Nebraska is the perfect place to begin your career as a beauty professional, with cosmetology being one of the largest occupations in the state, according to the Nebraska Department of Labor. Along with this, the Department expects cosmetology to remain the largest occupation, with the addition of over 440 jobs and a growth rate of 19.7% between 2012 and 2022.
Nebraska is home to one of the best salons in the nation—Garbo’s Salon and Spa in Omaha. This full-service salon is known for their creativity and innovation, creating trends rather than following them. The cosmetologists are Garbo’s are dedicated to customizing their cuts, giving personal consultations for each client.
Along with this, the manicurist provide top-of-the-line natural nail care services and enhancements. Finally, the estheticians are known for their specialty facials, including the Resurgence Renewal Facial, Vitamin C Infusion Facial, and Pure Bliss Facial. Along with this, these specialty estheticians even offer microdermabrasion and LED treatments. With all of these services combined in one place, it’s clear why Garbo’s Salon and Spa is one of the best in the country.
If you never want to tweeze or wax again, New Image Electrolysis in Lincoln is the place for you. Not only does New Image offer free consultations, but it also offers a demonstration, explanation, and a hair removal plan unique to each client. The electrologists at New Image utilize all three methods of electrolysis to give clients a number of choices, including thermolysis, galvanic, and blend.
The barbers at The Beard & Mane in Omaha are known for reviving the classic art of barbering. This traditional shop encapsulates men’s sophistication and style, by offering only the best cuts with old-fashioned straight razors, beard and mustache trims, scalp massages, and hot towel facials. When looking for a truly old-fashioned barbershop experience, The Beard & Mane is the place for you.
If you’re looking to become a cosmetologist, nail technician, esthetician, or electrologist, you will start by becoming licensed through the Nebraska Board of Cosmetology. If you want to become licensed as a barber in Nebraska, you will start with the Nebraska Board of Barber Examiners.
How to Become a Cosmetologist in Nebraska
As a cosmetologist, you get to learn all facets of the beauty industry, including hair, nail, and skin care. Because of this, cosmetologists are the most comprehensive beauty professionals in Nebraska.
Education Requirements for Nebraska Cosmetologists
To begin your cosmetology career in Nebraska, you will start by enrolling in a 1700-hour cosmetology training program. Throughout your education, you will get to learn the theoretical and practical aspects of cosmetology, including the following cosmetology subjects:
- Advanced Cosmetology Theory – 200 hours
- Shampoos, conditioners, and Scalp Treatments – 30 hours
- Haircutting – 300 hours
- Hair Styling – 300 hours
- Permanent Waving/Chemical Relaxing – 300 hours
- Hair Coloring – 300 hours
- Facials – 50 hours
- Body Waxing – 10 hours
- Manicuring, Pedicuring, Artificial Nails and Massage – 50 hours
- Sales, Reception Desk, and Management – 130
- Unassigned – 30 hours
Examination Requirements for License as a Nebraska Cosmetologist
After graduating from your cosmetology training program, you will take and pass the Nebraska cosmetology licensing exams, which are listed as follows:
- Nebraska Cosmetology Theory Examination administered by PSI Services
- The Nebraska State Jurisprudence Exam administered by the Nebraska Board of Cosmetology
After successfully passing these exams, you will be able to obtain your Nebraska cosmetology license.
Job Opportunities for Cosmetologists
As a cosmetologist in Nebraska, you will be able to look for hairstyling jobs at local salons and spas. These jobs will often be paid either an hourly or commission-based wage, but sometimes, you will find jobs that prefer you to work as an independent contractor, renting a booth from within their salon. In these instances, you will want to have developed a strong clientele, personal marketing skills, and sales skills. Lastly, some more competitive jobs will offer an hourly rate of pay, commission on retail sales, and even paid vacation. In order to obtain competitive jobs such as these, you will want to take as many advanced cosmetology courses as possible, gaining the education to make you stand out among the other qualified applicants.
As a cosmetologist in Nebraska, you will get the opportunity to join top-notch hair salons, such as Omaha’s Hair Choice in Omaha. Omaha’s Hair Choice offers hair, nail, and skincare services, making it truly a full-service salon. The cosmetologists are dedicated to continuing, ongoing education, so that they can learn the latest trends and techniques in the hair and beauty industry. After grabbing a magazine and a beverage, clients will be able to get any type of hair service they want, including Aquage Power Infusions, Claypak Treatments, Redken Treatments, Pureology Treatments, and more.
For other great salons throughout Nebraska, consider some of the following options:
- Novel Hair Salon & Spa – Omaha
- Trios Salon – Omaha
- Iasan & Sebastian Studio Salon – Lincoln
How to Become a Nail Technician in Nebraska
As a nail technician, you will specialize in the care and beautification of nails. Along with treating nails, you will learn how to smooth and soften hands and feet.
