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Why do people look down on going to school for cosmetology?

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I think because some see it as a profession for the non-educated. Also, some cosmetologist perpetuate the steortypes that are attached to their profession. Every salon i've been to, the majority of the stylists were ghetto, spoke poorly, and gossiped terribly.
 
They do not understand how lucrative and flexible it can be. You do not have to have a traditional 9 to 5 in order to be able to take care of yoursef/your family and have a good life. Some people will never be able to "think outside the box" when it comes to things like that.
 
shenitab said:
They do not understand how lucrative and flexible it can be. You do not have to have a traditional 9 to 5 in order to be able to take care of yoursef/your family and have a good life. Some people will never be able to "think outside the box" when it comes to things like that.
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I agree. My friend wants to open up a salon and I want to help her (partner with her).
 
maybe because it seems easy to do? For most, the only way to fail at cosmetology school is to not go. (disclaimer--these aren't my thoughts btw)
 
Yes I don't get it either. Especially when the people that seem to look down on it are the same people that use the said services on a frequent basis....
 
I think it's like a black man wanting the be a rapper. People either feel like EVERYBODY wants to do it, see it as a pipe dream or feel the person is an underachiever. In terms of cosmetology, I feel it's not right for people to feel that way, especially when a successful cosmetologist/stylist could make a great living.
 
I never heard anyone look down on it so I guess it depends on who you hang around. In my world when anyone gets a professional license we say things like "good for you" and "congrats". I don't think cosmetology school is that easy - but it's not school that makes you a cosmetologist - rather it's earning your state licensing exam. Passing the exam is not guaranteed and not everyone passes on the first go.
 
I think its because people (in general) tend to look down upon jobs in the service industry in general as hard work for little pay. Its one of the main reasons why we aren't graduating people from high schools with skills as much as we used to.

However, people tend to overlook the high upsides to many cosmetologist who go on to become business owners and valued members in their community. Not to mention the income potential for talent.
 
I have absolutely no idea. You're not exactly a dummy if you do to hair school. You learn an astronomical amount of biology, chemistry and anatomy. You're studying something outside of the norm. You have the ability to gain fame from it. I dunno...
 
because it's a trade. it doesn't require a college degree, and it's a job of service(labor intense) plus it can be unstable at times.
my parents gave me a hard time, and demanded i go to college instead of cosmetology school. they told me i needed to get a good education and get a stable 9-5, with benefits.

well i did all of that. it didn't work out too well for me. my passion was to be in the beauty industry and that's what i'm doing now!
 
People lood down on anything that is not traditional. It's not the "traditional"form of eduaction, college is.

I personally don't care how you choose to educate yourself because not all learning is done in a formal setting, nor is it necessary.

As long as you are a happy, educated, and contributing to society I am happy. So do you whatever makes you feel happy. If cosmetology is what makes some people happy; so be it. Everyone else just needs to stop judging and deal with it.
 
I don't know of anyone that looks down on it. The ladies that worked in the salon I used to go to drove Range Rovers, BMW's.... Owned homes and rental properties. They make GOOD money and only worked 4 days a week. I looked UP to them LOL. :)

Some people think the only way to make 6 figures is to become a lawyer or doctor and this just isn't the case anymore.
 
It's sad that they do. I would *love* to go to cosmetology school, but I've got an old school family and have spent too many years in school studying other things. But I love all things beauty; makeup, hair, etc. and would love to incorporate that into a career.
 
Its not as we say in jamaica a "book learning" career
Not everyone will have the means, aptitude or desire to go to college
but its a skill and skills training has always been promoted here.

i know of many many persons who rlly wanted to do cosmetology, woodwork (furniture making) etc but were talked out of it by parents who wanted them to be accountants etc.

Oh and its looked down on because ppl assume that one only turns to such professions if you aren’t capable of doing anything else.
 
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because people don't consider it a real school. If you go to cosmetology school that means you couldn't make it in real school. :/

Tbh I don't think you should look down on people's jobs w/e it is.

And those that say they don't see people look down on them. Um on this site people look down on stylists. They also look down on you if you don't make a certain amount of money, don't go to college or have blue collar job. Or that's what I get from a lot of threads.
 
