when it comes to beauty treatments, which is why many salons are embracing a gender-neutral approach to beauty. This makes the beauty industry a great place for careers for people who want to specialize in serving the gender-neutral community and for those who identify as gender-neutral and are looking for a gender-neutral safe career path.

Taking care of your skin, body, and mental health is not a feminine act. Many beauty treatments are a fundamental part of self-care and benefit people of all genders. Salons should be safe spaces for everyone; a gender-neutral approach will help make that a reality.

How to Implement Gender Neutrality in Beauty

Salons are already taking steps to implement gender neutrality in the beauty industry. One example of this is in altering the names of treatments. Sometimes, treatments like haircuts are categorized based on whether a man or woman is receiving it. This is problematic because it excludes people who don’t identify as men or women. Further, categorization based on gender relies on stereotypes, assuming that gender will reveal information about the client to help determine an accurate price for the service. Ultimately, services should be categorized and priced based on the work involved without making assumptions based on gender.

It’s also important to see diverse spokespeople and clients in the beauty industry. From salon displays to beauty influencers, representation matters, and people should be able to visibly see that beauty is for everyone.

Beauty is a Gender-Neutral Industry

Many salons are making strides to become fully gender-neutral. There is a more widespread understanding that gender isn’t a factor when it comes to beauty treatments and that services shouldn’t be categorized based on gender.

The beauty industry is an inclusive place to work. The Salon Professional Academy, Evansville provides resources and training to help you start your beauty career. If you’re interested in working in beauty, contact us today!

Healthy Hair: The Unique Methodology of Prescribing Products

The best hairstylist does more than just style hair. They are the hair experts that their clients need, with the knowledge that can help a client obtain and maintain healthy hair. You’re the hair hero.

As a stylist, you understand the role of quality hair products, but your clients most likely won’t. Many salon clients see hair products as expensive add-ons to their hair styling appointments. So how can you convince a client that the products you use and sell will help them have a healthy head of hair? 

By the time you finish reading this article, you will understand how to educate clients on the role of hair products in their hair health. 

Why Recommend Hair Products?

If you do not recommend products at your salon, your customers will ultimately buy them somewhere else. Clients who take the time to visit a quality salon will already have their go-to hair products. Unfortunately, most of those are sub-par compared to what you can offer them. 

The unhealthy hair you encounter wouldn’t happen if the clients were using quality products. When you become a cosmetologist, you have the responsibility of prescribing products for hair that will help your clients have healthy hair. Don’t dismiss this responsibility. 

Educate your clients on general hair health first, and then move into a product recommendation. When you do this, your clients will become walking advertisements for your salon and the products you recommend. Ultimately, you’ll see happy clients returning for business, and your business will grow. 

Have a Conversation

Product recommendation begins with a conversation about the client’s hair. Begin by talking to the client about scalp and hair health. Stress to them that you have one goal: to help them achieve a healthy head of hair. 

Focus on educating the client about healthy hair. Pour your knowledge of healthy hair into the client rather than simply recommending a product at first. Explain the condition of their hair and scalp at the time, and then offer them tips and techniques that will nourish and protect their hair and scalp.  

Prescribe a Daily Regimen

Once you’ve explained the current state of your client’s hair and scalp, move into recommending a daily regimen. Ask your client if they already have a daily routine. Listen to them carefully and encourage them as they explain what they currently do. 

Next, give clients a daily care prescription that includes the best products for their current hair condition. Explain how to use the products as well. 

Include the quantity of shampoo, the methods for sudsing up, and the products that will work for their hair condition. Recommend a method that works best for your client’s lifestyle. 

Teach your clients about protecting their hair from UV rays as well as humid climates. Finally, touch on how they can protect their hair as they sleep such as braiding longer hair or sleeping on satin pillowcases

Explain the Long Term Plan

Finally, prescribe a weekly treatment that includes deep conditioning their scalp and hair. Encourage your client to schedule their next trim and style so you can check on their hair health. 

