With unique hair styles and one-of-a-kind fashions, New Orleans offers a veritable playground for aspiring cosmetologists and other salon professionals. Mardi-Gras is a favorite time of year for not only natives, but the thousands who flock to the area every spring to celebrate. This is the time of year for you to shine as a salon professional in the great state of Louisiana. Where else are there weeks of colorful celebrations with costumes and exaggerated make-up and hairdos? As a make-up artist or hairdresser here you could really spread your wings and allow your creativity to soar.
 | Becoming a Cosmetologist in Louisiana |
| Becoming a Manicurist in Louisiana |
| Becoming an Esthetician in Louisiana |
| Becoming an Electrologist in Louisiana |
| Becoming a Barber in Louisiana |
One of the top salons in Louisiana is Paris Parker Salons and Spas. It is one of the picks for 100 Best Hair Salons in America 2014 according to Elle Magazine. Paris Parker boasts nine locations throughout the state including New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Hammond and Mandeville. The original location in Hammond was founded nearly 20 years ago. This AVEDA Lifestyle Salon & Spa prides itself on being Earth friendly, and raising over $500,000 for environmental causes.
Due to the high humidity in much of Louisiana, cosmetologists and skincare specialists are in high demand. After all, humidity plays havoc with your hair, so it is important to have a stylist to help keep hair under control and smooth out the frizz. As a hairstylist, make-up artist, esthetician or virtually any variety of service within the beauty industry, you will be able to carve out a successful career in this bustling state.
Begining your career as a cosmetologist, esthetician, or manicurist in the salon industry starts with earning a license through the Lousiana Board of Cosmetology. If you’re looking to start a career in barbering, you’ll work with the Louisiana Board of Barber Examiners.
Becoming a Cosmetologist in Louisiana
As a cosmetologist you will hold the key to beauty. People will come to you and rely on you to make them look good as well as feel good. Although you are likely to focus primarily on hair, you will learn to do everything from nails to skincare, and will come out of beauty school well-rounded and well-prepared for many career options.
Education Requirements
As an aspiring cosmetologist in Louisiana, you are required to complete 1500 hours of instruction. In addition, the state does recognize cosmetologists from other states. You will need to complete a reciprocity application along with required fees if received your license from another state and decide to move to Louisiana.
Coursework in your beauty college will be broken down into the following five segments:
- Scientific Concepts
- Infection control
- OSHA requirements
- Human physiology
- Chemical principles
- Hair and scalp
- Nails
- Physical Services
- Shampoo
- Draping
- Rinses and conditioners
- Scalp
- Facials
- Makeup
- Manicuring
- Chemical Services
- Hair coloring
- Hair lightening
- Chemical waving
- Chemical relaxing
- Hair Designing
- Hair shaping
- Hair cutting
- Louisiana Cosmetology Act and Rules and Regulations
Examination Requirements
To become a licensed cosmetologist in Louisiana you must have completed the tenth grade or equivalent, graduated from an accredited cosmetology school, and receive a passing grade on the certification exam.
Fees are as follows depending on which beauty services you choose to perform:
- Individual $25
- Shampoo Assistant $25
- Manicurist $25
- Esthetician $25
- Instructor $25
- Shop $30
- Individual Alternative Hair Designer $25
- Microdermabrasion $25
- Make-Up Application $25
Employment Opportunities
Louisiana is chock full of excellent salons and spas. Voted the #1 Day Spa in Louisiana by the Travel Channel, the Woodhouse Day Spa in Slidell offers full-service luxury in a tranquil environment. As an employee there, you will concentrate on the overall health and wellness of your customers.
Many top-notch resort hotels also have luxury spas within them. Cypress Bend Golf and Conference Resort offer’s the Lago Vista Spa within an elegant resort located on shimmering Toledo Bend Lake in the city of Many. These types of resorts cater to both the vacationers and the business class, allowing many opportunities for clients who like to be pampered.
Becoming a Manicurist in Louisiana
Becoming a manicurist will allow you to focus more specifically on the care of hands and feet. These days we’re all very hard on our hands and feet and you will be the caretaker who revitalizes and beautifies these very important body parts.
Education Requirements
Louisiana requires 500 course hours of instruction before you can take the certification exam in order to become a licensed manicurist.
Course work for manicurists is broken down into five major segments.
- Scientific Concepts
- Basic human physiology
- Nail composition
- Chemistry
- Sanitizing and sterilizing
- Procedures
- Supplies and implements
- Artificial and natural nail technology
- Manicure
- Pedicure
- Basic massage
- Application and repair of artificial and natural nails
- Safety and infection control
- Louisiana Cosmetology Act and rules and regulations
Examination Requirements
To become a licensed manicurist in Louisiana you must have completed the tenth grade or equivalent, graduated from an accredited beauty school, and received a passing grade on the certification exam. Manicurist licenses are $25 and valid for one year.
Job Opportunities
As with most jobs in the beauty industry, having a great rapport with your customers will allow you to break the ceiling of earnings in the nail industry. Being able to deliver great service, while making your client feel like a friend, will bring them back again and again and will bring referrals along with it.
