Summer is here, and it’s time to celebrate, but it’s also time to plan. While you’re soaking up the sun, take some down time to think about what you’re doing to do next year: your senior year. If you’ve got the opportunity to design your schedule and pick your classes, this is a good time to create a school day that will fulfill your need for learning and creating. You can also better set yourself up for success by choosing classes that prepare you for your future after high school.
Is beauty school your calling? Add these high school classes to your senior schedule and be inspired for your post-secondary education! If you can’t fit all of these classes into your schedule, add the ones that appeal to you the most and follow your passion!
Arts
Beauty careers in esthetics and cosmetology require creativity and artistic ability. Taking classes in the arts category is going to help you in a variety of ways. Make sure you’ve got at least one arts class under your belt so that you get the opportunity to explore your artistic side and get in tune with your creative process.
Drawing, Painting or Photography
Aesthetic composition is important in beauty school, so taking classes that can help you hone this skill is important. The skills you master in these classes like understanding color theory, composition, working with your hands and being driven by your artistic senses are all things you’ll use in beauty school. Another advantage of taking art classes like these are the consistent opportunities to stay inspired and on your toes.
Ceramics
Working with your hands is something you’ll be doing all day long as a cosmetologist or esthetician. Pottery helps you get used to hands-on work! Another advantage to taking ceramics is sitting for a prolonged period of time. While performing facials as an esthetician, you’ll typically be seated and need to get used to working in that position.
Another common skill you can learn in ceramics is understanding textures. You’ll be experiencing and understanding different textures while you work with clay and other types of ceramic materials. While working with hair, skin and beauty products, you’ll be working with a variety of textures. It’s important to get to know what types of textures will bring out what result, especially when it comes to skin care.
Drama, Performing Arts and Dance
The nervous rush you get when you’re on stage is something you can also experience when meeting someone new. That’s why it’s important to learn how to quell your anxiety and make the most of the adrenaline rush you’re sure to have! Being a star on stage is the perfect opportunity for you to boost your confidence and have fun in the spotlight!
Debate
Esthetics and cosmetology are people jobs! Every day you will be working with someone new. Being understanding, agreeable, optimistic and truthful are all important communication skills to possess as someone who is altering the outward appearance of someone else. Debate can give you the confidence you need to be outgoing and approachable as a beauty pro.
Sciences
There’s science in hair, makeup and skin care? You bet! In fact, there are a lot of hidden scientific processes when it comes to cosmetology and esthetics. In fact, you’ll even go over these topics again in a cosmetology or esthetics program so you can learn even more about how they apply to the industry specifically.
Anatomy
Anatomy is the study of our bodies’ structure. When you think about how this relates to cosmetology and skin care, consider this: if you are going to change the structure of the hair (like treating it with hair color) or applying product to the skin (like an acne-focused facial), you need to know how the body is going to react. You’ll also need to consider things like allergies and interactions of ingredients between products you’re using, as well as what someone is using at home.
Chemistry
If you dream of being a hair color specialist, chemistry will be a large part of what you do every day. Mixing dyes, color developers and even trying to color correct hair that’s been box-dyed is a science! This is also where adverse reactions can come in. A common misunderstanding of hair coloring comes with lifting and lightning hair. If hair has been bleached recently, you must know! The reaction hair has to lifting chemicals can be severe if you don’t know what chemicals your clients have recently applied. Without the proper knowledge and training, someone’s hair might fall out.
Business
Many cosmetologists and estheticians are drawn to these career paths because they have the option of working for themselves. In order to become successful, there are some things in the business world you just gotta know! More and more high schools are offering business-focused classes so that students can graduate confident and informed about how to be entrepreneurs, but don’t make the mistake of thinking you’ve learned all there is to know!
Marketing
You could be the best cosmetologist or esthetician in the world, but if know no one knows who you are, what you do and how to book with you, no one is ever going to find you. That’s where marketing steps in. You might think of marketing as billboards and ads in magazines, but it’s closer to home than you think. How many of you use Instagram or Facebook? By a show of hands, that’s almost everyone! (If you haven’t don’t worry, we’ve got you covered.) Regular posts on social media become your strongest marketing tools as a beauty pro.
Creating well-populated and professional social media accounts allows you to reach your audience and show off your stuff. Understanding marketing techniques and learning how people research and buy online will be important in your client book-building strategy as well.
Business Strategy
Do you know how to grow, build and help a business succeed? Business teachers do! Taking a business strategy or development class can help you get to know what it takes to run a business. While learning hands on is a big part of learning the dos and don’ts of business ownership, having a mentor whose been through it all before will be helpful.
Finance
A businesses success comes down to whether or not it’s profitable. If you want to use your beauty education to fuel your full-time career and make a fruitful living, you’ll need to learn how to categorize business expenses, do taxes, create a budget and even figure out how to invest in your next innovation. These skills can all be learned in a finance class. In fact, even if you don’t intend on going to beauty school, this type of class is the perfect foundation for real-life adulting.
2019 is Your Year
If you’re a part of the senior class of 2019, it’s time to prepare yourself for the future. If your future features hair, makeup and skin care, consider a beauty education! Douglas J Institute offers cosmetology and esthetics programs at all six of our locations. Contact us today to learn more and we can help plan your future with us.
