Eight Tampa Bay area cosmetology schools and Tampa Bay massage therapy schools have received $2.3 million in economic stimulus money. The money is being used to pay the tuition of future cosmetologists, nail technicians and massages therapists.

Stimulus money is being awarded in the form of Pell Grants which are given to low-income students. These grants don’t have to be repaid. The stimulus bill includes $17 billion to boost the Pell Grant program and raise the maximum annual award from $4,731 to $5,350.

There are mixed opinions about beauty schools receiving stimulus money. Some within the industry say that there aren’t enough jobs available right now to justify tax dollars being spent on cosmetology schools. And instead of helping potential cosmetologists, they should be helping those out of work. Others understand that this can give thousands of people education and career opportunities that they wouldn’t have had otherwise.

Whether or not you agree with the stimulus package, I don’t see any reason why cosmetology training is being singled out in this article. Beauty schools are not the only type of vocational school where students are awarded money, and cosmetology is not the only struggling industry right now. Only 17 percent of the money goes to cosmetology schools, whereas the remaining 83 percent will aid students pursuing computer, health care, aviation and other careers.

Cosmetology is not less valuable than these career paths! And beauty school students should be no less eligible for financial aid, scholarships, grants and loans than any other career college student.

In this economy, you have to work harder to find a job – in every industry. There is no reason to put the brakes on learning and higher education, or to put the brakes on people trying to better themselves through career colleges. As long as Pell Grants are being given, cosmetology schools students should be equally eligible to receive them.

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.

When Chris Rock’s daughter, Lola, came to him crying and asked, “Daddy, how come I don’t have good hair?” the bewildered comic committed himself to figuring out the complex answer to his daughter’s simple, but profound question.

In the documentary film, Good Hair, Rock takes us on a fascinating journey through the international business trade of hair weaves, the science behind relaxers and the surprising question of how much black women spend on their hair.

During a press junket for a film festival in Salt Lake City, Rock discussed with Salon Magazine journalist Andrew O’Hehir how the initial idea for the film expanded the further he investigated.

“It kind of blew my mind, the idea that in an African-American household you got this Porsche that nobody can see, these working-class and middle-class black women spending thousands of dollars… buying a Porsche that nobody sees.” He adds, “There is a whole economic realm to this that I didn’t know about at all.”

One unexpected turn in the economic story comes when Rock learns that much of the hair used for creating extensions for black women comes from India. Human hair is India’s single largest export. He also sees how the culture has adapted to make harvesting the hair easy and profitable for the industry. Many Hindu temples conduct “hair sacrifices” during religious ceremonies that allow members of the temple a few moments of cultural distinction (and no money) in exchange for hair that can later be worth thousands of dollars. This “sacrificed” hair is processed and sold to hair dealers around the world who, in turn, sell it to local dealers who, in turn, sell it to salons and hair vendors at a huge profit.

How does Rock view this suspicious economic angle? He tells O’Hehir a different cut of the movie exists where Rock treats the hair trade as a problem for black females. He later calls on women to reject this international cartel of exploitation. But, he says, in the end that version simply wasn’t as fun to watch. He said he would rather inform and entertain rather than divide and mobilize.

On that tip, Rock succeeds. The movie is a serious, yet non-confrontational look at how cultural norms can make us do and believe some crazy things. It’s entertaining, but not angry. Celebrities such as Ice-T, Nia Long, Paul Mooney, Raven Symoné, Maya Angelou, and Reverend Al Sharpton all candidly offer their stories and observations that add much more entertainment to what could have become a sobering, but impersonal look into the culture of beauty in the world.

For anyone involved in cosmetology, hairstyling or ethnic beauty marketing, this film is a must. Good Hair is playing in select cities right now. It opens nationally on October 23.

There are countless reasons cosmetology professionals attend beauty school to learn their trade – cutting, coloring and styling hair isn’t something that everyone can do. Well, at least … isn’t something that everyone should do. So here are five more great reasons to see a professional.

My own experience with self-styling started early. When I was little, my mom used to trim my bangs, and got the blunt, straight-across look by pulling a piece of Scotch tape across my fringe and then cutting under that. Seemed easy enough. Until I tried it myself, and ended up with at least an inch difference in length from the left to right side of my forehead. I remember my mom hiding a laugh behind her hand when I begged her not to tell Dad, and she replied, “Oh honey, I don’t think we’re going to have to!”

