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Hairstylist or Cosmetology: Which Program is Right for You?
Do you have a passion for hair and wish to enter the beauty industry? If yes, then a career in the beauty industry might just be perfect for you. The first step to starting your future in hair is to enroll in beauty school and start your beauty education.

At Aveda Institute, Maryland, we offer multiple hair-focused programs that are designed with your success in mind. Two of our most popular programs are our cosmetology and hair stylist programs. However, you may be wondering, what are their differences? How are they similar? Which one should you choose? Continue reading to find out and take our quiz to find out which of these two hair programs would be perfect for you!

Our Cosmetology Program

Cosmetology study and application of beauty treatments. Branches of cosmetology can include hair styling, skincare treatments, and makeup applications. During our cosmetology program, you can learn:

Haircutting

Perm

Hair coloring

Waxing

Makeup Application

Skincare Treatments

Manicures/Pedicures

And more!

Our cosmetology program is designed with student success in mind. Our curriculum incorporates extensive hands-on learning so future cosmetologists may have a holistic approach to beauty and wellness. Furthermore, cosmetology students are given the opportunity to express creativity and develop natural talent through Aveda’s unique and in-depth cosmetology school.

Our Hairstylist Program

A hairstylist is a person whose occupation is to cut or style hair in order to change or maintain a person’s image. This is achieved using a combination of hair coloring, haircutting, and hair texturing techniques. Some things you can learn during our hairstylist program include:
- Shampoo
- Blowdry
- Thermal Styling
- Styles/Up-Do’s
- Haircutting
- Hair Braiding
- Hairstyling
- Perms
- And more!
Like our cosmetology program, we believe in a hands-on approach to instruction. With that in mind, our future hairstylists may learn to perform hair services such as shampooing and texture care. Subsequently, they will also generate a rich knowledge of Aveda products and superb customer service techniques.

Which Program is Right For Me?

If you’re still not sure which program you’d like to enroll in, then take our quiz below! The goal of this quiz is to help you see if our hairstyling or cosmetology is right for you.

Ready to Get Started?

If you’re ready to take the next steps and join the beauty industry, then consider Aveda Institute, Maryland to help you with your beauty education. We strive to give our students a modern education that can help prepare them for their future.

Call us today to schedule a virtual tour and get the information you need to start your education in a program right for you.
July 29, 2022
What Does an Esthetician Do?
Are you passionate about skincare? The beauty industry is growing pretty fast, so it may be time to consider the esthetician career path. Here’s everything you need to know about what estheticians do!

What is an Esthetician?

Also known as a skincare therapist, estheticians specialize in beautifying skin and finding solutions for any possible issues. Whether your skin is oily, dry, or has issues with acne, estheticians can suggest products specific to your skin type and needs. When you visit your local esthetician, you can expect facials, waxing, aroma therapy, lash lifts, and more! If you are someone who loves exploring the best beauty products and coming up with your own DIY facials, then consider the future possibilities of a licensed esthetician!

Career Opportunities

If the idea of helping someone to feel more confident in their own skin sounds like your calling in life, then there are so many career paths to explore. From being your own boss or working for part time gigs in the film industry as a makeup artist, the possibilities for a licensed esthetician are endless!

Salon & Spa

One of the more common professions you can find an esthetician working for is at a salon or spa. Their duties not only include facials, but also body treatments, like body wraps, scrubs, and waxing. If working alongside a doctor or a dermatologist sounds exciting, then a medical spa might be the right environment for you. At a medical spa you are more likely to consult patients on skincare products and routines.

Your Own Boss

Are you super independent? Are you more of a natural leader? Do you like the idea of managing your own business? As an esthetician, you may have the opportunity to run your own salon or spa. Keep in mind that if this is something you want to do someday, learning everything you can about marketing and what it takes to run a business is important to learn during your beauty education. Here at Aveda Institute of Maryland, we recognize the importance in educating students on business strategies and the fundamentals of marketing so they can thrive in their future.

Make-Up Artist

At Aveda Institute Maryland, we educate our esthetics students not just on proper skin care techniques but also in the field of makeup artistry. Focusing on both allows us to teach the full scope of skin healthcare and wellness. Makeup artists often find themselves working special events and weddings focusing on beauty makeup–helping their clients become picture-perfect ready. Often, this path allows for a flexible schedule and working on your own time. During your esthetician program, you can expect to learn about makeup application and develop a knowledge of the best makeup products for specific skin types. We recommend looking into a beauty school that offers an esthetics/makeup program.

Beauty Writer or Editor

Maybe you had no idea writing or editing could be a possible career for a licensed esthetician. If the idea of blogging about the best skin care products or coming up with makeup tutorials and being a part of the magazine industry sounds like an exciting career path, then this is an opportunity you’re definitely going to want to look into!

What Services Do Estheticians Offer?

