The Tampa Beauty Student's Resource Guide

Tampa and St. Petersburg may be the ideal places to begin your beauty career. With unique salons and spas, opportunities to perform services for residents and tourists from all over the country, and many chances to learn new skills, you may thrive in the area.

This article discusses beauty salaries and employment opportunities in Tampa and St. Petersburg, some of their fabulous salons, specialties to consider, supply shops, and other local resources.

Salary and Job Growth in Tampa and St. Petersburg Beauty Careers

When it comes to job opportunities for cosmetologists, hairstylists, and hairdressers, Tampa and St. Petersburg may be great places to study and find jobs.

Information from 2021 shows that average beauty career salaries in Tampa and St. Petersburg are similar to Florida state averages.

Statewide data and local data are from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2022).

CareerOneStop reports the following anticipated employment change in Florida versus nationwide.

Florida and national employment change (2020-2030) information is from CareerOneStop (2022).

Top Beauty Employers in Tampa and St. Petersburg

Below are several featured salons in the Tampa and St. Petersburg area. Being listed here doesn't guarantee they have employment opportunities; however, this gives an idea of some of the types of employers in the Tampa-St. Pete area.

My Shade and Texture

4202 East Busch Boulevard, Unit 1
Tampa, FL 66317

Pamela Thompson opened My Shade and Texture in 2019 and quit her stable government job in early 2020 to run the store and salon full time—just as COVID-19 hit.

Instead of letting her new venture go under, the community rallied around her company. She allows small-business owners to have pop-up shops within her building and buys and resells wholesale products from brands at least half-owned by a woman or a person belonging to a minority group.

My Shade and Texture focuses on serving the unique needs of textured hair and sells only products catering to those who need them. Customers can also find products curated or blended just for their skin, have makeup done for a night out, and get express hair and other beauty services in their salon.

Whether you're becoming a product creator, a beauty professional, or passionate about selling beauty and other products for the Black community, check out My Shade and Texture.

Monaco Hair Salon—Tampa and South Tampa

Monaco Salon, owned by Krista Abad, has two Tampa locations. The Dale Mabry Highway location is a full-service hair salon, and the Bay to Bay Boulevard branch has a full salon and extensions lounge. They've appeared on Salon Today 200's best beauty or hair salon list several, and their customer reviews glow.

If you're not trained in hair extensions and want to be, they also run an extensions training program. You'll receive hand-tied or seamless tape-in extension certifications upon successful completion of the program, as well as 30% to 45% off retail hair prices at their partner businesses.

Salty Roots Salon & Spa

2646 Central Avenue
Saint Petersburg, FL 33712

Woman-owned Salty Roots Salon & Spa is more than a catchy name—it offers a variety of hair, esthetics, and waxing services. Given the types of services they offer, children aren't allowed in the salon—so if you want to work strictly with adults, this may be a place to talk to about opportunities.

Their boutique in the same building offers everything from well-known clothing brands to perfume. If fashion is your beauty field of choice, check out this portion of the business, too.

Truvy Salon

8908 4^th Street North, Suite B
St. Petersburg, FL 33702

Truvy Salon, owned by Chrissy Parker, offers full hair services for women, men, and children, as well as facial waxing. They both provide current styles and have a special focus on vintage looks, like 1950s hairdos. The salon is certified by z.one concept products, meaning customers don't have to return to the salon every time they need minor touch-ups.

The best place to find out about their newest offerings and special events is the Truvy Salon Facebook page. This showcases their most recent client looks, tells you about their popular Botox parties, and even allows visitors to vote on new supplies, like chairs.

Specialties and Certifications Tampa and St. Petersburg Beauty Students Should Consider

In Florida, you need a license to work as a cosmetologist, barber, nail technician, makeup artist, or hairstylist, or to do any hair removal or eyelash extensions.

If you want to perform procedures not covered by your cosmetology license but want to expand your offering, consider the following techniques, which don't require new licenses (although training is highly recommended):

• Body wrapping
• Hair braiding and wrapping
• Makeup application at makeup counters to sell products, not services
• Shampooing and conditioning
• Wig and hairpiece fitting and sales

Hair extensions are popular in Tampa and St. Petersburg, so pursuing continuing education in that area may be of particular use.

While one of the businesses mentioned above offers Botox parties, only licensed medical professionals can perform Botox—not even medical estheticians are allowed to.

Beauty School Scholarships and Grants for Tampa and St. Petersburg Beauty Students

Besides looking at scholarship opportunities through your beauty school, the best place to find Florida-specific scholarships is via the Florida Student Scholarship & Grant Programs. Scholarships are available to students attending various colleges and vocational schools in Florida, including many cosmetology institutions.

Top Beauty Student Supply Stores in Tampa

Other Resources for Tampa Beauty Students

Florida DBPR
The Department of Business and Professional Regulation regulates licenses for all fields requiring them, including beauty.

Tampa Style
This magazine covers all Tampa trends, including fashion and beauty.

Tampa Magazines
These magazines are about all things Tampa, from home and garden to fashion and makeup. If you need to know what's hot in the area, these are the go-to resources.