I also used to cut my own hair in college, when I was broke. I tried to fool myself into thinking it looked halfway decent, but I’m pretty sure that was the reason why every day of the week was a bad hair day and I wore ponytails for four years straight.

Thankfully, I’m not the only one. Some other misguided wannabe amateur hairstylists have provided their own hair horror stories here:

“Oh my, I am the hair disaster queen! I let my dad cut my hair in the 8th grade. He cut it way too short and uneven. I cried. The very next day was our holiday play and there was not enough time to go somewhere to get it fixed so I looked like an idiot! I also tried to touch up my roots once with a drugstore hair color kit and they turned bright orange. I called around and found a salon that could fix it the next afternoon, but I had to come to work in the morning with orange hair. I wore a hat. I had only worked here for a few months at the time and even with the hat I was super embarrassed. It has been a long road, but I have finally learned to leave my hair in the hands of professionals!” -Angie

“Sometimes, when I am between haircuts, I’ll do a little styling to delay paying the 15 bucks on a haircut for another week or so. Using what scissors happen to be in the kitchen junk drawer, I stand on my tippy-toes - like it helps - in the bathroom mirror and cut around my ears, thin out my sideburns, trim the bangs, and try my best to angle the blades to fade my hair on the sides. This means I do nothing to the back, which results in a strange effect in which I look relatively well-groomed straight on … for a few seconds. But if you spend any time looking at me, you can see the back come hulking around. I would compare this look to a batting helmet I wore in little league – minimalistic in front with excessive padding in the back.” -Kevin

“When I was probably 13 or 14 I used that Sun-In stuff when I was at the lake. I didn’t think it was doing anything, so I kept spraying on more and more. I had used the whole bottle before I realized that my hair wasn’t turning platinum – it was turning orange.” -Lacey

“I tried to color my hair once with one of those box dyes. I went ahead and got the premium kind that included do-your-own highlights. Yeah, that was a bad idea. I freaked out halfway through letting the highlights sit and washed it all out. So first off, the color turned out dark red instead of light brown and I had these blonde patches were the color took. I looked like a sunburned leopard… or something like that. Red hair plus blonde spots equals not good.” -Chris

So what about you? Have you ever tried to color or cut your hair and ended up horrified by the results? Share your stories below – we’ll commiserate. And next time? Make sure to go to a licensed hairstylist who has legit training from a cosmetology school, eh?

Are you protected under the First Amendment when you express your opinions in an open forum like Facebook? When does freedom of speech go too far? Well, one beauty school in Illinois is testing that the limits of freedom of speech and the use of social networking sites like Facebook.

Salon Professional Academy of Elgin is suing one of its students for creating a Facebook page about the school where students could rant or vent about classes or instructors. The beauty school is suing Nicholas Blacconiere for unauthorized use of their logo and $50,000 for emotional damages caused by defamatory comments posted on the page. The lawsuit alleges that the defendents published “libel per se,” with statements that were unfounded, untrue and defamatory.

One has to wonder: can corporations or individuals start suing over Facebook posts? If so, this lawsuit could set a precedent on how students are held accountable for complaints or insults posted on the web.

What do you think? Should Nicholas Blacconiere be held legally accountable for his actions, or is this Illinois beauty school infringing upon his rights? Would the damage to Blacconiere’s reputation and future career in cosmetology be sufficient, or is paying financial damages necessary to punish him? BeautySchool.com wants to know!

Tulip City Beauty College in Holland, Michigan

Tulip City Beauty College is the first nationally accredited cosmetology school in Holland, Michigan, and has just opened in a newly renovated building. Tulip City’s accreditation means beauty students can qualify for financial aid. This school is the fourth cosmetology school to be opened in a group owned by Jim Moored and his family.

Read the full article here.
More about Tulip City Beauty College in Holland, Michigan.

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?

It’s that time of year when the weather starts to hint at fall and newspapers and stores are full of back-to-school savings and specials. And apparently tons of cosmetology schools are getting in on the deal!

The first days of school are a big deal in a kid’s life - and they like to make a good impression. So in addition to the right backpack and sneakers, a cool new haircut is essential for the first day of school – and they don’t have to cost a fortune.

Fortunately, many cosmetology schools are there to save the day, offering special prices for children’s haircuts – and making it easier for parents to fit the right look into their budget. Many cosmetology schools have specials starting at $1 a haircut. Some cosmetology schools are even offering free haircuts to those who need extra assistance!

