Imagine a career field where you can express yourself artistically, do what you love, and support yourself with a good income that includes daily cash flow in the form of generous tips. The field of beauty and cosmetology in West Virginia offers exactly these opportunities.
For cosmetologists, hairdressers, and hair stylists, the greater Washington DC metropolitan area – which includes parts of West Virginia – is among the top-10 urban areas in the nation when it comes to highest average salaries for these salon professionals.
This area is also in the top-10 for offering the largest number of jobs for skincare specialists. Statewide, the number of jobs for skincare specialists is projected to expand over the decade leading up to 2022, according to West Virginia’s Economic and Labor Market Information agency.
West Virginia is also an exciting place to work if you are a makeup artist. In the past these professionals have worked on the set of famous films that include The Silence of the Lambs and Lassie.
To work in the salon industry you will need to obtain a license specific to your trade. Whether you’re interested in providing hair care services, manicuring, or skincare services, as a salon professional you’ll need a specialty license issued through the West Virginia State Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists.
How to Become a Cosmetologist in West Virginia
As a licensed cosmetologist, you will primarily work as a hair stylist. Between providing haircuts, hair treatments, coloring and other hairdressing services you will be able to provide your clients with facials, makeup services, manis and pedis and all other services that licensed estheticians and nail technicians can provide.
If you decide you want to provide barber services, you can complete additional courses and obtain a cross-over barber-cosmetology license.
Cosmetology Schools in West Virginia
To ensure you are well educated in such a broad range of skills, your beauty school curriculum must be at least 1,800 hours in length. It will include classes in the subjects of:
- Nail technology, manicures, pedicures, nail designs, and nail enhancements
- Aesthetics, makeup, hair removal, and skin care
- Chemical hair services and coloring
- Hair styling, braiding, cutting, extensions, shampooing, and conditioning
- Skin diseases and the properties of the scalp and hair
- West Virginia state law, business practices, and business ethics
- Sanitation and disinfection
Required Cosmetologist Examinations
You will need to pass two examinations before you can become licensed as a cosmetologist, and these are both administered by the company DL Roope Administrations:
Job Opportunities for Cosmetologists in West Virginia
As a licensed cosmetologist you will have a relatively wide range of flexibility when it comes to finding jobs and employers throughout West Virginia. You can potentially work in any of these fields:
- Hair design, cutting, and styling salons
- Cosmetic companies and retail stores
- Nail salons
- Film, opera, and theatre companies seeking makeup artists or hair stylists
- Skin care companies
- Beauty salons and day spas
As you develop your skills and establish a loyal client base you can consider submitting a Shop License Application. This will allow you to open your own cosmetology establishment as an independent business owner.
How to Become a Hair Stylist in West Virginia
As a licensed hair stylist you will be able to offer your clients services that include:
- Hair cutting, styling, braiding, and extensions
- Wigs and hair additions
- Hair coloring
- Chemical texture services
Hair Styling Schools in West Virginia
The beauty school where you choose to complete your education must offer a hair styling curriculum that is at least 1,000 hours in length. This will include coverage of topics like:
- Business management and ownership
- West Virginia state law
- Sanitation, safety, and first aid
- Infection control
- Principles of electricity and chemistry
- Principles of hair design and scalp care
- Hair cutting, styling, braiding, and extensions
Examinations to Become a Hair Stylist
You will need to pass two examinations that are both offered through DL Roope Administrations:
Hair Stylist Employers in West Virginia
Salon establishments represent one of the largest employers of hair stylists in West Virginia. Once you have established yourself you can consider filing a Chair Rental Registration that will allow you to work as an independent professional. You may recognize some of West Virginia’s well established salons, including:
- Syrra Salon in Charleston
- Hair we Are in Charleston
- Jeannie’s Hair Care Studio in Charleston
- Hair Loft in Wheeling
- Lauran Kirk Hair Artistry in Morgantown
How to Become a Nail Technician in West Virginia
As a nail technician, you will be able to offer your clients services such as:
- Manicures and pedicures
- Nail tips, wraps, and wax treatments
- Nail UV gel and polishing
- Creative nail designs
- Hand, arm, foot, and leg massages
Nail Technician Schools in West Virginia
As part of the approved education you complete to become eligible for licensure, you must complete at least 400 hours of curriculum that covers:
- Manicuring and pedicuring techniques and methods
- Polymer powder and monomer liquid nail enhancements
- Electric and manual nail filing
- Extra nail feature options and applications
- Nail structure, anatomy, physiology, growth, and diseases
- Nail technician infection control
- State law, business management, and business ethics
- First aid and sanitation
- Massage techniques for the hands, arms, legs, and feet
Examinations to Become a Nail Technician
You will need to pass these two exams to become eligible for licensure in West Virginia:
You can sign up for both these examinations through the company DL Roope Administrations once you have completed your education.
