Senior Ana Diaz blow dries her mother’s hair before applying dye during the salon’s grand opening on Tuesday, Oct. 23. (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter)
Ana Diaz normally gets her hair cut at Belleza Latina. But on Tuesday morning, she decided to try a new stylist — her teenage daughter.
Diaz was one of 25 customers who booked appointments for the opening of the student-run salon at Salem-Keizer’s Career and Technical Education Center, where high school seniors learning cosmetology practice their skills under teacher direction.
It was the first time she’d let her daughter, also named Ana, practice on her.
“I told her, ‘You can count on me,’ and here I am,” she said.
The salon has the same layout and equipment of a professional operation. Students take turns staffing the front desk, managing client appointments and greeting customers.
“We’re pretty booked today,” said Kaylee Frakes, who worked the front desk. Her 6-year-old sister is coming in for an appointment later this week.
Services include haircuts, coloring, beard trims, manicures, facials, waxing and makeup at bargain prices. A haircut runs $10-$15 and a facial about $30.
The costs help fund the program and pay for supplies.
The salon is open to the public with appointments possible by calling (503) 399-2370. Walk-ins are also welcome from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on weekdays except Monday.
The 40 students in their second year in the program have chosen a specific profession, like esthetician or hair stylist, to specialize in.
Another sixty students are in their first year, where they learn about a variety of cosmetology trades.
As they learn, they practice on mannequins, willing teachers and each other. But having members of the public come in lets students practice professionalism and work on many types of hair and skin.
“It’s really hard to understand that stuff if we have one kind of mannequin with one hair texture,” said Maria Gomez, a senior who’s focusing on barbering.
Cosmetology student Savannah Hackney adds hair lightener on her first client of the day: her mother, Brandi Clack. (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter)
Senior Savannah Hackney was also practicing on her mother, coloring her blonde hair and darkening the roots slightly.
Stephanie Hamilton, an instructional assistant in the program, helped Hackney mix her color and lightener in a lab room.
Within a month, she said students should be able to do the entire process without help. Hackney said she wanted to make sure everything worked perfectly.
“My mom’s picky!” she said.
“We kind of want them to make mistakes so they learn, but not on their moms,” Hamilton said, laughing.
Students use word-of-mouth from family members to get clients, but many also market themselves on Facebook and Instagram.
Madison Tucker, a hair design student, said being friendly and engaging is a skill many have learned through work elsewhere.
“A lot of us have retail jobs,” she said.
Hackney’s mother, Brandi Clack, said her daughter loves the cosmetology program. She had enough credits to finish high school as a junior last year but opted to stay enrolled so she could continue learning about hair styling.
“She’s always had a knack for makeup and hair,” Clack said.
Clack works in real estate and said she had no idea how much science her daughter would learn in the program.
“It’s crazy, the chemistry that’s involved. I had no clue,” she said.
Diaz said she normally just gets a haircut, but she was opting for highlights so her daughter would have more to practice.
She said the program has given her daughter a clear career option to consider once she finishes high school.
“She’s not just studying, but she’s practicing,” Diaz said.
Got a tip? Reporter Rachel Alexander: [email protected] or 503-575-1241.
