Manicuring or Cosmetology: Which Program Should I Choose?

When you want to live a life of beauty, attending beauty school is the natural first step. Once you complete your courses and receive a license, you can begin helping others unlock their inner radiance professionally. The question is: which program should I choose? For future students of the Moler Beauty Academy, we are dedicated to helping you choose the best educational course to begin your dream career as a beauty specialist.

For many of our students, the question lies between manicuring and cosmetology. Which program should you choose? What is the best way to start your career? We’d love to help you find your path.

The Difference Between Manicuring vs Cosmetology

First, let’s talk about the difference between manicuring and cosmetology. These are two different licenses and can take you on different career paths.

Manicuring

The Manicuring Program at Moler Beauty Academy prepares you to take the state licensing test to become a Nail Technician. You will be licensed to give manicures and pedicures, provide hand and arm massages, and dive into the artistic world of nail art with many different techniques and materials.

Cosmetology

Our Cosmetology Program prepares you to get your license as a cosmetologist. Cosmetologists represent a more comprehensive set of beauty skills. While much of the program focuses on hair styling, coloring, and treatments, you will also become skilled at nail art (manicures and pedicures), facial makeup, facial treatments (facials), eyelash extensions, waxing, and more.  Cosmetologists are very diverse, but it takes longer to build this set of beauty skills. 

About Our Manicuring Program

When you attend our Manicuring Program, you can expect an in-depth education in the latest nail art and mani-pedi techniques. Our classes are focused and hands-on, taught by skilled professionals who attend beauty conferences regularly to ensure that students are always at the cutting edge of nail art trends and technical skills.

The manicuring program is one of the shortest offered by Moler Beauty Academy and is designed to streamline your path toward licensing and the start of your career. You will learn everything you need to become a skilled nail technician and in-demand manicure-pedicure specialist in as little as 2 months.

Duration: 300 Hours

The Manicuring program is 300 hours, which goes by faster than you might realize. Full-time students can complete the course in 7 weeks. More flexible class schedules for part-time students are also available, allowing you to complete your coursework while balancing your responsibilities in only a slightly longer timeline.

Specialty: Nails and Hand/Foot Care

What you will learn in the Manicuring Program includes everything you need to know to provide gorgeous manicures and pedicures, from classic styles to the latest trends. The program includes:

• Manicures
• Pedicures
• Nail Enhancement
• Sculptured and Acrulic Nails
• Hand and arm massage
• Sanitation
• Business Skills

Career Path: Nail Technician

When you complete this program, you will be ready to test for your Nail Technician license and begin your career as a professional manicurist and nail technician. 

 About Our Cosmetology Program

Our Cosmetology Program is a comprehensive beauty academy education that includes everything you need to become a diversely skilled licensed cosmetologist. Cosmetology begins with hair styling and the many associated skills to create personalized styles for your clients, from trimming and coloring to perming, extensions, and braiding. However, the skills go far beyond this to include facials and makeup, nails and manicures, and more extensive education in business management, as cosmetologists often become entrepreneurs.

Naturally, this program requires more time and dedication, but also opens more career opportunities upon completion.

Duration: 1500 Hours

The Cosmetology Program at Moler Beauty Academy is 1500 hours. The advanced program is 1800 hours. The 1500-hour course can be completed in 43 weeks as a full-time student (about 11 months). However, more flexible scheduling is available for both part-time students and those who want to take evening classes. Part-time students can complete the coursework in 60 weeks (15 months / 1.25 years), and evening classes can complete the curriculum in 115 weeks (29 months / 2.5 years)

This makes the cosmetology program about half as long as an associate’s degree in a university or college.

Specialty: Hair, Nails, Face, and Beyond

Cosmetologists learn a wide range of skills relating to the beauty industry, and are often capable of filling almost every role in a modern salon. The Moler Cosmetology curriculum includes:

• Haircutting
• Coloring
• Retouches
• Highlights
• Balayage
• Color Corrections
• Perms
• Relaxers
• Hairstyling
• Braiding
• Extensions
• Weaves
• Wig Making
• Facials
• Makeup Application
• Waxing
• Manicures & Pedicures
• Eyelash Extensions
• and More!

 

Career Path: Diverse

The career paths available for licensed cosmetologists are truly vast. You can become a hair stylist, nail technician, or makeup artist. You can become a stylist for movies and television or for brides in the wedding industry. You might open your own salon or take up residence in a resort or spa. With the many skills of a cosmetologist and the opportunity to specialize further, you can choose your own path.

Manicuring or Cosmetology: Which is Right for You?

When selecting the right beauty school program, it’s important to consider your passion, goals, and desired timeline.

Choosing the Manicurist Path

If your passion is nail art and your dream is to express your artistry through nail designs, naturally, the Manicurist program is the right choice for you. The Manicurist program can be ideal for students who want to start their careers quickly, as the program is short. You can potentially gain your license and begin working in less than a year. There’s also nothing keeping you from working your way through a cosmetology course after becoming a licensed nail technician if your dreams go beyond nail design.

Becoming a Cosmetologist

If you want to be a hair stylist, makeup artist, or multi-talented beauty stylist, Cosmetology can be the best program for you. Cosmetology is the only choice for hair styling and covers both the basics of manicurists and estheticians. Your career options will be more diverse. Of course, the program also takes significantly longer to complete. You’ll want to choose the right schedule and be prepared to dedicate significant time to learning the full coursework. Once you become a cosmetologist, you can also specialize further to hone your career path and specific skills.

 Begin Your Beauty Education at the Moler Beauty Academy

If you are ready to become a beauty professional, your journey begins at the Moler Beauty Academy. We are glad to welcome you to our Manicuring or Cosmetology programs based on the path that is best for you. Contact us today to inquire about the enrollment process and learn more about each of our beauty education programs.