Nail Technician Education Requirements
To begin your manicuring career in Nebraska, you will start by enrolling in a 300-hour manicurist training program. You may be able to find a manicurist or nail technician training program at a local beauty school. Throughout your beauty school experience, you will get to learn all aspects of nail technology, including the following:
- Nail Technician Theory, including Disinfection, Safety, Anatomy and Physiology, Salon Business, Nebraska State Laws, Disorders and Diseases, Manicures, Pedicures, Massaging, Application and Removal of Artificial Nails – 75 hours
- Practical Artificial Wrap, Acrylic, and Gel Application – 55 hours
- Filing Techniques – 15 hours
- Repair and Maintenance – 45 hours
- Manicure/Pedicures – 10 hours
Nail Technician Examination Requirements for a Nebraska License
After graduating from your manicurist training program at a local beauty school, you will pass the Nebraska manicurist licensing exams, listed as follows:
- Nebraska Manicurist Theory Examination administered by PSI Services
- The Nebraska State Jurisprudence Exam administered by the Nebraska Board of Cosmetology
After passing these exams, you will be able to get your Nebraska manicurist license.
Job Opportunities for Nail Technicians
As a nail technician in Nebraska, you will be able to look for part-time or full-time jobs at local nail salons, full-service salons, or day spas. These jobs are likely to offer either an hourly or commission-based pay; however, some jobs will require you to have your own clientele and rent a booth from within their salon. In these situations, you will want to be skilled and trained in as many nail services as possible, as well as skilled in personal marketing and sales.
As a nail technician, you will be able to look for jobs at salons such as American Nails and Spa, which was voted as the “Best of Omaha” in 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2015. Using only the most clean services, American Nails offers state-of-the-art ventilation systems for each manicure and pedicure. Along with offering skin and spa services, American Nails offers a wide range of manicures, pedicures, and nail enhancements, including the American Spa Signature Pedicure, the Shellac Pedicure, the Ultimate Cool Ocean Breeze Spa Pedicure, the Gentleman’s Pedicure, solar powder enhancements, and more. With all of these services, clients will be finding an excuse to come in every day.
For other great nail salons throughout Nebraska, consider some of the following options:
- Martini Nails & Spa – Omaha
- World Nails – Lincoln
- Tips & Toes – Lincoln
Guidelines to Become an Esthetician in Nebraska
As an esthetician, you get to specialize in the study and care of the skin, performing relaxing and rejuvenating services such as facials, body wraps, exfoliation, aromatherapy, and more.
Esthetician Educational Requirements
To begin your esthetician career in Nebraska, you will start by enrolling in a 600-hour esthetician training program. You may be able to find this esthetician program as a specialized track within a local beauty college. Throughout your beauty college experience, you will get to learn all aspects of esthetics, including the following:
- Facial Treatments – 200 hours
- Chemical/Manual Aided Exfoliation – 40 hours
- Machine Aided Exfoliation – 40 hours
- Body treatments with Skin Analysis – 30 hours
- Hair Removal, Tweezing, and Waxing – 50 hours
- Makeup Application – 26 hours
- Esthetician Theory, including Sanitation, Back Treatments, Facial Massage, Para-Medical Makeup, Custom Blended Cosmetics, Advanced Waxing, and Electricity/Machines – 68 hours
- Nebraska State Law, Rules, and Regulations – 3 hours
- Theory including Anatomy, Business, Diseases, Aromatherapy, and Nutrition – 67 hours
- Sciences and Disorders – 15 hours
- Sanitation and Basic Body Treatments – 61 hours
Esthetician Examination Requirements
After graduating from your esthetician training program at a local beauty college, you will take the Nebraska esthetician licensing exams, which are listed as follows:
- Nebraska Esthetician Theory Examination administered by PSI Services
- The Nebraska State Jurisprudence Exam administered by the Nebraska Board of Cosmetology
After successfully passing these exams, you can get your Nebraska esthetician license.
Esthetician Job Opportunities
Estheticians are incredibly versatile in the beauty industry, being able to find jobs in local salons, day spas, medical spas, skin care product departments, and even dermatology offices. As an esthetician, you may adopt a number of job titles, including makeup specialist, beauty advisor, facialist, and more.
You will get to jump into organizations such as Gloss Salon & Day Spa, voted as the “Best of Omaha” in 2015 by Omaha Magazine. Offering makeup services, lash extensions, massages, body treatments, waxing, and customized facials and skin care, it is easy to see why. With over 6600 square feet and two levels of spa retreat rooms, clients will never want to leave. As an esthetician here, you will get to offer the yummiest treatments around, including the chocolate fix, mud therapy, and aromatherapy body treatments, along with chocolate peppermint brown sugar scrubs. And if that weren’t enough, you would even get to offer manual microdermabrasion and chemical peels.
