I’m frequently shocked by the vast number of people who ask, “Am I too old for cosmetology school?” Reality check! It’s never too late to achieve your dreams of becoming a beautician.

Diane Rickard was 59 when she enrolled in cosmetology school, unable to find work in another field in today’s rickety economy.  Now, just a few of years later, she is the proud owner of her very own beauty business – AvaShay, a natural nail spa in Brighton, Michigan.

If you are passionate about beautifying people and you’re ready for a change of scenery, switching to a cosmetology career may be perfect for you – regardless of your age. Some things to think about are balancing current career responsibilities with getting your beauty education, your family’s reaction, and facing your fear of the big change!

In today’s tough job market, jobs are hard to find – particularly for someone who is older or interested in switching careers.  But the beauty industry still offers opportunities for someone who is people-oriented and not willing to let anything stand in their way. Diane Rickard was the oldest person in her cosmetology class when she enrolled at Brighton Institute of Cosmetology – and now she’s her own boss.

Live the dream. Find out what it takes to enroll in cosmetology school - no matter how old you are.

Something big is brewing in Texas. Cosmetologists and barbers are both feeling pretty indignant, and judging by the comments in articles like this, their clients have pretty strong feelings, too.

So here’s the deal: some Texas cosmetologists are challenging laws that allow barbers – but not cosmetologists – to shave customers. Cosmetologists want to be able to legally shave their customers, but barbers (who feel that cosmetologists are encroaching on their monopoly over men and boys already) want to keep the razor-wielding privileges for themselves.

Now, Texas law has allowed cosmetologists to trim beards and mustaches since 2001. But where does trimming end and shaving start? Texas has no legal definition of shaving, or even of a “razor.”

That means we’re not just talking about Sweeney Todd-style straight razors? Umm … nope. Legally, Texas cosmetologists can’t even take a pink Lady Bic to the bottoms of a client’s sideburns. The cosmetologists feel like this is silly – they’ve been handling safety razors since they were preteens, and even tattoo artists in Texas are allowed to use disposable razor to shave the area they’re going to tattoo.

Barbers, on the other hand, feel like their exclusive right to shaving customers represents the last thing that sets them apart from cosmetologists. Trained in the 14 distinct strokes of the classic straight-razor shave, they feel they’ve earned the right to at least a small population of men.

So … what do you think? Is it silly that cosmetologists (who often undergo longer beauty training programs) cannot shave their customers, even with safety razors? Or do barbers have a right to hang on to something that’s set them apart since the days of white-and-red striped poles?

Beauty blogs are almost always geared toward women rather than men. This may make sense stereotypically, since oftentimes men aren’t too concerned with beauty. But the time has come to pay homage to an equally important segment of the beauty industry – the barbers. The barber job description includes cutting, trimming, shampooing and styling hair for mostly male clients or at male salons. They may also fit hair pieces, offer scalp treatments and shave facial hair.

An important attribute of a great barber is, of course, being able to chat it up with the customers! In American culture, barbers are affectionately displayed as manly men, always cracking jokes and putting entire shops at ease. Entertaining barbers can be seen in movies such as Barber Shop or Gran Torino. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, barbering careers should remain steady even during the recession. If conversation comes easily, a well-groomed appearance is important and you are a detail-oriented person, a barbering career could be for you.

The coolest thing about barbering? It doesn’t take long to go through barbering school and kick off a successful career working in a male salon.