Recommend Products to Produce Healthy Hair

As a stylist, you are now a hair expert in the eyes of your client. Don’t hesitate to recommend how a client can obtain healthy hair. Learn about the products that best help different types of hair, and then move forward with confidence to educate your clients. 

Are you looking for a quality cosmetology program? If so, contact us. We can help you achieve your dream of styling hair and creating beautiful, confident people. 

Cosmetology School: Do You Get Paid While Training

How Much Do You Get Paid During Cosmetology School Training in Evansville? Most Folks Don't Have Financial Reserves to Place Bills on Hold. But There Are Great Ways To Save. Read on For Your Guide

Can I Get Paid During Cosmetology School?

Cosmetology school training is a fun, exciting experience for anyone that wants to pursue a career in the beauty and cosmetics industry. While the value of the knowledge you gain in cosmetology school is immense, people often struggle to answer one question: will I earn an income in beauty school?

While you are not paid for providing services in beauty school, that doesn’t mean that there aren’t other ways to attend classes and have enough revenue to pay your bills. Compared to most types of academia, beauty school is relatively inexpensive. This article will help you create a strategy to attend cosmetology school while still making a living.

Apply for Scholarships

One of the first places to start when you’re considering beauty school is scholarship applications. While getting paid in cosmetology or beauty school is difficult, there are many avenues for students to secure funding for their education.

For instance, the Beauty Changes Lives Foundation offers scholarships for future beauty professionals looking for a way to afford their education. You should strongly consider reducing the cost of your tuition by applying for scholarships like those offered by Beauty Changes Lives, as these opportunities can cover most of your tuition.

Consider Part-Time Work

If you want to attend beauty school and pay your bills simultaneously, you can consider part-time work at a salon or spa. Applying for a job as a part-time assistant gives you hands-on experience that will put you ahead in your future career.

You also can connect with the admissions department at your school to see if there are any nearby salons looking for extra help. 

Build Your Social Media Channels

You don’t have to wait to earn money from your beauty and cosmetology services. Many students begin building their social media channels early to offer services to their followers. Self-promotion is everything in the beauty industry, so the sooner you start building your social media channels, the better.

Self-promotion isn’t too difficult if you know what you’re doing. Promoting your services on social media is possible if you know your audience, have a unique aesthetic, maintain a business profile, highlight your personality, and set your marketing goals.

Does Beauty School Cost Less than Other Education?

While you might feel stressed about making a living while attending beauty school, your tuition is often a lower cost than other education programs. Though you don’t get paid for providing services in beauty school, you may be able to receive tips from your guests. 

Another significant benefit of beauty school is its importance in growing your career. The primary “salary” you get attending beauty school is that you can jump levels and graduate with high honors–something that beauty salons love to see on your application. Additionally, if you take your social media marketing seriously, you can guarantee that you’ll stand out from other applicants when looking for salon work.

Boost Your Image

Getting started in the beauty industry doesn’t have to be a challenge. If you are interested in cosmetology school and want to get ahead of the game, contact TSPA to enroll and build your career reputation today.

Goals: Becoming a Beauty Entrepreneur

Becoming a Beauty Entrepreneur in Indiana & Starting Your Own Salon is Possible With the Right Mindset. Follow the Steps in This Guide to Start Achieving Your Dream.Goals To Consider if You Want To Become a Beauty Entrepreneur

Did you know that there are over 580 million entrepreneurs in the world?

Are you thinking about becoming one of them with starting your own salon? 

Although an exciting venture, there are things to consider when starting a salon that you need to take into account. If you’re not sure what those are, keep reading. We’ll discuss the goals you should think about when opening a salon!

Look at Your Competition 

The first thing you should do is look at your competition to determine what they are doing right and what they are not doing that you could be doing.

This is what will help you set yourself apart from them.

