Chances are if you’re a student, you like to keep up with the latest fashion and beauty trends, but you’re also watching your wallet.
The San Jacinto College cosmetology program provides quality salon services for one-third the cost you would pay at a retail salon. Students, faculty, and community members can get most of the same professional hair and beauty services right on campus. Cosmetology students are not only training to be the next wave of fashion and beauty trendsetters, but they’re also learning how to use their talents and services to better the community.
“We always try to stay innovative,” said Mary Lindsay, San Jacinto College South Campus department chair for cosmetology, biomedical equipment repair technology, HVAC, and engineering design graphics. “Since we’ve been partnering with industry more, outside professionals have been really engaging with our Facebook page, commenting on photos of the skills students are learning by photos we post.”
Jhocelyn Saldivar demonstrates how to create an upstyle.
Photo credit: Andrea Vasquez, San Jacinto College
Cosmetology students undergo 576 hours of training before taking any clients and are required to service at least 25 clients before they graduate. Instructors are always present during client appointments to ensure the techniques are being done correctly and to assist if needed. Some of the most popular services the campus salons offer include women’s haircut and blow-dry $10; men’s haircut $8; hair color $20 and up; chemical relaxers $20 and up; spa facial $15; manicures $8; upstyles $10 and up; tea tree experience conditioner $3; and four-step Joico deep conditioner $5. Appointments can also be made for bridal, prom, and special occasion upstyles and makeup application.
While learning the skills and techniques for basic and cutting-edge beauty trends, the cosmetology department incorporates a service-learning component into almost every course in the program. This allows the students to put their skills to use in the community and reflect upon how it made a difference for them personally. “Service-learning comes naturally to cosmetology,” said Lindsay. “We put ourselves out there to help others. We have become champions of service-learning.” The cosmetology program has volunteered with various organizations and charities including Locks of Love, Wigs for Kids, Texas Children’s Hospital annual renal patient prom, Operation Cinderella, De George Veterans Center at Union Station, Park Manor Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation, and Hope Village.
For students Kathryn Kane and Jhocelyn Saldivar, being in the cosmetology instructor program has given them another aspect of service. Both alumni of the cosmetology program wanted to give back by teaching after being in the industry for 36 years combined.
“When I see someone who has a dream of becoming a stylist, I want to be that person who helps them make that dream come true, paving the way for them,” said Saldivar, who hopes to teach cosmetology at San Jacinto College. “I feel that I’m the stylist that I am thanks to the cosmetology program here.”
Kane, a licensed esthetician, says the instructor program has opened a new chapter to her career. “Becoming an instructor will allow me to empowering students, especially women,” said Kane, who wants to continue studying esthetics in Eastern Europe. “In this industry you’re always learning; there’s new information every day. You have to commit to lifelong learning.”
– Andrea Vasquez