Cosmo class offers real-life experiences
Amy Gregson – Times Reporter
When you walk into Combs n’ Curls it is like any other hair and esthetics salon, patrons are getting their hair cut and washed.
Courtney-Tyler Albig is preparing her client Lori Roes hair to get dyed and really looks confident in what she is getting ready to do.
However, close behind are her teachers watching closely over Albig because she is still learning her cosmetology skills.
Combs n’ Curls is the salon run out of Strathmore High School and the hair dressers and estheticians are students learning skills.
Each year students like Albig get the opportunity to practice their skills on clients. “It’s nice to do a lot of hands on work because you can read and read and read and never know anything,” said Albig. “When you work on a real person you learn so much more.”
Students who take cosmetology at Strathmore High School begin learning the basic skills in grade 10 and then start taking clients in grade 11 and 12.
Albig, who has taken six cosmetology classes at the school, said she has always enjoyed doing hair and knowing you can help change someone’s feelings about themselves just by doing their hair.
She is thrilled at the opportunity she gets at Strathmore High School to take these classes and work on clients.
She also said its good practice for what it’s going to be like when working in a real salon.
“It’s nice to learn how to talk to people, so your’re not just standing there doing their hair and feeling awkward,” said Albig.
Combs n’ Curls offers hair cuts, dying, highlights, lowlights, manicures, pedicures, make-up, waxing and eye lash and eye brow tinting at reduced rates.
Teacher Cheryl Davidson said they get quite a few people in to keep them busy, but because the classroom is smaller they can’t hold too many people.
“They talk their friends into it and moms, grandmas, people they work with to come in,” said Davidson.
Davidson said the students begin practice on mannequins, but until the students start working on people they don’t really understand all the skill that it takes.
“Every head of hair is a new challenge and presents its own difficulties and challenges,” said Davidson. “You get to learn from every head of hair.”
Davidson, along with Louise Leptich, a licensed cosmetologist, and Jeanette Greep, a teacher and licensed stylist, are always close by to step in and help when they are needed.
“We always see success,” said Davidson. “It’s fun when you can step back and say ‘look what I did.’”
Those students who take cosmetology can also use every credit they earn at Strathmore High School and put it towards 25 hours at an accredited university.
“Really what it gives them is an opportunity to learn, if this is something they want to go into,” said Davidson. “But more than anything it gives them self-confidence.”
For more information on Combs n’ Curls phone (403) 934-3135.
amy@strathmoretimes.com