Salon jobs throughout Michigan are expected to grow by 14.7% between 2012 and 2020, according to the Michigan Department of Technology, Management, and Budget.
Michigan is known for their high-end salons, such as Salon XL Color & Design Group, which made it onto Elle Magazine’s “Top 100 Salons in the US,” StyleLine’s “Top Shop,” and Allure Magazine’s “The A List,” among others.
Salon XL, a member of Intercoiffure, employs hairstylists, manicurists, and estheticians to provide a full-service salon experience for their clients. Hairstylists at XL have access to top-notch conditioning treatments, such as the Coppola Keratin Complex Smoothing Treatments, while the manicurists offer full-spa manicures and pedicures. Estheticians here specialize in makeup application, using MAC Cosmetics for full-face beautification. With all of this combined, XL is Michigan’s leader in innovative styling, texturizing, and quality services.
Michigan is also home to top-notch electrologists, such as Count Not The Hairs Electrolysis in Birmingham. Count Not The Hairs specializes in permanent hair removal for all types of people and body regions, including removal for breasts and sensitive areas, coarse, wavy hair, dark skin, teenagers, men, and transgender people, all while using the safe modalities of shortwave thermolysis, galvanic and blend methods.
CBS Detroit calls Berkley Chop Shop in Detroit one of “The Best Places for Men’s Haircuts” in the area. Offering an old-school, classic, American barbershop experience, Berkley Chop Shop has a masculine atmosphere, where you can any cut imaginable – from an Elvis cut to a the Don Draper.
Clearly, now is the perfect time to begin your career as a beauty professional in Michigan. Whether you’re looking to become a cosmetologist, manicurist, esthetician, electrologist, or barber, Michigan is the place to be.
You will start by becoming licensed by the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs Cosmetology Department or the Michigan Board of Barber Examiners, which regulate the license requirements for cosmetologists, manicurists, estheticians, electrologists, and barbers throughout the state.
How to Become a Cosmetologist in Michigan
Cosmetologists are the most comprehensive beauty professionals throughout Michigan, able to use their innovation and creativity to perform excellent hair care, skin care, and nail care services.
Education Requirements for Michigan Cosmetologists
To begin your career as a cosmetologist in Michigan, you will start by enrolling in a 1500-hour cosmetology training program. Throughout your beauty college experience, you will take the following Michigan Board-designated courses:
- Sanitation and Salon Management – 130 hours
- Facials, Skin Analysis, Electricity, and Hair Removal – 115 hours
- Haircutting, Dressing, Arranging, and Styling – 525 hours
- Scalp and Hair Treatments – 25 hours
- Hair Coloring and Permanent Bleaching – 210 hours
- Chemical Hair Restructuring – 220 hours
- Applied Chemistry – 30 hours
- Applied Anatomy – 45 hours
- Manicuring/Pedicuring – 70 hours
- Artificial nails – 20 hours
- Unassigned – 110 hours
Examination Requirements for License as a Michigan Cosmetologist
After completing your Michigan cosmetology program at a local beauty school, you will be eligible to take the Michigan cosmetology licensing exams, which are as follows:
- MI Cosmetology Practical Exam administered by PSI Services
- MI Cosmetology Theory Exam administered by PSI Services
Once receiving passing scores on these exams, you will be able to receive your Michigan cosmetology license.
Job Opportunities for Cosmetologists
As a cosmetologist in Michigan, you will be able to look for part or full-time jobs as a hairstylist, makeup artist, or nail care specialist. You will even be able to perform electrolysis services, if you would like, but to do so, you need to take advanced, electrolysis education and receive a Michigan electrolysis certificate. You are likely to find jobs that prefer you to work the busy night and weekend hours, and that will pay a base, hourly rate, a commission-based wage, or allow you to rent a booth from within their shop. Some of the most competitive jobs will allow you to earn both an hourly rate and product or productivity bonuses.
Novi, Michigan is home to One Salon—a unique slaon that specializes in exclusive hair treatments, such as the Global Keratin Taming System, the Marcia Teixeira Brazilian Keratin Treatment, the Yuko Japanese Straightening System, and the Matrix Opti-Smooth treatment. Along with that, this full-service salon offers top-of-the-line nail care treatments, facials, waxing, makeup, massages, and more. As a cosmetologist, you will love working in full-services salons such as Novi, where you can use your creativity to the utmost extent.
