Milady
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1927
- HeadquartersNew York, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
Milady firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Milady
- Legal name
- Milady, a division of Cengage Learning, Inc.
- Website
- https://milady.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1927
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Milady industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Vocational Education Software
- NAICS
- Cosmetology and Barber Schools (611511), Technical and Trade Schools (6115), Exam Preparation and Tutoring (611691)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Cosmetology Schools & Programs (HSALANAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Continuing Education & License Exam Prep (CE/State Board Prep) (HSALANAL), Content Management for Learning (LCMS) & Course Catalog Management (EDAFAAAF), Eyebrow & Eyelash Training (Brow Design/Lash Extensions/Lifts) (HSALANAG)
Keywords
Where Milady is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New York
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
Milady business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Curriculum Sales (Print and Digital): Sale of textbooks and digital access codes for beauty education curricula including cosmetology, esthetics, barbering, nail technology, massage, and advanced services. Products available as printed textbooks, eBooks, CIMA student seats, or printed access codes (PAC).
- CIMA Platform Access: Subscription-based access to the CIMA digital learning platform with 2-year student access. Includes curriculum delivery, instructor resources, assessments, exam prep, and reporting tools. Instructor access is free with CIMA.
- CIMA ExamReady: Targeted exam prep tool sold as student seats or printed access codes, aligned to state licensing exams. Provides practice questions and mock exams.
- Mobile Exam Prep App: In-app purchase model for State Board Exam Prep App offering discipline-specific exam preparation on iOS and Android platforms.
- Professional Development: Continuing education courses, Master Educator certification programs, RISE Educator Program, and live events for beauty educators and professionals.
- Physical Products (Lash Kits): Sale of professional-grade lash extension and brow treatment kits in partnership with Borboleta, including starter kits, volume kits, and all-in-one bundles.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | State Board Exam Prep App - $39.95 per discipline |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | CIMA ExamReady - $49.95 per student |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Natural Hair Care & Braiding CIMA - $145.95 |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Natural Hair Care & Braiding Instructor Resources - $524.95 |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Eyelashes Curriculum - $77.95 student, $24.95 Exam Prep |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Electrolysis & Hair Removal Curriculum - $145.95 |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Lash Kits from $180 to $500 |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Barbering 7th Edition - $335.95 CIMA, $232.95 textbook package |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Barbering Instructor Resources - $524.95 |
| Freemium | Monthly | Master Educator Certification Program - Free |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels7 records
Milady product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Milady is a beauty and wellness education company that sells accredited curriculum and a proprietary digital learning platform (CIMA) to beauty schools, cosmetology programs, and instructor programs across the United States. It offers discipline-specific curricula in cosmetology, barbering, esthetics, advanced esthetics, nail technology, massage therapy, natural hair care and braiding, eyelashes, and electrolysis/hair removal, available in print, eBook, and digital CIMA formats with Spanish-language options. Complementing the curriculum are exam preparation tools (CIMA ExamReady, mobile exam prep app), instructor resources, continuing education, and physical lash and brow kits distributed in partnership with Borboleta.
Product overview
Milady is a beauty and wellness education company offering a platform-plus-modules architecture centered around CIMA, a digital learning management system that delivers curriculum content alongside instructor resources, exam preparation tools, and student support. The core portfolio includes discipline-specific curricula (Cosmetology, Barbering, Esthetics, Advanced Esthetics, Nail Technology, Massage) and specialty programs (Natural Hair Care & Braiding, Eyelashes, Electrolysis/Hair Removal, Professional Educator). Built on CIMA are sub-products CIMA ExamReady (exam-aligned practice), CIMA Exam Prep (chapter-based review), and CIMA Collabs (partner brand content). Physical products include lash and brow kits from Borboleta. The company also offers a mobile exam prep app, continuing education programs, and Spanish-language content across most core disciplines. Milady positions itself as a comprehensive educator of beauty professionals with solutions spanning digital platforms, print materials, instructor certifications, and practical tools.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- CIMA: Digital learning platform for beauty schools that brings Milady curriculum, instructor resources, reporting tools, student support, and optional print materials into one connected experience.
