In the blistery Maine winters, everyone benefits from great beauty professionals who can keep them glowing, radiant, and youthful. This is why beauty professional careers, such as cosmetology jobs, are listed among the top 40 fastest growing occupations in Maine between 2012 and 2022, according to the Maine Center for Workforce and Research Information.
 | How to Become a Cosmetologist in Maine |
| Qualifications for Manicurists in Maine |
| How to Become an Aesthetician in Maine |
| How to Become a Barber in Maine |
Even better, Maine salons—like Fringe Hair Art in Kennebunk—are making onto the national stage. Elle Magazine has listed full-service, luxury salon as one of the “Top 100 Salons in the US” three years in a row, proving its worth. The cosmetologists at Fringe offer cutting-edge cutting, styling, and coloring services, such as baliage, keratin hair straightening treatments, and special conditioning treatments, along with complimentary scalp massages. Along with this, Fringe offers expert esthetician services with the Brow Bar, which offers brow arching and shaping, brow waxing, brow tinting, and facial waxing. Using only top-of-the-line Kérastase, Oribe, and INOA color products, it’s clear why this Maine salon is one of the best in the nation.
Voted “Best Nail Salon in Mid-Coast Maine” in 2013, Elizabeth Nails Spa, located in Brunswick, offers all types of nail services to please any client, including natural, artificial, gel, and shellac gel nails. Along with this, Elizabeth is dedicated to providing a healthy and safe environment, giving clients the healthiest and ultimate nail spa experience. Finally, Elizabeth truly reflects the culture of cosmetic health by offering her specialty—organic mani/pedis.
Finally, Cornerstone Barber Shop, located in Bangor, reflects the revival of classic, American men’s grooming in Maine, by offering a slew of services that are unique to old-fashioned shops, as well as services that are unique to today’s modern style. Hot lather and straight edge razor shaves are a must, and they are accompanied by a hot, steamed towel.
Whether you’re looking to become a cosmetologist, manicurist, esthetician, or barber, Maine is the place to be. To start your beauty professional career, you’ll begin by getting a license from the Maine Barbering and Cosmetology Licensing Board. This Board regulates all of the education and exam requirements for all beauty professional licenses throughout the state.
How to Become a Cosmetologist in Maine
Cosmetologists beautify skin, apply makeup, provide manicures and pedicures, as well as cutting, styling, and coloring hair.
Education Requirements for Maine Cosmetologists
The first step toward getting your Maine cosmetology license is enrolling in a 1500-hour cosmetology training program. Throughout your beauty college experience, you’ll be immersed in beauty, style, and the latest trends in hairstyling, cutting, and coloring. You’ll get to take theory and practical courses concerning the following cosmetology subjects:
- Shampoo – 125 hours
- Permanent Waving – 337 hours
- Finger Waving, Molding, and Roller Placement – 300 hours
- Hair Coloring – 170 hours
- Hair Cutting – 500 hours
- Cosmetic Therapy – 150 hours
- Manicuring and Pedicuring – 120 hours
- Electrical Devices – 40 hours
- Hygiene, Sanitation, and Anatomy – 120 hours
- Wiggery – 20 hours
- Chemical Hair Relaxing – 80 hours
- Shop Management – 80 hours
- Unassigned – 50 hours
Examination Requirements for License as a Maine Cosmetologist
After graduating from your cosmetology program, you’ll be ready to pass the following Maine cosmetology license examinations:
- Maine Cosmetology Written Examination administered by D.L. Roope
- Maine Cosmetology Practical Examination administered by D.L. Roope
After passing these licensing exams, you’ll be able to receive your Maine cosmetology license.
Job Opportunities for Cosmetologists
As a cosmetologist in Maine, you’ll be able to look for hourly, commission, or rental jobs in local salons or day spas. To get some of the most competitive jobs, you’ll need to continue your cosmetology education through advanced cosmetology courses. This will help you stay on the cutting edge of the latest trends in hair cutting, styling, and coloring services, techniques, and products.
