The Beauty Student's Guide to Success in Phoenix

Phoenix may be the perfect city if you're interested in launching a successful and enriching career in the beauty industry. Named North America's Best Spa Destination by the 2020 World Spa Awards, Arizona has a whole host of beautiful salons and spas located in and around the Phoenix area that could be the perfect place to show off and hone your beauty skills.

Learn what it's like to work as a beauty professional in Phoenix, including details on salary expectations, employment growth, top salons, specialties, and more.

Salary and Job Growth for Phoenix Beauty Careers

Phoenix is a fantastic place to base your beauty career in terms of annual salary, with wages being on par with the state average.

Statewide and local 2021 average salary information are from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2022).

Looking at expected job opportunities, cosmetology, esthetics, and nail technology are all expected to grow over the next decade.

The figures for estheticians and manicurists are also positive, with growth expected in both fields.

Arizona employment change (2018–2028) and national employment change (2020-2030) information is from CareerOneStop (2021).

Top Beauty Employers in Phoenix

Phoenix offers a wide range of unique spas and salons to suit a variety of different clients and skill sets. Here are some of the top salons in the Phoenix area to give you an idea of the types of opportunities available for beauty professionals.

Salon Surreal

7000 North 16th Street, #144
Phoenix, AZ 85020

Salon Surreal, located in the North Central Corridor, is a full-service salon and day spa with an upscale environment and state-of-the-art techniques.

Salon owner Suzy Noren ensures that her stylists and estheticians receive continuing education and product knowledge classes to stay on the cutting edge of the beauty industry and provide the best possible service to their clients.

The salon has won multiple awards since opening its doors and is consistently at the top of lists such as the Best of Yelp, Best of Google, and WeddingRule's Editor's Choice.

Modern Love Salon and Medspa

7025 East 5th Avenue
Scottsdale, AZ 85251

Modern Love Salon and Medspa is a beautiful salon and medspa located in Scottsdale, part of the greater Phoenix area.

Salon owner Nina Hamid immigrated to the United States when she was 17 years old and worked as a makeup artist for ten years before opening her dream salon where anyone can walk in and feel immediately welcome.

"The salon was opened to make people feel beautiful and loved by exemplifying the radiance of his or her individuality," says Hamid. "This is what we teach our children to manifest for their future: a world where people are praised for their individualistic beauty and not tormented for their differences. As a family we named this idealistic notion Modern Love."

The Root Salon

5813 North 7th Street, #120
Phoenix, AZ 85014

For over 15 years, The Root Salon has been committed to giving its clients a luxurious, high-quality experience from their North Phoenix location.

The salon is owned by master colorist Laurén Hart, who has over 40 years of professional hands-on experience and Italian training with the renowned chemists at Alfaparf. She has since taught the fundamentals of Italian hair color around the globe.

As the only American Board-Certified Master Colorist in Phoenix, Hart spent years under the training of color icon Beth Minardi and completed her hands-on training in New York. The salon is one of the few Alfaparf flagship salons globally, an honor that the entire team is very proud of.

The salon specializes in corrective hair color and hair cutting, bridal hair, waxing, and makeup.

Specialties and Certifications for Phoenix Beauty Students to Consider

If you want to work as a cosmetologist, esthetician, or another type of beauty professional in Arizona, you'll need to earn the relevant licensure from the Arizona State Board of Cosmetology. However, there are some exceptions—for example, those who only remove hair via threading or perform spray tanning services do not need to gain a license to work in the state.

With a dry climate and record high temperatures, Arizona is a literal hotbed for beauty treatments. Daily maximum readings for Phoenix average 106 °F in July—all this heat and low humidity means that the people living in or visiting Phoenix are perfect candidates for extra help with their hair and skin care needs.

Given that Phoenix is a popular spa destination, beauty students may want to pursue additional training and certifications that enable them to provide specialized services to guests, such as using desert botanicals in spa treatments.

Beauty School Scholarships and Grants for Phoenix Students

Studying for a new career can be expensive, but scholarships and grants are available to those training to become beauty professionals in the Phoenix area.

To find a scholarship or grant that might apply to your situation, first check out the financial aid pages of your chosen school's website—many offer their own program-specific packages to students in need.

Then, check out the website for the Arizona Student Financial Aid Program to see state-sponsored opportunities.

Elsewhere, Bold.org has partnered with Aveda to offer two $500 scholarships to cosmetology or hair design students in Arizona, Utah, or Colorado, aimed at both adult learners and high schoolers.

The American Association of Cosmetology Schools also offers scholarship funds to beauty school students nationwide under the ACE Program.

Learn more about types of financial aid for beauty students and how they work.

Top Beauty Student Supply Stores in Phoenix

Other Resources for Phoenix Beauty Students

Arizona State Board of Cosmetology
The official state board for cosmetologists and other beauty professionals provides information relating to Arizona industry standards, licensure, and more.

The Arizona Production Association
The APA is a nonprofit membership trade organization with the goal of promoting, encouraging, and advancing the growth of the film, theater, and television industries within the State of Arizona. It offers a variety of resources for workers within the production industry, including hair and makeup professionals.

Phoenix Magazine
For over 50 years, Phoenix magazine has captured all sides of the Valley with award-winning and insightful writing, groundbreaking reporting, and guides to all things Phoenix, including hair and beauty.