- CIMA ExamReady
- CIMA Exam Prep
- CIMA Collabs
- RISE Program
- Master Educator Certification
Products and services
- CIMA Digital Learning Platform A cloud-based learning management system that delivers Milady's beauty education curriculum with instructor resources, assessments, reporting tools, student support, and optional print materials in a connected experience. Sold to beauty schools with 2-year student access and free instructor access.
- CIMA ExamReady Licensing exam preparation tool with practice questions, mock exams, mastery tracking, and personalized study insights aligned to state Candidate Information Bulletins (CIBs). Covers Cosmetology, Esthetics, Advanced Esthetics, Barbering, Nail Technology, and Student Instructor. Sold as student seats or printed access codes at $49.95 per student with 2-year access.
- CIMA Exam Prep Online licensing exam preparation tool featuring hundreds of multiple-choice questions with chapter review, chapter test, and comprehensive test modes, with 2-year access.
- Milady State Board Exam Prep App Mobile exam preparation application with over 1,200 questions across three test modes (chapter review, chapter test, comprehensive test), available on iOS and Android in English and Spanish. Sold as an in-app purchase at $39.95 per discipline with 1-year access.
- Milady Standard Cosmetology, 14th Edition Comprehensive cosmetology curriculum with emphasis on textured hair, 21 step-by-step procedures, modern learning approach, available in CIMA digital or print formats in English and Spanish.
- Milady Standard Barbering, 7th Edition Barbering curriculum covering foundational principles, safety protocols, modern trends and techniques with 17 procedures, left-handed procedures, beard shaping, and hair loss services. Available in print and digital CIMA formats in English and Spanish.
- Milady Standard Esthetics: Fundamentals, 12th Edition Industry-standard esthetics curriculum covering skin care fundamentals, available in CIMA digital or print (2-book format) in English and Spanish.
- Milady Advanced Esthetics, 3rd Edition Advanced skincare treatments curriculum covering innovative techniques including lasers, light therapies, skin tightening, and medical setting protocols.
- Milady Standard Nail Technology, 8th Edition Nail technology curriculum from introductory science basics through nail-specific content for licensure, available in CIMA digital or print (2-book format) in English and Spanish.
- Theory and Practice of Therapeutic Massage, 6th Edition Therapeutic massage curriculum providing the foundational knowledge and skills needed to become a successful massage therapist.
- Milady Natural Hair Care & Braiding, 2nd Edition Textured hair education curriculum covering foundational theory, braids, extensions, wigs, loc care, scalp care, and professional draping with 34 step-by-step technical procedures and instructional video content. Fully revised by seven Subject Matter Experts and aligned with NIC Licensing Exam's Candidate Information Bulletin standards.
- Milady Advanced Services: Eyelashes Skills-based curriculum covering infection control, lash application, and building an eyelash and brow business, with 1,400+ interactive activities providing 430+ hours of engagement.
- Milady Advanced Services: Electrolysis and Hair Removal Comprehensive hair removal curriculum covering electrolysis, laser/IPL, advanced waxing, sugaring, and threading techniques.
- Professional Educator, 4th Edition Professional educator program curriculum covering teaching methods, adaptability, inclusivity, and classroom management, building on the previous Master Educator program.
- Business & Soft Skills Curriculum Business education curriculum including Business Fundamentals, Studio Luma video series, and partner content from Beauty as a Business, Prosper U, and MONEY EDU for future beauty professionals.
- Milady + Borboleta Lash and Brow Kits Professional-grade lash extension and brow treatment kits co-developed with Borboleta, including Starter Kit ($200), Classic + Volume Kit ($350), Lash Lift + Brow Lamination Kit ($180), and All-In-One Kit ($500).
