By day two at Rizzieri, Alexandria Petrullo was already learning how to blow-dry and part hair.
She had expected the first week or two of cosmetology school to feel more like a traditional classroom. Notes, lectures, maybe some observation before the real work began. Instead, the learning-by-doing part started almost immediately.
“I thought it would maybe be a week or two before we really got hands-on,” Alexandria said.
For prospective students searching “what is cosmetology school like,” that answer may be surprising. At Rizzieri, the day is not built around sitting still.
A Day Starts With Routine
Alexandria, a current Rizzieri cosmetology student, said the day starts early and with a clear rhythm.
“Our mornings start at 8:30. We sign in as soon as we get there, head to our stations, and about 8:40, our teachers will come around, check our IDs, and make sure our uniforms are all right,” she said.
From there, students usually begin with theory, a new chapter, a new technique, or a new style before moving into the work of the day. That routine gives students something steady to step into while preparing them for a professional environment.
For someone who has never walked into the building before, that structure can take away some of the nervousness. You are not expected to know everything. You are expected to show up, learn, practice, and keep going.
The Work Starts Quickly
One of the most common fears before starting cosmetology school is not feeling “good enough” yet. At Rizzieri, early practice helps students realize they do not have to be perfect to begin.
While some days include demonstrations and theory, other days include requirements posted for students to complete, such as blowouts, curls, haircutting, styling, or other techniques tied to their level of training.
“There are really no days that you’re not doing something or standing on your feet,” Alexandria said.
That is where confidence starts to build. For anyone looking up “day in the life cosmetology school,” this is a key part of the answer. The day keeps moving. Students are practicing, adjusting, asking questions, and learning how to work through real service steps.
When Guests Arrive
The Student Salon is where the experience shifts. When a guest arrives, students clean and prepare their station, review what the guest is getting done, and set up for the appointment. It is no longer just practice. It becomes timing, communication, professionalism, and learning how to make someone feel comfortable in the chair.
Alexandria said that guest interaction is one of the things that makes the experience feel real.
“You really do get a lot of individual time with your guest,” she said. “Talking to them, setting things up, really being on your own, having to know what you need to do each service.”
Students are not left on their own, though. Instructors stay nearby, answer questions, walk students through unfamiliar steps, and check work as needed.
“They’re very good about helping you, walking you through what you need to do, answering any questions you have,” Alexandria said. “They’re always there to help and teach.”
That support can make a big difference, especially during the first guest experiences. Students get a taste of what it feels like to be on the floor while still having someone there to guide them.
The Support Goes Beyond Technique
For Alexandria, the instructors are one of the strongest parts of the Rizzieri experience.
“There’s not one teacher that you can’t go to for help, no matter what it is, whether it’s about the hair you’re doing, about something you learned weeks ago, or if it’s just life advice,” she said. “Every teacher is really there to just help you and guide you through, set you up for the best career possible.”
That kind of support helps answer another worry many prospective students have: What if I do not know anyone? What if I need help? What if I fall behind?
At Rizzieri, students are surrounded by other students learning at the same time, plus instructors who are part of the daily routine. The community forms through the work itself: practicing, watching instructors teach, asking questions, and moving through the program together.
The Same Rhythm Carries Into Skin Care
Emily Maykovich, a current Rizzieri Skin Care student, described a similar balance in her program. “On the junior side, a typical student day is a mix of classroom learning and hands-on practice, so it never feels super repetitive,” Emily said.
As students progress, the experience becomes more guest-focused. “On the senior side, you’re mainly in the clinic working on guests, and it starts to feel a lot more like being in a real spa environment, which helps build confidence quickly,” she said.
For Emily, guest services teach more than technique. They help students build timing, expertise, consultation skills, and experience working with different skin types and guest personalities.
“What makes the Rizzieri experience different is that it feels very focused on preparing students for the real industry, not just passing state boards,” she said.
Why Rizzieri Feels Different
Rizzieri gives students a place to practice the technical side of beauty while also learning the pace and expectations of the industry.
Alexandria noticed the professional environment right away. “When you walk in there, it’s like a real salon. Everything’s set up perfectly,” she said. That impression helps students connect what they are learning each day to the career they are working toward.
Beauty school becomes less abstract when you’re really in it. Reading about a day in the life at cosmetology school can help you imagine it. Seeing it in person gives you the full picture.
So, schedule a tour at Rizzieri today to walk through the Student Salon, meet the people behind the experience, and see what your future in beauty could look like.