The entertainment elite of Los Angeles and Beverly Hills have always made California one of the most influential places in the world when it comes to beauty and fashion. California’s haute salons, spas, and barbershops set the personal style trends that take the lead on the national stage.
Méche Salon is just one of Cali’s nationally-renown salons, being recognized by InStyle, Bazaar, Allure, Vogue, and Elle magazines, among others. Owners Tracey Cunningham and Neil Weisberg are beginning a revolution in Beverly Hills salons. Instead of spending their time traveling the world, these two sought-after stylists spend their time on the floor of Méche, seeing 200-300 clients per week.
These salon owners and entrepreneurs, though world-renown, have created a relaxed, subtly glamorous space centered on the client. The cosmetologists here offer the best cuts, colors, and hair treatments you’ll find, running at a rate of up to $300 per haircut. The manicurists benefit from the influx of clients, providing manicures and pedicures suitable to each client’s needs, while the estheticians focus almost exclusively on makeup art, providing brow shaping, brow tinting, lash tinting, and dermaplane makeup application.
California girls spend a lot of time on the beach. With all of that time spent outside, no one has time for shaving. Zap! Electrolysis and Skin Care in Los Angeles is one of California’s top electrolysis clinics, providing permanent hair removal in a safe, easy, and virtually painless way. Along with this, the electrologists at Zap! offer waxing, facials, and microdermabrasion, and fun little treats after your electrolysis procedure, like the pumpkin peel masque.
With the classic, masculine art of men’s grooming more popular than ever, California is home to three of the “Manliest Barbershops in America” according to Men’s Health Magazine. The Barbershop Club at The Original Farmers Market, located in Los Angeles, reached this national acclaim because of its old-school shop, professional shoeshines, traditional cuts, and classic products like Musco Real.
Whether you’re looking to become a cosmetologist, manicurist, esthetician, electrologist or barber, California is the place to be. To begin your career as a beauty professional, you will start by becoming licensed with the California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology, which is the Board that regulates the licensing standards for all personal care professionals working in the state.
How to Become a Cosmetologist in California
Cosmetologists are the most comprehensively skilled beauty professionals; masters of the science and art behind beautiful hair, hands, skin, and nails.
Education Requirements for California Cosmetologists
In order to be licensed as a cosmetologist in California, you will start by enrolling in a 1600-hour cosmetology school. Throughout your beauty school experience, you will learn the history, science, theory, and practices of hair, skin, and nail care, by studying the following California-Board designated cosmetology subject areas:
- Hair Dressing, Hair Styling, Permanent Waving, Chemical Straightening, Hair Coloring, bleaching, and Hair Cutting – 1100 hours
- Health and Safety – 200 hours
- Practical Training in Esthetics – 200 hours
- Practical Manicuring and Pedicuring Training – 100 hours
Examination Requirements for License as a California Cosmetologist
After graduating from cosmetology school, you will be ready to take the California cosmetology licensing exams, which are listed as follows:
- National Cosmetology Written Exam administered by the California Board or PSI Services
- National Cosmetology Practical Exam administered by the California Board
After passing these two licensing exams, you’ll be ready to receive your California cosmetology license.
Job Opportunities for Cosmetologists
In California, you are likely to find hourly, commissioned jobs as a cosmetologist, or compensation models that combine the two. Of course, you can always work independently by renting a station in an established salon. To obtain the most competitive jobs, and eventually strike out on your own as an independent stylist, you will want to take as many advanced education courses as possible, build a strong clientele, and hone your personal marketing and sales skills.
Along with Méche, Canalé Salon was named one of Elle Magazine’s “Top 100 Salons in the US,” making it nationally-renown. This salon is home to Michael Canale, one of Hollywood’s most sought-after colorists, who has serviced a long list of celebrities, including Jannifer Aniston, Heidi Klum, Shakire, Penolpe Cruz, and more. The innovative techniques, keen eyes, and expert colorists and sylists make Canalé Salon one of the best in the nation.
If you’re looking for other high-end salons in California, consider some of the following:
- Legar Salon – Palo Alto
- Adora Salon – Oceanside
- California Sun – Folsom
Qualifications for Manicurists in California
As a manicurist, you get to specialize in the care, beautification, and art of nails, hands, and feet.
Manicurist Education Requirements
In order to be licensed as a manicurist in California, you will start by enrolling in a 400-hour manicurist training program, often offered as a specialized track within a larger beauty school. Throughout your beauty school experience, you will learn the science and art of nail care by studying the following California-Board designated manicuring subject areas:
- Manicures and Pedicures, Water and Oil Manicures, Hand and Arm Massages, Angle Massages, Artificial Nails, Liquid and Gel Nails, Nail Tips and Wraps – 300 hours
- Health and Safety – 100 hours
Manicurist Examination Requirements for a California License
After graduating from a manicurist training program in a beauty school, you’ll be ready to take the California manicurist licensing exams, which are listed here:
- National Manicuring Written Exam administered by the California Board or PSI Services
- National Manicuring Practical Exam administered by the California Board
After passing these two licensing exams, you’ll be ready to receive your California manicuring license.
Job Opportunities for Manicurists
As a manicurist in California, you will be able to look for jobs at full-service salons, nail salons, or spas, which will either pay hourly, commission, or allow you to rent a booth from their salon. As with all other independent positions, you will want to really utilize your sales and marketing skills, building a strong clientele.
California Oasis Nail Salon & Spa, located in Fresno, offers almost every type of nail service imaginable. Classic mani/pedis offer soaks, nail shaping, cuticle care, buffing, and polishing, whle the signature oasis mani/pedi offers exfoliating scrub, hot towel wraps, and hand and foot massages. Even further, this oasis offers man-icures, specialized for men, and gel, glitter, or acrylic nails with nail art.
