Why October Is Actually a Smart Time to Start
Most people think of January as the time to make big moves. New year, new start, new career. But January enrollment means you are one of many people making the same decision at the same time, and you are also starting your program in the slowest season of the year for client traffic.
October is different. The holiday season is weeks away, the student salon is busy, and students who enroll now are building real skills during one of the most active service periods on the calendar. By the time January rolls around and everyone else is just getting started, an October enrollee at ISSA is already two to three months into their program with client hours logged and foundational technique locked in.
The timing advantage is real. Here is everything you need to know.
Frequently Asked Questions About Enrolling in Beauty School in October
Is it too late in the year to start beauty school in October?
No. ISSA enrolls students throughout the year. There is no fixed academic calendar or semester system the way there is at a traditional college. You start when you enroll, and your program timeline runs from your first day.
October is also a genuinely strong time to start because of what comes next. Students who begin now are in their program during the holiday season, when client demand in the student salon peaks. That means more hands-on hours, more variety of services, and faster skill development earlier in the program.
What programs can I enroll in this October at ISSA?
All of ISSA’s programs are open for October enrollment:
Cosmetology: 1,500 hours. 15 months full-time or 22.5 months part-time. The broadest program ISSA offers, covering hair, skin, and nail services for clients of all ages and genders.
Esthetics: 600 hours. 5 months full-time or 8.5 months part-time. Focused on skincare, facial treatments, and advanced skin services. A full-time October start puts graduation around March 2027, right at the start of spring wedding and event season.
Nail Technology: 300 hours. Approximately 5 months full-time. The fastest path to licensure at ISSA. Students who enroll in October can be licensed by spring 2027.
Barbering: 1,500 hours. 12 months full-time or 18 months part-time. Covers men’s grooming, clipper cuts, straight razor shaving, beard design, scalp treatments, and the client consultation skills that build a loyal chair.
Hairstyling: 10 months full-time or 15 months part-time. A focused program for students whose primary interest is hair services.
Continuing Education: ISSA also offers standalone certifications for already-licensed professionals looking to add services including dermaplaning, eyelash extensions, cosmetic resurfacing, electric nail file, and waxing.
What beauty trends are driving client demand this fall and holiday season?
Knowing what clients want before they walk in is part of being a strong beauty professional. Here is what is shaping the October through December service calendar:
Hair: Rich, deep fall tones are at their peak request volume right now. Warm brunettes, dimensional coppers, burgundy, and chocolate are what clients are booking through the end of the year. Glossing services are also high demand as clients want shine and polish for holiday events and photos. The week before major holidays is consistently one of the busiest blowout and style booking periods of the year.
Skin: October and November are the most important months for skin correction. Clients are wrapping up summer sun damage repair and pivoting to glow-forward treatments for holiday appearances. Brightening services, hydrating facials, and barrier support treatments are heavily booked. Clients who have been following Korean skincare routines online are also increasingly showing up with specific ingredient questions, rewarding estheticians who can speak fluently about actives like vitamin C, niacinamide, and retinol.
Nails: Holiday nail demand is one of the most reliable seasonal surges in the industry. Deep reds, emerald greens, metallics, and festive nail art drive high booking volume from November through the new year. Students who are in their clinic hours during this period see a wide variety of service requests in a short window, which accelerates skill development.
Brows and lashes: Consistently strong year-round, with a clear holiday bump. Clients want lash lifts, tints, and brow lamination done before family gatherings, office parties, and end-of-year events. These services book out fast in November and December.
What are the requirements to enroll at ISSA?
A high school diploma or GED is the primary requirement. No prior beauty experience is needed. ISSA’s programs are designed to take complete beginners through to licensed professionals. Students range from 17 to 65 years old and come from every kind of background. The real baseline is a genuine desire to learn and the consistency to show up and do the work.
What does a typical day look like in beauty school?
At ISSA, students split their time between theory and clinic floor work.
Theory and classroom time covers the science and knowledge that supports everything you do with your hands. Color chemistry, skin anatomy, sanitation protocols, ingredient knowledge, and state board content all live here. This is what separates a trained professional from someone who learned technique without understanding.
Clinic floor time takes place in ISSA’s student salon, which is open to the public. Students work on real clients under the direct supervision of licensed instructors. That live-client experience is how classroom knowledge becomes professional-grade skill.
During the holiday season, the student salon sees increased client traffic, which means students in their clinic hours during October through December are logging real service experience at a faster pace than slower seasons of the year.
How much does beauty school cost and how do I pay for it?
Tuition and fees vary by program. The most accurate information comes from a direct conversation with ISSA’s admissions team during your consultation, which is free and carries no obligation.
What applies across all programs: textbooks are included in each program’s kit, and financial aid is available for students who qualify, including federal financial aid programs. ISSA’s admissions team walks every prospective student through available options before any commitment is made.
The only way to know what your specific financial picture looks like is to ask. The conversation costs nothing.
What happens after I graduate from beauty school?
After completing your program hours, you sit for the Colorado state board exam. It has two parts: a practical hands-on portion and a written portion. ISSA’s curriculum is built to prepare students for both.
Testing facilities in Colorado include the Garden of the Gods location in Colorado Springs and locations in Denver. Once both portions are passed, your Colorado state license is issued and you are eligible to work professionally.
What can I do with a Colorado beauty license?
A Colorado beauty license opens a range of professional paths depending on your program:
Salon or barbershop employment
Booth rental, operating independently within a salon or shop
Day spa or resort spa work
Medical spa environments
Bridal, special event, and editorial styling
Film, television, and commercial production
Nail studios and nail bars
Salon or studio ownership
Continuing education and advanced certifications
Beauty education and instruction, after meeting additional state requirements
Why choose ISSA over other beauty schools in Colorado Springs?
ISSA has been training beauty professionals in Colorado Springs since 1971. It is locally owned, nationally accredited by NACCAS, and veteran-led since 1999. What that means practically for students:
Real client experience from early in the program. ISSA’s student salon is open to the public. You are working on actual clients under direct instructor supervision, not just mannequins. That live experience is what prepares you to work professionally from day one of your career.
Instructors with industry experience. ISSA’s educators have worked in the field. They know what clients ask for, what state board examiners look for, and what builds a career that lasts.
Full-time and part-time scheduling. Both options are available across all programs. Beauty school is designed to fit around real life.
Financial aid available. ISSA’s admissions team explores every available option with every prospective student before enrollment.
More than 50 years of graduates in Colorado Springs. The alumni network runs deep here, and that community is something students carry long after graduation.
The January Version of You Has Two Options
Here is a simple way to think about October enrollment. Come January, you can be one of the people starting their program, beginning from zero, building foundational skills in the slowest client season of the year.
Or you can be the person who started in October. Three months in. Client hours logged. Foundational techniques solid. While everyone else is just showing up for their first day, you are already well on your way.
Both people made a decision in October. One of them made it now.
Contact ISSA today:
📞 (719) 597-1413
📧 ISSACO@ISSACO.EDU
📍 5707 N. Academy Boulevard, Colorado Springs, CO 80918
Hours: Mon–Thurs: 8AM–9PM | Fri: 8AM–5PM | Sat: 8AM–3PM