For Fashion Styling:
* Art & Design: This is crucial. Courses in drawing, painting, fashion illustration, design history, and color theory will help you develop a strong visual sense and understand aesthetics.
* Textiles & Fashion Design (optional but beneficial): Understanding fabric types, construction, and garment design gives you a significant advantage when working with clothes.
* Photography: Essential for building a portfolio and understanding how clothes look on camera.
* History of Fashion/Costume History: This helps you build context and understand trends.
* Business/Entrepreneurship: If you plan to freelance or start your own styling business, business courses are vital. Marketing, finance, and client management skills are important.
* Journalism/Writing (optional but beneficial): Strong communication skills are necessary, especially for pitching ideas and writing blog posts or articles.
For Hair Styling:
* Cosmetology: This is the core subject. You'll need to complete a licensed cosmetology program, which covers hair cutting, coloring, styling, and potentially other services like makeup and nails.
For Makeup Styling:
* Cosmetology or Makeup Artistry: Similar to hair styling, you'll likely need to complete a licensed cosmetology program or a dedicated makeup artistry program. Some focus on special effects makeup, others on beauty makeup.
For other styling types (e.g., set design, personal shopping):
The educational path will be quite different and depend heavily on the niche. It might involve areas like interior design (for set styling), business (for personal shopping), or even psychology (to understand client needs).
In summary: While specific subjects vary widely, a strong foundation in visual arts, design, and business principles is beneficial for most styling careers. For hair and makeup, licensed programs are essential. Consider researching specific programs offered at vocational schools, colleges, or universities to find the best fit for your desired style of work.