Hair Schools in New Jersey

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

How to Become a Hair Designer in New Jersey

People spend lots of money and time trying to get their hair just right. If you're the stylist that can give them the hairstyle they want, you'll likely have a customer for life! Studying hair design in New Jersey involves learning about different ways to cut, style, and color hair to meet a client's needs.

To become a hair designer, you'll need to earn a cosmetology license. While most of your training may cover hair design, you may also spend some time learning about skin care and nail care. Use our site to request information from the beauty schools in New Jersey near you today!

State License Requirements

Want to work as a hair designer in New Jersey? First, complete your education with a 1,200-hour program at an accredited beauty school. You can then pay a $50 application fee and a $60 licensing fee. Once you pass your written and practical skills exams, you can become licensed as a cosmetologist and offer hair design services.

Education Details

Hair cutting is one of the biggest parts of hair design! From short hair to long hair and unique hairstyles, knowing how to properly cut hair involves an understanding of different hair textures, client preferences, and different styles. During this, you can learn how to use different hair cutting tools, including scissors and razors. Color is another crucial aspect of hair design. Lots of your customers may come to you looking for a new color for each season, a modern coloring technique, or something to cover up their gray hairs. Whatever your clients may want, you need to know how hair coloring chemicals work and how they'll affect hair. Styling is the final part of hair design. Your curriculum can teach you how to create long-lasting styles that customers recreate at home, as well as hairstyles for special occasions or events.

License Renewal

Cosmetology license renewal in New Jersey happens biannually on even-numbered years. The cost to renew a beauty practitioner's license is $60. Cosmetology continuing education is not required for most licenses, although electrology licensees must do 2 CEUs each licensure period. Though continuing education may not be required for some practitioners' licenses, cosmetology CEUs are always recommended to stay current in the industry. If licenses are expired more than 7 years, you must take a 250-hour refresher course and you must re-take the exams.

New Jersey Hair Design Careers

As a New Jersey hair designer, you may be able to take advantage of numerous opportunities create by a strong job outlook. According to O*Net, the demand for hair designers and cosmetologists is expected to increase 24% between 2016 and 2026. There are many different salaries reported by New Jersey cosmetologists. Your salary may be determined by which type of salon you work in, how much seniority you have, and how many clients you have. This last factor is particularly important, since some of your income may come from tips. The average salary for a New Jersey hair designer is $33,510 per year (O*Net, 2019). The New Jersey State Board of Cosmetology and Hairstyling requires all hairstylists to complete 1,200 hours of training. They will also put you through a rigorous testing process that looks at your ability to carry out basic styling tasks.

With your training and a valid cosmetology license, you're ready to begin a career as a hair designer! When you start out, you might work in a quick-service salon, rent a chair at a large beauty shop, or start building your reputation at a high-end salon. A lot is determined by the connections you have in the local beauty industry, which is why it's important to start meeting other beauty professionals while you're still a student. Strong client communication is often considered one of the most important skills in this career. Throughout the course of a day, you may work with children, young adults, seniors, and everyone in between. No matter who your current customer is, you want to make them feel comfortable, heard, and important. It's particularly important to have strong communication skills when your customer is telling you what they want their hair to look like. Interpreting a client's requests can pay off for you. Consistently completing high-quality cuts and styles can lead to an excellent reputation in this field. One of the most famous hairstylists in this region is Kevin Gatto. Known for his innovative designs and styling experience, his career has led him to work for New York City's Fashion Week, teach other cosmetologists, and act as a consultant. A hair design career can open lots of doors for you! If you're ready to take the next step, contact the schools in our complete directory to get started!

Contact the New Jersey State Board of Cosmetology

The New Jersey State Board of Cosmetology can help you with updating your name or change of address information, acquiring out-of-state licensing, renewal and other useful forms, as well as answer other questions about obtaining a New Jersey cosmetology license. Professional grooming is part of New Jersey’s culture. This is part of the reason why hair design is a prized career path in the state. For those who want to be part of this tradition, these institutions provide valuable answers.

Professional Beauty Association
Associated Hair Professionals