Hair Schools in Michigan

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

How to Become a Hair Designer in Michigan

Do you love looking at new hairstyles and figuring out how they work for different people? If you are looking for a career that may allow you to explore your creativity and develop strong relationships with clients, it's time to look into hair design in Michigan.

If you have a creative eye and passion for making others look beautiful, use our complete listings of programs to figure out which one works best for you!

State License Requirements

In Michigan, the field of hair design falls under the umbrella of cosmetology licensure. To apply for a cosmetologist license, you must graduate from a training program with at least 1,500 hours of training. You can also meet this requirement with a two-year apprenticeship. Pay a $39 fee when you submit your application. You can then take your written and skills exams through PSI after paying a $161 testing fee.

Education Details

Becoming a hair designer may require you to complete a comprehensive training program that lasts between nine and 18 months. One of the first skills you may learn in a hair design program is performing a hair assessment. This involves feeling a client's hair, watching how it moves, and finding out a customer's daily hair care routine. Since you'll likely go through this routine with every client you see in your career, it's good to start practicing early. Of course, casual and formal design styles are both important in a hair design program. Someone may be looking for a style that they can wear every day, and you school can teach you how to come up with a practical style that suits a customer's routine. However, you might also be expected to come up with beautiful formal hairstyles for weddings, dances, and other big events. You may learn about different types of chemical processing in your hair design program. You'll learn about the chemicals involved in hair coloring, hair straightening, and curling. During your hands-on experience, you can discover how to use these chemicals appropriately.

License Renewal

Like so many other states, Michigan requires hair designers to earn their cosmetology license to work professionally in this state. That's okay though, because it never hurts to have makeup, skincare, and nail tech skills, right? If you do earn your license there, you'll need to mark your calendar for the renewal date. In Michigan, cosmetology licenses must be renewed by August 31st, or you will pay an additional $20 late fee. If you pay on time, the renewal fee is $24 annually.

Michigan Hair Design Careers

To become a hair designer in Michigan, you must earn a cosmetology license. This process goes through the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs. They have fairly stringent training requirements for cosmetologists; you must complete 1,500 hours of training before you can apply for your license! In Michigan, cosmetologists earn a wide range of salaries. You may earn more if you work at a high-end salon or develop a reputation for providing high-quality work. According to O*Net, the average salary for a Michigan cosmetologist is $31,760 per year. Cosmetologists can often look forward to a promising job outlook. Between 2016 and 2026, O*Net expects job openings for cosmetologists across the country to increase by 2%. Your personal job outlook may improve if you can offer in-demand services to your clients.

Being a hair designer means putting your all into every day of work: your creativity, your attention to detail, and your desire to make clients look great. Whether you work an eight-hour day doing hairstyles for weddings or a three-hour shift doing basic haircuts, your customers deserve your best! Flexibility, patience, and efficiency are three of most important traits you can bring to your style chair. Flexibility permits you to work a variety of shifts and take on many different tasks without getting flustered or overwhelmed. With patience, you can communicate with patients to discern exactly what they want from their hair treatment. Efficiency is crucial, particularly since clients may come to you on their lunch breaks for a quick style. A career in hair design can take you virtually anywhere. Business of Fashion reports on Brian Buenaventura, a hairstylist that went from styling his family's hair for fun to working with some of the biggest celebrities in the world. After completing his training, he secured a job at a high-end salon and used his experience to begin building a client base that includes names like Vogue and Elle. He tells aspiring stylists, "Put in the work. It's not gonna happen overnight. You have to sacrifice." With hard work and sacrifice, you can shape your ideal cosmetology career.

Contact the Michigan State Board of Cosmetology

The Michigan State Board of Cosmetology can help you answer additional questions about obtaining a Michigan state cosmetology license. For those interested in hair design as a career, Michigan is a state where that industry has been proven to be appealing. As the state overall sees a resurgence, the effects are expected to trickle into the numbers of hair professionals rising. Interested applicants consult these reference points to start.

National Accrediting Commission of Arts & Sciences
Professional Beauty Association