Hair Schools in Idaho

Browse our directory of hair design schools in Idaho, or skip ahead to learn about the state's hair design licensing requirements and job outlook.

How to Become a Hair Designer in Idaho

Hair styling and hair design. They are so prevalent, that even the smallest hamlet in the remotest part of every state has at least one beauty salon, and sometimes more. It seems that even in the most tight economic times, men and women believe they have to have their hair cut and styled smartly in order to look and feel their best.

As a result, hair styling and design is a thriving business in the state of Idaho, and if you are looking for a tried-and-true opportunity in the beauty industry, and you have an artistic and creative streak, a career as a hair stylist or designer in Idaho may just be a great career option for you!

State License Requirements

Hair care, including cutting, coloring, highlighting, straightening, perming, styling and design is taught in schools of cosmetology. Also, some community colleges offer programs in hair styling leading to a two year associate's degree. In Idaho, the practice of hair styling and design is regulated by the Idaho Board of Cosmetology - Bureau of Occupational Licenses. To be eligible to sit for the licensing exam in hair styling requires a total of 900 hours of course work at an accredited institution. These licenses need to be renewed yearly, although no continuing education credits are required for renewal (but are a good idea to help you stay current, nonetheless).

Education Details

Programs in hair styling and design start by teaching the anatomy and physiology of hair and skin, as well as diseases of both. The techniques used for cutting hair, and for coloring, highlighting, straightening, and perming are also taught in addition to how to style hair to flatter a particular face shape and various facial features. In addition, you will learn about the sterilization and sanitation procedures used in Idaho, how to attract and maintain satisfied clients, and some elements of the business side of running a hair styling and design business. You will view professionals providing various hair care services both live and on video, and you will get a chance to practice on other students before you are given an opportunity to practice on live humans.

License Renewal

Idaho requires license renewal every year by your birthday. The cost to renew your license is $50 annually. Currently, Idaho does not require cosmetology continuing education hours to renew your license, but you may want to earn CEUs anyway in order to stay on top of your field and keep your skills fresh.

Idaho Hair Design Careers

Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists in the state of Idaho earned an average wage of $26,040 in 2019, the most recent year for which data are available according to O*Net. Of course, this is only an average. If you have a particular skill set, like designing hair for weddings, photo or fashion shoots, or for individuals appearing on stage, television, or film, you stand to earn considerably more. Also, the more years experience you have, and the larger your client list, the bigger the fee you can command. And individuals who open their own hair design salons earn more as business owners. The field of hair styling and design is expected to grow 16% between 2016 and 2026. This means that recent graduates of cosmetology schools should not have too difficult a time finding suitable employment in their field, and that there should be opportunities for advancement for those seeking it.

Hair design is a creative, artistic venture that benefits from talent and a good eye. You have to be able to visualize the completed look and then translate it into reality, as well as convey it verbally to the client so that he or she understands what you are striving to achieve. Plus, your day is spent working with individual clients, so you must have good people skills, and particularly the ability to listen well, as people getting their hair styled frequently like to talk, often, about themselves and their lives. It helps if you are non-judgmental and mature. In between seeing clients, you will need to clean and freshen your work station as you prepare to see your next client. Working with individual clients, and sometimes groups of individual clients, as in a wedding party, should give you some latitude in scheduling, so that you can fit your work around other commitments you may have in your life. However, clients will expect you to be available at times and on days that are convenient to them, which means you will most likely have to work some evenings and weekends. If you are designing hair for photo and fashion shoots, you may have to be on set early in the morning.

Contact the Idaho State Board of Cosmetology

Idaho is steadily encouraging to those who are looking to make hair design a career or have already set forth on that path. The next six years, according to state estimates, may see Idaho’s hair care industry rise further still. Those interested in the hair design profession utilize these resources.

Professional Beauty Association
Association of Cosmetology Salon Professionals