With a radiant job outlook for beauty professionals in the decade ahead, career paths in that field can lead in many flourishing directions. When new job prospects find you putting your best face forward, a first-class cosmetologist cover letter is the place to start.
If you’ve never written a cover letter before or need to brush up on the basics, Resume.io can help. Our growing collection of online resources includes more than 180 occupation-specific writing guides, with corresponding cover letter examples.
Whenever you’re ready to dive in, this practical guide is geared specifically to cosmetologists. It’s paired with a cover letter example you can customize for your own situation. What we’ll cover:
- The best format for structuring a cosmetologist cover letter
- Hitting the high notes in each cover letter part: header, greeting, introduction, body, and conclusion
- Common mistakes to avoid in your cosmetologist cover letter
Best format for a cosmetologist cover letter
Cover letters should be friendly, straightforward and brief — never be more than a single page. Writing concisely and precisely ensures that this “written handshake” achieves its purpose.
Knowing what to say, and how much is enough, will seem easier when you take a stepwise approach, one part of your letter at a time. Below is an outline of the components that all cover letters have in common.
- Cover letter header
- Greeting/salutation
- Introduction
- Middle part (body)
- Closing (conclusion and sign-off).
Next, we’ll take a closer look at each cover letter section, with sample wording that you can modify for your own job application. It comes from this adaptable cosmetologist cover letter example.
Dear Ms. Wilkins,
Whether I am styling hair, doing a manicure, or offering skincare advice, 91% of my clients are regulars because they enjoy the overall experience. Alongside the specialist skills that I developed at the Miami Beauty Academy, my college education in psychology allows me to chat with people on a deeper level.
Clients don’t just come for the beauty treatment – they come for lifestyle solutions. My product sales were 45% higher than anyone in the salon because I sought to understand the needs of every person sitting in that chair. I love that when new product lines are introduced, I automatically know which products I would recommend to whom.
While I am a creative hair stylist, my dual passions lie in nail and skin solutions. I am certified in laser hair treatments and my qualifications are updated on the latest nailcare technologies. My nail art has been featured on 20+ beauty websites and I was named “one to watch” at the Miami Skincare Awards. I do not seek this recognition. Client satisfaction is the only thing that matters.
After five years at the Gamma Salon, it is time for a fresh challenge. Your reputation for amazing service put you at the very top of my search for a new role. Elise Harwich suggested that I apply to your salon.
I look forward to potentially visiting the salon and understanding how my skills and experience might help to drive your business forward. 70% of my past clients have already indicated that they will follow me to my next employer.
Sincerely,
Sara Hatherley
Cover letter header
Being in the beauty business, you can easily appreciate how much visual appeal matters in making a positive first impression. That’s the most obvious purpose of an eye-pleasing header for your cosmetologist cover letter — which we recommend matching to your resume design. The extra effort you make to this communication detail will not go unnoticed.
Essentially a personal brand, the header sets your job application apart from the rest. And as a document label, it draws the reader’s eye to where your name, occupation, and contact information appear on the page. This stands out from the body text, separated by white space, to make your cover letter inviting to read. It also makes it easier for recruiters to remember and revisit your application later, and to reach out with an interview request.
The goal of the cover letter header: To stand out from all the other cosmetologist job candidates with a distinctive branding element.
Cover letter greeting
Your cover letter greeting sets the tone for all the interactions you hope will transpire with this employer. Polite, professional and personable is how you will come across by using the failsafe “Dear Mr. / Ms. Surname.”
Addressing the recipient by name is strongly encouraged for two reasons. Because humans are hardwired to like the sound of their own name, a personalized greeting is more likely to win a positive response. It also sends a message that you’ve made an effort to customize your cover letter to the target position and employer. A generic greeting is the first clue that you have not and sends a message that your job search is not serious.
If you are unable to find out the cover letter recipient’s name, try “Dear XYZ Salon Manager” or “Dear Cosmetologist Hiring Team” as the next best option.
The goal of the cover letter greeting: To establish an immediate direct connection with the employer that sets a professional but personable tone.
Cover letter introduction
Don’t shy away from creativity and imagination to intrigue your cover letter reader from the start. Whether it’s a story about how cosmetology became your dream career or comments about what you love best, let your personality and passion shine through in original colors. The salon manager should be intrigued enough by your unusual and authentic approach — if not taken aback — to keep reading and perhaps start picturing you on board.
