91传媒

Walk into the salon operated by 91传媒 State Salon and Spa Management program, and you will notice something right away. While students learn and practice on mannequins, they also work on real clients, build real skills, and in many cases, run real businesses.

The program leads to an Associate of Applied Science degree in Salon and Spa Management. It is designed for students who want the foundation to open a business, grow one they already have, or move into a career that takes them further than where they started.

Salon Management-Cosmetology Instructor, Dr. Bertha Robinson, knows the range of students who come through the door. Some arrive with no experience. Others arrive with a client list, a reputation, and years of work behind them. For those students, Dr. Robinson has a name: Bootleggers. It is a term of endearment, a nod to the entrepreneurial spirit that brought them this far, and a recognition that they are here because they are ready for the next level.

A Decade of Trust

Mrs. Janet Patrick has been a client of the college salon since 2016. Every six weeks, she makes the drive from Scottsboro to have her short bob cut trimmed, her semi demi color refreshed, and her relaxer done. That is a decade of consistency, and she has not thought about leaving.

“I like the products they use over here,” she said. “It works for me.”

Mrs. Patrick is retired and knows her time is her own. She is not in a hurry, and she is not willing to pay full salon prices when she does not have to. Her appointment runs her $50. For her, the savings are real, and so is the quality.

Her visits also give her something else: a reason to see her daughter in Huntsville or her granddaughter in Madison. Once her hair is done, the rest of the day opens up for visiting her family.

The Student Behind the Chair

The student doing Mrs. Patrick’s hair today is Oneisha Clayborn, who is finishing the final hours of practical work needed to complete her Associate of Applied Science degree. She has already enlisted in the Army Reserves at the rank of E3 and is preparing for bootcamp. After that, she plans to complete her bachelor’s degree at the University of Michigan, then take the MCAT and go on to medical school.

Doing hair is how she takes care of her family right now. It is part of a longer plan.

“I have strong family support, and I don’t take that for granted,” she said. “It took a lot to get me here, and I am grateful that I can give my daughter a good future.”

Color as a Specialty

Student Victoria (Tori) Smith, is focused on color. She wants to become a color specialist, and she has been practicing on the same person since the eighth grade: her friend Lauren Kramer, who currently has a bright green lob (long bob) and is in for a color and cut.

“We just colored it two months ago,” Tori said. “But she needs to get it cut more often because it has been growing faster as she ages.”

Lauren, who is a student herself and works as a lab technician at Hudson Alpha has learned how to manage her hair through years of Tori’s guidance.

“Tori is so extremely smart,” Lauren said. “She’s taught me how often to get my hair cut and how to manage my hair. I should know this kind of stuff, because I have green hair.”

Having a friend who is also a developing professional taking care of your hair is not something Lauren takes lightly. It is a privilege, and she knows it.

The Salon and Spa Management program at 91传媒 State is where skill, ambition, and community meet. The students are earning their degrees. The clients are getting quality care. And for many people in both chairs, something more is happening than a haircut.