An esthetician is a person who specializes in analyzing and beautifying the skin by performing facials, recommending skin care treatments, and analyzing the skin care needs of their clients. A cosmetologist covers a wider range of beauty beyond the skin involving hair, nails, and skin!
Licensing: While both are required to have some form of licensing, estheticians will be authorized for different practices than cosmetologists. For example, while both may be permitted to perform waxing, an esthetician will often be required to have a license to perform laser hair removal, as well.
×Cosmetology and esthetician licenses are different in the following ways:
- A cosmetologist license authorizes the licensee to practice all aspects of beauty culture, while a limited esthetician license authorizes the licensee to engage in providing esthetic services with contact to the skin limited to the beautification, cleansing, and embellishment of the skin during the application and removal of skin care products.
- To practice cosmetology, you need to complete a training program and obtain a state cosmetologist license, while to become an esthetician, you need to complete an esthetics program and obtain state licensure.
- Cosmetology licensure encompasses nearly all other beauty licenses, while esthetics is a narrower field focused on skincare.
- Cosmetologists receive training in several beauty-related areas, including hair, nails and makeup, while estheticians perform skincare treatments on clients.
,A cosmetologist license authorizes the licensee to practice all aspects of beauty culture. A
Limited Esthetician license authorizes the licensee to engage in providing esthetic services with contact to the skin limited to the beautification, cleansing, and embellishment of the skin during the application and removal of skin care products.In order to practice cosmetology in the United States, you’ll need to complete a training program and obtain a state
cosmetologist license. To become an esthetician, all U.S. states, except for Connecticut, require that you complete an esthetics program and obtain state licensure.What you can do with an esthetician license is
narrower in scope than what you can do with a cosmetology license. Cosmetology licensure encompasses nearly all other beauty licenses, while esthetics is a narrower field focused on skincare. Esthetics focuses on skincare and skin beauty, while cosmetology also includes hair, nail care, and more.An esthetician is a licensed beauty specialist who performs skincare treatments on clients, while a
cosmetologist is a licensed specialist who receives training in several beauty-related areas, including hair, nails and makeup.
Cosmetologist: a person licensed to provide cosmetic treatments to the hair, skin, and nails. Esthetician: a person licensed to provide cosmetic skin care treatments and services (such as facials, hair removal, and makeup application).
