The University of Tennessee Center for Business and Economic Research indicates that there will be about 470 annual job openings throughout the state for beauty professionals, including cosmetologists, manicurists, estheticians, and barbers, between 2012 and 2025.
 | How to Become a Cosmetologist in Tennessee |
| Qualifications for Manicurists in Tennessee |
| How to Become an Aesthetician in Tennessee |
| How to Become a Barber in Tennessee |
Nashville is home to top-notch salons, such as Element Salon, which made its way to the national platform by being listed as one of Elle Magazine’s “Top 100 Salons in the US.” Element has gotten national attention for its use of high-end hair products, including Kérastase, Shu Uemura, and Inoa, and also for the stylist’s signature techniques, like Kérastase deep conditioning treatments, Brazilian blowouts, and top of the line eyebrow design.
Although Tennessee girls are known for having great hair, manicurists and skin care specialists are definitely not left out of Tennessee’s beauty culture. Vogue Magazine declares Escape Day Spa & Salon, located in Nashville, as one of America’s top one-stop super salons. Escape has attained this national recognition for offering out-of-the-box treatments, such as organic detox espresso scrub and mud treatments, lavender-mint smoothing salt scrubs, and chardonnay sugar scrubs. Along with this, the manicurists at Escape offer cutting-edge spa manicures and pedicures, such as almond bliss manicures, lavender mint pedicures, and organic relief peppermint mani/pedis. With a seemingly endless array of organic soaks, scrubs, facials, manicures, and peels, Escape Day Spa & Salon is a hot spot for aspiring skin care specialists and manicurists.
Frank’s Barbershop in Knoxville ranks at the national level, as well, being rated as one of the “16 Best Barbershops in America” by Details Magazine. It manages to top the lists because of it’s fun, relaxing, and masculine atmosphere. Frank’s offers pool tables and dart boards for their clients, as well as ice-cold root beer. Along with this, Franks is known for a signature, bed-head-like style that drives the southern girls wild.
Whether you want to become a cosmetologist, manicurist, esthetician, or barber, Tennessee is definitely the place for you. To begin a career as a cosmetologist, manicurist or esthetician, you will need to be licensed through the Tennessee Board of Cosmetology. Becoming a barber in Tennessee starts with qualifying for a license through the Tennessee Board of Barber Examiners.
How to Become a Cosmetologist in Tennessee
Although they specialize in hairstyling services, cosmetologists are the most comprehensive of the beauty professionals in Tennessee, offering their creativity and innovation to provide hair, skin, and nail services.
Before beginning the process of obtaining a Tennessee cosmetology license, you should be at least 16 years old.
Education Requirements for Tennessee Cosmetologist
The first step toward attaining your Tennessee cosmetology license is enrolling in and graduating from a Tennessee cosmetology school. In beauty school, you will take a total of 1500-hours of training in both theoretical and practical aspects of cosmetology, including the following:
General – 300 hours
- Sterilization
- Sanitation and Bacteriology
- Anatomy and Physiology
- Shop Ethics
- Personality
- Sales
- State Law
Chemical – 600 hours
- Permanent Waves
- Hair Relaxer
- Coloring
- Bleaching and Toning
- Sculptured Nails
- Hair Structure
- Chemistry
Physical Services – 600 hours
- Sterilization
- Shampoo and rinses
- Hair Shaping
- Hairdressing and Styling
- Facials
- Eyebrow Arching
- Lash and Brow Tinting
- Manicures and Pedicures
Examination Requirements for License as a Tennessee Cosmetologist
After graduating from your cosmetology school, you will be eligible to pass the Tennessee cosmetology licensing exams, which are listed as follows:
- Cosmetologist Theory Examination given by PSI Services
- Cosmetologist Practical Examination given by PSI Services
Passing scores on the licensing exams will make you eligible to receive the Tennessee cosmetology license.
Job Opportunities for Cosmetologist
As a cosmetologist in Tennessee, you will be able to look for hairstyling jobs at local salons and spas. Jobs will either be part-time or full-time, and they will either offer hourly-pay or commission-based pay. Some more competitive jobs will offer both a guaranteed, base pay and commission on retail items.