Bei Capelli Salon, located in Scarborough, is another top Maine salon, having been nominated by North American Hairstyling Awards for the Global Salon Business Award. Further, Bei has been mentioned in Salon Today, Maine, Hairdreams, and BE magazines, among others, and it’s clear that this salon sets the bar for excellent hair cutting, styling, and coloring in the state. This salon offers it all, with top-notch cut, style, color, texture, extension, and scalp treatment services, along with makeup application, waxing, and nail services to top it all off. This upscale, yet unpretentious, salon evokes the natural beauty in each client—without the major damage to the wallet that other high-end salons inflict.
For some other best hair salons throughout Maine, consider the following salons:
- Andiamo! Salon & Spa – Portland
- Envy Hair Salon – Portland
- O2 Salon – Portland
Qualifications for Manicurists in Maine
Manicurists specialize in performing manicures and pedicures to beautify and soften client’s nails, hands, and feet.
Manicurist Education Requirements
The first step toward your Maine manicuring license is enrolling in a 200-hour Maine manicurist training program. Maine manicurist training programs are found as specialized tracks within larger beauty schools. In these programs, you’ll get to learn the science and art behind manicuring and pedicuring, including the following manicuring subjects:
- Hygiene, Bacteriology, and Sanitation – 30 hours
- Anatomy and Physiology – 20 hours
- Equipment and Implements – 13 hours
- Manicuring – 63 hours
- Pedicuring – 52 hours
- Maine Board of Barbering and Cosmetology Laws and Rules – 22 hours
At least 35% of your curriculum will concern manicuring theory, and at least 50% of your curriculum will concern manicuring practice.
Manicurist Examination Requirements for a Maine License
After graduating from your manicurist training program, you’ll be ready to pass the following Maine manicurist license examinations:
- Maine Manicurist Written Examination administered by D.L. Roope
- Maine Manicurist Practical Examination administered by D.L. Roope
After passing these licensing exams, you’ll be able to receive your Maine manicuring license.
Job Opportunities for Manicurists
As a manicurist in Maine, you’ll be able to look for part-time or full-time nail salon jobs, full-service salon jobs, or day spa jobs. These will generally be hourly, commission, or booth rental positions. To excel, you will want to continue your education in advanced nail education courses, build a strong client-base, and hone your marketing and sales skills.
Pampered and Polished Nail Salon has been voted “Bangor’s Best Nail Salon” for four years in a row, due to top-of-the-line manicurists that offer luxury manicures and pedicures, paraffin treatments, and rejuvenating clay treatments. The spa services include callus peels, paraffin treatments, and full foot and hand massages. Along with this, this salon is known for their fun and exciting nail art, making it one of the best in Maine.
For other great nail salons throughout Maine, consider some of the following options:
- A Perfect 10 Nail Salon – South Portland
- Nail Pro – Scarborough
- C D Nail & Spa – Augusta
How to Become an Aesthetician in Maine
Aestheticians specialize in the beautifying, massaging, cleansing, stimulating, and toning of skin through the use of cosmetics, clays, creams, electrical devices, facials, body wraps, and more.
Aesthetician Educational Requirements
Your first step toward pursuing your aesthetician license in Maine is enrolling in a 750-hour aesthetician training program, which can be found as a specialized track within a larger beauty college. In this program, you’ll learn the science and art of skin care by taking courses concerning the following aesthetician subject areas:
- History of skin care and the use of cosmetics – 5 hours
- Sterilization and sanitation – 25 hours
- Chemistry, bacteriology, cells, metabolism and body system, human anatomy – 130 hours
- Physiology and histology of skin, skin disorders, skin analysis, health and nutrition of the skin – 120 hours
- Cleansing the skin and client preparation – 30 hours
- Massage techniques, mask therapy in facial treatments – 60 hours
- Skin treatments without use of machines, skin treatment with use of machines – 125 hours
- Superfluous hair removal – 30 hours
- Makeup techniques – 70 hours
- Electricity, machines and apparatus – 55 hours
- Business management – 35 hours
- Psychology and human relations – 10 hours
- Testing and evaluation – 20 hours
- Unassigned, laws and rules – hours 35
Of your curriculum, 35%-50% will concern aesthetician theory, and the other 50%-65% will concern the practice of aesthetics.
