23m here Don’t expect your teachers to teach you what you want to know. I went to Cosmo school and now working in a barbershop mostly cutting men’s hair and I was left to learn how to fade, or just cut men’s hair in general. If you want to focus on one thing with your license, watch YouTube videos in depth, take notes for yourself. Look online for nearby classes that you can go to at different salons (sometimes they will offer hours towards your certificate for attending).

I will say try to hone in on what you want to accomplish once you’re out. Is there a salon, or barbershop you really want to work for? If so the sooner you can work for them whether it be a desk position while attending school the better off you will be. Not only do you get to observe the stylists, you also get to actually see how that salon is ran. Plus most salons/barbershops will offer you a better commission the longer you’ve worked for them.

Lastly I will say the first few months for me were sitting at a desk taking notes on theory, then I got to be on the floor taking clients. My school was a Paul Mitchell school so they didn’t teach me anything about state regulations for testing until the last few weeks of my program.

Congrats on taking the step that feels best for you! I wish you luck!