- Milady Continuing Education Continuing education offerings including online courses, the three-level Master Educator Certification program, RISE Educator Program, and live events for beauty educators and licensed professionals.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 100,000+ students have passed their state boards using exam prep tools from Milady
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Milady
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Milady technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration6 records
AI capability2 records
Feature6 records
Milady partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
18 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- BorboletacorePartnership with Borboleta, a leading eyelash extension and brow treatment manufacturer, to offer turnkey lash kit solutions for Milady's Eyelashes curriculum. Kits were designed to match course procedures, streamlining ordering for schools. Includes complimentary BorboletaPro CIMA course for customers who purchase Milady+Borboleta lash kits.
- Beauty as a Business (BaaB)coreCIMA Collabs partnership bringing social media and digital marketing courses designed specifically for beauty and wellness schools directly into the CIMA platform.
- ProsperUcoreCIMA Collabs partnership bringing interactive business and financial literacy courses designed for the beauty industry into the CIMA platform.
- Qnity (Qnity for Schools / MONEY EDU)coreCIMA Collabs partnership bringing money and financial education program (MONEY EDU) for future beauty professionals into the CIMA platform.
- WellaminorPartner brand content available through CIMA Collabs. Requires partnership with the company to access content.
- OPIminorPartner brand content available through CIMA Collabs. Requires partnership with the company to access content.
- PCA SKINminorPartner brand content available through CIMA Collabs.
- MatrixminorPartner brand content available through CIMA Collabs. Content freely accessible to anyone.
- MizaniminorPartner brand content available through CIMA Collabs. Content freely accessible to anyone.
- RedkenminorPartner brand content available through CIMA Collabs. Content freely accessible to anyone.
- BiolageminorPartner brand content available through CIMA Collabs.
- MUDminorPartner brand content available through CIMA Collabs.
- Pigment CosmeticsminorPartner brand content available through CIMA Collabs.
- BabeminorPartner brand content available through CIMA Collabs.
- Professional Beauty Association (PBA)coreStrategic association partnership for industry advocacy, training, networking events, and regulatory issue addressing. PBA helps manage the RISE Scholarship program.
- National Interstate Council of State Boards of Cosmetology (NIC)coreFoundational partnership for exam development alignment. Milady's materials are regularly referenced in NIC exam content, ensuring curriculum alignment with current industry practices and educational benchmarks.
- American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS)coreAssociation partnership for advancing beauty education through training, networking, and industry advocacy.
- NACCAScoreNational Association of Career Colleges and Schools accreditation partnership for beauty school standards.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Milady competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Milady social profiles
Digital presenceMilady financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Milady leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Milady funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Milady M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Milady
What does Milady do?
Milady is a beauty and wellness education company that sells accredited curriculum and a proprietary digital learning platform (CIMA) to beauty schools, cosmetology programs, and instructor programs across the United States. It offers discipline-specific curricula in cosmetology, barbering, esthetics, advanced esthetics, nail technology, massage therapy, natural hair care and braiding, eyelashes, and electrolysis/hair removal, available in print, eBook, and digital CIMA formats with Spanish-language options. Complementing the curriculum are exam preparation tools (CIMA ExamReady, mobile exam prep app), instructor resources, continuing education, and physical lash and brow kits distributed in partnership with Borboleta.
Is Milady a public or private company?
Milady is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Milady founded?
Milady was founded in 1927. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Milady based?
Milady is headquartered in New York, United States, in the North America region.
How does Milady make money?
Six revenue lines are on record. Curriculum Sales (Print and Digital) is the primary driver. The others are CIMA Platform Access, CIMA ExamReady, mobile Exam Prep App, professional Development and physical Products (Lash Kits).
Does Milady have an API?
No public API is recorded for Milady.
What industry is Milady in?
Milady's product category is Vocational Education Software. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HSALANAA, Cosmetology Schools & Programs, with a secondary code of HSALANAL, Continuing Education & License Exam Prep (CE/State Board Prep). Its NAICS code is 611511 and its SIC code is 8200.