According to Franklin K. Schoeneman, CEO of Empire, many of Empire’s students attended college, but left when they felt college would not prepare them for the workforce. Other students have turned to cosmetology as a second career choice, looking for the creative outlet and stability that the profession offers.

Funding for post-secondary education in the economic stimulus package, including increased Pell grants and work study opportunities, has further fueled the growth in cosmetology education. The stimulus also increased the HOPE tax credit to $2,500 per year. Families earning less than $160,000 annually may now claim the HOPE tax credits for four years, rather than two.

Tammy Giles, a 39-year-old Empire Beauty School student based in Michigan, has a common story. After being laid off from her job as a retail sales manager and exhausting all of her unemployment, she had to pursue a new profession. Tammy had always been interested in cosmetology, so she set out to get her license, feeling confident in the employment opportunities it would offer. “Everybody wants to look good,” said Giles. “You save your money, even in hard times, and you spend it on what you think is important.”

According to the latest figures from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of hairdressers, hairstylists and cosmetologists should increase by 12 percent. Many now cut and style both men’s and women’s hair, and the demand for hair treatment by teens and aging baby boomers is expected to remain steady or grow. “The great thing about cosmetology is that it is one job that can’t be outsourced,” said Schoeneman.

To learn more, visit the Empire Beauty Schools Web site at www.empire.edu.

Replacing entire wardrobes can create unneeded stress, but there are ways to dress the whole family without breaking the bank.

* Look for versatile wardrobe staples. Women and girls should build their wardrobe with a nice skirt or dress, dress pants, jeans, sweaters and a jacket. Men and boys need khaki pants, jeans, sweaters and collared shirts.

* Skip fancy department stores. You’ll save time and money by shopping at your local discount retailer. You’ll find inexpensive basic apparel, often for less than $16 apiece.

* Look for deals on denim. Everyone in your family is going to want several pairs of jeans, and those price tags can add up quickly. There are inexpensive lines available today that still offer quality and value. Dollar General sells Bobbie Brooks 5-pocket stretch denim for women, starting at $12, and Open Trails denim for men, starting at $10.

* Stock up on basics. Fall is the perfect time to assess your undergarments. Toss old or ill-fitting underwear, t-shirts and socks. Replace these pieces inexpensively with value packages of underwear and socks, which can be found at your local discount retailer.

* Find fun, useful accessories. Scarves, hats and gloves allow you to express your personality or embrace the newest trends in colors and patterns without breaking the bank. Better yet, they can help dress up wardrobe staples that will last for years, so you won’t spend money on a jacket or dress that will be unwearable by next fall.

* Sell old clothes. If your children are still growing, chances are there are some gently used, outgrown items taking up closet space. Take old clothes to a consignment store or thrift shop to make a little extra money to put towards updating their wardrobe.

For more information on the fashions available at Dollar General, visit www.dollargeneral.com.

That is, until now. Launched in 2009, Ohio-based designer Debbie Kuhn is bursting onto the market with a comfortable new concept that will have you gearing to go this summer: girltrunks. Kuhn designed the two-piece suits because the traditional swimsuit market offered nothing that covered the legs. After accepting an invitation to tube down the Madison River in Montana, she remembers futilely searching the racks at Nordstrom when she had a novel idea.

“Why don’t I pair a tankini top with men’s swim trunks?” said Kuhn. She did just that and wore her newly created swimwear in Montana. “It was a day in time I remember vividly. I felt so liberated, in swimwear of all things, and I wanted to share that feeling with other women.”

We’re glad she did. The trunks fit like Bermuda shorts and are made of a quick-drying polyamide material with mesh lining that dries almost instantly, unlike many traditional women’s bathing suits. They are available at www.mygirltrunks.com in sizes 4-24 and come in two leg-covering lengths. Pair the trunks with a halter or tank top that has a flattering fit and you have more than a swimsuit. You have an outfit — no cover-up needed.

