Shopping List

1. shears
2. blowdryer
3. irons
4. clippers
5. trimmers
6. brushes

Now that you've graduated from cosmetology school, you're ready to graduate from the basic salon tools you received in your starter kit.

spend or save?

"Don't worry about buying the most expensive flatiron or shears on the market right away, but do go for high quality. Even a great stylist will do a better job with better tools", says Paul Barry, founder, Barristar trade shows. There is a difference in equipment. You don't have to go over the top, but you should go for quality.

stylist essentials

Of course, there are certain must-haves for every starting stylist. "You need to own a clipper, a trimmer, a blow dryer and shears", says Ivan Zoot, director of education for Andis. "If you are really serious about clipper-cutting, you need a quality clipper and trimmer. You certainly want to purchase a tool beyond what you were provided in your student kit."

David Guerin, global artistic director for Oster Professional Products, agrees. "Probably when you were in school, you got a small clipper that was magnetic drive, which is really bottom of the line," he explains. "When you first come out of school, you should get a pivot motor clipper with an adjustable head that lets you move the clipper up and down."

good question

"Whatever you're buying, don't hesitate to ask questions, because you'll be using your new tools for a long time. Every product should be explained to you so you understand what it does," says Michael O'Rourke, founder of Sexy Hair Concepts. "Understand the tools the mixture with nylon and boar for a brush gives you both advantages, for example. Have the salesperson explain how to achieve different effects with the different brush sizes. Learning how to use tools to their best advantage takes a lot of training."

do your homework

Remember to always continue learning about the latest tools and the techniques for using them, whether you do that by watching training DVDs, attending trade shows or taking advanced education at the academies. And make sure you're making the right choices for you

"Some people prefer to work with a very small shear, some with a very large shear," says Barry. "You have to find your own comfort zone, but what I do know is that a good artist uses good tools."

"Your job is to pick good tools, so buy the most comfortable for you. Purchase your tools at a trade show or a distributor store where you can hold them in your hand to test the size and feel the weight. Don't buy a tool unless they let you take it out of the box first." Ivan Zoot, director of education for Andis