The best cosmetologists in Tennessee, such as those at Element Salon, participate in ongoing education, where they take advanced, post-cosmetology school courses. These courses keep cosmetologists on the cutting-edge of beauty trends, techniques, and products, so that they can cater their services exactly to their clients’ needs. Nashville Lifestyle Magazine’s readers nominated Elaina Karras at Lucy Pop Salon as the 2014 winner for “Nashville’s Top Salons and Stylists.” She has reached the top through her precision haircutting, editorial styling, and the creative color options she offers her clients.
Other top-rated salons throughout Tennessee include:
- The Edge Salon – Brentwood
- Manhattan Salon – Cookeville
- Pixie Salon – Kingsport
Qualifications for Manicurists in Tennessee
Nails are a huge part of southern charm and style, and as a manicurist in Tennessee, you will focus on the art of nail care.
Before beginning the process toward earning a Tennessee manicurist license, you should be at least 16 years old.
Manicurist Education Requirements
To obtain your Tennessee manicurist license, you will first need to enroll in a 600-hour manicurist training program. These programs are often designed as nail specialty programs at larger beauty colleges.
In beauty school, you will learn the science and art of beautifying the nails, hands, and feet by taking the following courses:
General – 150 hours
- Sanitation
- Sterilization
- Bacteriology
- Anatomy
- State Law
- Salon Management
- Ethics
Chemical – 100 hours
- Product Knowledge
- Ingredients and Usage
- Manicuring and Pedicuring
Practical – 600 hours
- Massage
- Manicuring
- Pedicuring
- Nail Care
- Nail Art
- Nail Wraps
- Sculptured Nails
- Nail Tips
- Gel Nails
- Nail Safety
Manicurist Examination Requirements for a Tennessee License
After completing your beauty college training as a manicurist, you will be eligible to receive your license by passing the following Tennessee manicuring licensing exams:
- Manicurist Theory Examination given by PSI Services
- Manicurist Practical Examination given by PSI Services
Job Opportunities for Manicurists
Along with great styling, southern girls love their nails, and as a manicurist in Tennessee, you will find job opportunities that offer either a base, hourly pay or pay off of commission. To be paid off of commission, you will want to develop unique, signature trends, a strong clientele, and strong sales skills. You may even eventually go on to rent a station at an existing nail salon.
Melissa Stephens Nail Artistry offers the avant-garde service necessary to excel as a manicurist in Tennessee, offering services such as the “What the GEL?!” manicure. This manicure uses a state of the art Nail Harmony Gelish 18G LED lamp to protect clients from harsh, drying UV rays. Along with this service, she specializes in the “Hot Mess” pedi—taking her clients feet from a hot mess to a haute mess—the “Dashin’ Darlin” mani, and her two exclusive, men’s services—“Toes Before Bros,” and the “MANicure.” With creative, innovative services like these, it is clear why Melissa Stephens Nail Artistry is one of the best in Nashville.
For other great nail salons in Tennessee, consider some of the following options:
- Signature Nails Spa – Hillsboro Plaza Shopping Center, Nashville
- Allure Spa & Nails – Green Hills, Nashville
- AnitaManicure – Melrose, Nashville
How to Become an Aesthetician in Tennessee
Aestheticians are the beauty professionals who focus solely on skin care. As an aesthetician, you will learn the science and art behind skin care, making you a perfect makeup artist, facial treatment expert, or beauty advisor.
Before beginning the process toward qualifying for a Tennessee aesthetician license, you should be at least 16 years old.
Aesthetician Educational Requirements
To become a licensed aesthetician in Tennessee, you will start by graduating from a 750-hour aesthetician training program. This program may also be found within a larger beauty college.
