Here are some tips for selecting schools, based on an analysis comparing each school to all others across dozens of factors:
Schools Concentrating On Hairdressers And Cosmetologists
- Focus: For schools with a focus on this career area, look at John C Calhoun State Community College, Southern Union State Community College, Shelton State Community College, and Gadsden State Community College.
Fastest Response From Schools
- Request Info: For the fastest information for prospective students, look at the Spotlight schools on this page.
Student Body
- Diverse: For a diverse student body, consider Wallace Community College Dothan, NWSCC, Bishop State Community College, and Wallace State Selma.
- Adult Learners: For lots of adult learners, consider J F Drake State, Jefferson Davis Community College, Trenholm Tech, and Wallace Community College Dothan.
School Setting
- Out of State: For geographic diversity, take note of Southern Union State Community College, Shelton State Community College, Wallace Community College Dothan, and Wallace State.
- Dorms: For a residential campus environment, take note of Jefferson Davis Community College, Southern Union State Community College, Bevill State Community College, and Snead State Community College.
Excellence
- Class Size: For small class sizes, look at Trenholm Tech, Alabama Southern, Reid State, and Bishop State Community College.
Working as a Hairdresser, Hairstylist, and Cosmetologist in Alabama
Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists provide various forms of beauty services to clients, including shampooing, coloring, styling and cutting hair, along with treating and massaging scalps to cure minor dermatological problems. They may also be required to apply makeup, perform hair removal services, dress wigs, and offer skin and nail care services. Read a detailed Hairdresser, Hairstylist, and Cosmetologist job description and schools overview.
State Requirements
The State of Alabama requires hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists to be licensed by the Alabama Board of Cosmetology. This examination consists of both a written and practical test. In order to be eligible for the licensing exam, it is necessary that applicants fulfill the following criteria:
- Possess a high school diploma or GED, and be at least 16 years of age
- Graduate from a state-approved training program, or a program accredited by the National Accrediting Commission of Cosmetology Arts and Sciences
- Pay a fee for the written and practical exam
Major Industries
The majority of hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists in Alabama are employed in personal care service establishments. The major industries offering employment are:
- Community Care Facility for the Elderly
- Death Care Services
- Department Stores
- General Medical and Surgical Hospitals
- Health and Personal Care Stores
- Lessors of Real Estate
- Nursing Care Facilities
- Other General Merchandise Stores
- Personal Care Services
- Traveler Accommodation
Major Employers
A few major employers of hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists in Alabama include:
- Wal-Mart Supercenter (Department Stores)
- Huntsville Hospital (General Medical and Surgical Hospitals)
- Marriott-Grand Hotel Resort (Traveler Accommodation)
- C K Irby Construction Co (Lessors of Real Estate)
- Chapman Healthcare Center (Community Care Facility for the Elderly)
- Deuel Drug Store (Health and Personal Care Stores)
- Capital Hill Hlth Care & Rehab (Nursing Care Facilities)
- Magnolia Wood Therapeutic Incorporated (Personal Care Services)
- Elmwood Cemetery (Death Care Services)
- Avery Auto Sales Shop (Other General Merchandise Stores)
Student/Alumnus Reviews of Schools for This Career and State
Sort Reviews By:Alabama State Barber College • Roebuck, AL
Studying Barber (completion in 2005)
• 12/10/2011
"Anything I've learned was accomplished outside of school. I was not happy at all with my school."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | no | This is hardly a school, only a joke. |
| Program Reputation | 1 | I think the program has closed its doors, thankfully. |
| Program Quality | 2 | There's not very much hands on training. It's a very basic education. |
| Instruction | 1 | Teaching wasn't a priority. They were very lazy. |
| How Difficult | 3 | There was not very much training, we just gave many haircuts. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | We had books but they were never used. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 1 | There were no options, the school was a joke. |
| Academic Facilities | 1 | The building was absolutely terrible and we had no resources. |
| Social Life | 1 | There was no social life whatsoever. |
| Placement Services | 1 | Everything is left up to the student. Help in finding a job was never mentioned. |
| Alumni Network | 1 | There wasn't one, this did not exist. |
Gadsden State Community College • Gadsden, AL
Studying Cosmetology (completion in 2012)
• 3/26/2012
"It's been a great, smooth experience."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | It is great for your first years of college. They work with you and help you to the path of success. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | My school has extremely good reviews and a low numbers of students dropping out. |
| Program Quality | 10 | They haven't left out anything that a cosmetologist would need to know. We got free haircuts, $5 haircolor, $6 fill in, $12 full set. |
| Instruction | 10 | We were constantly learning new things, but they were explained very well in detail so we wouldn't have too many questions. |
| How Difficult | 5 | It is easy, but you must be dedicated. You must also love what you're doing because if you don't, you wont last in the cosmetology field. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | For most of your classes, you will need a book. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | You pick your classes around your schedule, they're very lenient. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | Everything is updated and in good quality. |
| Social Life | 8 | Overall great. Easy to get along with people. |
| Placement Services | 10 | Most attending students get a job right out of graduation. |
| Alumni Network | I don't exactly know what an alumni network is. |
Reid State Technical College • Evergreen, AL
Studying Cosmetology (completion in 2010)
• 4/10/2012
"I thought the school was great. I knew a lot of the teachers and the students."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | It depends on if they want small town or big town. If they plan to move I would tell them to wait. |
| Program Reputation | 9 | The offer a very good program in the area. There are a lot of students who want to attend. |
| Program Quality | 8 | The school is great for a small town. I just wish there were more trips and more teachers. |
| Instruction | 10 | The quality of instruction was great. The teachers give you time to learn grow and practice. |
| How Difficult | 2 | I took cosmetology at a magnet school so it was like a refresher course. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | The program was very hands on. There was a lot of model work, real head work and a lot of mannequin work. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 2 | You had to make it on time. The new policy frowned against missing a day or even being late. No weekend classes and summer options were available. |
| Academic Facilities | 9 | The library could have been better as it was very small. I felt there it left a lot to be desired. |
| Social Life | 10 | I had a lot of fun at the school. I held many organizations and parties. |
| Placement Services | 3 | They really do not place you in a job. They do give you options but in all you have to go out and do it yourself. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | It was average not to too good or bad. The alumni is spread very thin as many people have left. |
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