Ohio’s salon industry has been recognized widely for originality and client satisfaction. Darren & Co., located in Cincinnati, is one of Ohio’s top salons, and was rated one of Elle Magazine’s “Top 100 Salons in the US” in 2011, 2012, and 2013.
 | How to Become a Licensed Cosmetologist in Ohio |
| Becoming a Licensed Ohio Nail Technician |
| Steps Toward Becoming a Licensed Esthetician in Ohio |
| Qualifications for Licensed Barbers in Ohio |
Darren & Co. focuses on the personal, relational aspect of hairstyling and cosmetology, preferring to tailor all of their time, energy, and styling to their client’s personal needs. This salon has expert hairstylists, who specialize in the advanced Brazilian keratin treatment/coppola system, and manicurists who specialize in full and shellac manicures along with paraffin hand treatments.
A hot spot for skin care specialists, Spa Walden in Aurora offers a world-class spa environment, inspired by nature and ideals of simplification. This spa is known for offering exclusive skin care treatments, such as the Chakra journey wrap, the Vichy water wrap, and the aromadetox essential oil massage.
Finally, one of the owners of Old Familiar Barbershop in Columbus returned from California with a passion to open the most fun and exiting barbershop in Ohio. To do this, the barbers at Old Familiar not only offer traditional haircuts such as straight razor shaves, hot towel shaves, and hot lather shaves, but they also offer “The Hangover Cure Shave Deluxe.” Aside from haircutting, these barbers take barbershop services to the next level by offering a completely unprecedented service—legal marriage ceremonies (as long as clients have a marriage license with them).
Whether you’re looking to become a cosmetologist, hairstylist, manicurist, esthetician, or barber, Ohio is the place for you. Your career as a cosmetologist, hair designer, nail technician, or esthetician will start by being licensed by the Ohio State Board of Cosmetology. As a barber, you’ll start by being licensed by the Ohio State Barber Board. Both of these Boards regulate the education and examination standards for beauty professional licenses throughout the state.
How to Become a Licensed Cosmetologist in Ohio
Ohio recognizes two types of licenses for hairstylists: a cosmetology license or a hair design license. As a cosmetologist, you will be able to perform a long list of beauty services, including hairstyling, haircutting, manicuring, and facial services.
As a hair designer, you forfeit the ability to perform skin or nail services, opting solely for haircutting and hair designing.
Education Requirements
Your career as a cosmetologist begins with completing a 1500-hour cosmetology training program through an approved beauty school in order to meet state licensing requirements. In cosmetology school, you will take the following courses:
- Sanitation and Bacteriology – 40 hours
- Scalp Care – 100 Hours
- Hair I, including iron curls, pin curls, hairstyling and cutting, and wigs – 400 hours
- Hair II, including permanent and chemical waving, tinting, bleaching, and foiling – 460 hours
- Manicuring – 110 hours
- Skin Care – 120 hours
- Salon Operations and Communication Skills – 150 hours
- Cosmetology Laws and Rules – 20 hours
- Electives – 100 hours
If you decide to go to beauty college for hair design specifically, you will only take 1200 hours of training. The curriculum will be entirely the same, except you will not need to study skin or nail care. Instead, your will focus entirely on hairstyling.
Examination Requirements
After completing cosmetology school, you will be able to take the two Ohio licensing exams, including the following:
- Cosmetology Practical Exam given by the Ohio Board of Cosmetology
- Cosmetology Theory Exam given by the Ohio Board of Cosmetology
If you are opting for the hair design license, then you will take the following examinations:
- Hair Design Practical Exam given by the Ohio Board of Cosmetology
- Hair Design Theory Exam given by the Ohio Board of Cosmetology
Cosmetology Job Opportunities
The Ohio Bureau of Labor Market Information expects cosmetology jobs to grow by 9.9% between 2012 and 2022. This means there will be an average of more than 1,090 new cosmetology jobs available each year during this period.
There are a few different methods of employment for cosmetologists and hairstylists:
The first method is based on an hourly rate of pay, where you will get a base pay no matter how many clients you see. This is great for beginning stylists, who may not have a strong client base.
The next method is being paid off of commission. This is great for stylists who have a strong clientele base and skill-set, so that they can see as many clients as possible.
