From quaint neighborhoods to bustling metro-areas, New Mexico offers the perfect environment in which to enroll in beauty school and begin a career as a salon professional.
Laru Ni Hati Salon in Albuquerque’s historic Nob Hill neighborhood was voted by Elle Magazine as one of the top 100 salons in America, offering beauty with a Cuban twist. In the salon you will find Café Cubano, which serves clients fine wines, local microbrew beers, and Cuban home-style cooking. Albuquerque is also home to Salon Helena, which offers manicurist and natural makeup services, and has received the Best of the City award in 2009, 2010, and 2011.
Along with all of this, Albuquerque is also home to one of America’s “Manliest Barbershops,” according to Men’s Health Magazine. The Barber’s Shop is known for its vintage feel and modern cuts, mixing the old-style barbershop environment with the latest hairstyles and fashion.
Whether you’re looking for a career in hairdressing, esthetics, manicuring, barbering or another area of specialty, now is the perfect time to get started by enrolling in beauty college near you. Your career as a beauty professional begins by meeting licensing requirements set by the New Mexico Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists. The Board maintains licensing standards for all beauty professions in the state, including cosmetologists, manicurists, estheticians, electrologists, and barbers.
How to Become a Cosmetologist in New Mexico
The cosmetology license is the most inclusive salon service license, allowing you to perform many different types of beauty services. Once licensed, you will be able to work with hair, skin, and nails.
To be eligible for cosmetology licensure in New Mexico you must be at least 17 years old with a 10th grade education at minimum.
Education Requirements
Your first step toward qualifying for a cosmetology license in New Mexico is to enroll in a 1600-hour cosmetology training program. In your cosmetology school, you will get to take courses concerning the following cosmetology services:
- Cosmetology Theory – 75 hours
- Sterilization, Sanitation, Bacteriology – 75 hours
- Shampoo, Rinses, Scalp Treatments – 75 hours
- Chemical Rearranging – 200 hours
- Hairstyling – 150 hours
- Hair Coloring – 125 hours
- Hair Cutting – 200 hours
- Facials – 175 hours
- Manicuring and Pedicuring – 175 hours
- Salon and Retail Business and Sales – 50 hours
- Misc. – 300 hours
Examination Requirements
After completing cosmetology school, you will be able to take the national theory, national practical, and state law exams, including the following:
- Cosmetology Practical Exam through PCS Services
- Cosmetology Theory Exam through PSI Services
- Jurisprudence Exam through New Mexico State Board
Employment Opportunities
As a cosmetologist in New Mexico, you will be able to rent a booth within an established salon. To do so, you will submit a booth establishment application and receive a booth establishment license.
Albuquerque is one of the most popular cities in New Mexico for salons, being home to Laru Ni Hati Salon, and other top salons such as Square Root Salon, Chrysalis Salon and Beauty Store, and D’Ambrosio Designs Hair Studio.
Square Root Salon is one of the few ARROJO Ambassador Flagship Salons in the state. This means that Square Root excels in world-class hair styling, design and the combination of fashion, art, and music. Square Root is one of many salons raising the beauty standard throughout New Mexico.
Becoming a Manicurist in New Mexico
As a manicurist-pedicurist in New Mexico, you will get to specialize in the care of nails. This includes learning the science and anatomy behind preserving the health of both hands and feet.
Education Requirements
To begin pursuing a license as a manicurist, you will start by enrolling in a 350-hour manicurist/pedicurist training program. In this program, you will learn New Mexico’s Board-approved manicurist services, including the following:
- Manicurist Theory – 75 hours
- Sterilization, Sanitation, and Bacteriology – 25 hours
- Manicuring/Pedicuring – 175 hours
- Salon Business and Retail Sales – 50 hours
- Misc. – 25 hours
Examination Requirements
Once your manicurist training program is complete, you will take the national theory, national practical, and state law exams, including the following:
- Nail Technology Theory Examination through PSI Services
- Manicurist/Pedicurist Practical Examination through PCS Services
- Jurisprudence Examination
Job Opportunities for Manicurists in New Mexico
Manicurists, like cosmetologists, will be able to rent booths from within salons, nail salons, or day spas. Chrysalis Salon and Beauty Store in Albuquerque is one of the many top-rated nail salons throughout New Mexico, offering a complete spa experience for clients. Chrysalis offers hand and nail soaks, moisturizing massages, OPI Axxium Gel Lacquer, and paraffin hand treatments. These high-end treatments makes Chrysalis – and Albuquerque – one of the best places for manicurists in New Mexico.