In your aesthetician training program, you will learn the following skin care specialist subjects:
General – 150 hours
- Sterilization
- Sanitation and Bacteriology
- Professional Ethics
- Sales
- Anatomy and Physiology
- State Law
Chemical – 150 hours
- Skin Conditions and Disorders
- Nutrition
- Aging Factors
- Product Ingredients
- Waxing
- Lash and Brow tinting
- OSHA and EPA requirements
Physical – 450 hours
- Massage Movement and Manipulations
- Masks and Packs
- Facial Treatments
- Skin Analysis and consultation
- Application of Products
- Color Psychology
- Make Up
- Corrective Makeup
- Arching
Aesthetician Examination Requirements
Once graduating from your aesthetician training program, you get to pass the Tennessee aesthetician licensing exams:
- Aesthetician Theory Examination given by PSI Services
- Aesthetician Practical Examination given by PSI Services
Passing scores on these exams will enable you to get your Tennessee aesthetician license.
Aesthetician Job Opportunities
As an aesthetician, you may look for part-time or full-time jobs in salons, day spas, hotels or resorts, or even dermatology offices. As an aesthetician, you may be offered a base, hourly wage or commission-based pay, which will require you to have strong marketing and sales skills. You may also choose to work independently by renting a station in an established spa or salon, or even by opening one of your own.
To excel as an aesthetician in Tennessee, you will want to stay on the cutting edge of skin care trends, techniques, and products. Escape Day Spa & Salon reached the top through its innovative, creative facials, peels, and body treatments, so in the skin care industry, innovation equals success. Woodhouse Day Spa in Franklin is known for their unique services, including the minkyti facial, the four-handed massage, the rejuvenating microdermabrasion facial, and the volcanic stone massage.
Other top spas throughout Tennessee include:
- Spa At Oak Haven – Sevierville
- Westgate Smoke Mountain Resort & Spa – Gatlinburg
- Riverstone Resort and Spa – Pigeon Forge
How to Become a Barber in Tennessee
As a barber, you will awaken the classic, traditional art of men’s grooming by specializing in the cutting, trimming, and designing of men’s hair, beards, and mustaches.
Barber Education Requirements
To begin your career as a licensed barber in Tennessee, you will start by enrolling in a 1500-hour barber training program. This program will include training in both theoretical and practical barber subject areas, including the following:
General – 240 hours
- History and Fundamentals of Barbering
- Elementary Chemistry
- Barber Implements
- Shaving
- Skin, Scalp and Hair
- Haircutting and Hairstyling
- Hairpieces
- Chemical Theory (permanent waving, hair coloring, bleaching and straightening)
- Manicure and Nail care
- Anatomy and Physiology
- Makeup and Skin care
- Theory of Massage and Facial Treatment
- Disorders of the Skin, Scalp, and Hair
- Barber Law, Rules and Regulations
- Business Management and Salesmanship
Chemical – 360 hours
- Permanent Waving
- Relaxing
- Coloring, Bleaching and Toning
- Manicures
Physical – 900 hours
- Shampooing and Rinsing
- Hair Care
- Hair Cutting
- Shaving
- Hair styling
- Facials and Makeup
- Manicures
Barber Examination Requirements
After you complete your barber training program, you will be eligible to take both of the Tennessee barber licensing exams. After completing the following exams, you will be able to get your Tennessee barber license:
- Master Barber Theory Examination by PSI Services
- Master Barber Practical Examination by PSI Services
Barber Job Options
Barbers in Tennessee are likely to find part-time or full-time jobs at barbershops that will offer either a guaranteed, base, hourly pay or commission-based pay. Eventually, you may even choose to rent a chair in an established shop and go into business for yourself. To truly excel as a barber, you will want to develop a strong client-base, take advanced barbering courses, and hone your personal marketing skills.
Uncle Classic Barbershop, located in Belle Meade, Brentwood, and Cool Springs, encapsulates Tennessee’s personalized, relational method of beauty care, creating an atmosphere conducive to personal, customer relationships. Clients may come in for classic cuts, shaves, and color, such as buzz cuts, uncle cuts, child cuts, neck cleanups, straight edge razor shaves, and hot towel treatments. Along with this, the barbers here specialize in beard, goatee, and mustache trims, gray blending, and wedding packages, making it one of the best, all-inclusive shops around.
Other top-notch barbershops in the area include:
- Goodlettsville Barber Shop – Goodlettsville
- Reds Classic Barber Shop – Nashville
- Frank’s Barber Shop – Knoxville