Nail Technician Employers in West Virginia
Nail salons are the predominant employer of nail technicians. If you demonstrate a strong commitment towards perfection and establishing a client base you can consider options like applying for a Shop License Application that will allow you to rent space as an independent business owner in an existing nail facility or day spa.
Some of West Virginia’s most well-known locations include:
- Prestigious Nail Spa in South Charleston
- Nail Pizazz in Charleston
- Rainbow Nail in Charleston
- TQ Nails in Parkersburg
- Hollywood Nails in Parkersburg
- Ocean Nails and Spa in Huntington
How to Become an Aesthetician in West Virginia
Working as a licensed aesthetician, you can provide your clients with services and treatments that include:
- Skin analysis and skin care
- Application of makeup
- Facial treatments
- Facial massage
- Application of skin care products
Aesthetician Schools in West Virginia
To become an aesthetician, you must complete a course of study that is at least 600 hours. This will include the study of topics such as:
- Application and techniques of makeup, hair removal, and facial treatments
- Basic elements of chemistry, nutrition, and electricity
- Skin sciences, skin analysis, and skin disorders
- Skin treatments and the chemistry of skin products
- Business management, ownership, and customer relations
- State law and business ethics
- Infection control, hygiene, and first aid
Required Aesthetician Examinations for Licensure
To be eligible for an aesthetician license you will need to pass two exams that are offered through the company DL Roope Administrations:
Aesthetician Employers in West Virginia
As an aesthetician you can have the possibility of working in several different types of beauty establishments that range from medical spas to cosmetic massage studios. In West Virginia these include:
- Touch of Bliss MediSpa in Huntington
- Oasis Spa in Charleston
- Tracie’s Beauty Cottage and Day Spa in Charleston
- Massage Envy in Charleston
- The Skin Studio in Parkersburg
How to Become a Makeup Artist in West Virginia
West Virginia does not provide for a specific makeup artist license. However, if you want to work as a makeup artist you must obtain one of these licenses:
- Aesthetician License
- Cosmetologist License
Makeup Artist Employers in West Virginia
As a makeup artist you may find companies in a number of fields that are seeking professionals with your talents. These can range from film production companies and opera or theatre troupes to professional cosmetic companies. In West Virginia this includes:
- ULTA Salon, Cosmetics and Fragrance in Charleston
- Specialty Retailers in Lewisburg
- Motion Masters Corporate Video Production and Design Studio in Dunbar near Charleston
- Charleston Light Opera Guild
- LimeLight Theatre Company in Charleston
- Copely’s Beauty Salon in Huntington
How to Become a Barber in West Virginia
Becoming licensed as a barber will allow you to perform services for your customers such as:
- Hair cutting, styling, and extensions, especially as these procedures relate to men
- Shaving and facial hair design
- Mustache maintenance
If you decide you also want to provide the services of a cosmetologist, you can complete additional courses of study and obtain a barber-cosmetologist cross-over license.
Barber Schools in West Virginia
In order to become qualified for licensure as a barber, you will need to graduate from an approved school that includes at least 1,200 hours of curriculum content. This will cover:
- History of barbering
- Disorders and properties of the skin, scalp, and hair
- Shaving and beard trimming techniques
- Mustache maintenance
- Hair cutting, styling, and extensions
- State law, human relations, effective communication, and business management
- Infection control, first aid, and disinfection
West Virginia also allows for you to qualify for licensure by completing a barber apprenticeship. You will still need to complete this curriculum, and your length of apprenticeship must be at least 2,400 hours.
Required Examinations to Become a Barber
You will also have to pass the following two exams to be eligible for licensure, both of which are managed by the company DL Roope Administrations:
Job Opportunities for Barbers in West Virginia
As a barbershop employee or owner you will be responsible for attracting your own clients and providing services that keep them coming back. With enough of a following you can consider filing a Shop License Application that will allow you to open your own business independently.
- Walker’s Barber Shop in Parkersburg
- King’s Row Barber Shop in Huntington
- Fuscardo’s Barber Shop in Weirton
- Tops Off Barber Shop, Salon, and Spa in Charleston
- Drive in Barber Shop in Charleston