Qualifications for an Esthetician’s License in New Mexico
As an esthetician, you get to specialize in the care of skin. This means you will learn absolutely everything about skin anatomy and science, skin products, and skin care services.
Education Requirements
Your career as an esthetician will begin with a 600-hour esthetician training program, where you will learn the ins and outs of skin care. Your courses will include the following topics:
- Esthetician Theory – 75 hours
- Sterilization, Sanitation, and Bacteriology – 75 hours
- Facials – 350 hours
- Salon Business and Retail Sales – 50 hours
- Misc. – 50 hours
Examination Requirements
Your next step is passing the esthetics national theory, esthetics national practical, and state law exams, specifically, the following:
- Esthetician Theory Exam through PSI Services
- Esthetician Practical Exam through PCS Services
- Jurisprudence Examination
Job Opportunities
As an esthetician, you can look for jobs at day spas, salons, or even dermatology offices. Estheticians are often hired as skin care specialists, beauty advisors, or even skin care product salespeople. Chrysalis Salon in Albuquerque is a notable salon in New Mexico for its dedication to combining the salon and dermatology experience, offering Dermalogica facials to help treat different skin conditions.
Qualifications for an Electrologist License in New Mexico
Electrologists are hair removal specialists, who learn both chemical and non-chemical methods of temporarily and permanently removing unwanted hair on the human body.
Education Requirements
To become an electrologist, you will start by enrolling in a 600-hour electrologist training program, including the following courses:
- Electrology Theory – 75 hours
- Sterilization, Sanitation, and Bacteriology – 75 hours
- Electrolysis and Thermology – 350 hours
- Salon Business and Retail Sales – 50 hours
- Misc. – 50 hours
Examination Requirements
To receive your electrologist license, you will take and pass the national written, national theory, and state law exams, including the following:
- Electrologist Theory Exam through PSI Services
- Electrologist Practical Exam through PCS Services
- Jurisprudence Examination
Electrologist Job Opportunities in New Mexico
As a licensed electrologist in New Mexico, you will get to work at an electrolysis clinic, day spa, or salon. Elite Electrolysis is one of the top treatment centers in New Mexico, located in Albuquerque. It offers state-of-the-art computerized techniques that are able to treat any skin type, whether the most fair or the darkest skin.
How to Become a Barber in New Mexico
As a barber, you get to learn many different beauty services, similar to a cosmetologist; however, your training will be specialized in men’s hair and facial hair services.
Education Requirements
Your career in barbering will begin with you completing a 1200-hour barber training program. Your training will include learning the following barber techniques, procedures, and services:
- Barbering Theory – 75 hours
- Sterilization, Sanitation, Bacteriology – 75 hours
- Shampoo, Rinses, and Scalp Treatments – 75 hours
- Chemical Rearranging – 200 hours
- Hairstyling – 150 hours
- Hair Coloring – 125 hours
- Hair Cutting and Beard Trimming – 250 hours
- Facials – 175 hours
- Salon Business, Retail Sales – 50 hours
- Misc. – 25 hours
Examination Requirements
The next step toward your barber license is passing the national and state exams, including the following:
- Barber-Stylist Theory Examination with PSI Services
- Barber-Stylist Practical Examination with PCS Services
- New Mexico Jurisprudence Examination
Upon passing these examinations, you will receive your New Mexico barber license.
New Mexico Barber Job Opportunities
As a licensed barber in New Mexico, you may rent a chair from an established barbershop or salon, or you may even open your own barbershop. Some barbershops also offer commissioned employment positions – and there’s always customer tips to look forward to.
Albuquerque ranks high as one of the best places in New Mexico for barbers. Vintage Haircut and Shave in Albuquerque brings to life the classic, American style of barbering with classic, hot towel shaves, and combines this style with options for vintage, classic, or modern cuts. The barber culture in New Mexico is one where you get to experience the combination of a classic barbershop atmosphere with modern, cutting-edge cuts and styles.