Aesthetician Examination Requirements
After graduating from your aesthetician training program, you’ll be ready to pass the following Maine aesthetician license examinations:
- Maine Aesthetician Written Examination administered by D.L. Roope
- Maine Aesthetician Practical Examination administered by D.L. Roope
After passing these licensing exams, you’ll be able to receive your Maine aesthetician license.
Aesthetician Job Opportunities
The Maine Center for Workforce and Research Information expects the number of aesthetician jobs in Maine to grow by 28.3% between 2012 and 2022, which spells out great opportunity for aspiring aestheticians. As a Maine aesthetician, you’ll get the chance to work in full-service salons, day spas, resort and hotel spas, wellness centers, and even medical spas.
Resorts are huge in Maine, with some of the top spas in the state being located within them. Samoset Resort on the Ocean in Rockport offers a full-service spa, complete with massage, nail, makeup, and facial services. With the coastal atmosphere, guests get to truly relax, and allow their bodies and minds to be rejuvenated. This spa has it all, offering everything from the gentleman’s hot towel facial to the ocean memory wrap, which includes organic calcium-rich marine algae and oil that keeps your skin smooth and firm.
For other best rated full-service salons, day spas, and resort spas in Maine, consider some of the following options:
- Spruce Point Inn Resort and Spa – Boothbay Harbor
- Apollo Day Spa – Waterville
- Pura Vida Day Spa – Brunswick
How to Become a Barber in Maine
Barbers revive the classic art of masculine grooming by learning the art of cutting, trimming, styling, and designing men’s hair, beards, and mustaches. Maine offers the standard, barber-stylist license, as well as a limited barber license.
Barber Education Requirements
To begin your pursuit of a Maine barber license, you will enroll in a 1500-hour barber training program in a local barber school or cosmetology school. In this program, you’ll learn the art of classic, masculine grooming by taking the following courses:
- History and Fundamentals of Barbering – 5 hours
- Elementary Chemistry – 20 hours
- Barbering Implements – 5 hours
- Hairpiece Fitting, Sales, and Services – 20 hours
- Hair coloring – 100 hours
- Hair Structure – 40 hours
- Anatomy – 30 hours
- Facial massage – 15 hours
- Disorders of the Skin, Scalp, and Hair – 15 hours
- Hair Cutting – 555 hours
- Shaving, Trimming Beards and Mustaches – 50 hours
- Shampoo and Scalp Treatments – 40 hours
- Styling and Permanent Waving – 450 hours
- Manicuring – 40 hours
- General Review – 75 hours
- Business Management, Laws, and Rules – 40 hours
If you’re pursuing a limited barber license, you’ll take all the same courses as a barber-stylist, except you won’t take courses concerning barber chemical services.
Advanced Barber-Stylist Examination Requirements
After graduating from your barber school, you’ll be ready to pass the following Maine barber-stylist license examinations:
- Maine Barber-Stylist Written Examination administered by D.L. Roope
- Maine Barber-Stylist Practical Examination administered by D.L. Roope
After passing these licensing exams, you’ll be able to receive your Maine barber-stylist license.
Barber Job Options
As a barber in Maine, you’ll be able to look for hourly, commission, or rental jobs in local barbershops. To obtain the most competitive jobs, you’ll want to continue your barbering education, staying on top of the latest trends in barbering services, techniques, and products. Barbers who excel and develop a strong client-base are able to strike out on their own, working from a rental chair or opening their own barbershop.
Goodfellas Barbershop, located in Westbrook, is another shop that truly sets the bar for men’s grooming. With a great, old-fashioned, masculine atmosphere, Goodfellas offers the best cuts and fades around, people travel from all around the state just to get in.
For other top-notch barbershops in Maine, consider some of the following options:
- Vintage Barber Shop – Bath
- Forest Avenue Barber Shop – Portland
- Paragon Barbershop – Saco