Southern belles are known for having (and loving) luscious hair, glowing skin, and perfect nails. What better career in Mississippi could you imagine than to become a beauty professional, where you get to immerse yourself daily in beauty, fashion, and wellness?
The Mississippi Department of Employment Security estimates the number of salon jobs will grow by 13.9% between 2010 and 2020, making now the perfect time to pursue your dreams of working in the salon industry.
 | How to Become a Cosmetologist in Mississippi |
| Qualifications for Manicurists in Mississippi |
| How to Become an Esthetician in Mississippi |
| Qualifications for Becoming a Barber in Mississippi |
Mississippi is home to nationally-recognized salon, La Rousse Salon & Spa, which was named one of the “Top 100 Salons in the US” by Elle Magazine. La Rousse is a full-service salon, offering top-notch hair, skin, and nail services. Hairstylists at La Rousse offer all types of cuts along with deep conditioning treatments, powerdose treatments, and their aromatherapy hot towels.
Knowing how much southern girls love their nails, the manicurists at La Rousse offer top-of-the line products and treatments, such as shellac manicures and pedicures, and the signature mani/pedi, featuring massages, exfoliation scrub, hydrating masques, steamed towels, callus treatments, and polish. The expert aestheticians at La Rousse offer a wide array of skin care services, including the blueberry jessner peels, glycolic peels, epicuren customized facials, and microdermabrasion.
A Plus Barber Shop, located in Tupelo, takes an “upscale approach to barbering,” by ensuring the highest level of professional barbering. A Plus brings back the classic, American art of men’s grooming by offering traditional fade cuts, taper cuts, bald straight edge, and hot towel shaves. Along with this, they offer afro cuts, relaxer, and deep conditioning treatments – A Plus Barber Shop truly lives up to its name.
If you’re ready to begin your career as a cosmetologist, manicurist, or esthetician, you will start by meeting license requirements set by the Mississippi State Board of Cosmetology (MSBC). If you wish to begin your career as a barber, your journey will start by obtaining a Mississippi State Board of Barber Examiners barber license.
How to Become a Cosmetologist in Mississippi
Cosmetologists are the expert beauty professionals, who are capable of performing any type of beauty service, including hair, skin, and nail services.
Education Requirements for Mississippi Cosmetologists
To begin your career as a cosmetologist in Mississippi, you will first start by enrolling in a 1500-hour cosmetology training program. In this program, you will learn everything you need to know to become a top-notch cosmetologist, including the theoretical and practical aspects of cosmetology. Your cosmetology school will offer the following Mississippi Board-designated courses:
Theory – 230 hours
- Mississippi Board of Cosmetology Laws, Rules and Regulations
- Professional Image, Ethics and Conduct
- General Sciences
- Infection Control, Prevention and Safety Precautions
- Anatomy and Physiology
- Basic Chemistry and Electricity
- Business Skills
- Personal/Individual
- Resume
- Interviewing
- Sales and Marketing
- Money Management
- Salon
- Planning and Design
- Management
- Marketing
Practical – 1200 hours
- Hair Science
- Hair Treatments/Services
- Principals of Design
- Shampooing and Conditioning
- Haircutting
- Hairstyling
- Chemical Texture Services
- Coloring and Lightening
- Braiding, Extensions, Additions and Wigs
- Skin Science
- Skin Care/Treatments/Services
- Nail Science
- Nail Care/Treatments/Services
Unassigned – 70 hours
Examination Requirements for License as a Mississippi Cosmetologist
After completing your cosmetology training program, you will be eligible to pass the Mississippi cosmetology licensing examinations. Once you pass the following examinations, you will be able to receive your Mississippi cosmetology license:
- Mississippi Cosmetology Written/Theory Examination given by Professional Credential Services
- Mississippi Cosmetology Practical Examination given by Professional Credential Services
Job Opportunities for Cosmetologists
As a cosmetologist in Mississippi, you will be able to look for either a part-time or full-time job, where you can either be paid a base, hourly pay, or a commission-based wage. Some competitive jobs will offer both an hourly rate plus commission on any retail sales, making it imperative that you hone your sales skills. Lastly, sometimes cosmetologists will work as an independent contractor, renting a booth from a salon.
