Students in the Cosmetology program at Blue Hills Regional Technical School provide “Day of Beauty” services to a group of clients on Thursday, April 10. The package costs $40 and includes coffee and pastries, a facial, scalp treatment with a blow dry, and a basic manicure, along with a lunch provided by the school’s culinary program. (Photo Courtesy Blue Hills Regional Technical School)
CANTON — As the cost of haircuts and other services have skyrocketed in recent years, and the price for beauty school training has become increasingly unaffordable, a hidden gem within Blue Hills Regional Technical School is providing a win-win for clients from the community and all the students who are working there to become professional cosmetologists.
A group of seven women from the community treated themselves on Thursday, April 10, to a “Day of Beauty” package offered by the Blue Hills Cosmetology program for just $40. The package includes pastries and coffee for breakfast, followed by scalp treatments, facials, manicures and blow-drying, before a lunch prepared by the school’s culinary students.
In addition to the pampering and beauty treatment, “Day of Beauty” clients develop bonds with the Blue Hills students, chatting it up and often enjoying the lunchtime meal together at the student-run Chateau de Bleu Restaurant. At least six people are required as a minimum for group “Day of Beauty” appointments, which occur about 10 times per year, drawing groups of friends, the Council on Aging and social clubs like the Red Hat Society.
Other services offered by the Cosmetology program on an appointment-only basis include haircuts for just $10, hair coloring for $30, perms for $30, and full foil highlights for $45, in addition to many other discounted types of chemical treatments, facials, nail care and hairstyling. The average cost for those same services at a private salon, throughout the country, is at least three times as high, conservatively speaking.
“It’s operated just like a salon. In what’s now a very expensive economy, you’re getting that salon quality, but you’re also getting it at an affordable price,” said Janice LaVoie, Lead Cosmetology Teacher, who’s been overseeing the program for 10 years. “Some clients say the students do a better job than those offered at a regular salon. We’ve got a lot of new clients lately because prices at commercial salons have just gotten so high nowadays.”
Soft Skills & Service
The students, under close supervision of LaVoie, also emphasize customer service and seek to develop authentic relationships with their clients. In addition to LaVoie, the program is overseen by Cosmetology Instructor Colleen Zentz, with the help of a teacher’s aide. The classroom/salon is filled with all the equipment needed for the students to train and serve their clients, including five facial beds, a row of hood driers, a dozen wet stations and a separate area with “student stations,” where the students get to practice on mannequin heads.
“Our clients really appreciate coming here. They give us great reviews,” LaVoie said. “The salon we operate allows clients to come see what we’re doing, connect with students and help them gain some technical skills. We supervise them on everything. There’s not a ton of room for error. Clients get that added value, and they become like family. We’ve had some clients here for more than 30 years. They sometimes request specific students. We have teenagers engaging with members of our elderly community, engaging in conversations with people they don’t know. We work with our students on professionalism, how to talk to people and all of those soft skills.”
For junior Ava Adams, the Cosmetology program is a “hands-on education” that she plans to put to use after her graduation, seeing herself providing updos and other hairstyling services for weddings and proms.
“You learn more than just the cosmetology here,” said Ava, 17, of Avon. “You learn how to manage and own a business. You learn a lot more than just hair and nails. You learn about how to deal with people.”
Ahead of the Curve
Not only does the program offer cost-savings for clients, but students also get a more than $40,000 value from the Cosmetology training provided by Blue Hills Regional Technical School, preparing them to immediately enter the workforce upon graduation with all the certifications that are required.
The only costs students have to cover is a $68 state licensing fee and a $320 equipment kit. As an added benefit, after the students accumulate 1,000 hours of training, Blue Hills pays for a $155 test fee required to take a state board exam.
“We have a lot of students who graduate, and you’ll see them within three or four years opening up their own salons,” LaVoie said. “Even if they opt to go to college, they are still working in salons and maintaining their college schedules. I’ve also had students that get into dermatology. A lot of local salons are filled with Blue Hills grads. They’re able to scoop up students that are in our program. It’s a nice little network. This is a cornerstone program at Blue Hills.”
Ify Okusanya, a junior, said she appreciates how the program has taught her all the unique cosmetology skills, starting with the fundamentals like layering, all the way up to perms and advanced hairstyles. But just as important, the program has taught her about client relations and how to operate a business. On top of that, it’s a fun atmosphere, she said.
“You can never get bored in this career,” said Okusanya, a Randolph resident.
“You have a lot of people around you. You’re talking this way and that way. My experience here in this program is very fun. I really enjoy it.”
How to Book
To make an appointment for a “Day of Beauty” package or for any other service, clients must call 781-828-5800, ext. 1210. All appointments take place at 9 a.m., Tuesdays through Fridays. The Cosmetology program uses Fresha salon software to send notifications of upcoming appointments to clients.
Superintendent-Director Jill Rossetti and Principal Geoffrey Zini commended the Cosmetology program students and their instructors, while thanking the community members who support them and form bonds when visiting as clients.
“The Cosmetology program at Blue Hills Regional Technical School is such a great asset to our students and to our community,” Principal Zini said. “The personal touch that our students provide to our community members who come in for a haircut, a manicure or a ‘Day of Beauty,’ is truly amazing. Thank you to Ms. LaVoie and Ms. Zentz for their leadership with the salon program, and for providing a quality education on how to run a beauty care business.”
“We’re so proud of our Cosmetology program students and their instructors, for all of their hard work,” said Superintendent-Director Rossetti. “We’re also especially proud of the special care they provide to our community members who come in for these services. Thank you to all of our community members who continue to visit and provide these vital opportunities for our students to gain a hands-on education in this important field of business.”
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A group of clients lay down for a facial as part of the “Day of Beauty” package provided by students in the Cosmetology program. (Photo Courtesy Blue Hills Regional Technical School)
Cosmetology students provide scalp treatment services to clients in the school salon as part of the $40 “Day of Beauty” package offered on an appointment-only basis. (Photo Courtesy Blue Hills Regional Technical School)
To make an appointment for a “Day of Beauty” package, or for any other service, clients must call 781-828-5800, ext. 1210. All appointments take place at 9 a.m., Tuesdays through Fridays. (Photo Courtesy Blue Hills Regional Technical School)
“Day of Beauty” clients lay back for a facial as part of the services provided by Cosmetology students. (Photo Courtesy Blue Hills Regional Technical School)
Lead Cosmetology Teacher Janice LaVoie, right, provides oversight to students providing scalp treatments on “Day of Beauty” clients. (Photo Courtesy Blue Hills Regional Technical School)
Cosmetology students at Blue Hills Regional Technical School practice hairstyling on mannequin heads. (Photo Courtesy Blue Hills Regional Technical School)
A student provides a facial treatment to a “Day of Beauty” client. (Photo Courtesy Blue Hills Regional Technical School)
Lead Cosmetology Teacher Janice LaVoie provides oversight to students as they perform scalp treatments on “Day of Beauty” clients. (Photo Courtesy Blue Hills Regional Technical School)
A Cosmetology student provides scalp treatment to a client. (Photo Courtesy Blue Hills Regional Technical School)
A “Day of Beauty” client pays for services by credit card at the Cosmetology salon. (Photo Courtesy Blue Hills Regional Technical School)
The Cosmetology program is a cornerstone at Blue Hills Regional Technical School. The program is led by Lead Cosmetology Teacher Janice LaVoie and Cosmetology Instructor Colleen Zentz. (Photo Courtesy Blue Hills Regional Technical School)
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