You can study to become a cosmetologist in Germany both in private schools and in state vocational schools
“Today, there are almost no countries left in Europe where you can work as a cosmetologist without specialized education, let alone open a salon,” comments Franz Dannhauser, a representative of the German Association of Cosmetology Professionals (Verband Cosmetic Professional e.V.). According to him, everything could change in the coming days.
As reported by Deutsche Welle, a bill is currently being drafted that would restrict the activities of cosmetologists. Under this bill, the use of specialized cosmetic equipment necessary for laser hair removal, ultrasonic facial cleansing, and other similar procedures would only be allowed for well-educated cosmetologists, not those who have completed short two- or three-week courses.
Gisela Mettin, a representative of the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (Bundesinstitut für Berufsbildung), agrees with Dannhauser’s position: “I think working as a cosmetologist without education is unsafe and fraught with problems, because there are dermatological features that need to be considered, and if you make a mistake, you can harm the client.”
The specialty “Cosmetology” in Germany is consistently popular, despite the low income of cosmetologists. It is a typically female profession here: more than 90 percent of those working in this field are women. So why do they choose this specialty if not for the money? According to Gisela Mettin, “it sounds cool when someone says, ‘I am a cosmetologist.’”
You can study to become a cosmetologist in Germany at private schools or state vocational schools. The curriculum includes both cosmetology procedures and various types of massage and manicure. Private training lasts one or two years, and its cost can be partially compensated by the state: financial aid is called Ausbildungsvergütung and ranges from 400 to 1000 euros per month.
State education is free and lasts two years (Berufsschule). You can also study under the so-called dual system (duale Ausbildung): gain theoretical knowledge at school and practical knowledge directly in a beauty salon. In this case, the company sponsors the training and pays the student a small salary, and the training lasts longer – three years.
Cosmetologist Maria Gairunova from Bonn attended both the private Bernd Blindow School (Bernd Blindow Schule) and the state Henriette-Goldschmidt-Schule in Leipzig: “I can’t say that one system is weaker than the other; they are just different. At the private school, discipline was very strict, everything was organized, and they guided us completely from start to finish. At the state school, there was theory, many other subjects: German, physics, chemistry, math, law. At the same time, there was a lot of practice in the salon, but the school itself provided professional skills superficially.”
The main reason to choose state education is prestige: the state exam is more difficult, but employers value such a diploma more. Clients focus more on the external impression of the salon and its owner, prices, and the final result. Clients also do not care about origin. They treat Germans and foreigners equally: skin color, eye shape, and accent do not matter, unlike the master’s skill and the durability of the manicure.
If you have money, opening your own beauty salon in Germany is generally simple: you need to find a premises and register a business, then submit all documents to the Chamber of Crafts of the corresponding city (Handwerkskammer). You cannot receive clients at home unless you own your own home – most landlords will be against it. If you rely on chance and do not register your business, neighbors will certainly complain to the police or somewhere else about illegal commercial activity. And it will end badly.
To open even a small cosmetology office, you will need a substantial start-up capital. Money is needed for renting premises (from 800 to 2000 euros per month), possibly renovations, as well as purchasing equipment and materials. You will have to keep a close eye on finances – either on your own or with the help of an accountant (which also costs money): due to disorder in reports, the tax office can either fine the unlucky cosmetologist or even close the company.
But the main advice that Maria Gairunova can give to aspiring cosmetologists in Germany is this: always be in a good mood! “People feel it and react to it. For example, clients find me themselves, then bring their friends. I didn’t do any special advertising, but I have enough clients, sometimes I even have to turn down new ones,” shares the cosmetologist from Bonn.