Above all, the connection you establish here must center around this employer’s needs for a cosmetologist. Show your understanding of those needs and your motivation to deliver on a promise of quality service, enthusiasm, and loyalty. Why are you keen on this position and why this salon? How does that make you an excellent fit?
The goal of the cover letter introduction: To present your best-matched job qualifications up front, showing you understand the employer’s needs.
The greeting and introduction from our cosmetologist cover letter sample appear below.
Dear Ms. Wilkins,
Whether I am styling hair, doing a manicure, or offering skincare advice, 91% of my clients are regulars because they enjoy the overall experience. Alongside the specialist skills that I developed at the Miami Beauty Academy, my college education in psychology allows me to chat with people on a deeper level.
Cover letter middle part (body)
Now the spotlight is on your most impressive achievements as a cosmetologist. Focus on career examples that seem directly relevant to the position you are seeking.
Instead of just dryly summarizing where you worked and what you did there, describe ways that you helped those businesses. You want this hiring manager to start pondering your potential to replicate those accomplishments. Use facts and figures to quantify successful outcomes — the number of clients you served or client retention gains. If any revenue increases can be attributed to your work, that’s ideal.
Incorporate an anecdote if possible, illustrating a specific challenge you overcame or a great idea you came up with.
The goal of the cover letter body: To suggest how this employer would benefit from your contributions as an outstanding cosmetologist, reflecting on key accomplishments to date.
Our cosmetologist cover letter sample illustrates what you might include in the middle part:
Clients don’t just come for the beauty treatment – they come for lifestyle solutions. My product sales were 45% higher than anyone in the salon because I sought to understand the needs of every person sitting in that chair. I love that when new product lines are introduced, I automatically know which products I would recommend to whom.
While I am a creative hair stylist, my dual passions lie in nail and skin solutions. I am certified in laser hair treatments and my qualifications are updated on the latest nailcare technologies. My nail art has been featured on 20+ beauty websites and I was named “one to watch” at the Miami Skincare Awards. I do not seek this recognition. Client satisfaction is the only thing that matters.
After five years at the Gamma Salon, it is time for a fresh challenge. Your reputation for amazing service put you at the very top of my search for a new role. Elise Harwich suggested that I apply to your salon.
Cover letter closing
The ending of your cover letter is no less important than what you’ve written so far. Without seeming presumptuous, you should sound confident and hopeful about further communication with this employer.
That should be conveyed in a call to action. Ideally, the hiring manager will feel uncomfortable ignoring your cover letter or setting it aside. The effort that you’ve made to create a memorable impression is already obvious, and now you’re opening the door wider. At the very least, state that you look forward to hearing back soon. Beyond that, go ahead and sound enthusiastic about meeting for an interview or visiting the salon — perhaps even proposing a discussion topic or offering to show photos of your work.
Otherwise, briefly restate your case for being a great job fit, adding words of thanks.
Then, simply sign off with “Sincerely” or Best regards” above your name.
The goal of the cover letter closing: To end on an optimistic note with a call to action that puts some onus on the employer to follow up.
Below is the closing section of our cosmetologist cover letter.
I look forward to potentially visiting the salon and understanding how my skills and experience might help to drive your business forward. 70% of my past clients have already indicated that they will follow me to my next employer.
Sincerely,
Sara Hatherley
Common cover letter mistakes to avoid
Just as you strive to satisfy all of your clients with high-quality services and products, your cosmetologist cover letter should reflect this same professionalism. Proofreading is your best precaution to catch and correct typos, misspellings, and grammatical slips. Don’t rely on spell-check and grammar applications alone.
Beyond that, make sure none of the following cover letter mistakes stand in your way of a polished result:
- Mass-mailing the same generic cover letter to multiple employers, with no effort to custom-tailor for each specific employer and position
- A writing style that sounds unnaturally formal, instead of conversational
- Imprecise or vaguely inefficient language: repetition, vagueness, and overused clichés
- Messy or distracting layout, design and formatting elements
Using a ready-made cover letter template leaves you free to focus on writing a compelling cosmetologist cover letter. You can leave the layout, design, and formatting details up to Resume.io. Choose one of our field-tested cover letter templates. Then, drop in your own replacement text using our online builder tool.
Key takeaways for a cosmetologist cover letter
- The job outlook for cosmetologists is exceptionally vibrant, presenting attractive opportunities for those with impressive qualifications.
- Cover letters are the ideal way to showcase your achievements and demonstrate the value you offer to prospective employers.
- Cover letters allow aspects of your personality to shine through, as well as your professional abilities.
Take a look at our related cover letter examples in the Beauty & Wellness category: