Cosmetology program sees updates, growth

By Jill Aho

A long time in the coming, the Mt. Hood Community College Beauty School has finally installed its new stations.
Lynn D’Angelo, an instructor in the cosmetology department, said they worked on the project for at least two years. Now in use are new stations and shampoo bowls, replacing ones installed when the school was first opened.
The remodel has given the Beauty School a different feel, providing students and customers with more floor space and a far more spacious feel. The arrangement has also provided more stations where students can work.
The mirrors are retractable so they will not be in the way during class time or when guest speakers visit. Each station now has a locking drawer and cabinet as well as more room to work. Electrical outlets are now located in front of the stations for easy access and there are places to store hair dryers and curling irons.
The most recent addition was the final installation of new shampoo bowls. D’Angelo said the tilting bowls are “much more comfortable.” Although not everything is new, D’Angleo said, “We may have antique plumbing, but we have fancy bowls now.”
In addition to the remodel at the Mt. Hood campus, the Beauty School has begun a partnership with Image Designers in Portland. D’Angelo said the Beauty School always has more applicants than they have room for. Potential students have said, “I’d like to go to Mt. Hood, but you can’t get in there,” D’Angelo said.
The new partnership gives students who would be put on a waiting list the option of beginning their instruction at the Image Designers campus. Three Mt. Hood instructors are available there, and D’Angelo said Mt. Hood is leasing space in the large school. They have three classrooms, where much beginning instruction is held, while the MHCC Beauty School only has one.
“I can only take in as many each term as graduate,” D’Angelo said. Nine students graduated last term so nine more were admitted.
The MHCC campus has room for 30 students at a time. The partnership began in fall term, and D’Angelo estimates there are 12 students attending the Image Designers campus.
When at full capacity, D’Angelo would like to see an equal number of students at both campuses. “We have enough interest,” she said.
Students in the cosmetology program enter competitions each year, one of which is sponsored by the national Cosmetology Association of Oregon.
Competing against beauty schools in Oregon, Washington and Idaho, MHCC students entered many categories, walking away with one prize.
Beth Jones, a cosmetology student who will graduate at the end of spring term, won second place for fantasy make-up. Jones said she spent 45 minutes doing the make-up in a timed environment. Her model then dressed like a fish.
Jones said, “It was cool” being the only MHCC student to return with a prize. She plans to enter more competitions, and she has been working with an MHCC photography student on her submissions.
After graduation she plans to work through the summer then spend some time apprenticing in London.
Her ultimate goal is to land a job with the salon Magnum Opus.
The MHCC cosmetology club, Image Designers, works year-round on fundraising activities.
Gearing up for the Rites of Spring, Image Designers is sponsoring a raffle.
Tickets are on sale until May 25, one for $3 or two for $5. Top prize is an $80 gift certificate to the Beauty School and $200 worth of hair and body care products.
The club is also hoping to send one of its students to Washington, D.C., to lobby for school funding. The ASG is working out the details, and Andrea Hitch has applied to go. Hitch said she was interviewed on Thursday, and believes she can fulfill the requirements, among them knowing the issues and not being afraid to talk to Congresspeople.