Jessica Thurber practices her cosmetology skills on Grace Zockoll.
Learning in the Unique Boutique
“We see a lot of weird toes, but it’s our job. It’s what we’re trained to do!”
These words could only come from one type of person–a cosmetology student like junior Jana Matthews who has spent many hours beautifying clients with pedicures and manicures, haircuts and facials.
For more than 20 years the cosmetology students have offered salon services to the public as part of their degree requirements. The cosmetology lab, called the Unique Boutique, is located on the lower level of Mary Gaston residence hall and is open at varying times during the week.
After two years in the cosmetology program, each student will have completed the 1,500 lab hours necessary to get their licenses from the state board. Many of those hours are spent working with clients, including students, faculty, staff, retirees and people from town.
Cosmetology students have to complete 300 hours of lab work and practice and must pass a test before they can begin working on actual clients. In addition to practicing on mannequins with human hair wigs, the students can practice some services, such as pedicures and manicures, on each other.
“We have mannequins of all different sizes and types and lengths that they can practice on to get those first 300 hours,” said Mrs. Carolyn Biondo, who has taught in the cosmetology department for 12 years. As the students begin their work on real clients, they are checked every step of the way by their instructors. A member of the cosmetology faculty is always present when services are being performed.
“We had to introduce our clients to our teacher and let them know what we were going to be doing so they knew we had thought through the process,” said Jana, a junior who will complete her associate degree in cosmetology management in May.
Jana and Rachel Noel, who is also a junior, are both licensed cosmetologists who are back at school to get their associate degrees. This year they have one class, Advanced Manicures, which requires lab time. However, they spent their fair share of time in Unique Boutique and came away with valuable experience.
Besides learning how to cut hair and polish nails professionally, Jana and Rachel said they learned much about cleanliness and details that can make a difference between a one-time customer and a regular. Their time in the boutique gave them an understanding of how to relate to other people and emphasized professionalism.
“So many people are so unprofessional,” Rachel said. “I walked in (to a salon) and I thought, ‘We were never taught that way!’ Learning how to treat people, how to present yourself in the salon, that was the biggest thing.”
With all the clients the students meet, learning how to talk to customers is important, especially for those who are planning to work in a salon when they get their licenses. Alicia Carr, a sophomore cosmetology student, said she likes working on clients because of the feedback she gets from them.
“It’s a big ministry out there,” said Mrs. Biondo, who owned a salon in Charleston for 12 years. “People will tell their hairdresser things they won’t tell anyone, and they put a lot of trust in you.”
Each cosmetology student spends about 27 hours a week in the lab, including an occasional late night (until about 9:30) working at the Boutique. The late hours are just another part of the salon experience, however.
“If you work in a salon you usually have to work nights anyway, so it’s good practice,” Mrs. Biondo said.
Haircuts and styles are the most popular service at the Boutique. Updos for formal events are fun for the cosmetology students to do because they can be more creative, Jana said.
“Now we’re in acrylic nails, so right now that’s kind of our favorite thing to do,” Rachel said. But she really likes regular haircutting. And she doesn’t even mind pedicures. “The dirtier the feet, the funner it is,” she said, because she can actually see improvements.
Alicia, who took her final exam for Manicures and Pedicures last week and is now learning about facials, said her favorite services to perform are scalp treatments and haircuts.
“A haircut will turn out just the way you want it to,” she said. “It’s all a matter of consultation with your clients to make sure that you know what look they want.”
Monday nights are men’s nights in the Boutique, and many guys, from little boys to university students to retired faculty, head down to Mary Gaston to get their hair cut. Mrs. Biondo said some retirees and faculty have been coming every week since before she started working there.
The Boutique offers facials four nights a year, and at Bible Conference the students hold a cut-a-thon to raise money for the offering. Artist Series and the Academy Junior-Senior usually bring a full load of clients to the lab. Gift certificates are popular as well.
Because all services are done by students, the prices are much less than at a regular salon, and students get a discount. A basic procedure such as a haircut is $8, while highlights are $30.
Clients must make appointments for any service besides eyebrow waxing. The Boutique schedule can be found on the intranet, and appointments can be made by calling ext. 2920.
