COSMETOLOGY
Instructors: Mrs. Chonda Harris and Mrs. Tiffany Johnson
Create. Connect. Build Your Future.
What if your creativity could become a career? Cosmetology gives students the opportunity to work with real clients, build confidence, and experience the professional side of the beauty industry. From students who already enjoy practicing their craft to those ready to begin, this program offers a place to develop your talent and work toward a future in cosmetology.
This competitive two-year program is open to rising 11th-grade students from Berea, Carolina, Travelers Rest, and Wade Hampton High Schools. South Carolina licensing regulations limit enrollment to 20 students per licensed cosmetology instructor, allowing Enoree’s two instructors to serve up to 40 students. Because demand is high, students must complete all required acceptance steps to secure their placement. Once enrolled, students train under licensed instructors and work toward the hours, technical skills, examinations, and state requirements connected to South Carolina cosmetology licensure.
What Students Learn
Students develop practical beauty-industry skills while learning how safety, science, client care, creativity, and business practices work together in a professional salon.
- Create a salon-ready experience: Prepare tools, organize the station, and keep every service clean, safe, and professional for the client.
- Care for hair and scalp: Shampoo, condition, analyze, shape, style, and recommend appropriate services.
- Perform chemical services: Use hair analysis, chemistry, color theory, and safe procedures for texture and color services.
- Provide nail and skin services: Complete manicures, pedicures, basic facials, makeup, and approved hair-removal services.
- Serve clients professionally: Conduct consultations, manage time, recommend products, maintain records, and support salon operations.
Is This Program Right for You?
Students should be ready to:
- Commit to completing both years
- Attend regularly and complete additional hours
- Follow sanitation and safety procedures
- Practice skills repeatedly and accept feedback
- Work respectfully with peers and clients
- Take increasing responsibility for their work
These habits help students remain on pace with required hours, advance to Year Two, prepare for licensure, and compete for Work-Based Learning opportunities.
Your Two-Year Cosmetology Pathway
Each semester of the two-year commitment builds technical skill, required clock hours, professional judgment, and readiness for South Carolina's written and practical cosmetology examinations.
Semester 1 | Building the Foundation
Year One begins the two-year commitment and introduces the safety, science, professionalism, and salon practices that support every cosmetology service. Students begin earning direct cosmetology hours while practicing under the physical supervision of a licensed instructor. Students must earn at least a 75 average and complete at least 250 clock hours to advance to Cosmetology 2.
Students focus on:
- Sanitation, disinfection, infection control, first aid, and client protection
- Professional hygiene, grooming, ethics, communication, and salon behavior
- Basic anatomy, dermatology, trichology, nail structure, and chemistry
- Shampooing, rinsing, scalp care, and safe use of tools and products
- Foundational styling through molding, roller placement, pin curls, and blow-drying
Semester 2 | Developing Technical Skills
Students expand their practical work through haircutting, styling, nail care, skin care, and client consultation. They apply science and safety knowledge while developing consistency, organization, and professional service habits. Students must earn at least a 75 average and complete at least 500 cumulative clock hours to advance to Cosmetology 3.
Students focus on:
- Using reference points, angles, elevations, guidelines, and haircutting tools
- Completing blunt, graduated, layered, razor, and texturizing techniques
- Creating wet, thermal, long-hair, braiding, wig, and extension styles
- Performing basic manicures, pedicures, facials, makeup, and approved hair removal
- Conducting consultations and selecting services for individual client needs
Semester 3 | Advancing Chemical and Client Services
After completing Cosmetology 1 and 2, students return for the second year of their two-year commitment. Training moves into more advanced chemical, color, styling, and client services while students work with greater efficiency and professional judgment. Students must earn at least a 75 average and complete at least 750 cumulative clock hours to advance to Cosmetology 4.
