If you love beauty and want to make a living from your creativity, you’ve definitely thought about whether you should become an esthetician or a cosmetologist.
Both professions have interesting job openings, but they focus on distinct services and need different training. In this beauty careers comparison, we’ll look at the most important distinctions, such as facial vs hair training, training hours, and even cosmetologist vs esthetician salary, so you can choose the right route for you.
Estheticians are experts in skin care. Most programs need 600–750 training hours and cover:
* Skin analysis and facial training
* Hair removal (waxing, threading)
* Chemical peels, microdermabrasion, and acne treatments
* Putting on makeup
* Tinting lashes and brows
If you like skincare, health, and helping customers have radiant skin, esthetics programs are perfect for you.
Programs in cosmetology cover greater ground. They usually need 1,000–1,500 training hours, which includes:
* Cutting, dyeing, and styling hair
*Basic skincare and facial training
*Nail care and cosmetics
* Health, safety, and business practices
Cosmetology is a better choice for people who want to learn more about hair, nails, and skin.
Beauty careers comparison tip: Cosmetology can be the greatest career for you if you want to work in a full-service salon and enjoy hair and skin care. Esthetics is the preferable choice if you want to do more in-depth skincare work.
You may work as an esthetician in:
* Spas and wellness centers
* Dermatology clinics or med spas
* Resorts or cruise ships
* Beauty stores that sell skincare goods
* Freelance esthetics or salon suites
Cosmetologists can choose from a larger range of jobs, such as:
* Hair salons or barbershops
* Nail salons or full-service spas
* Beauty educators or instructors
* Salon ownership
* Bridal and event styling
Want the best of both worlds? Think about dual license programs that teach both cosmetology and esthetics in the same class. This will provide you even more options in the field.
Both jobs pay well, but how much you make depends on your area of expertise, where you work, and how long you’ve been doing it.
Cosmetologist vs esthetician salary breakdown:
Esthetician
Average Starting Salary: $30,000–$45,000
Top Earners (Experienced/Med Spa/High-End Salons): $60,000+
Cosmetologist
Average Starting Salary: $35,000–$50,000
Top Earners (Experienced/Med Spa/High-End Salons): $75,000+
Cosmetologists usually make more money at first because they provide more services, especially hair treatments. However, estheticians can soon make more money by giving more sophisticated facial procedures or working in medical settings.
This is when your own interests come into play.
* Do you love skin that glows, spa-like settings, and assisting with acne or aging? You should study esthetics and face training.
* Do you like trendy haircuts, balayage, or innovative hair color? Cosmetology and hair training will work better.
In a beauty careers comparison, the best path often comes down to what services excite you most day-to-day.
Not sure which one to pick? Some institutions provide “dual license programs” that enable you learn both esthetics and cosmetology at the same time.
* Learn both facial vs hair training
* More skills mean more job prospects
* It’s easier to switch specialty or provide several services
* A better resume and a better chance of making more money
A dual license may need extra training hours, but for many students, the flexibility is worth the time and money.
In the end, both jobs let you be creative, interact with clients, and do well in the beauty sector. If you have the correct instruction, you may be happy and successful whether you love facials or are interested in hair color trends.
Look for esthetician training, cosmetology certification, or dual licensing programs in your region. This is the first step toward the vocation you were intended to have. Apply here.