*Just a heads up: She dishes it out and drops some cuss words, so if you’re not down with that, you’ve been warned.

What we really adore about Kiki’s videos about cosmetology school is the honesty and comprehensiveness. When we came across them, we couldn’t help but think that it would be doing a disservice to BeautySchool.com’s readers not to share her wonderfully strong perspective. Our favorite part?

“If anyone tells you, ‘Oh, this isn’t a real college,’ you need to kick them in the face.”

Hell, yes. We definitely agree with that.

What do you think? Has she changed your perspective on beauty school?

Unfortunately, there’s not much of an avenue for online beauty schools right now. Training to become a cosmetology or esthetician or nail technician requires far too much hands-on education, practicing the skills and techniques you’ll need in your career. However, there are a few areas where online beauty school might be possible:

• There are some individual online beauty school courses available that are primarily theoretical and can be used toward continuing beauty education units for license renewal.
• Once you’re in beauty school or you’ve already graduated, there are tons of online cosmetology study resources available to help you review and further prepare to take your cosmetology license exam.
• If your dream is to advance your beauty career and possibly one day open your own salon or spa, it would benefit you to get a business degree, and there are loads of online business degrees that are available. You could further your education without losing time in the salon.

For more information on beauty schools, check out our Resources section or start searching for a beauty or cosmetology school near you right now.

The perfect dress is nothing without the perfect wedding hairstyle to complement it. Your hair is basically an accessory that you must plan for accordingly, so you look and feel beautiful on that special day. You can make sure you look amazing and feel confident by heeding a few suggestions.

Prioritize Your Pre-Bridal Appointment
Your pre-bridal appointment is a crucial step in preparing you to walk down the aisle. People think that it’s only for the hairstylist to practice, but it’s just as important for you to see the hairstyle in action and tweak what you do or don’t like. Ask your stylist for advice regarding which hairstyles will look best based on the neckline and other aspects of your dress. You’ll also want to inquire about how long you should grow your hair because longer doesn’t necessarily mean better. After your stylist finishes your hair, you can decide whether you like it or not. Even if you aren’t fond of it, you still learn what not to do for your wedding. Remember to bring all of your hairpieces and accessories with you.

Get Real
If you expect to bring in a picture of your favorite celebrity’s tresses and leave the salon looking exactly like her, you’ll probably be in for a little disappointment. Her style cost her thousands of dollars and may have taken all day. Not to mention, her look may have used extensions and other added features that your budget may not allow for. Instead, pick pictures as inspiration and allow for some flexibility based on your own hair’s thickness, length and texture.

To Wash or Not to Wash
You’ve probably been told not to wash your hair before you style it because it holds curls and other styles better, and this is true for most people – to a point. The natural oils in your hair can help to maintain a healthy shine and keep your hair in place, so you shouldn’t wash your hair right before your wedding. Instead, wash it the night before. Note: You’ll still want to consult your hairstylist for exact washing instructions in case you have hair that is prone to oil buildup.

Weather Isn’t Always Your Fair-weather Friend
Make sure you take into consideration the weather when you’re planning. If you’re not going to get married in your area, you may want to do some research. You’ll want to know what the average humidity is because curls and low-flowing styles don’t withstand high humidity well, especially if you’re having an outdoor ceremony.

Trending This Year
Each year brings new trends for wedding hairstyles. Updos are still very much in style, but nontraditional, softer looks are what’s in this year. For 2012, many hairdos are starting at the nape of the neck for a more laidback look. It’s not all about bejeweled tiaras and diamond-studded barrettes anymore. Many brides are opting for real flowers give their hair a fresh and whimsical look. You may opt for silk flowers, as well.

Leave the Crewnecks in Your Dresser
The absolute No. 1 tip for having great hair the day of your wedding is to wear a zip-up hoodie or a button-up blouse when you go to get your hair done on your wedding day. You don’t want to mess up your wedding hairstyle when you remove your tight shirt over top of your head.

Via the Facebook campaign. Click the photo to visit.