Students focus on:
- Analyzing hair and selecting products for chemical texture services
- Performing permanent waving, chemical relaxing, and retouch procedures
- Applying color theory to temporary, permanent, lightening, and special-effects services
- Completing advanced styling, nail, skin-care, and client-service work
- Managing appointments, service timing, sanitation, records, and product recommendations
Semester 4 | Preparing for Licensure and the Industry
Students complete the two-year program by refining professional services, completing required hours, and preparing for the NIC written and practical examinations. They work with greater independence while building a portfolio, learning salon business practices, and preparing for employment, Work-Based Learning, advanced education, or entrepreneurship.
Students focus on:
- Completing full client services from consultation through sanitation and checkout
- Applying South Carolina laws, regulations, safety rules, and salon-inspection standards
- Refining practical procedures required for the NIC examination
- Reviewing cosmetology science and technical content for the written examination
- Developing a portfolio, business plan, interview skills, and career-readiness materials
Understanding the Required Hours
South Carolina's secondary cosmetology pathway requires 1,540 combined qualifying hours. Enoree students complete these hours through supervised cosmetology training and qualifying academic coursework.
1,000 Direct Cosmetology Hours
Students must complete 1,000 hours of direct cosmetology instruction under the physical supervision of a licensed cosmetology instructor. These hours include classroom instruction, lab practice, client services, approved activities, field trips, and additional scheduled instructional opportunities.
540 Academic Hours
The remaining 540 hours required for the secondary cosmetology pathway are earned through qualifying English language arts, mathematics, science, government or economics, and technology coursework completed at the student's home high school.
Additional Hours Are Required
The regular school schedule does not provide enough time for students to complete all 1,000 direct cosmetology hours during the normal school day. Students must complete additional instructional hours outside the regular school schedule.
Time missed because of absences, tardiness, weather closures, field trips, scheduling interruptions, or other circumstances may also need to be recovered. Detailed hour expectations, schedules, and participation requirements are reviewed with accepted students and families during Acceptance Night.
Program Requirements and Fees
Cosmetology students must meet state eligibility requirements, complete all required instructional hours, maintain consistent attendance and academic progress, and purchase the required professional kit and uniform.
State Licensure Requirements
- Be at least 16 years old
- Possess at least a 10th-grade education or approved equivalent
- Complete 1,540 total qualifying secondary-program hours
- Complete 1,000 direct hours under a licensed instructor
- Maintain at least a 75 average and required hour checkpoints
- Submit required application and identification documents
- Pay required examination or licensing fees
- Pass the NIC written and practical examinations
Year-One Program Fee
The required Cosmetology program fee is $600.
The fee covers the initial professional cosmetology kit and one set of black scrubs. Students must purchase one additional set of plain black scrubs before the school year begins.
Upon successful completion of the program, the cosmetology kit becomes the student's property.
The full $600 balance must be paid by July 30 after the student has been accepted.
Payment Options
Accepted students may pay the full $600 fee at Acceptance Night using cash, check, or MySchoolBucks.
- Acceptance Night: $150 non-refundable deposit
- May 30: $150 installment
- June 30: $150 installment
- July 30: Final $150 installment
After the deposit, remaining installments must be paid through MySchoolBucks. The deposit secures the accepted student's place.
Second-Year Kit Replenishment
Students must replenish consumable items before year two. The fee is typically approximately $250, but the final amount may change based on inflation, vendor pricing, and product costs. Families will receive the current amount and deadline before the second year begins.
State-Board Examination Cost
Enoree Career Center and Greenville County Schools will cover the cost of a student's first licensure examination attempt after the student meets all state-mandated academic and hour requirements. The student and family are responsible for any additional attempts.
Industry Certifications and Licensure
Students may pursue industry-recognized credentials and licensing preparation as they progress through the program:
- Safety and infection control: OSHA 10-Hour, Lucas-Cide Safe Space, and Barbicide certifications
- Professional credential: South Carolina Hair Braiding Registration and other approved industry credentials
- State licensure: Eligibility to pursue a South Carolina cosmetology license after meeting all academic, hour, application, examination, and fee requirements
Work-Based Learning
Eligible students may be recommended for Work-Based Learning with local salons and beauty-industry employers. Students who are not yet licensed may support customer service, scheduling, organization, inventory, sanitation, and other duties that do not require an individual cosmetology license. Students who complete licensing requirements before graduation may qualify for additional opportunities.
