A cosmetology instructor teaches a variety of skills used in the beauty industry, including those used by hairstylists and barbers, manicurists, and makeup artists. As a cosmetology instructor, you typically specialize in one field of study. You work in a beauty school or academy and follow a curriculum set by those in higher-level beauty industry careers and state licensure boards. As with any teacher, your duties include delivering lectures, administering tests, and giving your students a grade. However, you likely focus more on practical skills and demonstrations than lectures and written assignments. Beyond teaching beauty skills, cosmetology instructors also teach business skills like management and marketing, as many aspiring cosmetologists want to one day open their own salon.