Barber School vs Cosmetology School: Things to Consider

1. Whose hair do you want to cut? Barber shops cater to the male crowd. In a barber school, you learn how to cut men’s hair and trim and share facial hair. While all this information is taught in cosmetology school, there is more emphasis and training put on these skills.
2. Shaving. Some states require that only barbers can handle razors and shaving, especially straight razor shaving. If you are interested in owning or working in a full-service location that does hair cutting and shaving, research what your state’s laws are and that can help you choose a specialty.
3. Do you want to do more than hair? Cosmetology school offers more skills than just hair. Some examples include: make up, microblading, lashes, nails, hair design, waxing, coloring, and esthetics.

1. Education. Both schools are considered postsecondary training programs. This means there is training involved and licensing required to practice this trade.
2. Income. Believe it or not, national surveys conclude that barbers and cosmetologists make very close to the same amount of money.
3. Job Growth. Each market for barbers, hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists are expected to grow 10% from 2014 to 2024 by the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics.
4. Both learn basic practices for sanitation, treatment techniques, marketing, and customer service skills.
5. Students learn how to cut men’s hair and how to properly shave.

What it all boils down to are the issues listed above and what areas you prefer to work in. If you are wondering what beauty school is right for you, ask former students, schools, and even the person cutting your hair. Many schools will offer courses for both barber shop skills and cosmetology classes. These may be the best resources for information on what is best for your career.

1. Timing. Many states require more time in cosmetology for licensing because there is more material covered. Both are still fairly fast programs compared to degrees.
2. Workplace. This may be obvious, but with barber school, most will end up in a barber shop while cosmetologists will work in salons. This will change the crowd you work with, your coworkers, and available locations close to you.