The city of Baton Rouge has many great salons to choose from for nails. Five Star Nail & Spa LLC has a friendly staff specializing in pedicures, waxing and shellac manicures. V’s Nails offers state-of-the-art equipment and specializes only in nail services, ensuring the customer gets what they want every time.
Other great salons in Louisiana include;
- Gorgeous Nails in Sunset
- City Nails & Spa in New Orleans
- Vive Nails & Spa in New Orleans
Becoming an Esthetician in Louisiana
Skincare and relaxation are the basis of esthetician’s focus. Clients not only want to have great skin, they want to be pampered while getting it. Learning to add extras during a procedure, like a hand massage or relaxing music will go a long way to making your customer satisfied. Make-up artists are also included in this license and coursework is included in the Services segment.
Education Requirements
The esthetician curriculum in Louisiana required for licensure is a 750 clock hour program. Instruction will include three segments of coursework:
- Scientific Concepts
- Sanitation and sterilization
- Human physiology and anatomy
- Skin histology
- Skin diseases and disorders
- Nutrition
- General Chemistry
- Services
- Skin analysis
- Draping
- Product selections
- Cleansing procedure
- Selecting and employing massage
- Selecting and employing mask therapy
- Electricity and various electrical apparatus
- Hair removal
- Hazards to skin
- Spa
- Makeup
- Louisiana Cosmetology Act and Rules and Regulations
Examination Requirements
To become a licensed esthetician in Louisiana you must have completed the tenth grade or equivalent, graduated from an accredited cosmetology school, and receive a passing grade on the certification exam. Esthetician licenses are valid for one year with a fee of $25.
Job Opportunities
As an esthetician you can choose from the traditional day-spa working environment or take a more clinical route working with medical professionals such as dermatologists. Many dermatologist offices now offer services such as microdermabrasion and chemical peels and facials that can be performed by an esthetician.
Louisiana Dermatology Associates offers skincare services in four locations across the state including; Baton Rouge, Gonzales, Denham Springs and Greenwell Springs. The spa offers a variety of specialized facials to help just about any skin condition including acne, wrinkles and sun damage.
Other options for estheticians include:
- Louisiana Dermatology and Medical Spa in Lafayette
- Spa Bellezza in Alexandria
- Paragon Casino Resort in Marksville
Becoming an Electrologist in Louisiana
As an electrologist you will help remove unwanted hair from the body as well as remove or correct minor skin imperfections.
Education Requirements
State licensure requirements are 600 hours of theoretical and clinical coursework including the following classes in:
- Bacteriology
- Angiology and neurology
- Physiology of hair and skin
- Endocrine systems
- Principles of electricity
- Hygiene and sterilization
Examination Requirements
To become a licensed electrologist Louisiana you must receive a passing grade on the certification exam given by the Louisiana State Board of Electrolysis Examiners.
Joining a national organization and becoming nationally certified can further your career options. The American Electrology Association (AEA) will allow you to take the Certified Professional Electrologist (CPE) exam and receive that credential.
Job Opportunities
As with other careers within the beauty industry, electrologists have the option of being in private practice or working at an established clinic. Some choices around the state include:
- Romero’s Electrolysis in Jefferson
- Connie Morrison Electrologist in Baton Rouge
- Mccarroll-Leblanc Electrologists in Baton Rouge
- Bertot’s International Electrolysis in New Orleans
Becoming a Barber in Louisiana
Barbers will never go out of style. No matter how long or how short the trends are for men’s hair, a barber will be needed to help keep it looking good. Many men care just as much as women do about their look, and short hair also requires more visits to keep it looking clean and groomed.
Education Requirements
To work in Louisiana as a barber you must complete 1500 hours of coursework within a program approved by the Louisiana State Board of Barber Examiners. You must be at least 16 years of age and be prepared to take the state licensure exam upon completion of the program.
Coursework includes the following:
- Haircutting
- Male and female facials
- Male and female shampooing
- Scalp treatments
- Sanitation
- Disinfecting instruments
- Permanent waving
- Hair pieces
- Shop management
- Professional ethics
Louisiana offers many fine barber schools in which you can start your journey to becoming a professional barber. Barber programs are offered at fine institutions across the state including:
- Capital Area Technical College in Baton Rouge
- Delgado Community College in New Orleans
- Northeast Louisiana Technical College in West Monroe
- Northwest Technical College in Shreveport
Examination Requirements
To become a licensed barber in Louisiana you must receive a passing grade on the certification exam given by the Board of Barber Examiners.
Job Opportunities
As a barber in Louisiana you have the opportunity to bring your own personality to your job. Whether you’re going for eclectic and trendy, traditional, or both, it is up to you to decide what type of barber you want to be.
Just a few of the many choices in barber shops and salons that you will have the option of working in include:
- Yong’s Barbershop in Deridder
- Claude’s Barbershop in Kennar
- Slick’s Hair Definition in Mandeville
- Cabello Hair Studio in Shreveport
- Styles by Tony Anthony in Harvey