With the influx in tourism and vacationing to Colorado, now more than ever, there is a demand for resort and hotel spas professionals, such as cosmetologists, manicurists, and estheticians. With the number of beauty professionals jobs, such as esthetician jobs, growing 42% across the state between 2013 and 2023, according to the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, it is clear that now is the perfect time to start your beauty professional career in Colorado.
 | How to Become a Cosmetologist in Colorado |
| Essential Steps to Become a Manicurist in Colorado |
| Qualifications for Estheticians in Colorado |
| Guidelines for Becoming a Barber in Colorado |
Thompson and Co. in Denver has been recognized by Elle Magazine, 303 Magazine, The Denver Post, and more. As one of Elle’s “Top 100 Salons in the US” for four years in a row, Thompson and Co. is used to being seen on the national platform. And it’s easy to see why, with the cosmetologists at Thompson offering complimentary head, neck, and shoulder massages, heated lavender neck wraps, heated paraffin hand treatments, and hot towel face wraps during each visit.
Because so many people visit Colorado to vacation, hiking, skiing, whitewater rafting, and mountain biking, many enjoy staying at luxury hotels and resorts, which offer full-service spas to rest and relax their body, spirit, and soul. Voted as the number one spa in Colorado by TripAdvisor, The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs offers luxury spa and salon treatments. Manicurists at Broadmoor offer spa manicures and pedicures, which include a seaweed mask and hydrating massages, along with offering all types of Shellac and gel nail services. Even further, the estheticians here are known for offering hydrotherapy and facials, which include microderm/oxygen treatment facials, collagen masks, and the gentleman’s facial.
Denver is home to one of the “Manliest Barbershops in America,” deemed by Men’s Health Magazine. Proper Barbershop in Denver is the epitome of classic barbering, with the proprietor promising proper cuts (as tattooed across his knuckles) and grooming for the greater good, which he achieves by fostering community in the shop.
Whichever type of beauty professional career you’re ready to start, Colorado is the place to do it. Whether you’re looking to become a cosmetologist, manicurist, esthetician, or barber, you will start by attaining a license from the Colorado Office of Barber and Cosmetology Licensure.
How to Become a Cosmetologist in Colorado
Cosmetologists are beauty professionals who are experts in haircutting, hair styling, and hair coloring. They are also able to perform basic esthetician and manicurist tasks, such as skin care, makeup application, and basic manicures and pedicures.
Education Requirements for Colorado Cosmetologists
To become a cosmetologist in Colorado, you will start by enrolling in a 1450-hour cosmetology training program. In cosmetology school, you will be immersed in the world of fashion, beauty, and style, learning both the theory and practice of cosmetology. Your courses will include the following:
- Sanitation, sterilization & safety – 45 hours
- Permanent waving & chemical relaxing – 250 hours
- Hairstyling – wet styling, hair pressing & iron curling – 250 hours
- Massage, skin care & makeup – 100 hours
- Shampoo & scalp treatments – 75 hours
- Hair tinting & bleaching – 225 hours
- Hair cutting – 225 hours
- Basic manicuring and pedicuring – 75 hours
- Application of artificial nails – 135 hours
- Law and rules and regulations – 25 hours
- Management, ethics, interpersonal skills & salesmanship – 25 hours
- Occupational safety and health – 20 hours
Examination Requirements for License as a Colorado Cosmetologist
After graduating from cosmetology school, the second step toward obtaining your Colorado cosmetology license is passing the Colorado cosmetology licensing examinations, which are listed as follows:
- Colorado Cosmetology Written Exam administered by PSI Services
- Colorado Cosmetology Practical Exam administered by PSI Services
Job Opportunities for Cosmetologists
As a cosmetologist, you can look for jobs at hairstyling salons, full-service salons, or day spas that offer hair services. These positions are generally paid by either an hourly or commission-based rate, but sometimes you will be asked to rent a chair from within a salon.
J Gregory Salon in Colorado Springs, which has been named in the “Best Of” lists by CitySearch, Yelp, and others, is home to expert cosmetologists who immerse themselves in advanced hair education continually, staying on the cutting edge of hair styles, trends, and techniques. Because of this, these stylists are able to set the standards, create new styles, and customize any service for individual client needs. Only using top-of-the-line products such as Moroccan Oil, SOMA, Pureology, Redken, and Schwarzkopf, it’s clear to see why J Gregory is one of the top salons in the state.
For other best-rated salons in Colorado, consider some of the following options:
- Eye Candy Salon and Spa – Colorado Springs
- Montage Salon – Colorado Springs
- Scarlet Salon – Denver
Essential Steps to Become a Manicurist in Colorado
Manicurists are beauty professionals trained specifically to specialize in beautifying nails, hands, and feet. They are able to perform manicures, pedicures, nail tips, nail wraps, nail sculpting, and nail art and design.
