Cosmetology student Maria Gomez folds towels at the Career and Technical Education Center’s student-run salon. (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter)
In their second year of cosmetology training, high school seniors at Salem-Keizer’s Career Technical Education Center get a chance to practice on real customers.
The students spend one year learning the basics of hair styling, dyes, makeup, nail care and skin care before choosing a specific focus. Every fall, their salon opens its doors to the public, offering services at bargain prices so students can learn by doing.
This year’s grand opening, on Tuesday, Oct. 23, had 25 customers booked.
Cosmetology student Savannah Hackney, left, and instructor Stephanie Hamilton, mix hair dye. (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter)
Savannah Hackney applies Vaseline to her mother Brandi Clack’s face before applying hair dye. (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter)
Cosmetology student Alexandra Orozco, left, removes acrylic nails from Madison Tucker. (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter)
A student practices hair cutting at the CTEC salon on opening day. (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter)
Cosmetology students Maria Gomez, far right, and Nate Delacruz, give a tour of their salon to two Oregon Department of Education employees on opening day. (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter)
Kaylee Frakes demonstrates the system students use to schedule appointments at the salon. (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter)
Savannah Hackney adds hair lightener to her mother, Brandi Clack. (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter)
Student Ana Diaz assesses her mother’s hair before a cut. (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter)
Ana Diaz blow dries her mother’s hair before applying dye. (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter)
Rachel Alexander is Salem Reporter’s managing editor. She joined Salem Reporter when it was founded in 2018 and covers city news, education, nonprofits and a little bit of everything else. She’s been a journalist in Oregon and Washington for a decade. Outside of work, she’s a skater and board member with Salem’s Cherry City Roller Derby and can often be found with her nose buried in a book.
