First, the student learns and masters, through actual hands-on experience, the essential knowledge and skills for treating the scalp and hair. Next, he or she develops the skills in these areas in order to graduate, obtain a license, and become employed. The State Board of Cosmetology requires the completion of 1500 credit unit hours or 1500 actual clock hours before taking the state exam. Most worked in beauty salons or department stores and a few were employed by hospitals and hotels. Cosmetologists can also be found in a variety of careers such as cosmetic company or equipment representatives, beauty editors for publishing firms, and make-up artists in motion picture and television studios.
Cosmetologists receive income either from commissions or wages and tips.
Earnings depend on the size and location of the shop, the number of hours worked, customers' tipping habits, and the ability to attract and hold regular customers. Barbers are trained in the various techniques of clipper cutting, scissors cutting, clipper designing, and hair styling, mustache and beard shaping, shampooing, facial and scalp massage, the basics of sanitation and sterilization, and shop management and ethics. The Barbering Program at John M. Patterson State Technical College is a 24 semester credit hour program designed to train the student in practical application of barbering skills while working with patrons in a shop environment. A classroom atmosphere facilitates the theory of haircutting techniques, chemistry, anatomy and physiology, and related English and mathematics. The Barbering Program allows for maximum practical work experience to reinforce the student in his or her future profession as a barber.