We seem to be living in a time when every woman is obsessed with long, luscious locks. Hair extensions, volumizing shampoos, and Hollywood stars with flowing manes infiltrate our brains with the definition of “perfect hair.” However, in this era when so much emphasis is put on having great hair, a recent movement is calling for beauty icon known for her hair to do just the opposite — go bald.

A growing movement formed on Facebook is urging Mattel to produce a bald Barbie doll. Barbie, who is famous for having a perfect body, hair and looks, has often been criticized for giving young girls an unrealistic view of beauty.

Supporters of the movement believe a bald Barbie would give children dealing with cancer and other illnesses that cause them to lose their hair a way to cope and feel “normal.” Also, any child with a mother with cancer could benefit. The groups Facebook page, “Beautiful & Bald Barbie,” currently has 138,075 likes and continues to grow.

So far, the response seems to be overwhelming positive. The group’s wall is filled with supportive posts, such as this one:

“Barbie is an icon. We’ve seen her with every time of occupation, car, home, and wardrobe. Barbie needs to be bald. Our chemo kids deserve an iconic doll who can go through the battle with them.”

Many supporters even suggest having the bald Barbie doll come with accessories such as bandanas, wigs, and hats.

What do you think? Do you support the Bald Barbie movement? Do you think there’s any chance Mattel would make a Bald Barbie? Let us know!

If you’re thinking about a cosmetology career or considering going to beauty school, there are probably a couple of big questions that factor into your decision: Is there a demand for cosmetologists? And what do beauty professionals make?

In the video above, Becca explains how the growing population and the rising value being placed on advanced beauty skills and services is contributing to much faster than average job growth. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that beauty career opportunities will increase by 20% through 2018.

It’s difficult to quote a projected cosmetology salary, however, because so many factors determine what cosmetologists and beauty professionals make. Obviously, the more experience you have, the higher your wages will be. If you are certified to perform multiple beauty services, you will have an advantage as well. The important thing is to find the right school for you, get the training you need, and pursue your dreams with a passion.

For a much more elaborate breakdown of cosmetology salaries and career information, go here.

Celebrity A-listers showed us at the 2012 Golden Globes that the only way to go is au natural … makeup, that is! Forget the sultry smokey eyes and fake tans, this year stars like Charlize Theron, Reese Witherspoon and Michelle Williams kept it simple this year when it came to beauty.

Of course, there was the occasional bold red (and if we had lips like Angelina, we wouldn’t be able to resist the call of color either!), but most stars chose a nude lipstick with a little touch of gloss for their red carpet look. As for the eyes, again, stars chose to keep it simple with shades of peach, pink and tan, complemented by a light application of eyeliner. Blush was also used to give a natural and light sun-kissed look by applying a light shimmery pink, peach, or even a little bronzer to the cheeks. Many celebrities also embraced their natural hair, and instead of fighting the waves or curls they chose to accentuate them.

As the peak of winter slowly approaches us, it’s the perfect time of the year to give your skin a little bit of a break and go lighter on the makeup. This season, don’t worry that your summer glow has faded and embrace your lighter skin tone. Put the curling iron and straightner away and let your hair have a break from the heat. It’s time for your beauty to go au natural!

Learn more about makeup artistry on and off the red carpet by checking out makeup artist schools in your area today.

If you follow fashion, you have undoubtedly witnessed the parade of starlets sporting hair extensions to boost the look of their own locks. Everyone from Beyonce to Kate Middleton has been photographed wearing the tell-tale swatches of real and synthetic hair. Jessica Simpson has even launched her own line of hair extensions. The idea of transforming short hair to long hair in a jiff appeals to consumers across all demographics, but evidence suggests the growing hair trend may have costly consequences.

Hair extensions cost between $300 and $3500, depending on whether the client chooses real or synthetic swatches. A partial head of hair starts at $150, while a full head of hair starts at $1300. Add to the base price the cost of labor, and the average client spends $800 to $1600. Monthly touch-ups add $20 to $50 to maintain the extensions.