OT but along the same lines. Roux mentioned it's not traditional college. I tend to agree with this philosophy because my dh is a firefighter and before anyone cares to find out his career a few ppl nosey folk at work have asked, what is your husband's degree or does your husband have a degree. Well, he's not degreed and when I tell them he's not, they will say "oooh" -- that's all fine and good because you know what, his pay check is not "oooh" it's "oooh wow!" So with that in mind, they can keep thinking what they want.
 
Man, I wondered this as well. I think it's because it's a trade school rather than traditional college. I have an advanced degree and I've even considered Cosmetology school because I was into a lot of hair and beauty at one point. I have a friend that's a lawyer who's considering that and being an aesthetician. They're very lucrative. My weavologist makes well over 6 figures out of her own home alone this is even before she decided to go get her license.

I also think a lot of people want to make themselves feel better by looking down on others who perform trade skills for a living. It validates them going to college, yet, if someone is working 4 days out of the week living better than you & your job behind a desk, who's really winning?
 
Do you guys remember in Grease when Frenchie (the dumb one) dropped out of high school and went to beauty school instead (and then she was bad at that too)? It's images like that in the media that give a negative perception of cosmetology. Furthermore, I have never met a cosmetologist that actually knew anything about hair (I also rarely go to the salon so I know they are out there, I just have not met them), but at the same time, not everyone who graduates from college is smart so...

Also, for some reason...it seems like any time someone says something ridiculous about hair they always back it up with, "Well my mother is a cosmetologist so I know about hair..." i.e. that crazy girl in the nappy natural hair article posted a little bit ago, and this dude who told me that it's a scientific fact that blacks have "lesser" hair.
 
divachyk said:
OT but along the same lines. Roux mentioned it's not traditional college. I tend to agree with this philosophy because my dh is a firefighter and before anyone cares to find out his career a few ppl nosey folk at work have asked, what is your husband's degree or does your husband have a degree. Well, he's not degreed and when I tell them he's not, they will say "oooh" -- that's all fine and good because you know what, his pay check is not "oooh" it's "oooh wow!" So with that in mind, they can keep thinking what they want.
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I think it comes down to the mentality that if you haven't gone to college you can't make $$$$.

The sad reality is, I know a number of college grads who make $ a year while my skilled friends (those with a trade) make $$$$. Times have changed and as long as you have a skill you can still do well financially. Now it might not make you a millionaire, but you CAN live comfortably if you live within your means.
 
I personally don't have an issue with someone chosing to go to cosmetology school. I need somebody to do my hair and it can be a very lucrative career. But I think it is the stigma, that going to cosmetology school is what is expected for AA women and women from impoverished communities. I know when I was in HS alot of young girls looked at cosmetology school as their back-up plan for not getting into college.

The only issue I have are ppl who do not have the desire to do hair and work in the field anyway.
 
I used to think "every girl likes to do her hair, make-up, and nails. what's so special about going to school for it?" But that was a thought from years ago, when I was young and stupid. It is a totally legitimate career choice. I know that there is not just one way to be successful now.
 
idk y either. i wanted to go to school for it and my parents told me and i quote " no u wont. not on my dime" like it wasnt good enough :/
 
I agree with the negative connotations of any "trade" profession; people look down on jobs that don't require a four-year degree or any post-graduate education. Take, for example, friends of mine that just got married: he's a plumber with his HS Diploma and she's recently finished her Master's in Social Work, and people are always making snide a$$ comments about this difference but anybody who knew them would know that he makes anywhere between $90-$150/hr and owns his own business and after 6 years in school, she only pulls in $50,000 a year...

The point is, he makes more money, loves his job and doesn't even have to work evreyday, and he's in "trade"...
 
Funny thing...I went the "traditional route" and completed college and post-grad training and I've never looked down on cosmotologists/hair stylist or personally knew anyone who did. Pre-LHCF I spent many hours and $$ in the hands of various hair stylist. I even recall many times thinking how much money they must be making b/c I knew what I was paying and I was never the only head in there. Now I only wish I could find one who knows about the practices here I might go back.
 
This is the only thing stopping me from going for it (and money lol). Several people have told me that I am missing my calling.
 
I have met people like this and I don't pay them any mind anymore because they just like to lump people in categories. I'm a college grad that went back for my cosmetology license and before people even got to hear the rest of my background I could see the judgment. Even at the salon. Although I admit that once a client knows that I've finished college they usually request me more.

A lot of people don't understand that life happens and sometimes you just need to do what makes you happy.
 
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