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Cosmetology is the field that is constantly developing in recent years, and the demands for them are increasing all the time.
Women, as well as men, are more interested in their look and attractiveness, and eager to pay what it needs to become more beautiful.
That is when a cosmetologist comes into play, as he/she is the person people believe that knows to help them achieve what the want.
And all their hopes are put into a cosmetologist.
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By starting a conversation with shy clients, and listening empathetically to talkative ones, cosmetologist makes people feel important.
Job Description
Cosmetologists are people who are educated to change hairstyles, nails and to apply makeup to help their clients look and feel their best.
They can be found working their own or somebody else’s salons, spas, hotels, and resorts.
Even though they might specialize in providing certain services, their employees might also ask them to be multi-talented and do various tasks.
Their characteristics should be aesthetic sense and creativity to know exactly what looks good on individual people, a desire to make their customers happy and endurance as they are on their feet.
The better positioned are manicurists as they are seated, but it is not easy at all to be in the same position almost all day.
Cosmetology Programs in Colorado
For those who consider becoming a cosmetologist in Colorado, it is necessary to complete cosmetology school.
Most schools last from 9 to15 months to complete with around 1,600 training hours.
However, when choosing the appropriate program you should have in mind that the Colorado Office of Barber and Cosmetology recognizes cosmetology programs offered by the Division of Private Occupational Schools and Colorado Community College System.
It can be noticed that Colorado regulations are a bit different from other states as it recognizes the completion of credit hours for licensure and the 60 credit hour stop of Form Bottom of Form results in an associate degree.
When it comes to Colorado regulations, they are:
- Cosmetologist- 60 semester hours
- Hairstylist- 40 semester hours
- Barber- 50 semester hours
- Nail technology- 20 semester hours
- Esthetician- 20 hours
After just a few months you become licensed and can start working in no time.
License
To get the license, you will need to fulfill some prerequisites, such as 16 years of age and completed the required credit hours.
Only then you can take a written and practical examination.
So, you must complete a Licensure by Examination Application, organized through the Colorado Cosmetology Licensure Portal, which needs to be approved before you will be allowed to schedule your examinations.
The application fee is $27 and it takes 48 hours to approve the application.
Cosmetology Exams in Colorado
The examination for a license consists of both written and practical part.
PSI is in charge of practical examination and it has testing centers throughout Colorado in:
- Colorado Springs
- Grand Junction
- Durango
The practical examination usually lasts about 2 hours and 20 minutes.
PSI will inform you about whether you passed the exam or not and if you did it successfully, you can schedule and pay for the written examination through PSI
The written examination in Colorado can be done in:
- Colorado Springs
- Grand Junction
- Durango
- Pueblo
- Farmington, New Mexico
- Las Cruces, New Mexico
- Roswell, New Mexico
- Santa Fe, New Mexico
- Hurricane, Utah
- North Orem (Provo), Utah
- North Salt Lake City, Utah
- Albuquerque, New Mexico
You can expect the written examination to last about 2 hours.
The practical examination costs $71 while the written examination costs $56.
There is a limited time from applying until the passing of both examinations.
It is one year, and if you do not finish both exams, you will need to apply again and pay the fee.
If you have completed both examinations, you will get the license.
Keeping Your License Current in Colorado
The Colorado law determines that licenses expire biennially on April 30.
To be able to work in salons, spas or hotels in Colorado, you must keep your license current.
The renewal does not require further education, even though some cosmetologists decide to take some business and management courses in case they open their salons and are thinking about being self-employed, or visit cosmetology fairs to get acquainted with new trends that fully differ from the trends that were current the previous year.
The more hours you put in your education and training, the better sense you get about what will be great for your client and what would not suit him/her.
Average Annual Cosmetologist Salary in Colorado
A beauty salon is a business and it may benefit if you to move it to an area that has higher employment for cosmetologists and at the same time higher salaries.
The metropolitan areas in Colorado that have the highest pay rate for a cosmetologist are:
- Boulder-Longmont
- Denver-Aurora
- Colorado Springs
- Fort Collins-Loveland
- Pueblo
- Greeley
- Grand Junction
The population is constantly growing and beauty care treatments will be required even more, so the demand for hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists in Colorado will increase.
How much a cosmetologist will earn depends on many factors, such as the amount of daily job, experience, and education, success in the job and prominence of the salon.
Another interesting factor that might influence the salary, and at the same time allow the cosmetologist to negotiate it with the employer is the individual cosmetologist’s work history.
Colorado cosmetologists are not among those who earn too much, as their average annual salary varies from $ 24 190 in Pueblo, up to $ 26 774 in Boulder.
Annual Salary Range:| Location | Avg. Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Arvada,CO | $26,390 |
| Aurora,CO | $26,373 |
| Boulder,CO | $26,774 |
| Broomfield,CO | $26,504 |
| Castle Rock,CO | $26,004 |
| Colorado Springs,CO | $26,043 |
| Denver,CO | $26,390 |
| Fort Collins,CO | $25,308 |
| Grand Junction,CO | $25,445 |
| Greeley,CO | $25,447 |
| Jefferson,CO | $26,321 |
| Loveland,CO | $25,273 |
| Pueblo,CO | $24,190 |
| Westminster,CO | $26,390 |
Regional Salary in Colorado
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boulder, CO | 610 | $49,170 | $23.64 | $94,010 | $28,960 |
| Colorado Springs, CO | 880 | $48,200 | $23.17 | $84,750 | $27,610 |
| Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO | 4,670 | $44,910 | $21.59 | $89,980 | $30,060 |
| Fort Collins, CO | 580 | $55,640 | $26.75 | $102,560 | $28,750 |
| Grand Junction, CO | 190 | $46,200 | $22.21 | $82,280 | $27,960 |
| Greeley, CO | 220 | $40,010 | $19.24 | $59,590 | $28,630 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Summary
To be a successful cosmetologist in Colorado, you will need to have the ability to multi-task, eagerness and willingness to work with many clients in one day and to be ready to fulfill their demands and wishes.
As with any other profession, your availability, flexibility, and politeness, as well as your skillfulness are of crucial importance to maintain your business and keep the clients come back to you.
Read the full guide: How to Become a Cosmetologist
Cosmetology by State