World Beauty Schools

Beauty subjects and specialties

Subjects are grouped under ten pathways. They are subjects and specialties, not necessarily academic majors, and one course can carry several subject tags. Spelling variants are folded into one canonical page.

Cosmetology

Broad, multi-discipline training covering hair, skin and nails. In several countries it is the route the licence is built on.

  • Cosmetology

    Cosmetology is broad training across hair, skin and nails.

    312 verified listings

Skincare and esthetics

Facial treatments, skin analysis and advanced skincare, including training for medical settings with defined prerequisites.

  • Esthetician / Aesthetician (Skincare)

    Esthetician (aesthetician in Canada and elsewhere) training focuses on skin: analysis, facials, hair removal and related treatments.

    334 verified listings

  • Medical Esthetician

    “Medical esthetician” is not a universally recognised licence.

    20 verified listings

  • Advanced Skincarespecialty

    Advanced skincare courses build on a base qualification in esthetics or beauty therapy..

    107 verified listings

Hair and barbering

Hairdressing, cutting, colouring, extensions, textured-hair work and barbering.

  • Hair Styling / Hairdressing

    Hair styling, called hairdressing in the UK, Ireland and Australia, covers cutting, colouring, styling and finishing.

    255 verified listings

  • Barbering

    Barbering focuses on men’s and short-hair cutting, clipper and razor work and grooming.

    129 verified listings

  • Hair Cuttingspecialty

    Hair cutting courses focus on cutting technique..

    145 verified listings

  • Hair Coloringspecialty

    Hair colouring courses teach colour theory and application..

    93 verified listings

  • Hair Extensionsspecialty

    Hair extension courses teach fitting and maintaining extensions..

    13 verified listings

  • Textured and Afro-Textured Hairspecialty

    Textured and Afro-textured hair education covers cutting, styling and care for coily and curly hair.

    6 verified listings

Nails

Manicure, pedicure, nail extensions, gel techniques and nail art.

  • Nail Technician (Manicure and Pedicure)

    Nail technician training covers manicure, pedicure, extensions and nail care.

    217 verified listings

  • Nail Artspecialty

    Nail art courses teach decorative techniques on top of a nail-care base..

    22 verified listings

  • Nail Extensionsspecialty

    Nail extension courses teach building length and structure with tips, acrylic or gel..

    32 verified listings

  • Gel and Gel-Polishspecialty

    Gel and gel-polish courses teach applying and removing gel-based nail products..

    18 verified listings

  • Manicurespecialty

    Manicure courses teach hand and nail care..

    130 verified listings

  • Pedicurespecialty

    Pedicure courses teach foot and toenail care within the cosmetic scope..

    104 verified listings

Lashes and brows

Lash extensions, brow shaping, tinting and lamination. These are not permanent makeup.

  • Lash Extension / Eyelash Technician

    Lash extension courses teach applying individual or volume lash extensions to natural lashes.

    75 verified listings

  • Eyebrow Technician

    Eyebrow technician courses teach brow shaping, tinting and lamination as an overall brow specialism.

    46 verified listings

  • Brow Lamination

    Brow lamination sets brow hairs in a chosen direction.

    30 verified listings

  • Brow Tinting

    Brow tinting colours existing brow hair with a tint.

    39 verified listings

  • Brow Shaping

    Brow shaping uses waxing, threading or tweezing to define the brow.

    15 verified listings

Makeup artistry

Professional, bridal, airbrush and personal makeup application.

  • Makeup Artistry

    Makeup artistry covers applying makeup for clients, events, photography, film and theatre.

    169 verified listings

  • Bridal Makeupspecialty

    Bridal makeup courses focus on wedding makeup for clients and planning a bridal service..

    17 verified listings

  • Airbrush Makeupspecialty

    Airbrush makeup courses teach applying makeup with an airbrush system..

    9 verified listings

  • Personal Makeupspecialty

    Personal makeup workshops teach you to apply makeup on yourself..

    3 verified listings

Permanent makeup

Micropigmentation, including powder and ombré brows: pigment-implanting techniques with their own rules and prerequisites.

  • Powder / Ombré Brows

    Powder (ombré) brows are a pigment-implanting technique taught within permanent-makeup training.

    12 verified listings

  • Permanent Makeup / Micropigmentation

    Permanent makeup (micropigmentation, microblading, cosmetic tattooing) implants pigment in the skin.

    33 verified listings

Beauty therapy and spa

Beautician, beauty therapist, parlour and spa training that combines several treatments.

  • Beautician / Beauty Therapy

    Beauty therapy (beautician) training combines facials, body treatments, waxing, nails and makeup.

    36 verified listings

  • Beauty Parlour Training

    Beauty parlour training is the common name in South Asia and the Middle East for general salon training covering hair, skin, makeup and nails..

    0 verified listings

  • Beauty Spa Training

    Spa training covers body treatments and relaxation therapies in spa settings.

    26 verified listings

  • Beauty Care

    Beauty care courses cover general grooming and personal care, often as an introduction before specialising..

    38 verified listings

Instructor education

Preparing practitioners to teach and assess beauty subjects.

Salon skills

Reception, retail, client care and business skills for salon work.

  • Salon Training

    Salon training covers the working practices around services: reception, client care, retail and business skills..

    26 verified listings

How subjects relate to qualifications

A subject says what you learn; a qualification says what you receive. Browse by qualification on the certificates, diplomas, short courses and long-term programs pages, and read the qualifications explained page.