For other high-end salons throughout Michigan, consider the following options:
- Studio 9 Salon – Sterling Heights
- Elle Salon – Michigan City
- Lucky Hair Company Salon – Canton
Qualifications for Manicurists in Michigan
Manicurists are the beauty professionals that specialize in the care of nails, hands, and feet. They get to use their artistic creativity to perform nail art and designs, as well.
Manicurist Education Requirements
To begin your manicurist career, you will enroll in a 400-hour manicurist training program. A manicurist training program may be found as a track or specialization within a larger beauty school or beauty college. Throughout your education, you will take courses teaching you the science and art behind manicuring and pedicuring, including the following courses:
- Sanitation, Laws and Rules, and Salon Management – 100 hours
- Anatomy and Disorders – 25 hours
- Artistic Principles – 10 hours
- Manicuring and Pedicuring Techniques – 70 hours
- Chemistry and Occupational Safety – 15 hours
- Artificial Nails/Extensions/Repairs – 130 hours
- Unassigned – 50 hours
Examination Requirements for a Michigan License
Once you’ve completed your manicurist training program, you will be able to take and pass the Michigan manicuring licensing exams, which are listed as follows:
- MI Manicurist Practical Exam administered by PSI Services
- MI Manicurist Theory Exam administered by PSI Services
Upon successful completion of these exams, you will be able to register as a licensed Michigan manicurist.
Job Opportunities for Manicurists
As a manicurist in Michigan, you may find part-time or full-time jobs that prefer you to work evening and weekend shifts—when the nail industry is at its busiest. Jobs will either be based on an hourly rate, or, more commonly, they will be based on commission. Lastly, you may sometimes find a job that requires you to rent a booth or a room from within their shop, where you would run your own mini-business from within the shop.
Michigan is home to innovative and creative nail salons, such as the Velvet Nail Lounge in Troy. At the Velvet Nail Lounge, you will fine manicurists such as Jennie B., who is one of Michigan’s leading manicurists, with her work being featured in Nails Magazine and Nailpro Magazine. Her work features cutting-edge calcium dip nail application, which has vitamins to strengthen nails, no harsh chemical, and no drying time. Other high-end and exclusive services include spa manicures and pedicures, such as the Royal Treatment Combo, which includes a complete pedicure, antimicrobial soak, sugar scrub exfoliation, deep moisture masks, therapeutic massages, hot towels, and paraffin hand treatments—all topped off with a hot stone massage. With pampering like this, who would want to get their nails done anywhere else?
Other great Michigan nail salons include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Luxury Nails – Clawson
- Hollywood Nails – Dearborn Heights
- Beyond Nails – Livonia
How to Become an Esthetician in Michigan
Estheticians are the beauty professionals that specialize in the science and art of skin care; they are able to make even the dullest skin glow with radiance.
Esthetician Educational Requirements
To begin your esthetician career, you will start by enrolling in a 400-hour esthetician training program. This may be found as a specialized track within a larger beauty school. During your education, you will take courses designated by the Michigan Board, including as the following:
- Sanitation, Laws, Hygiene, and Management – 50 hours
- Mechanical and Electrical Equipment – 50 hours
- Anatomy and Disorders – 40 hours
- Artistic Principles and Makeup- 40 hours
- Facial and Skin Care Techniques – 145 hours
- Chemistry and Occupational Safety – 15 hours
- Temporary Hair Removal – 10 hours
- Unassigned – 50 hours
Esthetician Examination Requirements
After completing your esthetician training program in Michigan, you will be eligible to take the esthetician licensing exams. After the successful completion of the following exams, you will be able to receive your Michigan esthetician license:
- MI Esthetician Practical Exam administered by PSI Services
- MI Esthetician Theory Exam administered by PSI Services
Esthetician Job Opportunities
Estheticians in Michigan are expected to grow at an incredibly fast rate, with esthetician jobs growing 20.6% between 2012 and 2022, according to the Michigan Department of Technology, Management, and Budget. As an esthetician, you can look for part-time or full-time jobs as a skin care specialist, with job titles such as eyebrow specialist, beauty advisor, makeup artist, and more. While some skin care specialist jobs will pay a base, hourly pay, many pay by the service, plus product sales commission. In that, to become a great esthetician, you will want to hone your personal marketing and sales skills.
Estheticians will benefit from the influx of customers that full-service salons, such as Avantgarde Salon & Spa in Grand Rapids, pull in. Avantgarde offers full hair, nail, and facial services, including spa and customized facials, microdermabrasion, and aromatherapy massages. Estheticians at Avantgarde will love the creativity and innovation they get to use working with personalized facials given to individual customers.
