Cosmetology Resume Examples & Writing Guide

Cosmetology Resume Template (Text Format)

We’ve prepared additional resume samples for different skill levels and job titles to ensure you find a cosmetologist resume example that you can model your own resume after.

Entry-level cosmetologist resume

If you’ve just completed your cosmetology training, this is a good example of what your resume should look like:

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Example highlights

• Detailed education section: When you lack formal work experience, a good way to ensure you have enough information to put on your resume is to include detailed information about your education. Employers will be interested to know what you learned during your cosmetology training.
• Strong resume summary: The applicant starts off their resume introduction by mentioning that they possess a cosmetology license and then goes over their skill set and professional goals.

Experienced cosmetologist resume

If you’ve got a few years of experience as a cosmetologist, use this resume as a reference when writing yours:

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Example highlights

• Hard skills: In their skills section, the applicant focuses on the technical skills they’ve honed throughout their time as a cosmetologist. Doing this can help set you apart from other applicants who might not be familiar with the same tools and techniques.
• Quantified bullet points: The bullet points on this resume contain numbers and percentages, giving employers a clear understanding of the extent of this applicant’s achievements.

Hairstylist resume

Use the following hairstylist resume sample as reference to craft your own:

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Example highlight

• Professional association membership: Including a professional membership on your resume, like this applicant does, can enhance your credibility and prove that you take your job seriously.

Esthetician resume

When writing an esthetician resume, you’ll need to highlight both your customer service and technical skills, like in the sample below:

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Example highlight

• Skill bars: Skill bars are useful because they allow you to effectively communicate your level of expertise. This is particularly helpful if you want to include techniques on your resume that you’re learning, but haven’t fully mastered, to show that you’re a well-rounded candidate committed to growing your skill set.

Makeup artist resume

A good makeup artist resume highlights your skills in both the work experience and skills sections:

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Example highlight

• Industry-relevant award: Listing awards on your resume is a great way to prove your skills as a cosmetologist.

How to write a cosmetologist resume

Follow these three tips to learn how to write an impressive cosmetology resume that showcases your top cosmetology skills and gets you hired in the beauty industry:

1. Tailor your resume to the salon you’re applying to

All beauty salons are not created equal — some cater to a particular clientele, while others have a broad customer base. Additionally, some concentrate on providing skincare treatments, whereas others mostly style hair.

Because the cosmetology industry is so diverse, you should tailor your resume to each salon you’re applying to by including hard and soft skills that they mention in the job description, or services you know they specialize in.

Here are some examples of hard skills salon owners often look for:

• Aesthetic laser knowledge
• Acrylic nail application
• Computer skills
• Cuticle trimming
• Facial and makeup application
• Good personal hygiene
• Language skills
• Manual dexterity
• Nail treatments
• Perming, straightening, and coloring hair
• Physical stamina
• Product knowledge
• Skincare consultation
• Waxing
• Administrative skills
• Wig cutting and cleaning

By contrast, soft skills relate to how you interact with customers and colleagues in a professional setting, so make sure you include them too.

Here are some examples of skills to add to your cosmetology resume:

• Active listening skills
• Adaptability
• Communication skills
• Customer service skills
• Discretion and confidentiality
• Leadership skills
• Management skills
• Organizational skills
• Patience
• People skills
• Problem solving skills
• Sales skills
• Time management skills

2. Use a resume summary to quickly showcase your expertise

The first thing the hiring manager sees on your cosmetologist resume is your resume summary, which is a 3-5 sentences long statement that creates a positive first impression of you by:

1. Highlighting your relevant certifications, training, and education
2. Mentioning how many years of experience you have and what tasks you performed
3. Conveying your top skills and how you’ll use them to benefit to your new employer’s business

Here are 3 examples of effective cosmetologist resume summaries to give you an idea of what yours should look like:

3. Quantify your bullet points

The work experience section of your resume is meant to advertise what you’ve achieved throughout your career. To convince employers that you’re the right person for their salon, quantify your resume bullet points to make your accomplishments stand out. Do this by adding a number or percentage wherever it can help illustrate the impact of your work.

Below are five examples of concise but impactful bullets for a cosmetologist resume:

Resume examples for different industries

Not sure what your resume should look like? The best way to learn is by taking inspiration from resume examples written by other candidates in your industry.

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Average cosmetologist salaries in the US

After you’ve written your resume, make sure you use it to apply for jobs within a fair salary range.

The following table includes information from the most recent US Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics report (May 2024). Here are the ten states with the highest salaries for cosmetologists, as well as the national average for your reference when applying for work.