Oregon’s beauty and personal care industry is as unique as the state itself. Portland is home to many top-notch salons and barbershops, such as French Cut Hair in Portland, which was voted one of Elle Magazine’s “Top 100 Salons in the US.” French Cut embodies Portland’s dedication to originality. It was established by Monica Marteau, who came from France and brought her French historique and philosophie with her. This French philosophy removes the boundaries from hair services, stating “Our concept is that we have no barriers, everyone should be able to express themselves through their hair.” In this, the hairstylists view themselves as translators, helping clients to express themselves authentically, whether that means curled, stiff, frizzy, bleached, or natural hairstyles.
 | How to Become a Hair Designer in Oregon |
| Essential Qualifications for Manicurists in Oregon |
| Steps to Become an Esthetician in Oregon |
| How to Become a Barber in Oregon |
Poshe’ Salon in Hillsboro was ranked number one by the Best of CitySearch in 2009. Poshe’ is a full-service salon, offering hair, nail, and skin care services. The manicurists at Poshe’ offer traditional acrylic, solar gel, and full gel fills, so all types of clients may find what they want. Along with this, they offer the new shellac gel manicures, and deluxe spa mani/pedis. The estheticians at Poshe’ are dedicated to personalizing services, creating a unique facial service for each client using high-end U-spa facial technology.
Finally, HairM in Portland, Oregon was voted as one of “The Manliest Barbershops in America” by Men’s Health Magazine. This barbershop is known for being full of attractive, female barbers, who guarantee top-of-the-line cuts and shaves for their clients. Along with the genuine leather chairs, masculine reading materials, and private LCD TVs, HiarM provides a full menu of wine and local beer.
Whether you are looking to become a hair designer, manicurist, esthetician, or barber, Oregon is the place for you. Your career as a beauty professional in Oregon will start with being licensed by the Oregon Board of Cosmetology. This Board is responsible for regulating the licensing standards for all beauty and personal care professionals throughout the state.
How to Become a Hair Designer in Oregon
As a hair designer in Oregon, your career will focus on cutting, styling, and singeing the hair. Oregon hair designers are also able to use chemical treatments, such as coloring, dying, relaxing, and permanently waving hair.
Education Requirements
As an aspiring hair designer, you will begin your career in a 1700-hour hair design training program. Of those 1700 hours, the Oregon Board requires that your beauty college program provide the following minimum course hours:
- Sanitation and Disinfection – 150
- Career Development – 100
Along with those specified hours, your hair design training program will include courses on the following topics:
- Definition and Purpose of Hair Design
- Standards of Hair Design Practice
- Chemical Services
- Disorders of the Skin, Hair, and Scalp
- Shampooing, Conditioning, Massaging and Brushing
- Hairstyling and Haircutting
- Principles of Hair Design
- Wigs, Hair Enhancements, Extensions
- Trichology
- Haircoloring Procedures
Examination Requirements
After graduating from your hair design program, you will be eligible to take the following hair design licensing exams:
- Hair Design Practical Exam given by your Hair Design Educational Institute
- Hair Design Written Exam given by the Oregon Health Licensing Office
- Oregon Laws and Rules Written Exam given by the Oregon Health Licensing Office
Upon your successful completion of these exams, you will be able to attain an Oregon hair design license.
Hair Design Job Opportunities
The Oregon Employment Department expects cosmetology jobs in Oregon to grow by 30.5% between the years 2012 and 2022, which means that each year in Oregon, there will be more than 200 new cosmetology job openings.
Hair designers are apt to find jobs as hairstylists at local salons and spas. You will be able to look for work that pays either an hourly, base rate, or that pays off of commission. Generally, you will want to develop strong skills in personal marketing and sales before venturing into commission-based pay.
Magnum Opus in Portland’s Pearl District is yet another salon that made it onto Elle Magazine’s “Top 100 Salons in the US.” Magnum Opus’s philosophy focuses on teamwork, education, and allowing their hairstyling to be a work of art. Cosmetologists at Magnum Opus participate in an apprenticeship program, receive additional, advanced education throughout their career, and receive a full-benefits package, including health care, dental care, paid vacation, paid holidays, retail commission, a 401K and more.
Other top-notch salons throughout Oregon include the following:
- Elements of Style Salon and More – Oregon City
- Modele – Oregon City
- Salon Bend Oregon – Bend
Essential Qualifications for Manicurists in Oregon
As a manicurist, you will specialize in the study and pampering of nails, hands, and feet.
Manicuring Education Requirements
Your career as an manicurist begins with enrolling in a 600-hour manicuring training program, which will include the following minimum requirements:
- Sanitation and Disinfection – 150 hours
- Career Development – 100 hours
Along with those courses, your educational program will include training in the following manicuring services and subject areas:
- Nail Infection Control
- Manicuring Safety Procedures
- Sanitation, Sterilization, and Bacteriology
- Nail Anatomy and Physiology
- Basic Chemistry Relating to Adhesion, Reactions, and Product Ingredients
- Nail Equipment, Implements, and Supplies
- Nail Assessments
- Nail Clipping, Contouring, and Shaping
- Gels, Polymers, Primers, and Exfoliates
Examination Requirements
After completing your manicurist training program, you will be able to obtain your manicuring license by passing the following examinations:
- Manicurist Practical Exam given by your Manicurist Training Program
- Manicurist Written Exam given by the Oregon Health Licensing Office
- Oregon Laws and Rules Written Exam given by the Oregon Health Licensing Office
Manicurist Employment Opportunities
The number of manicurist jobs in Oregon is expected to grow by 34.2% between 2012 and 2022.
