What I Learned in Beauty School: Nail Design

Angie had always been passionate about the beauty industry and knew she wanted to make it her career. She enrolled at a Paul Mitchell School and graduated eleven months later with a her cosmetology license, allowing her to do hair, esthetics, and nail design. "I like to make people feel good," she says. "The great thing about this career us that you meet new people and you make them feel good."

What was the most helpful thing you learned in beauty school?

It was helpful to learn customer service and techniques for working with clients, and I don't think you get that at every school. The learning leaders taught us the basics, like shaking the client's hand and walking them to the chair, to giving the client the "wash house" experience to explaining what products we used on them and letting them touch and smell the product themselves.

How would you describe your beauty school experience?

I had an excellent experience. I loved my time in beauty school, and I actually miss being in school. The energy in beauty school was amazing.

What was taught on your first day of beauty school?

On the first day we had our orientation, and we got to know everyone with icebreakers. The first six weeks was what we called "core," or our basics class. We learned the fundamentals, such as the theory of color and cut.

What was a challenging lesson that took you more than one try to get? How are you at performing that service now?

Nail classes were actually the most difficult for me. I was horrible at painting nails, and I had to keep practicing over and over. But today I'm very confident about nail design. It's challenging when you are learning to do everything from waxing to facials to pedicures, but it's beneficial to be able to perform any of those services in the salon.

Angie says that people who are interested in beauty school should put the time into it. "Don't take the easy route," she says. "Go to class, and learn as much as you can while you're there so that you're prepared for the real world."