What career could top immersing yourself in beauty, fashion, and wellness each day? As a beauty professional in Arkansas, you will get to enter the world of beauty with nationally-acclaimed salons and spas. One such salon, Metropolis Salon in Fayetteville, made it onto Elle Magazine’s “Top 100 Salons in the US.” The cosmetologists at Metropolis offer cuts, colors, perms, waxing, and even special event styling. Along with their deep treatment services and cutting-edge ombre with balayage services, it is clear to see why this Arkansas salon is making it big.
Why have a nail salon, when you can have a nail spa? Arkansas manicurists get this concept, and Luxury Nail Spa in Little Rock is dedicated to bringing the relaxing, spa-like atmosphere to their clients. Dedicated to understanding each client’s preferences down to the very minute details, Luxury spa is truly a client-centric spa. Along with this, their manicurists specialize in all aspects of nail services, including shellac gel polish, permanent French manicures, waxing, men’s manicures, UV Gel, and Acrylic nails.
The aestheticians at Turtle Cove Spa, at the Mountain Harbor Resort in Mount Ida, know what relaxation is all about. By offering facial therapy, body treatments, hand and foot therapy, and holistic therapy, they create an environment where clients can be rejuvenated and reenergized. Along with luxurious facials such as the 02 Lift Facial, which infuses oxygen, plant-derived stem cells, and enzymatic botanicals into the skin, these aestheticians raise the bar by offering chemical peels, microdermabrasion, aromatherapy, and more.
Electrologists in Arkansas provide the best, smoothest, and easiest permanent hair removal through the process of electrolysis. Current Technologies Electrolysis located in Conway offers top-notch electrolysis for athletes, dark skin, sensitive areas, coarse hair, men, teenagers, hormonal changes, and transgender clients. With this wide-range of comfortable services, who would want to spend the rest of their life shaving?
Finally, Trendsetter Barber Shop is one of the many classic, traditional shops throughout Arkansas that is dedicated to reviving the vintage barbering feel. With classic barber chairs, barbers give trendy, new, and revolutionary cuts, styles, and designs. Along with cuts, shaves, and designs, these barbers offer kid’s specials, combo specials, facials, eyebrow arching, and razor edge shaves for reasonable costs.
Whatever type of beauty professional career you want to pursue, Arkansas is the place to do it. To become a cosmetologist, manicurist, esthetician, or electrologist, you will start by obtaining a license from the Arkansas Department of Health Cosmetology Section. To become a barber, you will start your career by being licensed by the Arkansas State Board of Barber Examiners. Both of these departments regulate the Arkansas beauty professional licensing standards.
Essential Steps to Become a Cosmetologist in Arkansas
As a cosmetologist, you will get to utilize all of your creative innovation to stay on the cutting-edge of hair, nail, and skin trends, building relationships with your clients who trust your all-inclusive beauty knowledge.
Education Requirements for Arkansas Cosmetologists
To obtain your Arkansas cosmetology license, your first step is enrolling in a 1500-hour cosmetology school. Throughout your beauty school experience, you will get to learn the theory, science, and art behind perfect hair, nail, and skin care. Your cosmetology school will offer the following Arkansas Cosmetology Section-designated courses:
- Hygiene and Sanitation – 80 hours
- Related Science – 120 hours
- Hairdressing – 1000 hours
- Manicuring – 100 hours
- Aesthetics – 100 hours
- Sales and Shop Management – 50 hours
- Shop Deportment – 50 hours
Examination Requirements for License as a Cosmetologist
Once you’ve graduated from your cosmetology school, you will be eligible to pass the Arkansas cosmetology licensing exams:
- Arkansas Cosmetology Written Exam administered by PSI Services
- Arkansas Cosmetology Practical Exam administered by the Arkansas Cosmetology Section
After successfully completing these exams, you will be able to receive your Arkansas cosmetology license.
Job Opportunities for Cosmetologists in Arkansas
As a cosmetologist in Arkansas, you can look for hairstyling jobs at local salons and spas, where you are likely to be paid an hourly rate, a commission-based wage, or be allowed to work as an independent contractor by renting a chair from within the salon. To obtain the most competitive jobs, you will want to get as much advanced cosmetology education and experience as possible.
The owner of Breathe Salon is Little Rock native, Peter. Peter, after beginning his cosmetology career in Little Rock, explored the corners of the global fashion industry, traveling to Paris and England to study under the legendary color specialist in Europe. Because of this, Peter is dedicated to continuing education for himself and his stylists, who all engage in learning the latest color and cut education. With world-class color care and top-of-the-line products like Pureology, it’s clear to see that this Little Rock salon has global renown.