For other top spas throughout Nebraska, consider some of the following:
- Oasis Massage and Spa – Omaha
- Guilty Pleasures Salon & Spa – Nebraska City
- Faces Spa – Omaha
Essential Steps to Become an Electrologist in Nebraska
As an electrologist, you will specialize in the permanent removal of hair through electrolysis.
Education Requirements for Electrologists
To begin your electrolysis career in Nebraska, you will start by enrolling in a 600-hour electrolysis training program. You may be able to find this electrolysis program as a specialized track within a local beauty college or laser hair clinic. Throughout your education experience, you will learn the science and practices behind electrolysis, including, but not limited to, the following electrolysis subject areas:
- Electrolysis Techniques, Equipment, and Procedures
- Thermolysis
- Permanent Hair Removal
- Diseases and Disorders of the Skin
- Bacteriology and Sanitation
- Nebraska State Laws of Electrolysis
Examination Requirements for Electrologists
After graduating from your electrologist training program, you will take and pass the Nebraska electrology licensing exams, which are listed as follows:
- Nebraska Electrology Theory Examination administered by PSI Services
- The Nebraska State Jurisprudence Exam administered by the Nebraska Board of Cosmetology
After passing these exams, you can obtain your Nebraska electrology license.
Job Opportunities for Electrologists in Nebraska
As an electrologist in Nebraska, you will be able to find jobs at local salons, spas, dermatology offices, or electrolysis clinics. These positions may be paid by the hour, off of commission, or they may require you to rent a booth from within the clinic. Oftentimes, experienced electrologists with a strong client-base strike out on their own to open their own clinic.
Ann’s Electrolysis Center is one such clinic, where expert electrologist, Ann, begun her own clinic after earning an International Certification through the International Guild of Professional Electrolysis, earning a Nebraska Electrology license, and working at Lincoln Dermatology Center for seven years. Now, Ann uses only the most up-to-date techniques and equipment to give her clients perfect, effortless, and painless hair removal.
Along with Ann’s, consider some of the other top-notch electrolysis clinics in Nebraska:
- Absolute Perfection Electrolysis – Omaha
- Jerri’s Electrolysis – Kearney
- Ideal Image – Omaha
Becoming a Barber in Nebraska
As a barber in Nebraska, you will revive the classic, masculine art of men’s grooming thorough providing hair, nail, and skin services for men.
Barber Education Requirements
To begin your barbering career, you will enroll in a 2100-hour barber training program. In barber school, you will get to learn the theory and art behind classic barbershop methods, including the following barber subject areas:
Theory Lectures – 300 hours
- Laws and Rules of Barbering
- History of Barbering
- Equipment
- Sanitation and Hygiene
- Haircutting Techniques
- Shaving, Honing, and Stropping
- Scalp Care, Treatments, and Shampoo
- Facials, Massages
- Coloring
- Chemical Waving
- Natural and Artificial Nail Care
- Waxing
Practical Barber Training
- Haircutting and Tapering – 75 hours
- Haircut, Long Style – 75 hours
- Shampoo – 75 hours
- Shave – 10 hours
- Beard Trim – 10 hours
- Facial – 24 hours
- Chemical Waving – 24 hours
- Braiding and Rolling -90
- Bleaching and Highlighting – 6 hours
Barber Examination Requirements
After graduating from barber school, you will pass the Nebraska barber licensing exams, which are listed as follows:
- Nebraska Barber Written Examination administered by the Nebraska Board of Barber Examiners
- Nebraska Barber Theory Examination administered by the Nebraska Board of Barber Examiners
After successfully passing these exams, you will be able to obtain your Nebraska barber license.
Barber Job Options
As a barber, you will be able to look for jobs at local barbershops or hair salons. These jobs will generally pay an hourly or commission-based pay, and some competitive jobs may offer commission on top of an hourly pay. Finally, if you want to strike out on your own, you may become an independent contractor by renting a booth from within a barbershop or by opening your own.
Traditional barbershops specifically for men have begun to be revived. 18|8 Fine Men’s Salon is reinventing the idea of the barbershop, by being a salon specifically for men. 18|8 states on their front page, “You don’t go through her purse. Why her salon?” Because of this, they only offer men’s services, and they only offer the best. Haircuts, styling, face treatments, scalp treatments, nail services, shaves, waxing, and coloring are just a few of the services 18|8 offers. Men love the ability to get a “MAN-ICURE” from these men’s stylists without any feminine touch. Along with this, the classic hot towel, hot lather shaves are a norm at 18|8, adding on the modern touch of an aromatic hot towel finish.
For other top salons throughout Nebraska, consider some of the following options:
- Southside Barbers & Beauty – Omaha
- Barbers on Araphoe – Lincoln
- Chop Shop Barbers – Omaha