Wilmington Cosmetology School

The Nurtur Aveda Institute in Wilmington, NC was founded to create some of the most successful entrepreneurs in hair, skin and nail esthetics, makeup, massage and total body wellness. Our students are educated by accomplished professionals, using innovative curriculums that blend professional techniques with retail and business-building skills.

The Nurtur Aveda Institute Wilmington emphasizes personal well-being as well as environmental responsibility. Using Aveda pure flower and plant essences and plant-based products, we affirm the relationship between personal beauty, wellness and the environment.

 

Great Stories Start at Aveda Institutes

Chloe Steverson

Stylist, Nurtur Salon + Spa

Columbus, OH

I didn’t even tour any other schools.  I knew that I wanted to go to Aveda because I believed in the products and what the company stood for.

Jake Ivins

Educator, Aveda Institute Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, NC

Any opportunity I have to make someone else feel good, you know, my cup overflows. I just love helping people just to feel and look their best.

Savina N. Woods

Owner/Creator, Porcelain Doll Beauty

Charlotte, NC

I started Porcelain Dolls Beauty, which is a custom wig line. I have my own hair extension line as well, but my brand mostly focuses on women with hair loss issues, like alopecia, hair loss from chemo, and things of that nature.

Dottie Green

NAHA 2020 Student Hairstylist of the Year

Columbus, OH

I came in for a tour & immediately was greeted. It felt like home immediately. It was the best decision I could have made for my career.

Mia Dinh

Owner / Manager, Hammer & Nails

Hollywood, CA

I wanted to be an artist, I wanted to be a teacher, and as I got older, I wanted to be a therapist. Being a hair stylist allowed me to be all of those things.

Bethany Brown

Education Manager at Aveda Institute

Columbus, OH

Being a cosmetologist is something I’m passionate about, but my real purpose is to educate people.

Olivia Ochs

Professional Development at Aveda Institute

Columbus, OH

I know what it feels like to be in school and work a full-time job, and what it feels like to do the long daysand to work through feeling nervous.

Ashley Thomas

Educator at Aveda Fredric's Institute

Indianapolis, IN

Cosmetology was something I had thought about, but I had never seriously considered because I thought it was just a non-starter. Then I heard about the Aveda Institute and it just wouldn't leave my mind once I heard about it.

Become a Cosmetologist in 11 Months!

COSMETOLOGY PROGRAM

1500 hours

Express your creativity and talent in hair, skin, nail care and makeup application. Our cosmetology program at the Nurtur Aveda Institute in Wilmington, NC incorporates 1,500 hours of extensive hands-on learning to provide you a complete understanding of beauty and wellness. Upon completion, you will be ready to take the licensing exam. 

COSMETOLOGY INSTRUCTOR PROGRAM

800 hours

Each year, the Nurtur Aveda Institute Wilmington selects a very limited number of graduates to participate in its Cosmetology Instructor Training Program. Our cosmetology instructor training program consists of 800 hours of classroom and hands-on training combined. Students completing the instructor training program will receive the education necessary to become licensed as cosmetology instructors.

Nurtur Aveda Institute Wilmington is applying for reaffirmation of accreditation with the Commission of the Council on Occupational Education. Persons wishing to make comments should either write to the Executive Director of the Commission, Council on Occupational Education, 7840 Roswell Road, Building 300, Suite 325, Atlanta, GA 30350, or submit their comments through the Council’s website (www.council.org). Persons making comments must provide their names and addresses.

Award winning education

We pride ourselves on providing high quality education to our students. Our Institutes and students have been honored by Modern Salon Magazine, the North American Hairstyling Awards, the Professional Beauty Association and more!

See our awards

Photos by Keith Bryce

We're excited to announce the 2025 Brilliant Future Scholarship Contest. This is an opportunity for graduating 2025 high school seniors starting our cosmetology program in June, July, or August to be awarded a scholarship toward their education!

More Info

Federal Financial Aid

Federal student aid is available to qualified students. Those that qualify may be awarded a Pell grant, Direct Subsidized and/or Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, and/or Direct Parent Plus loan. In order to be considered for aid, a student must complete a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid), which is available at www.fafsa.ed.gov. The amount of financial aid that a student may be awarded is based on a student’s EFC (Expected Family Contribution), which is determined by his or her FAFSA application.

