Your fabulous future: Careers in beauty

Considering a career in cosmetology, or the beauty industry? Smart move. The industry offers exceptional job opportunities nationwide.

Work for your neighborhood salon or a national chain. Style photo shoots or fashion shows. Represent a professional product line or start your own business. The possibilities are endless with a beauty school education.

Some facts to think over:

* Cosmetology is a dynamic, growing industry. Top talent is always in demand from coast to coast.
* Beauty is a rewarding profession. You'll help your clients look and feel fantastic.
* Cosmetology is a flexible industry. Many salons and spas let employees set hours that suit them. And the skills are perfectly portable. You might start out cutting hair in Hawaii and end up doing manicures in Maine.

A wide range of career choices

Beauty or cosmetology school can get you started in your choice of professional specialties. Choose a career as a:

* Hairstylist
* Nail artist
* Esthetician, or skin-care specialist
* Makeup artist
* Salon manager or owner
* Cosmetology instructor

The options are wide open. The choices are yours. And beauty school can take you there.
Talent is in demand

Spending rises every year on personal care services such as hairstyling, even when the economy is weak. People always want to look their best, so you'll always have opportunities.

More than half of U.S. salon owners had job openings in 2006. Yet three-quarters of salons seeking employees were unable to find the qualified workers they needed.

"The demand for well-trained professionals in the field outstrips the supply. Future hiring plans are robust and the industry is projected to continue growing," said the National Accrediting Commission of Cosmetology Arts and Sciences or NACCAS, which oversees U.S. cosmetology schools.

That's good news for beauty school graduates. NACCAS found that nearly 40 percent of cosmetology jobs were taken by newly trained professionals with less than a year of experience.