COSMETOLOGY: A HIGHLIGHT OF MHCC

Have you ever been served by cosmetology department students at Mt. Hood?

Many students have no idea that the cosmetology department actually brings business to Mt. Hood each year by running the MHCC salon. The Gresham campus salon offers more than 50 services, including nails, aesthetics, and hair. Customers can receive anything from a basic haircut to a toe wax – not to mention, Mt. Hood students receive a 10 percent discount.

Image Makers club President Brianna Pond said she believes many people think the salon is just for cosmetology students practicing on one another. Instead, program participants are responsible for arranging appointments, running the reception desk, performing the services, and maintaining a clean work space. Instructors check all the work being done by the students while they perform services. 

Pond also believes that cosmetology, as a career path, is viewed in an unflattering light. Based on comments people have made to her, she said, “People think we’re settling for this career because we aren’t smart enough to do anything else.”

This couldn’t be farther from the truth for most cosmetology students, who enter a two-year path of training for a career.

In order to graduate, each student must work 2,140 hours at the campus salon. This means students have to clock in for roughly 30 hours a week, for two academic years, to meet the requirement. This adds some financial burden to students in the program: Because they have to be on campus for 30 or more hours per week, some students in the program find it difficult to maintain a paying, part-time job.

They do not get paid hourly for work performed in the MHCC salon, but they do get to keep the tips they receive.

The education itself is far deeper than “playing” with hair, too. As part of their training, the students in the program also learn chemistry, anatomy, and physiology. These aspects are important because as aestheticians and hairdressers, they will be altering physical appearances during their careers. Running the reception desk helps the students develop their customer service skills, also, something sure to be important in creating good client connections in the future.

In spite of the workload, the cosmetology program is not all work and no play.

The program even formed a club (Image Makers) open to cosmetology students interested in exploring shows, events, and conferences outside of school. The goal of the club is to help new graduates know what to expect in their career.

For the last four years, the club has represented MHCC at a significant cosmetology conference in Long Beach, California. While it was denied college funding for the cost to attend this year, Pond said she hopes the group will attend again next year. The event offers a good opportunity for students to network and take seminar classes not offered at Mt. Hood, she noted.

If you’re interested in supporting Mt. Hood’s cosmetology students in their training, all basic salon prices are listed on MHCC’s website: mhcc.edu/CosmetologyClientsService/

Advocate Staff