If you're researching beauty professionals in West Vancouver, you might encounter different titles and wonder what they actually mean. Is a cosmetologist the same as a hairstylist? Can both do your hair? Here's what these terms mean and what matters when choosing someone to work with.
Cosmetology: The Broader Category
Cosmetology is an umbrella term covering multiple beauty disciplines. Comprehensive cosmetology training typically includes hair care (cutting, coloring, styling, chemical treatments), skincare (facials, treatments, basic dermatology knowledge), nail care (manicures, pedicures, nail art), and makeup application. A licensed cosmetologist has training in all of these areas and can legally perform services across the board.
Hairstylist: Hair-Focused
A hairstylist (sometimes called a hairdresser) focuses specifically on hair services. Their training and expertise center on cutting and styling techniques, hair coloring and chemical services, understanding hair types and textures, product knowledge and recommendations, and styling tools and techniques. They may not have training in skincare, nails, or other beauty services. Their depth of knowledge in hair is often greater than a general cosmetologist's because their training is more focused.
What This Means Practically
In British Columbia, both cosmetologists and hairstylists can legally provide hair services. The key differences are scope and depth.
A cosmetologist might work at a full-service spa or salon offering multiple service types. They can handle your hair, give you a facial, and do your nails. This breadth is valuable if you want one-stop shopping for beauty services.
A hairstylist or hair-focused salon offers depth rather than breadth. If you're looking for a specialized keratin treatment or complex color work, someone who focuses exclusively on hair may have deeper expertise in that specific area.
Neither Title Guarantees Quality
Here's the important truth: the title on someone's license matters less than their actual skill, experience, and specialization. A cosmetologist who primarily does hair work has essentially the same practical expertise as a licensed hairstylist. A hairstylist with 20 years of experience will outperform a newly licensed cosmetologist at hair services regardless of their broader training.
When choosing someone to do your hair, focus on their actual hair work portfolio and reviews, whether they specialize in the service you need, their experience with your hair type, and their ongoing education and training.
At Wish Dry Bar
We specialize in hair services: professional blowouts, bridal styling, precision cuts, and smoothing treatments. We also offer makeup services and eyebrow threading to round out your look for special occasions.
Our focus on a specific set of services rather than trying to offer everything means deeper expertise in what we do. Whether our team members came through cosmetology or hair-specific training, they've developed specialized skills in the services we offer.
The Bottom Line
A cosmetologist is trained in hair plus other beauty services. A hairstylist focuses on hair specifically. Both can legally do your hair in BC. What matters more than the title is finding someone skilled in the specific service you need, with experience on hair similar to yours, and results you can see in their portfolio.