Did you know there is a difference between a cosmetologist and esthetician? If you’ve ever wondered what the difference is, keep reading. If you’ve never wondered what the difference is, keep reading anyway. You don’t want to miss this ride on Ashley’s education express. I would like to mention that I’m in Arkansas so the laws, rules and regulations discussed will apply to Arkansas. Now that that’s out of the way, ALL ABOARD!
The Arkansas State Board of Health defines an esthetician as an ”any person who engages in the practice of beautifying the body by cleaning, waxing, externally manipulating, or stimulating the body by means with the hands, devices, apparatus, or appliances with or without the use of cosmetic preparations, antiseptics, tonics, lotions, and creams." Arkansas State Board requires 600 hours of education and practical experience before you are eligible to take your written and practical exams for licensure. The curriculum includes anatomy, biology, chemistry, electricity, and much more. After you pass both the written and practical exam, you are licensed by the Department of Health and can perform esthetic services like facials, lashes, waxing and etc...
Estheticians, electrolysis and cosmetologists all fall under the general umbrella of cosmetology or the “art of cosmetology”. They define a cosmetologist as someone that (A) Engages in the practice of cosmetology in a licensed cosmetological establishment. The “art of cosmetology” includes all and any combination of the following practices: (1) arranging, dressing, curling, waving, machineless permanent waving, permanent waving, cleansing, cutting, singeing, bleaching, tinting, coloring, straightening, dyeing, brushing, beautifying, or otherwise treating by any means the hair of any person or wigs or hairpieces; (2) Externally manipulating, cleaning, waxing, or stimulating the body with the hands, devices, apparatus, or appliances with or without the use of cosmetic preparations, antiseptics, tonics, lotions, or creams; (3) Beautifying the body by using cosmetic preparations, antiseptics, tonics, lotions or creams; (4) Temporarily removing superfluous hair from the body of any person by the use of depilatories or by the use of tweezers, chemicals, or preparations or by the use of devices or appliances of any kind or description, except by the use of light waves, commonly known as rays; (5) Cutting, trimming, polishing, tinting, coloring, cleansing, or manicuring the nails of any person; and (6) Massaging, cleansing, or beautifying the nails of any person.
Okay, that’s the legal definition according to the Arkansas Department of Health but what does that mean for you? Let me break it down:
Esthetician (think skin) -
Focuses on skin, lash, beauty/makeup and body services
600 hours of classroom training
Required to pass a written and practical exam that shows competency in providing safe esthetic services
Cosmetologist (think hair) -
Focuses on hair, lash, nail and beauty/makeup services
1500 hours of classroom training but only 100 hours is dedicated to skin.
Required to pass a written and practical exam that shows competency in hair services—not skin
Estheticians are trained, tested and regulated in the services they provide. Many states allow cosmetologists to preform services they are not always adequately trained in or tested on. Let’s pause before I upset my cosmo sisters. It’s all love here. There are many cosmetologists that have a sincere interest in skincare and have taken additional courses to learn the esthetic side. That is perfectly fine and embraced by estheticians. My first educator at The Salon Professional Academy is a cosmetologist and her love, excitement, and knowledge of skincare was inspiring. The problem is when cosmologists feel they learned exactly want an esthetician did in school and may perform the same services without proper training. Many schools do not allow cosmetology students to perform any facials that include chemicals, extractions or modalities, but they can once licensed.
So what do you do? Your research. Of course I suggest visiting an Esthetician for your skincare needs. If you have heart problems, you would go to a cardiologist, not a dentist. If you go to a cosmetologist for anything other than a basic facial, verify they have received appropriate training for the service they are providing. There are some cosmetologists that are very passionate about skincare and have invested many additional hours in education. Research and talk to your esthetician about additional training as well. In either profession, continuing education and passion is imperative. No matter which route you take, your professional should be licensed, trained, and educated in the industry.
Until next time….