Passion, drive, great teachers — these are key ingredients for success in cosmetology school. Perhaps the most important, however, is your cosmetology kit, which contains a range of supplies you’ll need to practice and perform cosmetology services. Throughout your training, you’ll use the items in this kit to gain real-world experience with the industry-specific tools you’ll utilize regularly as a professional, so you can feel confident as you embark on your career.
Cosmetology encompasses a wide range of subjects, even if most students pursue cosmetology to focus on the art of cutting, coloring, and styling hair. For everything you’ll learn, a well-stocked cosmetology kit will keep everything you need at your fingertips.
Cosmetology Kit Essentials
Gathering supplies for your first day of cosmetology school will certainly look a bit different from past school supplies shopping experiences. You’ll still want to have the classics — pens, pencils, notebooks — but you’ll also need a wide range of cosmetology-specific tools and equipment. Depending on your institution, you may either be given a list of supplies to gather yourself or a school-provided cosmetology kit equipped with everything you need. At Tricoci, we provide a basic kit of the essentials for each cosmetology student before their program begins.
Whether you’re building your own or will receive a school-provided one, here is typically what comes in a cosmetology kit. If you are receiving a kit put together by your school, make sure that the following items are included or available to you on campus so you can make the most of your program.
Storage
The case or bag containing your cosmetology kit is just as important to consider as the other components. For schools like Tricoci that provide students with this resource, a backpack will be included. For those responsible for compiling their own kits, it’s important to prioritize durability and storage space over aesthetics when choosing your bag to help keep your essential items safe and in good condition for the long haul.
Because your kit will be with you at all times throughout your training, you should also think about a case or bag that makes transportation easy. Backpacks and rolling bags may not be the most glamorous, but they can lighten the load of carrying a heavy kit for a long commute. If you take public transportation, the ease of movement will be especially welcome traveling to and from your classes.
Aprons and Capes
Cosmetology students will wear aprons that help keep hair, hair coloring, products, and chemicals off their clothes while performing services. These aprons often come with pockets to help keep items like scissors, shears, and clips on your person for easy access.
Your cosmetology kit should also contain capes that can be placed over the client during services to prevent water, product, and cut hair from falling directly on the client. Having capes of different varieties — thinner for haircuts and light coloring, heavier and more protective for chemical treatments and comprehensive or multi-process coloring services — is an important consideration as well.
Brushes, Combs, and Clips
Brushes, combs, and clips are necessary for detangling, sectioning, and positioning hair of all different textures. For this reason, cosmetology kits should include all-purpose as well as specialized brushes and combs — such as wide-tooth, fine-tooth, and detangling combs, round brushes with varying barrel sizes, bristle brushes, and more — in addition to duckbill and alligator clips to hold smaller sections of hair out of the way while cutting, styling, and applying color.
Cutting Tools
Undoubtedly the most important components of your cosmetology kit are your cutting tools, which include small and large scissors, razors, electric clippers, and a variety of shears for specific functions like thinning, blending, texturizing, and more. These will enable you to gain experience with a wide range of cutting techniques. While your initial kit may only include the basics, you may choose to upgrade or add more tools to your personal cosmetology kit as you grow your skills and learn your technique preferences.
Hot Styling Tools
Because cuts are almost always accompanied by a blow-dry, students can expect to gain lots of experience mastering this and other post-cut styling skills. In addition to a salon-grade blow dryer with nozzle and diffuser attachments, you’ll want to round out the hot tools in your cosmetology kit with a quality flat iron and curling iron (preferably with interchangeable barrel sizes).
These will most likely be the priciest components of your kit alongside high-quality shears, but they’re meant to last beyond training and into your career, making them a worthwhile investment.
Mannequin Heads
Before students can perform services on real clients, they’ll practice cutting and styling hair on mannequin heads. Working with the different hair types and textures that mannequin heads provide gives students the experience and confidence needed to work with real people. In the early days of your program, you may find yourself working almost exclusively with mannequin heads. The importance of mastering the basics before working on clients can’t be overstated, which is why Tricoci provides eco-friendly mannequin heads, crafted from recyclable ABS plastic, with various snap caps made from ethically sourced hair to ensure students receive plenty of training on varying hair types.
Makeup Supplies
Many cosmetology programs include makeup application as part of the curriculum, so student kits should be equipped with the right tools and products to perform these services as well. These include high-quality brushes and blending sponges, primer, foundation, powder, blush, brow spoolies and pencils, bronzer, eye shadow, eyeliner pencils, mascara, lipsticks, lip liners, and lip glosses.
Nail Supplies
Nail care is also incorporated in many cosmetology training programs, though often not as in-depth as a dedicated nail technology program. Some key nail supplies to include in a cosmetology kit are nail polishes, manicure brushes, acetone, sanitizing trays, nail files, nail buffers, cuticle pushers, cuticle remover or softening solution, cuticle cutters, finger and toenail clippers, toe separators, and a mannequin hand for practice.
How Much Does a Cosmetology Kit Cost?
Cosmetology kit prices vary depending on the volume and quality of supplies. Typically, schools that provide students with kits, like Tricoci does, include the price as part of the program’s tuition and fees, meaning everyone’s kits cost the same amount and contain the same supplies. If you’re in charge of compiling your own kit, price can be a little more flexible, but it’s important not to sacrifice quality for affordability.
Keep in mind that cosmetology kits are comprehensive and should contain professional-grade supplies. Rather than considering this as an expense, think of the cost of your cosmetology kit as an investment in ensuring that you can deliver first-rate services with equipment that’ll go the distance. Additionally, if you have the ability to invest in or upgrade your kit essentials during your program, you are likely investing in tools that will last you for years to come if cared for properly, following you into your career with ease.
Gain Real-World Cosmetology Experience at Tricoci University
At Tricoci, we provide students with the salon-grade supplies they need to hone their cosmetology skills, establishing consistency among kits at the outset. This gives students the chance to focus on their education and gain the proper experience needed to launch a thriving cosmetology career without worrying about not having the right supplies or comparing their kits to those of their peers.
Contact us now to learn more about our cosmetology program and how we support our students’ success every step of the way.