Wyoming’s salon industry offers exciting prospects and stable employment. Offering a unique level of independence and a near-endless number of opportunities to express yourself artistically in a field you love, Wyoming’s Labor Market Information service shows outstanding growth figures for salon jobs (projections are for the period between 2012 and 2022):
- Skincare specialists – 32.1% growth statewide
- Manicurists and pedicurists – 7% growth statewide
- Personal appearance professionals in general – 6.3% growth statewide
- Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists – 4.5% growth statewide
Additionally, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reveals that of all rural regions in the nation, Southwestern Wyoming offers the fourth-highest average salary for beauty professional who work as cosmetologists, hairdressers, and hairstylists.
Beauty professionals are licensed through the Wyoming Board of Cosmetology. The exception to this is barbers, who work with the Board of Barber Examiners. To be eligible for licensure in all beauty professions you are required to complete a specific number of hours of study in one of ten approved beauty colleges located throughout the state.
How to Become a Cosmetologist in Wyoming
Although you’ll primarily focus on hair, as a cosmetologist you can offer your clients services that are associated with any of these professions:
- Hair styling and hair cutting
- Nail technicians
- Estheticians
- Makeup artists
You can also offer services that are associated with barbers, though a barber’s education includes more of a focus on working with facial hair.
Required Cosmetology Education in Wyoming
To be eligible for a cosmetology license you must graduate from an approved cosmetology school or general beauty college whose curriculum includes at least 2,000 hours of study on topics that include:
- Hair styling and hair cutting techniques and methods
- Scalp, hair, nail, and skin anatomy, physiology, and chemistry
- Makeup application techniques
- Skincare technology and tools
- Business and professional ethics
- Wyoming state laws
Required Cosmetology Exams
You will need to pass two exams before you will be eligible for licensure. The Wyoming Board of Cosmetology in Casper administers both exams:
- Cosmetology Written Examination – covers your knowledge of hair, skin, and nail care services, as well as scientific concepts associated with these fields
- Cosmetology Practical Examination – you will have 145 minutes to complete a series of hair, nail, and skin care procedures in front of an evaluator
Cosmetology Employers in Wyoming
As a cosmetologist you will have the option of working in several different fields of beauty. Being a licensed cosmetologist gives you the most flexibility of all beauty professions, allowing you to work in places like:
- Hair styling and hair cutting establishments
- Beauty salons and spas
- Nail salons
- Cosmetic companies
- Makeup artist for theatre or opera companies and film production studios
Seasons Day Spa and Salon in Casper is one example of the type of place you could work as a cosmetologist. This establishment offers cosmetology services like mud masks, salt body treatments, body wraps, facials, and chemical peels. At this spa you would offer your services alongside licensed massage therapists.
How to Become a Hair Stylist in Wyoming
As a hair stylist you can offer your clients services that are related to hair styling and hair cutting, including coloring, relaxing, perms, and much more. If you want to specialize in services that also relate to facial hair you should look into becoming licensed as a barber or as a barber-stylist. In these cases you will need to complete a different series of examinations.
Required Hair Stylist Education in Wyoming
To be eligible for a license you will need to graduate from an approved hair stylist school that offers a curriculum that is at least 1,000 hours in length. This will include a study of subjects like:
- Theory of hair and the scalp, plus the chemistry and technology associated with these topics
- Application of hair and scalp technology, to include things like waving, relaxing, coloring, lightening, cutting, shaping, braiding, and curling
- Disinfection and safety procedures
- Business ethics and professional standards
- Wyoming cosmetology and hair styling law
Required Hair Styling Examinations
You will need to pass the following examinations before you can become licensed. The Wyoming Board of Cosmetology in Casper administers both exams:
- Hair Stylist Written Examination – covers hair services and hair care, plus the scientific concepts associated with both of these subjects
- Hair Stylist Practical Examination – you will have 110 minutes to complete a series of hair styling procedures in front of an evaluator
Hair Stylist Employers in Wyoming
As a hair stylist it is typical to work at a pre-existing establishment as an employee. However you also have the option of renting out space as an independent business owner by filling out an Independent Contractor Application. Once you develop a business model you are highly confident in, you can even fill out an Application for a Salon License to open up your own place.