Is your cosmetology school offering a special deal to celebrate the back-to-school season and offer a little relief to parents’ pocket books?

Sarah Hunt is a professional freelance makeup artist based in Omaha, Nebraska who has styled a variety of clients from U.S. Senators, to sports legends, to actors and actresses.

I am a professional freelance make-up artist in the second half of my 30s. I’ve been working as a make-up artist in the film and print industry for 14 years. I have had the pleasure of styling a wide spectrum of personalities - U.S. Senators, sports legends, journalists, CEOs, billionaires, actors, actresses, and everyday people. Two years ago I approached my local YWCA about their domestic violence awareness campaign. I wanted to donate my talent to the women in need at the YWCA - a need I recognize, because I myself am a survivor of sexual assault.

Here are some startling statistics that illustrate the growing epidemic of violence:

• 1 in 6 women and 1 in 33 men are victims of sexual violence in their lifetime.
• College women are 6 times more likely to be a victim of sexual assault.
• In 2007 248,300 people reported a sexual assault in the U.S. That’s 1 person every 2 minutes.
• 60% of sexual assaults are not reported to the police.
• Approximately 73% of victims know their assailants.
• Only 6% of rapists spend even a day in jail.

The YWCA provides help to women, including survivors of rape and domestic violence, in times of crisis. They work to eliminate racism and empower women through counseling, career training, health and fitness, and childcare. This is how I met Felicia, the most beautiful person I have had the chance to style. She is my age, married young and raised five children with her husband - who beat and raped her repeatedly for more than a decade. Eventually, she made the decision to rise up and free herself and her children from this violence with the help of the YWCA. He is now in jail.

For one of their domestic violence awareness campaigns, I was asked to re-create the injuries she sustained the last time he beat her using makeup techniques. Law enforcement would not release the actual injury documentation photos because they were considered state evidence and could only be obtained by paying a fee. Because the cost was too much for the not-for-profit YWCA to pay, and they still needed to make a graphic statement about their awareness campaign, I was presented with a perfect opportunity. I used several products to re-create her injuries:

• Ben Nye EW-4 master bruise wheel
• Ben Nye CK-5 FX burns and blisters color wheel
• Modeling putty/wax
• Fake blood
• Neutral setting powder
• Dappling sponge, and my favorite brushes

Felicia handled the experience with strength and grace. I applied the bruises and gashes as she explained to me each injury and how it happened. In the span of 30 minutes we traveled back to the darkest time of her life. My work complete, I asked her if she wanted to see - she picked up the hand mirror and looked deeply at her reflection, nodding with approval as she looked back at me with satisfaction and spirit in her eyes. We quickly snapped the photos and removed the make-up with Bobbi Brown skincare products:

• Lathering Tube Soap
• Exfoliating Cream Wash
• Soothing Face Tonic
• Philosophy Hope in a Jar Moisturizer

Then, for the next half hour we talked about her children, her family, her goals and dreams, and how far her personal journey had taken her as I transformed her back into the stronger, even more beautiful woman she has become. We went full circle, from normal to nightmare and back, in 60 minutes. This was a difficult journey for me as a survivor and a professional makeup artist, but it illustrates to me the power of the human spirit.

One of the most important questions a potential cosmetology school student has is how to pay for cosmetology education. The Montgomery GI Bill was designed to provide soldiers and veterans with financial funding for higher education. Each state has its own Montgomery GI Bill approving agency, and technical schools such as beauty schools are ideal candidates. The GI Bill has even recently been expanded to cover the spouses and dependents of military personnel, so it’s important for beauty schools to recognize and appreciate the service soldiers and their families have given to our country.

Ryan Vaia, a U.S. Marine Corps sergeant, long dreamed of becoming a licensed cosmetologist. However, when she applied to one Illinois cosmetology school, she discovered the beauty school would not maintain Illinois VA compliance because of the need to have an on-site member of the staff maintain academic records. Fortunately there are more than two dozen other Illinois cosmetology schools that do not have that issue.

If you’re a member of the military or immediate family, you may be able to benefit from the Montgomery GI Bill – but make sure the cosmetology school you choose is approved and willing to work with you! As for Vaia, she is already looking at other cosmetology schools in Illinois in order to transfer to one approved for the Montgomery GI Bill.

What are your thoughts on situations like Vaia’s? Have you ever run into any challenges applying the Montgomery GI Bill funding to a cosmetology school education?