cosmetology license...jack of all trades?

[invadersads]

so i have a friend...who isn't the brightest bulb in the box (putting it nicely, and she's not too bright even if she's right about this..lol)...
she went to school and got her license to be a hairdresser..as far as i know, her extent of knowledge of other things in similar fields (such as makeup and nails) is limited, she might have taken a class or two ( i dont know exactly how those kind of schools work) but i know that all of her hours of "practice" put in were for hair. she now works at a hair salon, and she is quite good.
the other day she tells me she thinks she wants to get a side job working at mac. i said, don't you need a license for doing makeup or whatever? and she tells me that she's licensed to do it all, hair, makeup, nails, etc. i didn't argue since i really wasn't sure. but this doesn't make any sense because she has little experience in makeup other than what she does on herself and what she apparently does on clients at her salon sometimes. she has no makeup portfolio to even show a place if she applied...but then that also would mean someone who goes to school and focuses on makeup and skincare could claim to be able to cut my hair?
so i'm hoping some professionals here can clear this up for me, because i'm a little confused...
i hope i put this in the right section..i'm mainly looking for licensed hair professionals who would be able to clear this up, but if anyone knows i'm interested in listening.
thanks! sorry this was so long!

 

[CantAffordMAC]

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[khmershortay]

im currently going to cosmetology school right now, and yes Cosmetology license allows you to do makeup, hair, nails, and skin. However with skin and nail, its kind of limited as to what services we can perform, like we can only do facial and anything involving a chemical peel or other more in depth procedures only a licensed esthetician can do it. Same thing with nail, we can do manicures/pedicures and for the state board we are required only do 1 artificial arcrylic nail. But where i want to also gain more knowledge with nail, i may take an extra nail class where they will teach me nail art and all that. As for makeup, we usually do it during wedding season and prom. that is usually where the practice comes from. If your friend wants to work for MAC and doesn't have a portfolio, she doesnt need any sort of license. I was shopping for some e/s one day and the SA told me he liked my look and told me i should apply in october since they need different ethnicity working there, there are only caucasian SA working there, I asked him, dont i need a makeup artlist license to work here. He said nope, all i need to go and come and fill out an application and go through the interview process.
so im sure if your friend really wants to do makeup, the more she practice, her skills will become better

 

[M.A.C.tastic]

You don't need a makeup license or any sort of license to work at MAC or any other counter. I don't agree with that however, that's the case.

I am a licensed Makeup Artist in Maryland, and now I am in Cosmetology school. In Cos school, you learn everything and like KHM above said, we only learn the basics in Makeup (we had like 10 classes in this), Nails (maybe 5 classes), Skincare (same as nails). Obviously the focus is on hair, but with the Cosmetology license it encompasses everything. So, while she does not have that much experience from school doing makeup, she legally can do so, and with MAC it doesnt matter anyway cause any joe schmo can work there as long as they have a bit of talent.

 

[MiCHiE]

Yes, these posters are correct. However, I would hope that she seriously considers whatever she wants to do and puts 100% into it. It's almost impossible to do everything well. It's takes so much practice and continuing education. I know a lot of 'jacks of all trades.....masters of none' simply because one aspect has to suffer. If you don't use it, you *can* lose it.

 

[M.A.C.tastic]

Agree 100% Michie, which is why they have branched Cosmetology into different "specialized" feilds, like MUA, Aestetics, Nail Tech etc. So people can take just want they want without having to go through everything cometology involves for just one field of interest.

 

[violet14]

Yeah you guys are all right. I am a licensed cosmetologist and at least in my state you have basic classes on makeup and nails and the main focus is hair however you are still able to do facials and stuff. However to do more advanced skin care (steaming extractions etc) you have to be an eshtetician. So like MACtastic said they are sort of branched off in more specific things in greater detail (mua nails etc) whereas cosmetology is everything in one. sorry that was rambled.