These salon costs are quantifiable, but there is no telling the emotional cost that long-term use of hair extensions may cause. Salons use several methods to attach the extensions to the client’s real hair, including sewing and weaving. The most popular methods involve bonding with a form of hot glue and cold fusing with a form of protein-based glue.

As it turns out, the very weight of the hair extensions can cause the follicle to atrophy and prevent new hair growth. In severe cases, women develop a hair loss condition known as traction alopecia, and it can worsen and become permanent alopecia. Thus far, the only medical treatments available for alopecia have been topical minoxidal or hair transplants.

You can try less expensive clip-on extensions as an alternative, but some experts think the ultimate solution is to avoid hair extensions altogether.

Each generation embraces beauty treatments that are both ill-advised and laborious, according to UK Guardian columnist Hadley Freeman, author of The Meaning of Sunglass: And a Guide to (Almost) All Things Fashionable. After all, the old adage says, “Beauty is pain.” The hair extensions that currently reign supreme are the equivalent of what tanning beds were to the ’70s, hair perms were to the ’80s and glycolic peels were to the ’90s.

With that said, every generation rebels against the previous generation. Perhaps, the coming year will rush to embrace natural hair as the next best thing.

We saw this pop up into our beauty news feed today: Apparently, a bill in the Indiana House is recommending that professions like cosmetology and barbering be deregulated. If passed, it would mean that cosmetologists and barbers in that state would no longer have to be certified and licensed to charge for their services and open beauty salons.

We were going to do a big post on the matter, but then we saw that Beauty Schools Directory already talked that talk and covered pretty much everything we wanted to say in their post: “On Indiana’s proposed cosmetology deregulations and why that’s a terrible idea”

We did do some recon, though, to see what people thought, asking them, “Would you go to a cosmetologist or barber who wasn’t licensed and trained?”

“When I walk into a store for a haircut, I expect the person with the blades to at least have some idea what they’re doing – even if I have very little hair to cut.”

– Michael, Kansas City, MO

“Absolutely not. Just like I wouldn’t go to a tattoo artist who wasn’t certified or licensed and had proper training in safety and hygiene.”

– Amber, Red Lion, PA

“I would go back to shaving my head before paying someone that doesn’t have proper certification and training.”

– Paul, Columbia, SC

“For hair, yeah, I’d go to someone unlicensed, especially if I were only getting a trim and an unlicensed barber’s prices were a lot lower. Same for a manicure or makeup. That said, for any specialty treatments like hair color, special beauty mask, etc., I would prefer someone trained and certified.”

– Kate, Amsterdam

“Would I walk in off the street? No way. If I were very familiar with their abilities, possibly. I may spend as little as possible on haircuts, but no way would I go to someone who wasn’t able tos how they have some sort of training and experience. Licensing is a good way to prove that.”

– Rachael, Utica, NY

“My dad isn’t trained to cut, but he still cuts mine. But he grew up with my Grandpa cutting his.”

– Logan, Eagle Springs, NC

“You mean the ‘mom haircut’? Heck no!”

– Nelson, Kansas City, MO

“It depends on word-of-mouth about the barber, but I wouldn’t walk in off the sterets to a place I had never heard of before.”

– Josh, Kansas City, MO

“I always look for women with haircuts I like then ask them where they get their haircut. It just aoccurred to me that I have never looked to see if they’re credentialed – just if they cut good hair.”

– Dawn, Columbia, SC

What do you guys think? Should states deregulate cosmetology and barbering and open up the industry?