Mississippi is full of great salons. Besides La Rousse, Mississippi is also home to Wave Lengths in Jackson. Wave Lengths has spent their time and energy transforming the salon experience from a long, drawn-out, professional experience to a quick, easy, and personal atmosphere. Because of this, they offer personalized cuts and styling, as well as exclusive, in-salon and take-home deep conditioning treatments that are customized to the exact needs of each client’s hair.
Other high-end salons throughout Mississippi include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Tracy Perry Salon – Gulfport
- Lavish Salon – Biloxi
- Gallery Hair Salon at 98 – Hattiesburg
Qualifications for Manicurists in Mississippi
Manicurists specialize their beauty professional career to one major focus—nails. As a manicurist, you will focus on making even the driest, roughest hands soft, supply, and silky.
Manicurist Education Requirements
To begin your career as a manicurist in Mississippi, you will first start by enrolling in a 350-hour manicurist training program. A manicurist training program may be found as a specialized program within a larger beauty school. For your program, your beauty college will offer the following Mississippi Board-designated courses:
Theory – 85 hours
- Mississippi Board of Cosmetology Laws, Rules and Regulations
- Professional Image, Ethics and Conduct
- General Sciences
- Infection Control, Prevention and Safety Precautions
- Anatomy and Physiology
- Basic Chemistry and Electricity
- Business Skills
- Personal/Individual
- Resume
- Interviewing
- Sales and Marketing
- Money Management
- Salon
- Planning and Design
- Management
- Marketing
- Nail Science
Practical – 265 hours
- Nail Treatments/Services
- Manicure
- Basic
- Specialty
- Pedicure
- Basic
- Specialty9
- Nail Enhancements
- Nail Tips
- Nail Wraps
- Monomer Liquid
- Polymer Powder
- UV Gels
- Electric Nail File
- Nail Polish/Art/Airbrushing/Embellishments
Manicurist Examination Requirements for a Mississippi License
After graduating from your manicurist training program, you will be able to pass the Mississippi manicurist license exams. After passing these examinations, you can receive your Mississippi manicurist license:
- Mississippi Manicurist Written/Theory Examination given by Professional Credential Services
- Mississippi Manicurist Practical Examination given by Professional Credential Services
Job Opportunities for Manicurists
As a beginning manicurist, you may not have much of a clientele or “following,” but attaining a job in a full-service salon or spa my help you to obtain overflow clients, who were already visiting the salon for other services. Once you build a clientele, you will be able to find positions at local nail salons, hair salons, or day spas, where you can be paid a base, hourly wage, off of commission, or where you can rent a booth from within the salon.
One of the many full-service salons in Mississippi is Kosmos Salon and Spa, located in Ridgeland. The manicurists at Kosmos are continually trained on the latest, cutting-edge trends in nail fashion, techniques, and beauty, training with Bumble and bumble in NYC, Aveda in New Orelans, and Loreal Professionelle. Just like Wave Lengths in Jackson, Kosmos focuses on each client as an individual, customizing as many services as possible to fit the client’s needs. Manicurists offer luxurious manicures and pedicures, filling the nails with a special OPI gel polish that lasts for at least two weeks.
Other top nail salons throughout Mississippi include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Glamour Nails – Hattiesburg
- NORA Nails – Pearl
- Lucky Nail & Spa – Starkville
How to Become an Esthetician in Mississippi
Estheticians get to specialize their career, learning the science and art concerning the largest organ on the human body—the skin.