The last method is renting a booth from a salon. This option is the most independent of the three, where you will get to use your own client base, use your own products, and market your services yourself. If you choose to work as an independent cosmetologist, you may want to become a part of the Ohio Independent Barber and Cosmetologist Association network.
Salon on the Ohio, or SOTO, in Cincinnati is just one of the many salons in Ohio on the cutting edge of hair fashion and trends. SOTO is known, as a Kérastase Certified salon, for their kerastase tratements- including a kerastase indulgent masque and a kerastase luxury fusio dose. Along with this, they offer an express keratin blowout texturizing service.
Along with SOTO, there are many other high qualify salons throughout Ohio, including, but not limited to, the following:
- The Blowout Boutique – Columbus
- By the Blade Salon – Centerville
- The Green Room Spa – Uniontown
- Diamond Beauty Bar – Cleveland
Becoming a Licensed Ohio Nail Technician
As a nail technician or manicurist in Ohio, you get to specialize in the care, beautification, and preservation of the hands and feet. You will learn the science and the art behind creating beautiful nails.
Education Requirements
Your career as a nail technician in Ohio begins with a 200-hour manicurist training program in order to meet state licensing requirements. This program will include the following manicurist courses:
- Sanitation and Bacteriology – 20 hours
- Anatomy and physiology – 20 hours
- Hand, Arm, and Leg Massage – 20 hours
- Manicuring Procedures – 50 hours
- Artificial Nails – 30 hours
- Specialized Equipment – 20 hours
- Salon Operations and Communication – 20 hours
- Cosmetology Laws and Rules – 20 hours
Examination Requirements
After completing your training program, you will be ready to pass the Ohio licensing examinations, which include the following:
- Nail Technician Practical Exam given by the Ohio Board of Cosmetology
- Nail Technician Theory Exam given by the Ohio Board of Cosmetology
Nail Technician Employment Opportunities
The number of manicurist jobs is supposed to grow by 12.7% in Ohio between 2012 and 2022.
Nail technicians have the option of working at local salons that offer nail services or specialized nail salons. They normally work at an hourly or commission rate and earn tips.
Although many salons in Ohio offer multiple services, such as hair, skin and nails, Golden Nails Salon and Spa in Stow focuses all of their services entirely on nails. Golden Nails is dedicated to the most natural forms of nail care, including safe, high quality products, certified organic ingredients, pipe-less spa pedicure chairs, and individual ventilation systems at each manicure station. Even Further, Golden Nails has created their own, unique line of organic manicure and pedicure products, putting it at the top of the list for best nail salons throughout Ohio.
Other high quality nail salons throughout Ohio include the following:
- ZOOM Mani – Columbus
- The Spa at Yellow Creek – Akron
- Ambiance Nail Salon & Spa – Cincinnati
- Studio Nails – West Chester Township
- Be Pampered Nail Spa – Beavercreek
Steps Toward Becoming a Licensed Esthetician in Ohio
Estheticians in Ohio are skin care specialists, who focus all of their training on learning the science and art of the largest organ on the body—skin.
Education Requirements
To become an esthetician in Ohio, you will start by enrolling in a 600-hour esthetician training program in order to meet state licensing requirements. In this program, you will learn the science of skin, the chemistry behind skin care products, and the art of illuminating healthy, soft skin. Your education program will include courses related to the following:
- Sanitation and Bacteriology -75 hours
- Basic Anatomy – 70 hours
- Specialized Equipment and Treatments, including electricity, ultra-violet and infra-red ray light therapy, brow tinting, and artificial lashes – 40 hours
- Massages – 70 hours
- Basic Chemistry, including compounds and mixtures, ingredients, and cosmetics – 40 hours
- Facials – 80 hours
- Skin Care, including skin types, histology, elasticity, and diseases – 70 hours
- Makeup, including corrective makeup, eye makeup, color coordination, and contouring – 95 hours
- Salon Operations and Communication – 40 hours
- Ohio Cosmetology Laws and Rules – 20 hours
Examination Requirements
After completing your training program, you will be eligible to take and pas the Ohio esthetician licensing exams, which are listed as follows:
- Esthetics Practical Exam given by the Ohio Board of Cosmetology
- Esthetics Theory Exam given by the Ohio Board of Cosmetology
Ohio Esthetician Job Opportunities
The number of skin care specialist jobs is estimated to grow by 38.1% in Ohio between 2012 and 2022.
