Cosmetology describes the art of beauty treatments in hair, skin, and nails. Art and science come together to enhance people’s appearance through skincare treatments, nail care, hair styling and coloring, and similar.
A career in cosmetology allows you to be creative and flexible while enjoying job security, high earning potential, and personal satisfaction. What’s more, it’s ever-changing, which means you can always be learning and growing. With that in mind here are some of the most recent cosmetology trends taking the 2020s by storm:
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
When learning how to become a cosmetologist in 2025 and beyond, it won’t just be products and techniques you’ll be learning about. It will also be artificial intelligence. Just as AI has integrated itself into nearly every other industry, it has entrenched itself in cosmetology.
Cosmetologists can use AI for 3D skin and hair scanning, virtual try-on, and even diagnostics. For example, clients can try different hair colours and makeup to see if they like it before proceeding with the real thing. Cosmetologists may also use smart devices to assess skin for hydration, blemishes, and texture.
Ethical, Sustainable, and Cruelty-Free Products
It doesn’t seem like all that long ago that most of us wouldn’t think to read the packaging of our favorite products. We would buy them knowing they worked for our bodies without considering how they were made and who was impacted by their existence.
Now, more consumers are actively seeking out products that have environmentally-friendly packaging, are ethically sourced, and cruelty-free. As a result, salons are adopting green practices, actively prioritizing waste reduction, and using more energy-efficient equipment to meet their customers’ needs and preferences.
Broader Variety of Options
The cosmetics industry traditionally adopted a one-size-fits-all approach to products and services. There was a limited shade range in makeup and beauty brands and a very conservative line of products to suit skin tones and hair textures. Salon workers also weren’t trained to cater to all hair types.
In recent years, that has started to change. Stylists and salons are now becoming highly skilled in a range of hair types like textured, curly, and coiled. Brands are also coming up with a wider range of shades to cater to more skin tones and hair textures.
Natural Beauty
There’s no denying that makeup in the name of creativity and expression still has its place. However, in more recent years, more natural makeup and more ‘lived in’ hair has been finding favor with celebrities and everyday people alike.
Many people are opting against overly styled hair and makeup and are instead enjoying their natural beauty with soft brows, healthy and natural skin and toned-down hair color with less frequent touch-ups.
However, this doesn’t mean that cosmetologists are less in demand. They have simply expanded their offerings to include products and services that enhance natural beauty and support skin health and natural hair texture.
Cosmetology is an industry to watch, especially as it’s changing all the time. Whether you’re a cosmetologist or rely on one to provide beauty treatments, these are just some of the many trends worth exploring.