Esthetician Educational Requirements
To begin your career as an esthetician in Mississippi, you will first start by enrolling in a 600-hour esthetician training program. An esthetician training program can be found as a specialized program within a larger beauty college. For your esthetician program, your beauty college will train you in the following Mississippi Board-designated courses:
Theory – 100
- Sanitation and Disinfection
- Personal Hygiene
- Professional Ethics and Salesmanship
- Anatomy and Physiology of the Skin
- Chemistry
- Hair Removal
- Use of Electrical Implements
- Safety
- Mississippi State Cosmetology Law, Rules, and Regulation
- Theory Demonstration
Practical – 500
- Skin Conditions and Treatments
- Client Consultations
- Sanitation and Disinfection
- Skin Care: Manual
- Skin Care: Machine
- Professional Makeup
- Hair Removal
- Beautification of Eyes
- Salesmanship
- Salon Management
- Safety
Esthetician Examination Requirements
After completing your esthetician training program from a local beauty school, you will be ready to pass the Mississippi esthetician licensing examinations. Once you pass the following examinations, you will be ready to receive your Mississippi esthetician license:
- Mississippi Esthetician Written/Theory Examination given by Professional Credential Services
- Mississippi Esthetician Practical Examination given by Professional Credential Services
Esthetician Job Opportunities
Estheticians are one of the fastest growing beauty professional careers in Mississippi, with the Mississippi Workforce Development estimating a 33.3% jump in skin care specialist jobs between the years 2010 and 2020. Estheticians are apt to find jobs at local full-service salons, at day spas, or at hotels and resorts that include spa services.
The Sanctuary Body Spa of St. Dominic is one of the first of its kind in Mississippi—being managed by a private hospital, and having over 7,000 square feet. This progressive, medical spa combines all aspects of health and wellbeing, offering services such as medical esthetics, laser treatments, facials, massages, natural nail services, hydrotherapy baths, shower spa treatments, and steam rooms. This revolutionary spa makes Ridgeland, Mississippi a must-see location for estheticians throughout the country.
Other top spas throughout Mississippi include, but are not limited to:
- Beau Rivage – Biloxi
- Aqua the Day Spa – Ridgeland
- Healing Touch Day Spa – Hattiesburg
Qualifications for Becoming a Barber in Mississippi
Barbers get to learn all aspects of beauty services, specialized specifically toward men. In this, barbers bring back classic, American style and sophistication for men.
Barber Education Requirements
To begin your career as a barber in Mississippi, you will first start by enrolling in a 1500-hour barber training program. For your barber training program, you will be able to learn the ins and outs of barbering, including, but not limited to, the following barber subjects:
- Infection Control
- Barbershop Safety
- Barbershop Management
- Haircutting and Styling
- Hair Coloring and Lightening
- Shaving, Trimming, and Designing Moustaches and Beards
- Honing and Stropping
- Shaving with a Straight Razor
- Basic Chemistry, Electricity, and Light
- Anatomy and Physiology
- Mississippi Barber Laws, Rules, and Regulations
Barber Examination Requirements
Once graduated from your barber training program, you can take Mississippi barber licensing exams. After passing the following exams, you will be ready to receive your Mississippi barber license:
- National Barber Practical Exam given by the Mississippi Board of Barber Examiners
- National Barber Written Exam given by Professional Credential Services
Barber Job Options
Once you are a licensed barber, you can look for jobs in barbershops or local salons that hire barbers. You may find jobs that offer a stable, consistent hourly wage, which is helpful while you’re still building your clientele. After that, you can find jobs that will pay you off of commission, or even jobs where you will rent a chair from their booth and work as an independent contractor. Some jobs offer programs, allowing you to build your clientele for a few months, then having you rent a chair from their business for a monthly rental fee.
Noggins Organic Salon is a hairstyling salon that is licensed both with the Mississippi Board of Cosmetology and the Mississippi Board of Barber Examiners. Because this, you, with a barber license, may choose to work here. This salon is an AVEDA salon, offering organic products. Each member of the Noggins team undergoes extensive, thorough, and ongoing education, so that he or she can stay on the cutting edge of men’s hair style, techniques, and trends.
If you’re looking for other barbershops throughout Mississippi, consider some of the following options:
- Gentlemen Image Barber Gallery – Jackson
- Northpark Barber & Style – Ridgeland
- Family Barber Shop – Madison