Existing hair salons in Wyoming include:
- Jay’s Hair Salon in Laramie
- Ambience Hair Salon in Laramie
- La Hair Boutique in Gillette
- Texture Salon and Spa in Cody
- Frost Salon in Jackson
How to Become a Nail Technician in Wyoming
As a nail technician you can offer your clients services that include:
- Manicures
- Pedicures
- Nail tip sculpting
- Filing
- Nail coloring that includes gels, acrylic paints, and wraps
- Nail ornamentation
Required Nail Technician Education in Wyoming
To become licensed you will need to graduate from an approved nail technician education program that is at least 400 hours in length. As part of your curriculum you will study subjects that include:
- Anatomy, physiology, structure, and diseases of nails
- Disinfection, infection control, and safety
- Electric filing techniques
- Application techniques of acrylics, wraps, exfoliation agents, and gels
- Hand and foot massage
- Wyoming state law
Required Nail Technician Examinations
Casper is the location where the Wyoming Board of Cosmetology will administer both the examinations you must pass to become eligible for licensure:
- Nail Technician Written Examination – covers nail technology procedures and concepts
- Nail Technician Practical Examination – you will complete a series of nail technician procedures over the course of 100 minutes
Nail Technician Employers in Wyoming
As a nail technician you have the option of searching for a commissioned or hourly job with an existing establishment. You can even work independently by renting a station or opening your own nail salon by filling out an Application for a Salon License.
You may already recognize some of Wyoming’s best known nail salons:
- Raindrop Natural Nail Spa in Cheyenne
- Nails Unique in Cheyenne
- Envy Nails and Spa in Casper
- Digits Nail Salon in Casper
- Absolute Acrylic Nail Spa in Laramie
How to Become an Esthetician in Wyoming
As an esthetician you will be able to provide services that focus on skincare, including those associated with a makeup artist. Before you can be eligible for an esthetician license you will need to complete a prescribed course of education.
Required Esthetician Education in Wyoming
Your first step in becoming an esthetician will be to graduate from an approved esthetician beauty school that offers at least 600 hours of classes that cover the subjects of:
- Anatomy, physiology, and chemistry of skin
- Application and options for skincare treatments, including facials, exfoliation, extraction, hair removal, and chemical treatments
- Makeup application techniques and skin analysis
- Professional ethics and business standards
- Wyoming laws and regulations
Required Examinations
To be eligible for licensure you will need to pass two examinations that are both given on select dates in Casper by the Wyoming Board of Cosmetology:
- Esthetician Written Examination – covers the methods and science of esthetics
- Esthetician Practical Examination – you will perform a series of esthetician procedures in front of an evaluator
Esthetician Employers in Wyoming
As an esthetician you can work in a number of venues including salons, spas, and cosmetic companies – virtually anywhere skincare specialists are needed. In Wyoming options can include:
- Mirror Images Salon and Spa in Gillette
- Cartouche Day Spa and Boutique in Laramie
- Four Seasons Beauty Salon in Laramie
- Macy’s in Casper
- Adora Day Spa
How to Become a Makeup Artist in Wyoming
As a makeup artist you can work in a variety of Wyoming’s beauty industries:
- Film and television production studios
- Stage performance companies
- Cosmetic companies
- Salons and day spas
The Wyoming Board of Cosmetology does not specifically license makeup artists, and you do not need a license to practice as a makeup artist if facial makeup is the only service you offer. You also do not need a license if you work as a makeup artist for a cosmetic company.
However, to be more flexible many makeup artists choose to obtain either of the following licenses to be more competitive and offer extra services for their clients:
- Esthetician license
- Cosmetology license
Makeup Artist Employers in Wyoming
Many businesses and companies need the services that a makeup artist can provide. You will find that makeup artist employers can be anyone from event managers to high-end salons. Depending on the type of business you operate, you may need to fill out an Independent Contractor Application.
Makeup artists can work for establishments that include:
- Bare Escentuals in Casper
- KGB Productions, a commercial video production company in Jackson Hole
- Opera Theatre in Laramie
- Bamboo Spa and Salon in Casper
- Dance Academy in Casper
How to Become a Barber in Wyoming
As a licensed barber you will be able to offer services like:
- Hair singing, shampooing, dyeing, and perming
- Beard and mustache trimming and shaving
- Application of cosmetic preparations like clay, lotions, powders, and antiseptics
Your first step in becoming licensed will be to complete the required amount of barbering education.
Required Education to Become a Barber in Wyoming
You will need to complete 1,000 hours of barbering education from an approved school. The curriculum you study will include coverage of these topics:
- Mustache and beard trimming techniques, including the use of clippers and a razor
- Nose, ear, and eyebrow hair trimming
- Hair cutting and styling techniques
- Safety, sanitation, and disinfection
- Wyoming state laws and regulations
If you are already a licensed hair stylist you do not need to complete additional education to be eligible to take the barber-stylist examination.
Required Examinations
You will need to pass the barber exam, which is administered by the State Board of Barber Examiners. This will evaluate you on your knowledge of barbering and can consist of written, oral, and performance-based portions.
The barber-stylist examination is similar in content to the regular barber examination.
Barber Employers in Wyoming
As a barber you have the option to work for an already existing barbershop, or you can fill out a Barber Shop Application and open your own establishment. Some of the state’s best known digs include:
- Elite Barber Shop in Cheyenne
- Trujillo’s Barber Shop in Cheyenn
- White Swan Barber Shop in Sheridan
- Ferris Barber Shop in Rawlins
- Wayne’s Barber Shop in Green River