Cosmetologists are defined as beauty experts working with hair, nails, and makeup, whereas hair designers are defined as working specifically with hair. For guidance on how to become a licensed cosmetologist or hair designer in Ohio, follow these simple steps:
Can you imagine a career where you get to wake up every day and help people feel beautiful? As a cosmetologist in Ohio, you will develop a loyal client base that will come to you for conversation, imagination, and creativity. You will get to blaze the trail, staying on the cutting edge of fashion and beauty, and you will get to translate that style knowledge for your clients, helping them feel confident and beautiful. Along with this, The Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates that West Northwestern Ohio is one of the nonmetropolitan areas of the United States with the highest employment rate for hair stylists!
To begin this exciting journey, you will need to become licensed as a cosmetologist in Ohio. The Ohio State Board of Cosmetology is the state agency that regulates all licensing standards and rules for salon professionals including manicurists, estheticians, natural hair stylists, cosmetologists, and hair designers.
Step 1. Graduate from a Board-Approved Beauty School
Completing beauty school is a fun, quick, and exciting way to learn all of the skills necessary to become a licensed cosmetologist or hair designer in Ohio! You will get to work with a team of other students, studying the theory, practice, and business facets of the beauty world.
Cosmetology
As an applicant for a cosmetology license, you must complete a cosmetology school program of at least 1500 hours, which contains the following Board-approved courses:
- Sanitation and Bacteriology
- Scalp Care
- Hair I – including iron curls, finger wave, pin curls, basic hair styling and techniques, haircutting, hair trimming, and care of wigs, postiches, and pressing
- Hair II – including permanent waves, chemical relaxing, tinting, bleaching, and foiling
- Manicuring – including anatomy of nails, bones, skin, and muscles, basic water, oil, and electric nail techniques, artificial nail application, and hand and arm bleaching and massages
- Skin Care – including anatomy of the body, facial and makeup, masks and packs, eyebrow arching, and body massage
- Salon Operations and Communication Skills – including human relations, personality and presentation, salon operation and management, sales and interpersonal skills, and career development
- Cosmetology Laws and Rules – including Ohio cosmetology Statues and Rules
Hair Designer
As an applicant for a hair designer license in Ohio, you will need to complete only 1200 hours of schoolwork. This curriculum must include the following, similar Board-approved subjects:
- Sanitation and Bacteriology
- Scalp Care
- Hair I
- Hair II
- Salon Operations and Communication Skills
- Cosmetology Laws and Rules – including Ohio cosmetology Statues and Rules
Step 2. Pass the Exams Required for Licensure
You will have to take both practical and theory state Board examinations for both the cosmetology and hair design license.
Cosmetology Practical and Theory Tests
The cosmetology practical exam testing information packet (TIP) indicates all the information you will need to take the exam. You must bring a mannequin head and general supplies with you to this exam, and the administrator will assess your ability to perform practical cosmetology skills, such as
- Set up and Client Protection
- Thermal Curling
- Haircutting
- Chemical Wave
- Hair Color Retouch
- Relaxer Retouch
- Chemical Virgin Relaxer
- Foil Highlighting
- Facial and Manicure set up
- Manicure
- Cleansing and Facial Massage
The theory, or written, exam testing information packet details what you need to do for this exam, as well. It will be a 110 multiple-choice exam that lasts 90 minutes. The exam will cover the following subjects:
- Principles of Infection
- Trichology
- Chemical Procedures and Practices
- Hair Care Procedures and Practices
- Chemistry and Electricity
- Anatomy
- Ohio Administrative Code
Hair Design Practical and Theory Tests
For the practical hair design exam, you will want to refer to the TIP for extensive instructions. You will also have to bring mannequins and general supplies to this exam, and it will cover everything the cosmetology exam covered, with the exception of the nail and skin care sections. It will include the following:
- Set up and Client Protection
- Thermal Curling
- Haircutting
- Chemical Wave
- Hair Color Retouch
- Relaxer Retouch
- Chemical Virgin Relaxer
- Foil Highlighting
The hair design theory test TIP covers the same cosmetology concepts, excluding the nail and makeup aspects. It includes:
- Principles of Infection
- Chemistry
- Anatomy
- Trichology
- Chemicals
- Hair Care
- Pilot
Step 3. Submit a License Application to the Ohio State Board of Cosmetology
Upon completing and passing of your exams, you will be issued your license! However, if you are trying to apply for an out-of-state license, you will need to follow this process:
- Contact your state Board and have them directly send your official license certification to the Ohio State Board of Cosmetology
- Pass the practical, theory, and managers examinations with a minimum of 75%
- Submit out-of-state license application
All materials may be send to the State Board at the following address:
The Ohio State Board of Cosmetology
1929 Gateway Circle
Grove City, Ohio 43123
Step 4. Find your Place in the Salon Industry
As a licensed cosmetologist or hair designer, you will be able to apply to work or rent a chair at any of the great salons located throughout Ohio. Most salons will have you rent a chair from their salon for a monthly fee.
Many salons will offer continuing education or courses where you get to learn the new fashions, styles, and techniques on-the-job with your co-workers.
Consider some of these top salons located in Ohio:
- Phia Salon – Columbus
- Kenneth’s Hair Salon – Columbus
- Salon on the Ohio – Cincinnati
- Francesco’s Salon and Spa—Mentor
- The Studio : A Paul Mitchell Focus Salon – Cleveland
After working for a few years, you may even find that you have what it takes to open and manage your own salon!
State Cosmetology Associations
You can join different cosmetology associations for continuing education and networking opportunities:
- Ohio Independent Cosmetologist and Barber Association can help you set up your very own business, as well as provide support and teach techniques on how to run an independent salon.
- The Ohio Salon Association promotes unity in the field of cosmetology by bringing together salon owners and licensees for networking, education, promotion, and advocacy.
Step 5. Satisfy Continuing Education Requirements to Maintain Licensure
In order to renew your license, which you must do every two years on odd numbered years, you will first have to complete continuing education (CE) courses. As a cosmetologist and hair designer, you will need to complete at least eight (8) hours of continuing education in order to renew. These courses must be through Board-approved CE providers.
You are not required to satisfy the continuing education requirements during your first two-year licensing period after initial licensure.
Effective February 2015, all license holders are required to complete one hour of continuing education dedicated to human trafficking as part of the 8-hour continuing education requirement. Continuing education providers are aware of this new requirement and are making the required training readily available.
The Board will conduct an audit period in which they may ask for certification of your credits. If they do, you will need to quickly provide accurate certification of CE you have completed. So that you can do this, keep accurate records of your courses and document the following information:
- Date
- Location
- Hours Received
- Board Approval
- Name of Course
The courses may relate to hair, nails, skin care, relaxation, or the business aspects of cosmetology. The only exemption for CE credits is if you are currently in your first renewal cycle.