Have you ever been to a student beauty salon? If not, you should definitely consider it, especially if you’re looking to save a few bucks during the recession. Student salons have become increasingly popular during this time and you’re definitely in good hands, despite what you may think.

In fact, student salons have experienced supervisors on hand to watch over and answer any questions students may have. And though it may take a bit of extra time, it’s totally worth it. You wouldn’t want someone rushing through a beauty service you’re paying for no matter how skilled they are.

Another advantage of a student salon is the great specials they have throughout different times of the year. For different services that suit you best, you may find great deals from students who really care about what they are doing. And you’ll be helping them out by giving them the opportunity to have more experience.

I recently talked to some individuals from Empire Beauty Schools and you can certainly see the increases occurring in the beauty industry throughout this recessionary period. For an interesting inside look into the beauty industry, click over to Recession Boosts Biz for Beauty Schools.

-Amanda Fornecker

Being a hairdresser can often be a tough job, especially to those who aren’t quite sure of the proper techniques. That’s why hairdressers have gone to school and have learned just the right methods to make their clients happy with their appearance. Here, John Doucette, Director of Student Salons at Empire Beauty Schools, gives us insight on how to properly blow out your hair. You’ll be a pro in no time! And if you’re interested in actually working as a hairdresser, then be sure to research cosmetology schools for the right program!

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Of all the complicated beauty techniques out there that people would love to know about, one of the things that I get asked about most often is how to get a top-notch blowout on your own hair.  It’s actually not that hard to do if you just keep a few professional tips in mind. In fact, there are many simple things that can be done at home to get a salon-quality blow-out.

Start by gently blotting, not rubbing, the hair with a towel and then combing with a wide tooth comb. Removing as much water as possible makes it easier and quicker to dry, and it is much healthier for the hair. For frizzy or wavier hair, use an anti-humectant product to repel moisture.   Frizz is caused when too much moisture from the air gets soaked up by the hair. When hair is well hydrated, it doesn’t pull so much problem-causing moisture from the air.

Always subdivide the hair into sections. The smaller the sections, the easier each piece will be to straighten. I recommend using a large, round natural bristle brush such as boar bristle, to blow the hair out. A natural bristle will help the cuticle to lay smoother, which will mean a sleeker final result.

And here is the tip that will really help get a professional-looking result: finish each piece using your hair dryer’s cool shot button, unwinding with a twist of the brush, rather than pulling it out straight. The result will be smooth shiny hair with some volume and a bit of a wave.

John Doucette has over three decades of cosmetology experience. Doucette was co-owner of an eleven franchise business and also gained invaluable expertise and knowledge as a longtime leading colorist. He now works with the student salons at Empire Beauty Schools and shares his experience and knowledge with the future hairdressers of America.

Beauty school is more than just sitting in a classroom. While there are certainly opportunities for practice throughout your time at beauty school, it’s through events and networking that you can really enhance your beauty school experience. This is what some students at Empire Beauty Schools recently did.

The 5^th annual tradeshow and competition, known as the Future Professionals Expo, was held in Hershey, PA, on June 7-8. Here, almost 2,000 beauty school students from Empire Beauty Schools gathered together and participated in beauty workshops, enjoyed networking opportunities, sampled beauty products, and even had a career fair experience and completed interviews with potential salon employers.

Competition was fierce, as beauty school students competed in categories, such as long hair evening design, nail art display, and others. Top industry professionals from Goldwell, OPI, HAI, and Odyssey Nail Systems were judges for these competitions. Winners received top awards with professional tools and products, workshops, and job opportunities in major cities like Las Vegas and New York.

The event was certainly a good way to branch out from the typical beauty school education. Empire Beauty Schools, which boasts 88 schools in 19 states, has provided beauty school education to students for over 75 years and plans to continue this annual competition for its students.

-Amanda Fornecker

Photo: The event in action, courtesy of Empire.edu