Some other great spas for estheticians throughout Michigan include the following:
- Antonio Salon & spa – Birmingham
- Personal Image Salon & Day Spa – Lansing
- Summerset Salon Day Spa – Flint
How to Become a Certified Electrologist in Michigan
Electrologists are qualified to use intense laser and chemical methods to remove hair. Electrolysis is one of the most accepted and safe forms of permanent hair removal.
Education
To begin your career as an electrologist in Michigan, you will start by enrolling in a 400-hour electrolysis training program. These programs may be found within larger beauty colleges or at laser hair removal clinics. In this program, you will learn the following scientific, chemical, and mechanical facets of laser hair removal:
- Sanitation, Laws, Hygiene, and Management – 50 hours
- Applied Anatomy, Physiology, and Histology – 25 hours
- Applied electrolysis, Mechanical and Electrical Equipment – 275 hours
- Unassigned – 50 hours
Examination
After graduating from your electrolysis training program, you will then be eligible to pass the electrology licensing exams, which are listed as follows:
- MI Electrologist Practical Exam administered by PSI Services
- MI Electrologist Theory Exam administered by PSI Services
Successful passing of these exams will allow you to obtain your Michigan electrologist license.
Job Opportunities for Electrologists
As an electrologist, you can look for jobs at salons that offer hair removal, electrolysis clinics, or day spas that offer hair removal. You will find that you may prefer to work in the evening or on weekends, when customers have ample time to come in for appointments. Part-time or full-time jobs will offer either a competitive, hourly pay, or pay based off of commission. To attain more competitive jobs, you will want to take advanced education courses that will keep you on the cutting edge of laser hair removal trends, techniques, machines, products, and industry.
Ann Arbor is home to Electrolysis Associates of Michigan, an all-inclusive laser hair removal center that offers complimentary consultations, thermolysis, blend, and multiple probe galvanic electrolysis, autoclave and disposable probes, and discounts for students and seniors. With a wife variety of products and services—including after care and massage therapy—Electrolysis Associates of Michigan is a hot spot for electrologists in the state.
For other top-notch clinics throughout the state, consider the following options:
- Ageless Spa Medica – Warren
- Ferrara Dermatology Clinic and Skin & Laser Center – Grosse Point Woods
- Masri Clinic for Laser and Cosmetic Surgery – Birmingham
How to Become a Barber in Michigan
Barbers are the hairstylists who focus entirely on men’s hair, grooming, and pampering.
Barber Education Requirements
To begin your career as a barber, you will enroll in a barber training program that offers at least 1800-hours of training. These barber training programs may be found as tracks within larger beauty schools or at barber training colleges. Throughout your education, you will learn the science behind the classic art of barbering, and you will take the following Michigan Board-recommended courses:
Theory – 250 hours
- History of Barbering – 10 hours
- Business Management – 15 hours
- Haircut and Shave – 60 hours
- Chemical Services – 45 hours
- Safety and Sanitation – 60 hours
- Secondary Services – 20 hours
- Laws, Rules, and Regulations – 10 hours
- Client Services – 30 hours
Practical – 1,750 hours
- Safety and Sanitation – 50 hours
- Business Ethics, Merchandising, Bookkeeping – 100 hours
- Shampooing, Hair Waving, and Hair Coloring – 350 hours
- Skin Care, Hair and Scalp Treatments – 250 hours
- Hair Cutting, Styling, and Shaving – 1000 hours
Barber Examination Requirements
After graduating, you will be able to complete the barber licensing exams, which are as follows:
- MI Barber Practical Exam administered by PSI Services
- MI Barber Theory Exam administered by PSI Services
Successful completion of these exams will lead you to a Michigan barber license.
Barber Job Options
As a barber in Michigan, you will be able to look for part-time or full-time jobs at barbershops or unisex hair salons. Most jobs will either offer hourly or commission pay, and while you are still building your clientele, you will want to opt for the stable, hourly pay. However, once you have honed your skills in marketing and sales, you may be ecstatic to look for commission based jobs. Extremely successful barbers even have the option of becoming an independent contractor and renting a chair from within a barbershop, or opening their very own shop.
Dearborn is home to another of CBS Detroit’s top barbershops—Gentlemen First Barbershop. Along with their traditional, classic services, Gentlemen First offer hot lather razor neck shaves, and they give preference to veterans, police, firemen, active duty servicemen, and seniors. The socially aware nature of this barbershop helps it stand out starkly from among the crowd.
- The Harbor Barber – Harbor Springs
- Cascade Barber Shop – Grand Rapids
- Men’s Quarters Barber Shop – Detroit