Placement is not guaranteed. Students must meet school eligibility requirements, and each sponsoring company may establish additional expectations related to age, licensure, experience, certifications, attendance, and workplace readiness.
Career Opportunities
Cosmetology can lead to careers involving hair, nails, skin care, makeup, customer service, salon operations, education, and business ownership. Some specialized careers require additional education or separate licensure.
Licensed
Cosmetologist
Licensed cosmetologists consult with clients and provide professional hair, nail, skin, and beauty services within their scope of practice. They combine technical skill, sanitation, creativity, communication, and product knowledge to help clients reach their care and style goals.
Hair Color
Specialist
Hair color specialists analyze hair, apply color theory, select products, and perform coloring, lightening, corrective, and special-effects services. Advanced training, careful consultation, precise application, and strong knowledge of chemistry support this work.
Salon
Manager
Salon managers coordinate scheduling, inventory, client service, sanitation, staffing, retail sales, and daily operations. They support the professional expectations, organization, efficiency, and customer experience needed for a successful salon.
Salon
Owner
Salon owners combine cosmetology knowledge with entrepreneurship. They manage business planning, licensing, finances, marketing, staffing, inventory, customer service, and long-term growth while maintaining applicable safety and professional standards.
Visit the Program
Students can explore the Cosmetology labs and meet Mrs. Harris and Mrs. Johnson during scheduled school tours. Students and parents are also invited to visit during Enoree's Fall Recruiting Open House and Lab-or-Treat in late October or our Spring Recruiting Open House in March. Visit the front page of our website or follow us on social media for event details as they become available.
A visit provides a closer look at the hands-on training, salon environment, equipment, client services, and opportunities available throughout the two-year program. It also gives families an opportunity to ask questions about competitive acceptance, attendance, required hours, fees, scheduling, transportation, and readiness to complete the full program.
Information for Accepted Students
No payment is required unless a student is accepted into the program. Accepted students and their parents or guardians receive complete payment instructions, deadlines, program requirements, attire expectations, hour requirements, and participation procedures during the required Acceptance Night event.
Local Work-Based Learning Partners
Local salons and employers help eligible students connect classroom and lab instruction with professional beauty-industry workplaces. Students may be recommended after demonstrating the technical skill, maturity, dependability, academic standing, hours, and licensing status needed for the available experience.
Two-year commitment note: This program is designed as one connected two-year experience. Year One develops the foundational skills students need for the advanced training, certifications, independence, and potential Work-Based Learning opportunities available during Year Two. New students enter only at the beginning of Year One and cannot join the program during Year Two. Because enrollment is limited, every accepted student fills a spot that cannot be offered to another interested student. If that student does not return for Year Two, the spot remains vacant and the opportunity is lost for both the student and someone who was prepared to complete the full program. Students who accept a spot should plan to complete both years, make the most of the opportunity, and follow through on their commitment.
Work-Based Learning note: Work-Based Learning is a culminating goal of each program, giving eligible students the opportunity to apply their technical skills in a real workplace. Placement is not guaranteed and must be earned by meeting program, school, and employer expectations. When available, Work-Based Learning may include paid on-the-job training and may lead to employment, tuition assistance, industry certifications, or continued education opportunities.
Licensing note: Completing the Enoree Cosmetology program alone does not award a South Carolina cosmetology license. Students must complete all required qualifying hours, meet all South Carolina Board of Cosmetology eligibility, application, identification, and fee requirements, and pass the NIC written and practical examinations.
Graduation and college admission note: Students earn four high school credits each year and may earn up to eight credits by completing the full two-year program. These credits count toward South Carolina high school graduation requirements as applicable, and one credit may fulfill the state’s World Language or Career and Technology Elective requirement. Career center coursework generally does not replace the world-language coursework required for admission to four-year colleges and universities. Because graduation and college admission requirements may vary, students and families should work with both their home high school counselor and the Enoree Career Center counselor to ensure the student’s career center program, graduation plan, and future education goals remain aligned.