Like their slogan, “Reinventing swimwear for women,” girltrunks deliver a sense of confidence women so desperately lack during bathing suit season. But the suits don’t just flatter — they’re versatile, too. Swimming, hiking, volleyball, waterparks and building sand castles on the beach; women’s swim trunks lend themselves to any activity. Short to tall, skinny to plus-sized, apple to pear, teenager to grandmother; women no longer must remain a prisoner to their beach towels. They now have the freedom to choose.

According to dermatologists, more women in their twenties are asking for anti-aging tips. So, what can you do keep your skin looking young and healthy? Kiehl’s Since 1851, a company that specializes in skin and hair care formulas derived from natural ingredients, offers the following tips:

* Rest up. There’s a reason “you look tired” and “you look great” aren’t synonymous. But did you know that the position in which you sleep can also affect your looks? If you sleep face-down, fluid can collect beneath your eyes. Try sleeping face-up with your head slightly elevated with pillows. If you do wake up with facial swelling, try tapping the skin beneath your eyes or applying a cold compress.

* Apply vitamin C. Your skin contains more vitamin C than any other antioxidant, including the much-touted vitamin E. To keep vitamin C at an optimal level, make sure you are applying a skincare formula that contains plenty of vitamin C.

“Vitamin C helps keep skin even and bright, and it offers potent antioxidant protection from environmental stressors, such as pollution and sunlight,” said Dr. Adam Geyer, fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology, Instructor in Clinical Dermatology at Columbia University and Kiehl’s Brand Ambassador.

Two of Kiehl’s products, “Powerful-Strength Line-Reducing Concentrate” to improve tone and texture all over the face and “Line-Reducing Eye-Brightening Concentrate” formulated specifically for the eye area to boost radiance and minimize wrinkles, contain 10.5 percent vitamin C. Unlike many retinol products, they won’t cause photosensitivity and irritation and are gentle enough for twice-daily use. Apply them after cleansing, both day and night to obtain the greatest results.

* Reduce your sodium intake. You can make your doctor and your skin happy at the same time! When you eat too much sodium, you can cause your body to shift fluid into extracellular spaces, especially beneath your eyes. Avoid excess sodium intake to benefit both your health and your skin.

For more information, visit www.kiehls.com.

The bathing suit hunt is nothing less than discouraging. When met with most store’s racks crammed with handkerchief-size designs with bottoms that slip down and tops that ride up, women truly get the short end of the stick when it comes to summer swimwear.

That is, until now. Launched in 2009, Ohio-based designer Debbie Kuhn is bursting onto the market with a new concept that is a twist and a blend of the tried and true: Girltrunks. Kuhn designed the two-piece suits because the traditional swimsuit market offered nothing that covered the legs.

After accepting an invitation for a summer holiday in Montana that was to include tubing down the Madison, Kuhn found herself in a futile search in many a store for an appropriate outfit for the river excursion when she was struck with the perfect solution: “Why don’t I pair a tankini top with swim trunks?” She did just that. “It was a day in time I remember vividly. I felt so liberated, in swimwear of all things, and I wanted to share that feeling with other women.”

The trunks fit like finely tailored Bermuda shorts and are available in two leg-covering lengths. They are made of a quick-drying polyamide fabric with mesh lining that dries almost instantly, unlike many traditional women’s bathing suits. To complete the look, two top styles are offered in chic prints. All are available in sizes 4-24.

Like the slogan “Reinventing swimwear for women,” Gilrtrunks delivers a sense of confidence women so desperately lack during bathing suit season. But the suits don’t just flatter — they’re versatile, too. Swimming, visiting water parks, biking, hiking, jogging or just simply strolling the beach, Girltrunks lend themselves perfectly to any activity.

Short to tall, skinny to plus-sized, apple to pear, teenager to grandmother; women no longer are forced to be swathed in the excess of a cover up. Comfortable, stylish and taking in the joys of summer — that’s you, girlfriend, in Girltrunks.

Visit www.mygirltrunks.com to learn more about Girltrunks.