“Back to school, back to school, to prove to Dad that I am not a fool!” So said Adam Sandler in Billy Madison. It’s the attitude around this time every year – the summer is winding down and the anxiety of an impending year is beginning to hit some. And to think that you could actually be in this situation as well is even more exciting.

It’s still early enough that you can begin your quest for knowledge at beauty school or spa school and get started right away. Most beauty school programs have classes that begin every few weeks – all you need is an interest and passion in the material. And, nowadays, it’s even easier to enroll when the very possibility of enrollment is right at your fingertips.

A recent article on KansasCity.com highlighted a local hair salon that has been in operation for 47 years – ever since owner Judy Gaume began her hair styling career. A weekly patron, Patricia Gaunce, put the very essence of a hair stylist perfectly in the article: “It’s like finding a doctor you can trust,” she says. “Once you find a hairdresser you like, you stay with her. Before I met Judy, I had never really gone to the salon. But that changed. I’m not a smoker. I’ve never been a drinker. But I go to the beauty shop.”

I, personally, am always so nervous to find a new hair stylist. And I know I’m not the only nervous nelly. In fact, most of my experiences with hair stylists have come via recommendations of people I trust. It’s a scary thought to imagine that anyone can mess up your daily appearance. And sure, hair grows back, but we want to look our best all the time.

An interest in styling hair would certainly be a must to begin a beauty school program. But, as I mentioned, this is the time to really follow your desires (no matter what your age) and form relationships just as Judy has.

Do your research and apply to beauty school today!

-Amanda Fornecker

A beauty school in Plano, TX, recently found themselves in an unfortunate situation. It seemed like a harmless back-to-school gift to her 12-year-old daughter. Karole Ridley decided to allow her daughter, Mariah, to get the new look she had been wanting: to look like Rihanna. It was then that Karole took Mariah to ITS Beauty School to get a chemical relaxer. After some time, Mariah began to complain that her head was burning and that she couldn’t take the pain. It is reported that at this time, the beauty school officials told Mariah to hang on for a bit longer and that they would soon be done. After all was said and done, Mariah did not leave with the experience she or her mother had desired. She eventually had to go to a children’s hospital, who then referred her to a burn unit for second and third degree burns. Karole and Mariah are seeking legal help.

This is the case of something gone awry. You don’t normally hear things like this happening at beauty school salons. Sure, you walk into a beauty school salon and you know that there are students learning and growing as cosmetologists. And you don’t think anything will happen when the students have supervisors. And most of the time it’s fine. But you should also realize that there is the possibility of something not working out the way it would in an upscale salon and spa – this is exactly why the services are discounted so heavily. Mariah’s relaxer treatment cost $35.75. Salons have been known to charge hundreds of dollars for the same service.

It’s interesting to me that it got as far as it did. One of my closest friends just went to get her hair professionally dyed at a regular salon this past weekend and they did a little test first to see if she was allergic to the dye. It turns out she was because she had a big red splotch show up on her neck and they told her they couldn’t perform the service on her. Maybe Mariah was also allergic to the chemicals they were using in her hair to relax it. But I have to ask – what is a mother doing letting a 12-year-old get her hair chemically relaxed??

For more info on this story, check out the33TV.com.

-Amanda Fornecker

Fila Academy promised what most cosmetology schools do: the chance to enhance your education and become a successful professional cosmetologist. But the story doesn’t end happily ever after with graduation and a great beauty job. Instead, this is just another lesson on why you should make sure your potential beauty or spa school is accredited…

According to Courthouse News, this Glen Burnie, MD, cosmetology school was recently sued in a class action suit by students who were tricked into the potential of obtaining a beauty school eduction. Students say that they were actually given the answers to exams before they even took them – giving them no chance to actually prove any of their ability. Additionally, Fila Academy forced students to sign up for loans and grants in order to get the more than $16,000 in tuition per student, the article says. And what’s even worse? Students say they were forced to clean toilets along the way.

Fila’s website claims that they accept students who can pass a test in compliance with the NACCAS Ability to Benefit Policy. However, it never stated that they were actually accredited by NACCAS. This is a vital piece of information and why it’s important to do your research. A simple Google search for NACCAS will bring you to the website, where you can search by the name of the school and see if they are actually accredited by this important cosmetology school-accrediting body.

Don’t let something like this happen to you. Do your research and ask questions before you hand over your life savings to someone who may be giving you false hope and empty promises. This shouldn’t scare you into not going to beauty school – it should merely educate you. Start searching now and protect yourself.

-Amanda Fornecker

A few months ago, I noticed a different smell in the water every time I turned on the tap. I finally realized that chlorine had been introduced into the water as the main cleanser. It seemed very strange to me that such a harsh chemical would be used in water, but I didn’t really give it another thought. Then I read that the Paul Mitchell Schools are teaming up with LifeSource Water Filter Systems in an effort to minimize the damaging effects of such a change.

According to a press release last week, Paul Mitchell Schools says that chlorinated water makes it difficult to color hair, damages skin, and even speeds up the aging process. Who wants that?!

Paul Mitchell will now use the filter systems, beginning in two of their campuses, in an effort to reduce the amount of chlorinated water they use. This change comes after Paul DeJoria, founder of Paul Mitchell Schools, realized the benefits of using the water filter system in his schools – he had been using LifeSource in his house for 18 years now. It only made sense to transition the switch to his business for a more effective education for his beauty students and better salon treatments. Now, Paul Mitchell Schools students will reap the benefits and see great results in all their hard work.

And this is not the first beauty school that decided to do this. In 2006, Federico Beauty College began the same initiative.

-Amanda Fornecker