Estheticians get to choose among a wide array of job titles and organizations. For instance, you may find yourself working as a skin care specialist, makeup artist, or beauty advisor. You will be able to look for jobs in local salons, spas, dermatology offices, medical spas, or even hotels and resorts that have spas!
Inn & Spa in Cedar Falls, Spa at the Lakehouse Inn in Geneva, and GreatStone Castle Resorts in Sidney are just a few of the hotels and resorts that offer esthetician services. Spa Kalahari, located in Kalahari resorts in Sandusky, offers personalized facials, Swedish massages, and an 80-minute Kalahari sugar and butter body treatment. Along with this, they offer Spa Kalahari Jr., a spa dedicated to the pampering and grooming of all children ages 3 and up.
Many of the other unique spas throughout Ohio include the following:
- Secret Serenity MedSpa – Saint Clairsville
- Seva – Chardon
- NV Salon and Spa – Gahanna
- 9 Salon & Bridal Studio – Wadsworth
- The Woodhouse Day Spa – Beavercreek
Qualifications for Licensed Barbers in Ohio
As a barber in Ohio, you will specialize in the cutting and styling of men’s hair. Along with this, you get to specialize in facial hair—learning the classic art of honing, stropping, straight edge shaving, and more.
Education Requirements
Your career as a barber in Ohio begins with an 1800-hour barber training program in order to meet state licensing requirements. This program will include barber theory and practice courses, including the following:
Theoretical (100 hours)
- Scientific Fundamentals of Barbering
- Hygiene and Bacteriology
- Histology of the Hair
- Structure of the Head, Neck, and Face
- Elementary Chemistry
- Diseases of the Skin
- Barber History
- Barbering Law in Ohio
- Salesmanship, Advertising, etc.
- Barber Ethics and Shop Management
Scientific Barbering Practice (200 hours)
- Facial Treatments
- Shampoo Treatments
- Tinting
- Bleaching
- Facial Shaving
- Haircutting I, II, III
- Straightening and Relaxing
- Permanent Waving
- Hairpieces
- Barber Implements
Practical (1200 hours)
- Facial Treatments
- Scalp Treatments
- Shampoo Treatments
- Tinting
- Bleaching
- Facial Shaving
- Haircutting I, II, III
- Shop Management
Examination Requirements
After completing your barber training program, you will be able to take the Ohio Barber Board’s licensing exams. These exams are listed as follows:
- Barber Practical Examination given by the Ohio Barber Board
- Barber Theory Examination given by the Ohio Barber Board
The examination dates are about once a month, and they are given at the Ohio State College of Barber Styling in Columbus.
Barber Job Opportunities in Ohio
Barbering in Ohio is one of the top occupations in terms of self-employment, with 80.4% of barbers self-employed, according to the Ohio Bureau of Labor Market Information. This means greater control over your time, income, schedule and clientele
Barbers, like cosmetologists, can find jobs that pay hourly, off of commission, or they may rent a booth from a barbershop.
The Old Familiar Barbershop in Columbus definitely sets a new precedent for barbers in Ohio, with their Hangover Cure Shave Deluxe shave including hot towels, hot lather, a rolling cream facial, witch hazel steam, moisturizer, aftershave, and- to top it all off- French press coffee.
Although Old Familiar is an extremely eccentric barbershop in Ohio, it is not the only eccentric shop. Blue Star Barbershop in Columbus is a large shop full of men and women barbers, all centered around “The Prince,” the Blue Star mascot. The Prince, a white tail deer mounted on the Blue Star’s main wall, is known for having the largest shed ever recorded for a white tail deer, and, supposedly, for enjoying classic rock and cold, and draft beer.
For other top-notch and eccentric Ohio barbershops, consider some of the following options:
- Don Michael Salon & Spa – Mentor
- Barber Shop Rock – Cleveland
- Buckeye Barbershop – Akron
- Longview Barber Shop – Columbus
- Turner’s Barbershop & Shaving Parlor – Columbus