When creating goals, consider:

  • What do you like that they are doing?
  • What do their customers like?
  • What do you think they are missing?
  • What could make your approach be unique?

With these four questions, you can set goals that set you apart from your competition.

Create Amazing Guest Services

One of the most important aspects of a salon business is the guest services portion of it. You want to wow your guests and always exceed their expectations. 

When setting goals, consider what you could do that would make a significant and lasting impact on your guests.

You could create a follow-up program that supports more client sales. You can inquire about their results and how they are feeling or if they want any products you used at the salon. This could generate more revenue back to the business.

Consider Your Environmental Impact

As a salon business, you need to consider your environmental impact. Now more than ever, people care about the types of businesses that they support. They want businesses that care about the environment and going green.

In fact, 78% of consumers say they are more likely to buy a product that states it is environmentally friendly. The same goes for businesses that support this, too.

Consider Your Social Media Marketing

Another goal you have to set for your beauty business is the marketing side of it. You should consider what will set you apart from other beauty salons in the way that you advertise. 

For example, you want to do more than your competitors. If most of your competitors are only doing the before and after posts, you should do a before and after post and show the products used to achieve the look.

Not only that, but you could also demo products with reels on Instagram or TikTok, as well as YouTube shorts to expand your social media reach further.

Think About the Brand Experience

The most important is thinking about how to make your beauty salon have a brand.

You want people to recognize your business if they see a logo, your salon, or your products.

Starting Your Own Salon

Starting your own salon can be extremely exciting as you venture into the entrepreneur space. However, there are things to know about setting goals.

With the above tips, you’ll know what goals to focus on to ensure the success of your business. 

If you want to make sure you have a future that is really set up for success, contact us at the TSPA Beauty School. We have professional training classes to set you apart from the rest.

Finding A Beauty Program That’s Right For You – Admissions is Your Friend

Few industries are more exciting than the beauty business.

That’s because there’s no shortage of new things to learn, you get to work in an energetic environment, help make people look amazing, and earn an impressive income.

The key to getting started as a cosmetologist is to find a beauty program that will help you reach your full potential. That’s why the information contained in this article is so important. Here we take a look at how beauty programs are the essential element to a successful beauty career. Keep reading to discover insights that will help you answer the question, “Is a beauty career right for me?”

Define Your Career Goals

Once you’ve made the decision to pursue a career in the beauty industry, it’s important to clarify your career goals. This will make it much easier to choose the right program to get you where you’re going.

Keep in mind that there are tons of different career paths available within the beauty business, including salon owners, cosmologists, and estheticians, just to name a few. So the more specific you can be about your goals, the easier it will be to find the perfect training program to meet your needs.

What Do You Hope to Get Out of Your Beauty Program?

Every beauty program offers a different set of advantages and disadvantages over other beauty programs when it comes to starting a career in beauty. That’s why you need to prioritize the aspects of a beauty program that are most important to you.

For example, studying for a career in beauty at The Salon Professional Academy provides access to some of the best instructors in the industry. This is obviously a major benefit over a school that you might consider more affordable.

The key is to find a beauty school that checks as many boxes as possible on your list of priorities.

Don’t Be Afraid to Ask Questions

You will likely have a lot of questions about each beauty program you’re considering. Don’t be afraid to inquire about every aspect of the program including tuition, acceptance rate, and other factors that will help you make your final decision.

Talk to the Instructors

Take the time to meet the instructors. This will help ensure a good match of personalities and give you a chance to ask questions about their teaching styles and what to expect once you’ve enrolled in classes. Always keep in mind that you are interviewing them, not the other way around.

Choosing the Right Program for Your Beauty Career

People spend a lot of time, energy, and money in an effort to look their very best. And with a beauty career in cosmetology, you get to help them. That’s why this guide to finding the right beauty program is such a valuable resource for achieving your goals.

Contact us today to learn how the team at The Salon Professional Academy can help you launch a successful career in the beauty industry.