Skin care specialist jobs are expected to grow by 57.2% in Oregon between 2012 and 2022.
As a manicurist, you will be able to look for jobs at salons, spas, or nail salons. You may look for full-time and part-time jobs, and many employers prefer that you already have an established clientele base.
One unique nail salon in Oregon, Pro Solar Nails in Bend, offers full spa manicures and pedicures. These spa mani/pedis involve hydrotherapy, minerals, sea salt, and paraffin wax. Along with this, they offer solar gel services, which is a type of gel that is more odorless and natural than regular acrylic.
For more great nail salons throughout Oregon, consider some of the following options:
- Nail Spa – Oregon City
- Oregon Nails – Beaverton, Tigard
- Aqua Nail Bar – West Linn
Steps to Become an Esthetician in Oregon
As an esthetician, you will get to focus your beauty professional career entirely around the largest organ in the body—the skin. In Oregon, estheticians use their hands, mechanical, or electrical tools to cleanse, stimulate, and exfoliate the skin.
Education Requirements
To begin your career as an esthetician in Oregon, you will first enroll in an esthetician training program. The Oregon Board of Cosmetology requires that all esthetician training programs include at least 500-hours of course work, with the following minimum requirements:
- Safety and Infection Control – 150 hours
- Career Development – 100 hours
Along with those minimum requirements, your beauty school will include training on the following esthetician subjects:
- Chemical Services
- Diseases and Disorders
- Manual and Chemical Equipment
- Skin Care Implements
- Standards of Practice
- Temporary Hair Removal
- Cleansing and Stimulating the Face
- Manipulating and Massaging the Face and Body
- Makeup Art
- Facial and Body Wrapping
- Eyelash Services
- Facial and Body Waxing
- Exfoliation
Examination Requirements
Once passing your esthetician training program, you will get your Oregon esthetician license by passing the following licensing exams:
- Esthetician Practical Exam given by your Esthetician Training Program
- Esthetician Written Exam given by the Oregon Health Licensing Office
- Oregon Laws and Rules Written Exam given by the Oregon Health Licensing Office
Oregon Esthetician Job Opportunities
Estheticians are able to find jobs at salons, spas, day spas, hotels that offer spa services, medical spas, and even sometimes dermatology offices. With job titles like skin care specialist, beauty advisor, or makeup artist, becoming an esthetician proves to be one of the most flexible beauty professional careers.
Gervais Salon & Day Spa in Eugene focuses on treating their clients and their planet with care and respect. Like other salons and spas in Oregon, they have an intense focus on social responsibility, ecological goals, education, and authenticity. Their spa services include body treatments, facials, massages, makeup, and waxing. Each body treatment includes heated masques, a candlelit shower, and a hot foot soak, all while the client sips on AVEDA tea. When looking for other top salons in Oregon, consider some of the following options:
- The Allison Inn &Spa – Newberg
- Oregon Garden Resort – Silverton
- Overleaf Spa – Yachats
How to Become a Barber in Oregon
As a barber, you will specialize entirely in men’s grooming and pampering, bringing back the classic, American art men’s sophistication by offering men’s haircuts, mustache, and beard design. In Oregon, barbers are allowed to shampoo, cut, style, condition, and singe hair, as well as shave, trim, and cut mustaches and beards.
Education Requirements
Your barber training program will meet the Oregon Board requirements of 1350-hours. Like the other beauty professionals, your education will need to contain the following safety and career development content:
- Safety and Infection Control – 150 Hours
- Career Development – 150 Hours
Along with those courses, your barber training program will provide training concerning the following barber service areas:
- Diseases and Disorders
- Hair Properties
- Hair Cutting
- Mustache
- Equipment/Implements
- Beards
- Shaving
- Skin Properties
Examination Requirements
After graduating from your training program, you will be eligible to pass the barber licensing examinations:
- Barber Practical Exam given by your Barber Training Program
- Barber Written Exam given by the Oregon Health Licensing Office
- Oregon Laws and Rules Written Exam given by the Oregon Health Licensing Office
Barber Job Opportunities in Oregon
Like hair designers, you will look for jobs as a barber or hair stylist at local salons or barbershops. You will be able to look for jobs that pay either an hourly or commission-based pay. More competitive jobs may even pay an hourly rate plus commission, not to mention tips. To gain a more competitive job position, advanced barber service education and a strong clientele will be helpful.
The barbers in Oregon sure know the way to a man’s heart—a cold brew. Oregon City Barber Shop in Oregon City is a self-declared “real” barber shop, with walk-in services, free neck shaves, and all types of cuts, from a simple buzz to the latest dos. Best of all, each service comes with a complimentary beer.
Similarily, The Modern Man Barber Shop in Portland offers cutting-edge services, along with a complimentary shot of bourbon from Eastside Distilling, a cold microbrew from Widmer Brothers Brewing, or Stumptown coffee.
For more quality barbershops in Oregon, consider the following:
- The Barbers – Hillsboro
- Barber – Oregon City
- Champion’s Barbershop – Portland