If you’re looking for more high-end salons in Arkansas, consider some of the following options:
- Salon Elements – Fort Smith
- M Salon – Little Rock
- Enve Salon – Fayetteville
How to Become a Manicurist in Arkansas
As a manicurist, you will get to specialize your career in the beautification of hands, nails, and feet, making even the roughest callouses soft and smooth.
Manicurist Education Requirements
To obtain your Arkansas manicurist license, the first step is enrolling in a 600-hour manicurist training program, which may be found as a specialized program within a larger beauty school or beauty college. Throughout your manicuring education, you will be able to take the following Arkansas Cosmetology Section-designated manicuring courses:
- Health, Sanitation, and Infection Control – 75 hours
- Health Related Science – 75 hours
- Manicuring and Pedicuring – 200 hours
- Advanced Nail Technology – 200 hours
- Career Development – 50 hours
Manicurist Examination Requirements for an Arkansas License
Once you’ve graduated from your manicurist training program in a local beauty school, you will be able to take the Arkansas manicuring licensing exams:
- Arkansas Manicuring Written Exam administered by PSI Services
- Arkansas Manicuring Practical Exam administered by the Arkansas Cosmetology Section
After successfully completing these exams, you will be able to receive your Arkansas manicurist license.
Job Opportunities for Manicurists in Arkansas
As a manicurist, you will be able to look for jobs providing manicures and pedicures in local salons, spas, or hotels that offer nail services. These jobs will likely pay an hourly or commission-based rate. Along with that, you will have the option of booth rental, where you work as an independent contractor by renting a booth from within a nail salon. Before you have developed a strong clientele, you may benefit from working in a full-service salon or spa, where you will be faced with a daily stream of clients.
Because southern girls love their nails, Arkansas is home to top-of-the-line nail salons, such as Beautiful Nails in Fayetteville. Beautiful Nails offers a wide array of services, designed to meet the needs of each client. Some of their services include French manicures, eyebrow waxing, gal nails, and acrylics.
If you’re looking to consider some other top-notch nail salons in Arkansas, consider some of the following salons:
- Nu Nails – Fayetteville
- Paradise Nail Salon – Conway
- Diva Nails & Spa – Jonesboro
Becoming an Aesthetician in Arkansas
Aestheticians are the beauty professionals who are masters of the skin—knowing the science of skin, chemistry behind skin care products, and art of rejuvenation.
Aesthetician Educational Requirements
Your first step toward an Arkansas aesthetician license is enrolling in a 600-hour aesthetic training program. In this, you will take theory, science, and practical aesthetic training courses, including the following:
- Chemistry – 40 hours
- Physiology – 35 hours
- Bacteriology and Sanitation – 35 hours
- Introduction of Skin Care – 45 hours
- Skin Care – 150 hours
- Makeup and Corrective Makeup – 50 hours
- Eyebrow and Lashes – 40 hours
- Hair Removal – 40 hours
- Safety Precautions – 20 hours
- Professional and Personality Development – 20 hours
- Management – 20 hours
- Sales – 15 hours
- State Laws, Rules, and Regulations – 10 hours
- Testing Evaluation – 15 hours
- Instructor’s Discretion – 65 hours
Aesthetician Examination Requirements
Once you’ve completed an aesthetician training program in a local beauty college, you can register for and take the Arkansas aestheticians licensing exams:
- Arkansas Aesthetician Written Exam administered by PSI Services
- Arkansas Aesthetician Practical Exam administered by the Arkansas Cosmetology Section
After passing these examinations, you can receive your Arkansas aesthetician license.
Aesthetician Job Opportunities in Arkansas
As an aesthetician, you have an incredibly versatile skill set. Being able to work with makeup, waxing, beauty, and skin, you can look for jobs at salons, spas, medical spas or even hotels and resorts that offer spa services. You are likely to be paid an hourly or commission-based pay, with the most competitive jobs offering hourly plus commission.
Quapaw Baths & Spa in Hot Springs National Park offers the utmost relaxation experience, offering historic bathhouses and modern spa comforts. The aestheticians here offer the Quapaw Signature Facial, including double cleansing services, exfoliation, two masques, and moisturizer, helping client’s skin to glow immediately. Along with that, each facial can have an add-on of Blueberry Detox Firming Peels (yum!). Finally, the aestheticians offer body polish packages to top it all off, such as milk & honey aromatherapy baths and detox bath and salt body polish.
