How to Find the Best Barbering Academy Near Highland Park Illinois

Now that you have made a decision to attend a barber school near Highland Park IL, the process starts to find and enroll in the ideal school. It's imperative that the program you select not only furnishes the necessary education for the specialty you have selected, but also readies you for passing the licensing examination. When you begin your preliminary search, you may be rather confused about the distinction between beauty schools and cosmetology schools, which both may offer barbering programs. Well don't be, because the titles are essentially interchangeable and both pertain to the same kind of school. We'll speak a bit more concerning that in the following segment. If you intend on commuting to classes you will need to find a school that is within driving distance of your Highland Park residence. Tuition will likewise be an important aspect when reviewing prospective barber schools. Just keep in mind that because a school is the nearest or the lowest cost it's not always the best option. There are many other factors that you should weigh when comparing schools, for example their reputation and accreditation. We will go over what questions you should ask about the barber colleges you are looking at later within this article. Before we do, let's discuss a bit about what barbering is and why you may want to become a barber.

Why Become a Barber?

A barber is a professional who cuts, trims, and styles hair for primarily male clients, though many women with shorter hairstyles opt to go to these professionals too. Most barbers also provide facial hair maintenance, custom shaves and other men's grooming services. The goal of a barber is to make each client feel comfortable and at ease while their hair is being cut or styled. The barber also seeks to ensure that the client is happy with his or her hairstyle, length and color or his new facial hair style. They usually use tools such as scissors, clippers, razors, and combs Barbers may also provide other services such as applying lotions, shampooing, styling, coloring hair, and singeing. In addition, a barber may perform massage services for the scalp, neck, and face. Finally, barbers will typically bill the client, accept payment and tips and finalize the sale. They may also sell the client products such as shampoo, lotions, or tonics that will meet their styling, grooming and maintenance needs between appointments. They will clean their work area and tools according to the state's safety and sanitation requirements after each appointment.

What to Ask Barbering Colleges

Following is a list of questions that you will want to investigate for any barber school you are considering. As we have already covered, the location of the school relative to your Highland Park IL residence, in addition to the expense of tuition, will most likely be your primary qualifiers. Whether you would like to pursue a certificate, diploma or a degree will no doubt be next on your list. But once you have narrowed your school choices based on those initial qualifications, there are additional factors that you must research and consider before enrolling in a barber college. Following we have put together several of those additional questions that you need to ask every school before making a final decision.

Is the Barber College Accredited? It's important to make certain that the barber school you pick is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged local or national agency, such as the National Accrediting Commission for Cosmetology Arts & Sciences (NACCAS). Schools accredited by the NACCAS must comply with their high standards assuring a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be important for getting student loans or financial aid, which frequently are not available in Highland Park IL for non- accredited schools. It's also a prerequisite for licensing in some states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, a number of employers will not hire recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more positively upon individuals with accredited training.

Does the School have an Excellent Reputation?  Every barber school that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to excellent reputation within the field. Being accredited is an excellent starting point. Next, ask the schools for references from their network of employers where they have placed their students. Check that the schools have high job placement rates, showing that their students are highly regarded. Visit rating companies for reviews as well as the school's accrediting organizations. If you have any contacts with Highland Park IL barber shop owners or managers, or someone working in the trade, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are reviewing. They might even be able to suggest others that you had not considered. Finally, contact the Illinois school licensing authority to find out if there have been any grievances filed or if the schools are in complete compliance.

What’s the School’s Focus?  A number of cosmetology schools offer programs that are broad in nature, concentrating on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a particular specialty, such as barbering. Schools that offer degree programs often broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's imperative that you choose a school that specializes in your area of interest. Since your goal is to be trained as a barber, make certain that the school you enroll in is accredited and respected for that program. If your aspiration is to start a barber shop in Highland Park IL, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will instruct you how to be an owner/operator. Choosing a highly ranked school with a weak program in barbering will not provide the training you require.

Is Any Hands-On Training Provided?  Practicing and perfecting barbering skills and techniques demands lots of practice on volunteers. Check how much live, hands-on training is furnished in the barber classes you will be attending. Some schools have shops on site that enable students to practice their growing talents on volunteers. If a Highland Park IL barber school furnishes minimal or no scheduled live training, but instead depends predominantly on using mannequins, it might not be the most effective alternative for developing your skills. So search for other schools that furnish this kind of training.

Does the School Provide Job Assistance?  As soon as a student graduates from a barber college, it's important that she or he gets help in landing that very first job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that provide assistance develop relationships with local businesses that are seeking skilled graduates available for hiring. Check that the programs you are looking at have job placement programs and ask which Highland Park IL area shops and organizations they refer students to. Also, find out what their job placement rates are. High rates not only confirm that they have wide networks of employers, but that their programs are highly respected as well.

Is Financial Assistance Offered?  Almost all barber schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Find out if the schools you are investigating have a financial aid office. Speak with a counselor and identify what student loans or grants you might qualify for. If the school belongs to the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships offered to students too. If a school fulfills each of your other qualifications except for expense, do not eliminate it as an alternative until you determine what financial aid may be provided in Highland Park IL.

How to Train to Be a Barber in Highland Park

Choose in the Right Highland Park Barber College

Finding and enrolling in the ideal barber school is imperative to get the proper training to become a licensed technician. Be sure to ask all the questions that you need to in order to feel confident about your decision. Make certain to collect all of the responses you receive from the barber school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then use that information to compare schools. A good start in your due diligence process is to make certain that the institution and program you decide on are accredited and have excellent reputations within the field. If you begin with that foundation, and address the additional questions presented in this article, you will be able to filter your list of schools so that you can make the right choice. And when you graduate and pass your licensing examination, you will be confident that you are qualified to begin your career as a professional barber in Highland Park Illinois.

Highland Park Barbering Schools | Highland Park Barber Academy