Barbers and cosmetologists focus on providing hair care services to enhance the appearance of consumers. Other personal appearance workers, such as manicurists and pedicurists, shampooers, theatrical and performance makeup artists, and skin care specialists provide specialized beauty services that help clients look and feel their best.
Barbers cut, trim, shampoo, and style hair mostly for male clients. They also may fit hairpieces and offer scalp treatments and facial shaving. In many States, barbers are licensed to color, bleach, or highlight hair and to offer permanent-wave services. Barbers also may provide skin care and nail treatments.
Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists offer a wide range of beauty services, such as shampooing, cutting, coloring, and styling of hair. They may advise clients on how to care for their hair at home. In addition, cosmetologists may be trained to give manicures, pedicures, and scalp and facial treatments; provide makeup analysis; and clean and style wigs and hairpieces.
A number of workers offer specialized services. Manicurists and pedicurists, called nail technicians in some States, work exclusively on nails and provide manicures, pedicures, polishing, and nail extensions to clients. Another group of specialists is skin care specialists, or estheticians, who cleanse and beautify the skin by giving facials, full-body treatments, and head and neck massages as well as apply makeup. They also may remove hair through waxing or, if properly trained, laser treatments. Theatrical and performance makeup artists, apply makeup to enhance performing artists' appearance for movie, television, or stage performances. Finally, in larger salons, shampooers specialize in shampooing and conditioning hair.
In addition to working with clients, personal appearance workers may keep records of hair color or skin care regimens used by their regular clients. A growing number actively sell hair, skin, and nail care products. Barbers, cosmetologists, and other personal appearance workers who operate their own salons have managerial duties that may include hiring, supervising, and firing workers, as well as keeping business and inventory records, ordering supplies, and arranging for advertising.
Work environment. Most full-time barbers, cosmetologists, and other personal appearance workers put in a 40-hour week, but longer hours are common, especially among self-employed workers. Work schedules may include evenings and weekends, the times when beauty salons and barbershops are busiest. In 2006, about 31 percent of cosmetologists and 19 percent of barbers worked part time, and 16 percent of cosmetologists and 11 percent of barbers had variable schedules.
Barbers, cosmetologists, and other personal appearance workers usually work in clean, pleasant surroundings with good lighting and ventilation. Good health and stamina are important, because these workers are on their feet for most of their shift. Prolonged exposure to some hair and nail chemicals may cause irritation, so protective clothing, such as plastic gloves or aprons, may be worn.
| 1. | Apply makeup to enhance, and/or alter the appearance of people appearing in productions such as movies. |
| 2. | Assess performers' skin-type in order to ensure that make-up will not cause break-outs or skin irritations. |
| 3. | Attach prostheses to performers and apply makeup in order to create special features or effects such as scars, aging, or illness. |
| 4. | Cleanse and tone the skin in order to prepare it for makeup application. |
| 5. | Confer with stage or motion picture officials and performers in order to determine desired effects. |
| 6. | Design rubber or plastic prostheses that can be used to change performers' appearances. |
| 7. | Duplicate work precisely in order to replicate characters' appearances on a daily basis. |
| 8. | Evaluate environmental characteristics such as venue size and lighting plans in order to determine makeup requirements. |
| 9. | Examine sketches, photographs, and plaster models in order to obtain desired character image depiction. |
| 10. | Provide performers with makeup removal assistance after performances have been completed. |
| 11. | Requisition or acquire needed materials for special effects, including wigs, beards, and special cosmetics. |
| 12. | Select desired makeup shades from stock, or mix oil, grease, and coloring in order to achieve specific color effects. |
| 13. | Study production information, such as character descriptions, period settings, and situations in order to determine makeup requirements. |
| 14. | Write makeup sheets and take photos in order to document specific looks and the products that were used to achieve the looks. |
| 15. | Advise hairdressers on the hairstyles required for character parts. |
| 16. | Create character drawings or models, based upon independent research, in order to augment period production files. |
| 17. | Demonstrate products to clients, and provide instruction in makeup application. |
| 18. | Establish budgets, and work within budgetary limits. |
| 19. | Wash and reset wigs. |
| 20. | Alter or maintain makeup during productions as necessary to compensate for lighting changes or to achieve continuity of effect. |
| 21. | Analyze a script, noting events that affect each character's appearance, so that plans can be made for each scene. |
[Back to Top]