• Salicylic acid — Sounds like a dangerous substance, but salicylic acid can play a key role in your skin’s health. Salicylic acid helps wash away dead skin cells which gives your skin a healthy glow. Look for salicylic acid in skincare products such as face wash. Or, smooth Pepto Bismol on your face. Yep, you heard us right. The stomach-soother contains a gentle form of salicylic acid that can make your tummy feel better and your face glow!
• Cinnamon oil — Angelina has genes to thank for her prized pout, but with the help of some cinnamon oil you can now have fuller lips, too! When applied to your lips, spicy cinnamon oil increases blood flow which causes the lips to swell temporarily. Apply a little bit with your lip gloss and enjoy a sexy smile!
• Exfoliaters — Stars have beautiful, flawless skin because they have make-up artists, amazing products, a ton of airbrushing, and they know to exfoliate. A lot. While most of those things probably won’t be available to you, you can easily (and cheaply!) exfoliate. All you need is a good loofah and products that can scrub away dead skill. Look for body wash and face wash that have little “scrubbers” or “beads.” Or make your own sugar scrub by mixing brown sugar, a little bit of olive oil and scented massage oil. Remember it’s not only important to clean your skin but to wash away the dead stuff as well.
• Dryer sheets — You probably didn’t know a secret beauty product was hiding in your laundry room, huh? Dryer sheets can quickly tame hair fly-a-ways. Just smooth over your hair and watch the static electricity and unruly hairs disappear. An added bonus—your hair will smell extra fresh!
• Homemade blemish repair — Got a pesky blemish? Many celebrity make-up artists recommend looking for the remedy in the kitchen. Dry it out by mixing a packet of dry yeast with the juice of half a lemon and pat over the blemish. Leave it one for about five minutes to reduce swelling and redness.

See our original post on five inexpensive Hollywood beauty tricks.

Pampering the Peds
As more and more people spend increasing amounts of time standing on their feet, spas are beginning to address the problems of foot pain, swelling and underdeveloped muscles. Not longer merely beautifying feet with fun and relaxing pedicures, spas and salons have stepped it up a notch. Troubled tootsies can now receive some TLC with a more holistic and healthy approach.

Some spas offer gait assessment to determine how everyday walking might be causing foot pain and discomfort. Suggestions are then made to improve a client’s stride. Pedicures are given in anti-gravity chairs to offer relief and promote lymphatic flow. Several spas have started offering boot camps that improve posture and emphasize strengthening underused foot muscles.

Chilling Effects
Taking a lesson from the cooling effects of cucumbers, cold treatments, such as icy massages, snow showers and ice chambers, are used to enhance blood circulation, as well as reduce inflammation. Alternating between hot spots, including steam rooms, spas and saunas, has been shown to help with both joint and muscle pain.

Lasting Results
Take the spa benefits home with a personal coach. Health, beauty and wellness coaches are available post-treatment to help clients stay on track with their goals. Everything from sleep to eyebrow coaching is offered via phone calls, text messages, emails or even Skype.

Living in Luxury
For pampering that feels good all over, clients can now opt for packages that include regular spa treatments combined with healthy wining and dining. From high-quality wines bursting with antioxidants to locally grown, organic produce in some locations, spa-goers may be required to cook their own delicious dishes. Other spas serve meals during the pampering process. Biggest challenge: not chipping nail polish while noshing on tasty treats.

Multisensory Experiences
Coming at pampering through a more multidimensional approach, various treatments are being infused with lights, sounds, colors, vibration, and music to engage all five senses. The idea is to correct imbalances and restore proper energy flow. Many of the sessions have Eastern elements of holistic healing woven throughout. Look for these treatments on massage tables, lounge chairs, hot tubs, saunas and steam capsules.

Beauty Bling
Glitz and glamour are in, whether it is via nails adorned with crystals or hair extensions woven with feathers. Flashy fashions deliver the red carpet look through a wide variety of creative elements.

Beauty On-the-Go
For the time-crunched, walk-in makeovers, blow-dry bars and 10-minute mani/pedis provide fast and affordable beauty blitzes in travel hubs, including airports and train stations.

Fun for the Whole Family
No longer targeted at ladies of a certain age, spas are increasingly reaching out to the whole family. Kid-friendly options are growing in popularity, including everything from Disney princess themes to baby massage classes. Expect to see more spa birthday party offerings alongside the bride-to-be pampering packages.

Amusing Beauty
Everything from amusement parks to luxury getaways is popping up in this year’s spa offerings. Innovation is the name of the game.

Just like in any business, spa and salon managers have to innovate in order to keep up with the times, and the new spa treatments we’re watching develop for 2012 prove to us that it’s an industry that knows how to adapt to demand.