Day in the Life of a Cosmetology Student, with Ashley M.
Ashley is a cosmetology student at Paul Mitchell The School – Sherman Oaks. Wondering what cosmetology school is like? Curious about a typical day you can expect when you’re in school? Ashley is here to help by taking you through a day as a cosmetology student.
Follow Ashley’s Day in Cosmetology School
Editor’s note: The following is an edited and annotated transcript of Ashley’s video showing her day in the life of a cosmetology student.
Ashley’s School and Schedule
We join Ashley in her car as she drives to cosmetology school.
Good morning! I'm taking you all to school with me today. I go to The Paul Mitchell program for cosmetology [on a three-day schedule], which means that I go to school from 9:30 am to 8:00 pm, Tuesday through Thursday…which can be some long days, especially by Thursday. But it's okay, it's prepping me to work on a film set, which is what I want to do anyway. So here we go, let's have some fun.
Learn more about Ashley’s school: Paul Mitchell The School – Sherman Oaks
Starting the Day
Every Tuesday, we start with a huddle, which is where we make announcements, any reminders, and we give our good wishes to any who are graduating.
Ashley sits in a classroom with other students as an instructor leads the huddle.
Breaks
It's our first break of the day. We get three 15-minute breaks and one half-hour break for lunch.
Guest Speakers
Back in the classroom again, Ashley joins her classmates as a guest speaker, DL The Master Barber, details his work.
DL the Master Barber: “I get up here and cut, cut, cut, cut, cut. I can get up here and style, style, style, style.”
Client Appointments
Ashley's client lies over a shampoo bowl, waving at the camera.
This is Anna. She’s my client today. We're going to do a wash and a trim. Then, we’ll do some layers and style at the end.
Now, we can see Ashley and Anna in the haircut station mirror. Anna has wet hair and is ready for Ashley to give her a new look.
We washed her hair, and now we're going to brush her out start cutting.
Anna shows off her new 'do for Ashley, and looks happy with the results.
Here’s the finished style! Isn’t she so cute?!
Ashley's station chair and floor are now visible, with cut hair scattering the area.
Now that my client is gone, I need to clean up the mess.
Quick Break and Homework
Ashley sips on a Capri Sun before working on an assignment, which appears on her computer screen.
Now that I'm done with my client, I'm working on some honor’s homework. This is part of the color book. It's a fake consultation.
More Practice and Wrapping Up the Day
Ashley practices using hair various tools and products on a mannequin head. Then, we see her clock her reporting hours on a screen before beginning to exit her school.
Time to go home.
We once again join Ashley in her car, where she's smiling but ready for a (hopefully) relaxing evening at home.
Alright, that's ten hours down. I have 1,270 hours to go.
Thanks for coming to school with me!
More About Ashley’s Career Goals
Going to a cosmetology school in Los Angeles may be a great idea if you share Ashley’s goal of working in theater and film.
“I'm going to have a hybrid career. The plan is to have a home salon for personal clients as well as work in theater and film as an HMU [hair and makeup] designer. I already have experience working in theater and film as an HMU designer/artist. Once I have my license, more doors will open to me as a freelance artist. I'll network and work hard, starting from the bottom if needed.
I'd like to have personal clients for a few reasons. One reason is that it enables me to help someone embrace their beauty on a personal level and develop that relationship over time. Another reason is that my husband and I would like to start a family. While I love working in the entertainment industry, the hours can be unforgiving. I want to be there for my children and my husband while still being able to pursue the career I love.
Ten years from now, I'll have steady personal clients and have my choice of how many film and theater jobs I want each year. Through my work, I will help change the standard of beauty to be more inclusive of regular people's diverse races, weights, and interests.”
– Ashley M