If you've been typing "hair school near me" into Google, here's the thing nobody tells you: in California, there is no license called "hair." What you're really looking for is cosmetology school — that's the program where you learn to cut, style, color, and do chemical services. Since 2022 there's also a second, narrower option called the hairstylist license. Same building, very different careers, and the difference matters before you enroll anywhere.
The short answer
Hair school and cosmetology school are, for most students, the same thing. The 1,000-hour cosmetology program is how Californians who want to do hair professionally get licensed — and it covers skin and nails too. The newer 600-hour hairstylist license covers cutting, styling, shampooing, and blow-drying only. No color. No bleach. No perms or relaxers.
Why "no color" changes everything
Ask working stylists where the money is, and you'll hear the same answer: color. Balayage, highlights, gray coverage, color corrections — chemical services are the highest-ticket, most-rebooked services on almost every salon menu. A hairstylist license legally locks you out of all of them. That's the main reason Beyond decided to offer only the full cosmetology program for hair careers: we'd rather graduate people who can say yes to the whole menu than save 400 hours and cap their income on day one. We broke down the two licenses in detail in our cosmetology vs. hairstylist license comparison.
What you actually learn in a California cosmetology program
The 1,000 hours split across the full state curriculum:
- Hair — cutting, styling, blow-dry work, color theory and application, bleach, chemical waves and relaxers
- Skin — facials, waxing, brow and lash basics, makeup
- Nails — manicures and pedicures, Acrylic, Gel-X, etc.
- State Board prep — laws, sanitation, and exam readiness (you can try our free cosmetology practice exam to see what's on it)
You won't use every skill in your first job, but the broad license is exactly what makes cosmetologists flexible for a whole career — hair today, a lash studio or full-service suite later. Here's the complete path in our guide on how to become a cosmetologist in California.
How long is hair school, and what does it cost?
At Beyond in Santa Fe Springs, cosmetology runs Tuesday through Saturday during the day — full-time finishes in about 8 months, part-time mornings in about 12. (Fair warning if you need night classes: cosmetology at Beyond is daytime only.) Tuition is $17,560 with your full kit included, and cosmetology students who qualify can use federal financial aid — FAFSA details are on our financial aid page.
How to judge any "hair school" you're considering
- Is it state-approved? Only hours from a Board of Barbering and Cosmetology-approved school count toward a license.
- Which license does the program lead to? If it's a hairstylist program, make sure you're at peace with never touching color under that license.
- Ask about pass rates. A school's State Board results tell you more than its Instagram does.
- Match the schedule to your life — a program you can't attend consistently takes far longer than the catalog says.
Come tour the school
Beyond 21st Century Beauty Academy has been training hair professionals in Santa Fe Springs since 1997 — 2,100+ licensed graduates and counting. Schedule a tour, watch a color class in session, and see whether it feels right. Questions first? Call (562) 404-6193.
