Hair Schools in California
Browse our directory of hair design schools in California, or skip ahead to learn about the state's hair design licensing requirements and job outlook.
Browse All Hair Schools in California
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16852 Devonshire Street
Granada Hills, CA 91344
Cosmetica Beauty and Barbering Academy
Downey, CA 90240
You must attend a school that meets any licensure requirements as defined by your state. Most states require that you graduate from an accredited or state-approved school.
Related Beauty Careers
Not sure this is the right fit for you? Learn more about other career options in the beauty industry. Related specializations include:
How to Become a Hair Designer in California
- 1,600 education hours or 3,200 apprentice hours are required to become licensed.
- You must renew your license every 2 years.
- 0 continuing education hours are required to renew your license.
- The average salary for cosmetologists in California is $27,770 ($13.35/hour). This is higher than the national average of $26,090 ($12.54/hour).
- There is a predicted 20% job increase between 2016–2026 for cosmetologists. This is higher than the expected national growth of 9%.
Nothing makes people feel quite as confident as a great hairstyle that brings out their inner beauty. You can help people find and enjoy their perfect hair style by studying hair design in California! Learning how to offer high-quality hair design services to clients requires you to learn about the cutting, coloring, and styling of different types of hair.
At BeautySchoolsDirectory.com, we help students pursue their passion for beauty every day. If you're serious about success in the beauty industry, use our free directory to contact and compare programs in your area today!
State License Requirements
Required to earn a hair design license
Although you may specialize in hair design once you begin your career, you must first earn a cosmetology degree. California does not have a specific license or program for those who only offer hair design services, essentially requiring you to complete a full-fledged cosmetology program. This program often takes one to two years, depending on how many hours you attend school each week.
Education Details
In your hair design program, you may start by learning about the tools used in basic hair design processes. Your instructors may help you become familiar with different types of scissors, chemicals used in hair processing treatments, and other tools in your cosmetology kit. This lays the groundwork for hands-on work in hair styling. You may start gaining hands-on experience in your first semester of cosmetology school. You may find that this helps you learn more quickly about cosmetology tools and techniques. Rather than working on real clients, you may spend a long time working on mannequin heads. As you become more confident and get more training, you can start using your cutting, dying, and styling skills on real customers.
License Renewal
License renewal period
Continuing education required
In California, hair designers should look into cosmetology training to meet the license requirements in this state. Currently, cosmetologists must complete a minimum 1,600-hour program, plus pass the exams administered by the state. With the additional skills in makeup, skincare and nails, you can add more skills to your resume for prospective salon work. Once you obtain your license, you will need to renew it every two years, in odd-numbered years. The renewal fee is currently $50.
California Hair Design Careers
Average yearly salary for hair design in California
In California, the licensing of cosmetologists and other beauty professionals goes through the California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology. You must complete 1,600 hours of training at an approved school before you are eligible for cosmetology licensure in this state. Since beauty and style are so important in California, it should come as no surprise that the job outlook is excellent for California cosmetologists. In this state, new cosmetology jobs are expected to grow faster than the national average. On average, this growth may lead to more than 1,500 new jobs per year (O*Net, 2010). As a hair designer, your income may be affected by many different factors. Your salary may fluctuate from week to week, since tips may be a large part of your salary. The average salary for a California cosmetologist is $27,770 per year.
Becoming a hair designer can be a fairly sizable responsibility! People know that their hair says a lot about them, and you should be able to listen to their requests to ensure that you can give them what they want. Strong communication may be one of the most important parts of becoming a hair designer. Customers may not be able to tell you what they want in technical hair dressing terms, so you must know how to ask the right questions to learn more about their desired hair style. In addition, working as a hair designer may require long shifts and lots of time on your feet. During busy periods, like prom and wedding season, you may spend well over eight hours per day at your salon. Most of this time is spent standing or walking. Being able to think quickly and act appropriately under pressure can benefit you in this career. Getting started in this career can have a great effect on your life. The Body reports on Fabian Quezada, a young hair stylist in California that used this industry to turn his life around. He used his interest in hair styling to change the focus of his life from drugs and alcohol to health and hair styling. It's clear that hair design doesn't just have a positive effect on your customers' lives; it can change yours as well.
Contact the California State Board of Cosmetology
- 2420 Del Paso Road Suite 100, Sacramento, CA 94244
- Website: California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology
- Email: barbercosmo@dca.ca.gov
- Call: 800-952-5210
- Fax: 916-575-7281