Cosmetologists learn to treat clients special

“Anyone interested in the field of cosmetology will become successful if they know how to treat people. This is the number one characteristic someone needs to help people look their best,” said Gina Kinion, owner of Advance Beauty College in Hannibal and two more beauty colleges.
Kinion explained that students learn “early in their career if they treat the clients like they are special,” clients will stay with them “Clients will follow their stylist to any shop the stylist might work in as long as the stylist treats the clients like they are the only person in their chair. Cosmetology is such a ‘people’ business that stylists that think they are great at what they do but don’t know how to treat their client will not make it in this industry.”
Kinion does not expect the economy to have a great effect on cosmetology, reporting it is an industry “that will sustain any economic downfall. People will always need to get their hair done, regardless of the economy. As a mater of fact, when people are feeling down for any reason, we can instantly make them feel better by doing their hair. That’s what makes this industry so rewarding.”

‘Do what you love,
and the money will come.’

“I have always been taught to do what you love, and the money will come,” Kinion said, adding she loves the field of cosmetology, owning cosmetology colleges and her students. “I love changing lives and making dreams come true.”
The best thing about owning cosmetology colleges is “knowing I’m changing lives every day,” she said. When a student tells her their dream to be a cosmetologist, “and I know we can make that happen if they are willing to put into it what it takes to complete the program, then I want to do everything I can to make their dreams come true. I love seeing a student that may not have a lot of self-confidence and then complete our program and come out of school with enough self-confidence to make a career in this wonderful industry.”
Kinion has been in the school business all her life. Her mother went to beauty college when she was in grade school, and Kinion went to beauty college at the same time she attended high school, taking beauty college at night. She graduated from both schools in 1977 and received her instructor license one year later.
She bought the Elaine Steven Beauty College in St. Louis from her parents in 2000. She also owns Advance Beauty College in Warrenton.

State licensing
rules explained
Cosmetology students in Missouri must first attend a cosmetology college for 1,500 hours, Kinion explained, then the student takes a state board exam.
After passing this exam, which consists of a practical test and a written test, the student is licensed as a professional in Missouri.
Advance Beauty College at 23 Northport Plaza in Hannibal offers financial aid to qualified students, “which allows college to be affordable to all students,” Kinion said. Students may receive Pell Grants, which are not repaid, or student loans through the U.S. Department of Education, which are paid back.
“The great thing about offering student loans through the Department of Education is the student doesn’t have to make payments until six months after graduating (if they choose this option), and their interest rate is 6 percent,” Kinion said. “Qualifying for financial aid is based on income information, which is individual per student.” Her school “tries to do everything we can to help the student attend college and make their dreams come true.”
Her students learn all aspects of cosmetology, Kinion said, including hair, nails, facials and make-up. “Students spend the majority of their time working on hair, but learn everything. Students spend the first five to eight weeks in the classroom, working on all the procedures they will be doing the entire time they are in school. Students work in textbooks, workbooks and test booklets, which prepare them for the written portion of the state board exam.”
After five to eight weeks in the classroom, students bring in a model and do a haircut on the model to make sure they are ready for the student salon, Kinion continued. They also “work on mannequins during their entire 1,500 hours, “which helps them build their skill and speed. This is how we make sure they are ready for the salon after graduation.”
The majority of a student’s time in beauty college is spent working on the general public - people who come in to get their hair styled, under instructor supervision, Kinion said. “Students are also tested on their practical skills, which helps them prepare for the practical portion of the state board exam.”

What hair styles
are popular now?
“Some of the most popular styles that we see at the college are highlights, hair color and swing bob haircuts,” Kinion said.
“In the college we are seeing more people letting their hair grow and getting a face frame with long layers. The typical length we are seeing is shoulder length.
“The great thing about cosmetology is a person can wear long or short hair, and it compliments them, no matter what the style is,” she said. “It used to be that styles would change every season, but right now it seems like all styles are acceptable.”