Manicurist Education Requirements
To become a licensed manicurist in Colorado, your first step is beginning and graduating from a 350-hour manicurist training program. You’re likely to find a manicurist training program as a specialized track within a larger beauty school. During beauty school, you’ll get the opportunity to take the following manicurist training courses:
- Sanitation, sterilization & safety – 70 hours
- Basic manicuring and pedicuring – 75 hours
- Application of artificial nails – 135 hours
- Law and rules and regulations – 25 hours
- Management, ethics, interpersonal skills & salesmanship – 25 hours
- Occupational safety and health – 20 hours
Manicurist Examination Requirements for a Colorado License
After graduating from your manicurist training program in beauty school, the second step toward attaining your Colorado manicuring license is passing the Colorado manicuring licensing exams, which are listed as follows:
- Colorado Manicurist Written Exam administered by PSI Services
- Colorado Manicurist Practical Exam administered by PSI Services
Job Opportunities for Manicurists
As a manicurist in Colorado, you can look for jobs in nail salons, full-service salons, or day spas that offer nail services. You will want to quickly build a strong clientele, which you can do by working in a full-service salon or spa, where you may obtain some overflow clients from other services. Jobs will pay an hourly or commission-based pay, and once you are experienced in sales and marketing yourself, you may even have success at renting a booth from within a salon.
The manicurists and estheticians in Colorado Springs at Serenity Springs Salon and Spa cannot be beat. These manicurists do it all, by offering natural nail care, nail enhancements, and spa manicures and pedicures. Along with this, they offer combination services, which bring in more clients by including massages, facials, salt body scrubs, and mani/pedis all at the same time.
For more great nail salons throughout Colorado, consider the following:
- 5th Avenue Nails – Denver
- Helen Nails – Colorado Springs
- JC Nails – Colorado Springs
Qualifications for Estheticians in Colorado
Estheticians are skin care specialists, able to make even the dullest skin bright, radiant, and glowing through facials, microdermabrasion, peels, and body wraps.
Esthetician Educational Requirements
To become a licensed esthetician in Colorado, your first step is graduating from a 550-hour esthetician training program. You’re likely to find an esthetician training program as a specialized track within a larger beauty college or in a skin care clinic. During beauty college, you will be able to take the following esthetician training courses:
- Sanitation, sterilization & safety – 70 hours
- Electricity, chemistry and light therapy – 235 hours
- Massage, skin care & makeup – 175 hours
- Law and rules and regulations – 25 hours
- Management, ethics, interpersonal skills & salesmanship – 25 hours
- Occupational safety and health – 20 hours
Esthetician Examination Requirements
After graduating from an esthetician training program in a beauty college, the second step toward getting your Colorado esthetician license is passing the Colorado esthetician licensing exams, listed as follows:
- Colorado Esthetician Written Exam administered by PSI Services
- Colorado Esthetician Practical Exam administered by PSI Services
Esthetician Job Opportunities
As an esthetician in Colorado, you will be able to look for hourly or commission-based pay jobs in local full-service salons, day spas, or hotel and resort spas. Estheticians who work off of commission generally have great sales and personal marketing skills, so be sure to develop those skill sets.
Colorado is home to some amazing resort spas. Gateway Canyons Resort in Gateway was voted by Condé Nast as the “Number Three Best Resort in the US.” The estheticians at Gateway offer a signature facial, which includes powerful exfoliators and the latest technology in skin care to help eliminate the effects of aging and the environment, nourishing the deep layers of facial skin tissue. Along with this, they offer exotic body treatments, such as the Blooming Cactus Body Ritual and the Ancient Sea Hydration Wrap.
For other best-rated spas and resort spas throughout Colorado, consider some of the following:
- Mount Princeton Hot Springs Resort – Nathrop
- Vail Cascade Resort and Spa – Vail
- The Spa at Four Seasons Hotel – Denver
Guidelines for Becoming a Barber in Colorado
Barbers are the experts in men’s sophistication, learning the art of men’s grooming, including straight edge razor shaving, honing and stropping, and men’s hair styling.
Barber Education Requirements
To become a barber in Colorado, you’ll start by beginning a 1250-hour barber training program. In barber school, you will be immersed in the classic world of men’s sophistication, taking courses concerning the theory and practice of barbering. Your barber training courses will include the following:
- Sanitation, sterilization & safety – 45 hours
- Permanent waving & chemical relaxing – 250 hours
- Massage & skin care – 150 hours
- Shampoo & scalp treatments – 150 hours
- Hair tinting – 135 hours
- Hair cutting – styling – 300 hours
- Shaving, honing, & stropping – 150 hours
- Law and rules and regulations – 25 hours
- Management, ethics, interpersonal skills & salesmanship – 25 hours
- Occupational safety and health – 20 hours
Barber Examination Requirements
After graduating from barber school, the second step to getting your Colorado barber license is completing and passing the Colorado barber licensing exams, which are listed as follows:
- Colorado Barber Written Exam administered by PSI Services
- Colorado Barber Practical Exam administered by PSI Services
Barber Job Options
As a barber, you get to work in local barbershops, either being paid by hourly or commission-based pay. Experienced barbers, who have developed their own client-base and who have honed sales skills, may work by renting a booth or chair from within a barbershop.
Because of the rise in classic, traditional barbers, Colorado is home to many professional barbershops. One such barbershop, Locals Cut in Colorado Springs, combines cuts, music, and art for a modern twist on the classic art. With historic walk-in services such as beard trims, edge cleanups, men’s grey blending, and layered cuts, these barbers even offer a free craft beer, glass of wine, and—if you’re lucky— Twinkees. Clearly, Locals Cut is one of the many shops in Colorado taking barbering to a whole new level.
For other top-notch barbershops in Colorado, check out the following options:
- Shears – Colorado Springs
- Ollie’s Barber Shop – Denver
- Hollywood Barber Shop – Denver