If you want to find more high-end spas in Arkansas, consider some of the following options:
- The 1886 Crescent Hotel and Spa – Eureka Springs
- Ava Bella Day Spa – Little Rock
- Ablution A Day Spa & Salon – Hot Springs
How to Become a Electrologist in Arkansas
Electrologists are masters at permanent hair removal through the FDA-approved methods of galvanic, thermolysis, and blend electrolysis.
Education
To obtain an electrolysis license in Arkansas, you will start by enrolling in an electrology training program. If you are already have an Arkansas cosmetology licnese, you will only take 350 hours of electrology training. However, if you don’t have any other Arkansas license, then you will start by enrolling in a 600-hour electrology training program, which will include the following courses:
- Arkansas Electrology Law – 20 hours
- Sterilization, Sanitation, and bacteriology – 50 hours
- Study of Hair – 40 hours
- Study of Skin – 50 hours
- Disorders of Skin and Hair – 40 hours
- Electricity 0 50 hours
- Electrology – 200 hours
- Neurology and Angiology – 40 hours
- Development of Practice – 30 hours
- Instructor’s Discretion – 80 hours
Examination
Once you’ve completed an electrolysis training program in a local beauty college or skin care clinic, you can register to take the Arkansas electrolysis licensing exams:
- Arkansas Electrology Written Exam administered by PSI Services
- Arkansas Electrology Practical Exam administered by the Arkansas Cosmetology Section
Once you’ve passed these exams, you’ll receive your Arkansas electrologist license.
Job Opportunities for Electrologists
As an electrologist, you are likely to find jobs at electrology clinics or laser hair removal centers, where you may be paid by the hour or off commission. Many electrologists decide to open their own clinic, working as an independent contractor. If you decide to do this, you will want to hone your personal marketing skills, being able to attract clients from all over Arkansas.
Absolute Hair Removal Clinic in Little rock offers top-notch electrolysis, as well, allowing southern girls to enjoy the sun and warmth without worrying about shaving. The perfect blend of both galvanic and thermolysis electrolysis methods allows clients to have a virtually pain-free hair removal experience.
For some other electrolysis providers throughout Arkansas, consider some of the following clinics:
- Laverne’s Electrolysis – Little Rock
- Electrolysis By Terry Ricca – Conway
- Electrolysis Clinic – Little Rock
Steps to Become a Barber in Arkansas
Barbers are the beauty professionals who are dedicated to reviving classic, American, and traditional men’s grooming, by focusing exclusively on men’s hair, facial, and nail services.
Barber Education Requirements
To become a barber in Arkansas, you will begin by enrolling in a 1500-hour barber training program, which can be found at local beauty colleges and barber colleges. In this training program, you will learn the science, theory, and practice of barbering, including the following barber subject areas:
- The History of Barbering
- Professional Image
- Science of Barbering
- Microbiology
- Infection Control and Safe Work Practices
- Implements, Tools, and Equipment
- Anatomy and Physiology
- Chemistry
- Electricity and Light Therapy
- Properties and Disorders of the Skin
- Treatment of the Hair and Scalp
- Men’s Facial Massage and Treatment
- Shaving and Facial Hair Design
- Men’s Haircutting and Styling
- Men’s Hair Placement
- Advanced Barbering Services
- Women’s Haircutting and Styling
- Hair Coloring and Lightening
- Nails and Manicuring
- State Board Preparation and Licensing Laws
- The Job Search
- Barbershop Management
Barber Examination Requirements
After graduating from your barber training program, you will be able to take the Arkansas Board’s barber licensing exams:
- Arkansas Barber Written Exam administered by the Arkansas Board of Barber Examiners
- Arkansas Barber Practical Exam administered by the Arkansas Board of Barber Examiners
Barber Job Options in Arkansas
As a barber, you can either find a job in a barbershop paying an hourly rate, or you can find a job that pays off of commission. The more experienced you get, the more you will be able to thrive off of commission based pay. Further, many barbershops offer booth rentals, allowing you to work as an independent contractor from a booth within their shop, making you the one in charge of all business methods and transactions.
Arkansas barbers truly are dedicated to bringing back the old-school, classic art of barbering. Old School Barbershop does just that. Located in Fayetteville, this barbershop offers the walk-in, quick cut shop experience that barbers used to have—without any of the modern bells, whistles, or price tags.
For other great barbershops throughout Arkansas, consider some of the following options:
- Jerry’s Barber Shop – Little Rock
- GoodFellas Barbershop – Little Rock
- Chad’s Barber Shop – Fayetteville