For more of the best nail salons throughout California, consider some of the following options:
- Bollinger Nail Salon – Pleasanton
- La Jolie Nail Spa – Palo Alto
- Bellagio Day Spa & Salon – Roseville
How to Become an Esthetician in California
As an esthetician, you will specialize exclusively in the science of skincare, making you perfect for jobs as a skin care specialist, facialist, waxing specialist, or makeup artist.
Esthetician Educational Requirements
In order to be licensed as an esthetician in California, you will start by enrolling in a 600-hour esthetician training program, which often can be found as a specialized track within a larger beauty college or skin care clinic.
In your beauty college, you will learn the science and art of skin care by studying the following California-Board designated esthetician subject areas:
- Manual, Electrical, and Chemical Facials, Preparation, Professionalism, and Salon and Spa Skills – 350 hours
- Health and Safety, Laws, and Regulations, Disinfection and Sanitation, and Anatomy and Physiology – 200 hours
- Hair Removal, Eyebrow Beautification, Makeup Application – 50 hours
Esthetician Examination Requirements
After graduating from an esthetician training program in a local beauty college, you will be eligible for the California esthetician licensing examinations:
- National Esthetician Written Exam administered by the California Board or PSI Services
- National Esthetician Practical Exam administered by the California Board
After passing these licensing exams, you’ll receive your California esthetician license.
Esthetician Job Opportunities
As an esthetician in California, you will get to look for jobs at chic spas, full-service salons, medical spas, and hotels and resorts that offer spa services. These jobs may pay an hourly, commission, or allow you to rent a room to provide your services as an independent contractor. You will want to maximize your personal marketing and sales skills if you’re going to take a commission-based job or work independently.
With California being a spa-lover’s heaven, there are many spas and resort spas for you to choose from. Golden Dore in Escondido, for instance, represents the best of luxury spa experiences, serving only 40 women at a time to maximize personalized service capacity. With wooden walkways and nature-filed courtyards, the women have time to relax, rejuvenate, and refresh. Offering an almost endless list of skin care, body care, massages, hair care, and hand and feet services, this spa’s estheticians specialize in olive oil facials and nature’s aromatherapy facials.
If you’re interested in finding more top-notch spas throughout California, consider some of these best-rated options:
- Cal-A-Vie – Vista
- Spa Montage – Laguna Beach
- The Peninsula Spa – Beverly Hills
How to Become a Certified Electrologist in California
Electrologists specialize in the permanent removal of hair though the safe, FDA-approved method of electrolysis.
Education Requirements for Electologists
In order to be licensed as an electrologist in California, you will start by enrolling in a 600-hour electrology training program. Throughout your education, will learn the science and art of permanent hair removal by studying the following California-Board designated electrology subject areas:
- Electrolysis, Thermolysis, Dual/Blend Modality and Electricity – 400 hours
- Health and Safety – 200 hours
Examination Requirements for Electologists
After graduating from an electrology training program, you will be ready to take the California electrology licensing exams:
- National Electrology Written Exam administered by the California Board or PSI Services
- National Electrology Practical Exam administered by the California Board
After completing the licensing exams, you’ll be ready to receive your California electrology license.
Job Opportunities for Electrologists
As an electrologist in California, you can look for jobs at electrolysis centers or laser hair removal centers, or you can decide to become an independent contractor or open your own establishment. Many jobs will pay an hourly or commission fee.
ElectroYogi Electrolysis in Los Angelis is another one of California’s top electrolysis centers, offering head-to-toe services for men, women, and transgender individuals. Through their fast and comfortable combination of galvanic and thermolysis methods, you will be able to quickly and easily eliminate the need to shave ever again!
For more electrolysis clinics in California, consider some of the following options:
- Charlotte-James Skin Clinic – Los Angeles
- Vienna Skin Clinic – San Jose
- Achieve Best Skin Clinic – Costa Mesa
How to Become a Barber in California
As a barber, you get to revive traditional, men’s sophistication by specializing in the cutting, designing, shaving, and trimming of men’s hair and facial hair.
Barber Education Requirements
In order to be licensed as a barber in California, you will start by enrolling in a 1500-hour barber training program. In your barber college, you will learn the history, science, and art of cutting and styling men’s hair, by studying the following California-Board designated barber subject areas:
- Hairstyling, Haircutting, Coloring and Bleaching, Permanent Waving, Chemical Straightening – 1110 hours
- Shaving – 200 hours
- Health and Safety – 200 hours
Barber Examination Requirements
After graduating from barber school, you will be ready to take the California barber licensing exams, which are listed here:
- National Barber Written Exam administered by the California Board or PSI Services
- National Barber Practical Exam administered by the California Board
After passing these two licensing exams, you’ll be ready to receive your California barber license.
Barber Job Options
As a barber, you will be able to find hourly, commission, or rental positions. As a beginner, you may want to try to stick with an hourly position, but as you grow your clientele and sales skills, you can start looking for commission or rental positions in local barbershops.
Gornik & Drucker in Beverly Hills has been named one of the “Manliest Barbershops in America” by Men’s Health Magazine, and rightfully so. This barbershop was home to classic, American figures such as Ronald Reagan, Clark Gable, and Orson Wells. They frequented this shop because of the high-level of sophisticated grooming it has to offer, including the Presidential Shave, which takes almost a full hour to complete. Lastly, this pampering is topped off by the epitome of masculine sophistication—a single-malt Macallan whiskey.
For more top barbershops throughout California, consider some of the following options:
- Legends Barbershop – Los Angeles
- V’s Barbershop – Del Mar
- The New California Barbershop – Los Angeles