The beginning of the school year is the perfect time to set a positive, motivating atmosphere for your classroom. Students thrive in a space where they feel welcomed, valued, and part of a team! One of the best ways we’ve found to do this is by creating a Cosmetology Creed—a short, daily speech that your students say together to start each day with purpose and positivity.

What is a Cosmetology Creed?

A Cosmetology Creed is a brief statement (about 5–8 sentences) that reflects your students’ goals, values, and excitement about their journey in cosmetology. It celebrates things like completing hours, passing tests, becoming licensed, and achieving their dream of becoming professional cosmetologists. Below i have listed the steps so you are able to implement this engaging activity into your classroom.

Step 1: Divide Students into Teams

Split your students into small groups of 3–5.

Step 2: Set the Task

Give each group 20 minutes (adjustable) to create a 5–8 sentence Cosmetology Creed. Encourage them to focus on positivity, teamwork, and achieving their goals.

Example: “We are dedicated students, reaching our hours and mastering our skills. We support each other to grow, learn, and succeed. Every day we become closer to our dream of becoming licensed cosmetologists!”

Step 3: Assign Team Roles

Give each group the following responsibilities to stay organized:

Time Keeper: Tracks remaining time.
Recorder: Types the creed in Google Docs (or paper if tech isn’t available).
Presenter: Shares the creed with the class.
Manager: Keeps the group focused and on task.

Step 4: Presentation & Collaboration

Once all groups finish, have each team present their creed to the class. Then, either:

Let the class vote on favorite sentences from each creed to form a final class creed, or
Combine all the best ideas yourself into a polished version.

Step 5: Post & Practice

Once finalized, display the creed prominently in your classroom. Each day, before starting your bell ringer or first assignment, stand together and say the creed. This sets a positive tone, unites your team, and reinforces a sense of belonging.

(Below i have attached the slide presentation that is presented to my students. )

We’ve used this activity for years, and it really works for our classroom. Saying the creed daily:

Fosters a sense of unity and teamwork
Sets a positive tone for learning
Gives students a shared purpose and motivation
Reinforces industry goals and professionalism

Final Thoughts

Creating a Cosmetology Creed is more than just a fun first-week activity—it’s a powerful way to build community, confidence, and a shared purpose in your classroom. When students start each day standing together and speaking their goals out loud, they begin to see themselves not just as students, but as future professionals in the beauty industry.

✨ Try the Cosmetology Creed with your students this year!
Whether you follow this lesson exactly or make it your own, I’d love for you to experience the impact it can have on your classroom.

Let me know in the comments:

How do you build community in your cosmetology classroom?
If you try this activity, what did your students come up with for their creed?

All credit for this activity goes to my partner, Mrs. Nelson, who has 20+ years of industry experience and is a shining example of dedication to cosmetology education.

(Our students saying their creed together outside of the PSI testing site before they went in to pass their written exams! i’m holding the camera!)

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Stronger Together: A Cosmetology Team-Building Creed Activity