Depending on the direction you decide to take, there are a variety of services in esthetician school you can choose to specialize in. There are so many different types of skin and body care treatments you can learn about to further grow your knowledge and experience. Here are few common services:
- Facials – A service that offers skin exfoliation, masks, massages, and moisturizers.
- Acne Treatment & Extractions – A facial used to clear out clogged pores and prevent acne.
- Chemical Peels – Learn how to reduce wrinkles, scars and skin discoloration.
- Microdermabrasion – These treatments are meant to improve skin appearance by maintaining acne scars, sun damage, and more.
- Body Wraps – The purpose of these wraps are to improve client’s body contouring, boost their metabolism, tighten skin, and get rid of any toxins they may have.
- Waxing – Esthetician schools teach facial, Brazilian, bikini, and body waxes.
There are so many other services you can learn about in an esthetician program that can increase your value and expertise in the beauty industry!

What are the Requirements of a Licensed Esthetician?

Licensure requirements depend on each state. If you choose to attend a Maryland beauty school, you are required to complete 600 hours. Upon completion of the program and sitting for the Maryland State Test, graduates may meet the requirements to become licensed Estheticians.

Ready to Learn More?

While reading more about the life of an esthetician, are you even more fascinated by the beauty industry? If that’s the case and you want to learn more, then get in contact with your local beauty school today!

If you are considering a beauty school education in Maryland, then schedule a virtual tour with us! Our admissions team can answer any questions you may have regarding our esthetician program.
May 27, 2022
Cosmetologist vs Hairstylist: Know the Difference!
Thinking about starting beauty school soon? That’s great! Beauty school is the exciting first step to your future in the beauty industry. If you’ve been doing some research, you’ve probably come across the term “cosmetologist”. You might be wondering, “Isn’t that the same thing as a hairstylist?” While hairstylists and cosmetologists have similar goals, they are actually very different. Keep reading to learn more about the differences between a cosmetologist and a hairstylist!

Cosmetology vs Hairstyling: What’s the Difference?

As mentioned above, there are a lot of similarities between a cosmetologist and a hairstylist. They both have a focus on hair, do hair coloring, and both have a basic understanding of product chemistry. However, there are a lot more differences, making them completely different professions in the beauty industry.

The difference between a hairstylist and a cosmetologist is that a hairstylist only focuses on hair services and a cosmetologist can branch into other beauty services, such as skin or nails. While cosmetologists do focus on hair, they can also provide other services such as makeup application, waxing, and more!

Let’s take a deeper dive into what both cosmetology and hairstyling are!

What is Cosmetology

Cosmetology is the study and application of beauty treatments, meaning cosmetologists learn the skills of beautifying hair, skin, and nails. A licensed cosmetologist can learn and provide a wide variety of different services to their clients, but the goal remains the same: To help people feel as good as they look.

Arguably, one of the best parts of becoming a cosmetologist is the different skills you’ll learn and the different services you can provide. If you have a passion for hair, you can become a hairstylist. Makeup application more your thing? Great! You can become a cosmetologist that focuses on a makeup specialty.

What Does a Cosmetologist Do?

Cosmetology has a deep history in the beauty industry and has shaped a lot of the trends that you see today on your social feeds. During their time in cosmetology school, a cosmetologist can learn a variety of different services including:
- Hairstyling and Haircutting
- Coloring Services
- Texturing
- Makeup Application
- Skincare Services
- Nail Services
These are just a few of the services that cosmetologists can learn while in beauty school. In fact, at Aveda Institute Maryland, students who enroll in our cosmetology program can learn all of those services and more!

What is Hairstyling?

The dictionary defines hairstyling as the action or skill of cutting or styling hair. Like a cosmetologist, you’ll learn services and techniques that are centered around clients’ hair. While hairstyling may be centered around the hair, you’ll still get the satisfaction of helping people love their looks.

If you have a passion for hair and want to only focus on hair, then we recommend looking into a hairstyling program. Here at Aveda Institute Maryland, our hairstyling program gives students the opportunity to learn a wide variety of hairstyling techniques and practices. We offer training courses that focus on aspects of cosmetology without an in-depth look at other facets of the beauty industry.

How Are They Similar?

Now that you know the differences between the two, let’s go over how similar. Regardless if you want to become a cosmetologist or a hairstylist, they are both licensed professionals that can help anyone with their hair. Both these professionals underwent courses and secured their licenses by displaying expertise in their areas.

While the most notable similarity between the two is doing hair, both these professions typically include a passion for beauty and the industry. The goal of anyone in the beauty industry should be to help people achieve their beauty goals through the treatments and services they provide. The beauty industry is full of passionate people, ready to help!

How Do You Become a Cosmetologist or Hairstylist?

Whether you are wanting to become a cosmetologist or a hairstylist, the way to do it is through beauty education. In order to obtain your license, you need to go to a beauty school. At Aveda Institute Maryland, we offer both programs in cosmetology and hairstyling.

Our programs are designed with student success in mind and it is our goal to produce graduates who are ready for their future in the industry. If you’re ready to pursue your passions and get started with your beauty education, contact us and we’ll set up a tour to go over your goals and any questions you may have.
April 28, 2022