Nurtur Aveda Institute Wilmington School Code – 013850

Complete the FAFSA Online

Veterans Education Benefits

Students eligible for Veterans Education benefits may be able to use these funds to help finance their education. Our institute currently accepts all forms of Veterans Education benefits, with the exception of the yellow ribbon program. The school will not impose any penalty, including the assessment of late fees, the denial of access to classes, libraries, or other instructional facilities, or the requirement that a covered individual borrow additional funds, on any covered individual because of the individual’s inability to meet his or her financial obligations to the institution due to the delayed disbursement funding from the VA.

For more information regarding Veterans Education benefits, contact VA’s National call center at 1-888-442-4551 or visit www.va.gov. For additional information, eligibility criteria, and instructions on how to apply for VA Educational Benefits”, visit benefits.va.gov/gibill.

  • Depending on consistent attendance, it takes 42 scheduled weeks to complete the 1500 hour Cosmetology Program consisting of Hair, Skin, Nail Care, and Makeup Application.

  • Depending on consistent attendance, it takes 42 scheduled weeks to complete the 1500 hour Cosmetology Program consisting of Hair, Skin, Nail Care, and Makeup Application.  Upon completion, you will be ready to take the North Carolina Licensing Exam.

  • 52 Weeks | 1500 Hours of Cosmetology School will enable you to be ready to take the North Carolina Licensing Exam.

  • Throughout the year we offer a number of different schedule options to let students choose the schedule that works for them.

  • The cost for students at Nurtur Aveda Institute Wilmington is $23,088.00, which includes tuition, student kit charges and other expenses as well.

    We've got a financial plan for everyone including options for Federal Financial Aid, Scholarships, Grants, in-house financing, Veterans Benefits and more. Our Financial Aid experts are here to help you find what you qualify for and create the right financial plan for you!

  • To qualify for cosmetology licensure in North Carolina, you must attend a licensed school and complete the state of North Carolina's minimum required training hours and then take the state's cosmetology board exams.

  • No, a U.S. High School Diploma (or U.S. equivalent) is required.

  • Hair cutting, hair styling, hair color, skin care, makeup, nails, waxing and more!

  • Cosmetology is the art and science of beauty care. A cosmetologist is an expert in beautifying the hair, skin and nails. Branches of specialty include hairstyling, skin care, nail care, and hair removal.

  • Cosmetologists are commonly found working in salons, Estheticians are typically found in spas. While they share common ground, cosmetologists provide a wide variety of beauty services that are more focused around hair but include basic esthetics skills  and estheticians focus on skin care services and are not licensed to do hair services.

  • Cosmetologists learn everything about hair, but they also learn other services in the fields of esthetics and nails. Barbering is limited to men’s hair care and grooming.

  • Cosmetology school and beauty school are just different names for the same education.

  • Currently, some states allow a percentage of your cosmetology program to be done online. The percentage allowed for online education varies by state.

Results-based skin care

Start your skin journey with Ultraceuticals

Learn More

Cosmetology Blog

60 Nurtur Aveda Institute Students Selected for the 2026 PBA Beacon Program

This year, 60 Nurtur Aveda Institute students were selected to participate in the Professional Beauty Association’s 2026 Beacon Student Program. With this year’s class, 436 of our students have been selected for Beacon since 2005. The PBA Beacon program gives beauty school...

Nurtur Aveda Institute Columbus Student Derek Robinson Named 2026 NAHA Student Hairstylist of the Year

Derek Robinson has officially earned one of the highest honors a cosmetology student can achieve. The Nurtur Aveda Institute Columbus student has been named the 2026 Student Hairstylist of the Year at the Professional Beauty Association’s North American Hairstyling Awards...

Nurtur Aveda Institutes Student Jaleiah McNeil Named Finalist in National Intercoiffure Competition

We’re excited to celebrate Jaleiah McNeil, a Nurtur Aveda Institutes student who has been named one of just five finalists in the 2026 Intercoiffure America Canada Student Contest! Presented by Intercoiffure America Canada (ICA) in partnership with Pivot Point International, the...

Chlorine Recovery: How to Save Your Hair from Pool Water

Summer pool days can wreck your hair. Learn the ultimate chlorine recovery routine to protect, detox, and repair pool-damaged hair using botanical care. There is nothing quite like a refreshing dip in the pool on a hot day. But while your mind and body love a good swim, your hair absolutely...

5 Soft Skills They Don’t Teach for the State Board (But You Need for the Salon)

Passing your State Board exam is a massive milestone. You’ve spent hours mastering the perfect 45-degree haircut, memorizing chemical compositions, and perfecting sanitation protocols. But once you step out of the testing room and onto the salon floor, you quickly realize that technical...

Get the Skills to be a Beauty Professional