We hear many “what if” questions in the admissions department. A common concern from excited, but nervous, applicants is: “Can I still succeed in beauty school if I didn’t have good grades in high school?”
We often have to suppress the urge to let out an excited “heck yea you can!”
While study skills are still important, many students who struggled in their high school classes go on to excel in beauty schools and their careers.
Let’s share the top reasons why success in beauty school is based on skill, creativity, and dedication, rather than your past report cards.
Beauty School Offers Hands on Learning
Many beauty industry professionals sought out a career that didn’t require sitting at a desk. We like to be hands on!
In beauty school, the majority of your learning requires you to be up and moving. Whether you’re rolling a perm, sculpting a set of acrylics, or waxing eyebrows, you’ll be doing something different every day.
This can be invigorating for those who struggle to keep focused behind a desk.
While some practice can get tedious at times, there’s always a way to switch it up with new techniques, shapes, and styles.
Once you get onto the clinic floor and start taking clients, a whole world of possibilities opens up. Seeing your work come to life in real time can be motivating and make things “click”.
There is always something new to learn, and the best way to learn in the beauty industry is by doing!
Learning Based on Your Passions
Maybe trigonometry didn’t peak your interest, but did you have any classes in high school you excelled at because they were fun?
It can be challenging to stay engaged when the subject matter doesn’t thrill you. When you’re involved in something you’re passionate about, focus comes more naturally.
We have students tell us that they couldn’t pay attention in class, but could spend 8 hours creating a set of custom press-ons. In this case, focus wasn’t the issue, it was lack of interest.
But what if you don’t love everything you learn in cosmetology school? Most students don’t, and that’s okay! While some may find joy in the precision of styling a chignon, others may prefer the carefree creativity of painting a balayage.
If this is the case for you, we recommend sandwiching your practice. Do a skill you love, followed by a skill you’d rather never do again, then finish with something interesting. You may even surprise yourself as you work through your lesser favorite skills that they start to feel kind of fun!
There are Different Types of Intelligence
There’s an old quote that states you can’t judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree.
Intelligence does not only define your ability to pass a test. There are many types of intelligent people who succeed in the industry for a variety of reasons.
Maybe you struggle with fractions, but know exactly how to comfort a friend when they need help. Or perhaps you get confused by Shakespeare, but know color theory like the back of your hand.
Interpersonal intelligence, creative intelligence, and business savviness (among others) will get you far in this industry. Play to your strengths and find your own unique ways to shine!
Where High School Skills Still Matter
Now, we don’t want to suggest that there aren’t parts of beauty school that will take some concentration and study skills.
Part of our industry is understanding the “whys” and “hows” behind the practical skills.
We also need to make sure we have a thorough understanding of sanitation, disease prevention, and best practices to assure we keep ourselves and our clients safe.
So yes, there will be a textbook! You’ll study topics related to anatomy, chemistry, geometry, and more.
But we’re not breaking out the protractors and Bunsen burners. Everything you learn in beauty school directly correlates with the practical skills required to do the job.
Why do you need to learn some chemistry? Because when you understand the basic makeup of color, chemical treatments, and products, you can make the right decisions for each client.
Why geometry? Hair cutting is all about angles, baby!
However, the topics that may have been hard to grasp theoretically when you were in high school come to life when you’re working with them hands on. Instead of anatomy being a vague list of terms, it’s the reason why your client’s nails grow the way they do, and what you can do about it.
The beauty industry is a vivid landscape of skill, creativity, theory, interpersonal skills, and a deep understanding of the human body and how it reacts to the elements we use on it.
If this still makes you a little nervous, we recommend exploring some study skills!
Study Skills
Everyone learns in a different way. You can find a comprehensive list of study suggestions for different learning types in our blog post Preparing for You Minnesota State Board Exams.
At the Atelier, we love a good flashcard, but drawing out diagrams and maps can help as well. Put those creative skills to work!
How about some word games? Some of the terms in cosmetology are totally new, and a little scientific. Breaking down tricky words into smaller phrases or mnemonics can help some with memory.
Hear us out with this one… change up your vocabulary. Sure, you’re going to sound like an alien, but using the new terms you’re learning is a great way to commit them to memory. While you’re performing a service, name what you’re doing. “I’m perming this hair with ammonium thioglycolate”. “Wow, my manicure client has beautiful lunulas.” Extra points if you can explain what they mean to someone else!
Most importantly, dedication is what matters. No matter how long it takes you to remember the layers of the skin, persistence will get you there.
And never be afraid to ask questions! No matter how long someone has been doing at-home beauty, most of these concepts are brand new and confusing. Your educators are there to help you succeed.
Ready to Start Your Beauty Career?
At the Atelier Academy, we’re excited to embrace all of our learners. With our small size and personal approach, we’re able to customize our education to each student’s learning style.
We’d love to be a part of your journey! Check out our Programs Page for more information or Contact Us to learn more.
