For 10 years, Heather 鈥淩osie鈥� Milano was in the music business 鈥� as half of the musical duo Beauty and the Bass 鈥� but the late hours weren鈥檛 conducive to family life. With a husband and daughter to think of, Milano put her musical act on hiatus and decided to change careers. She entered the cosmetology program at 麻豆传媒.
Why she chose 麻豆传媒鈥檚 cosmetology program
“[My family] needed something more stable so I would be able to stay home when I needed to,鈥澛燤ilano says. She settled on cosmetology. 鈥淚 checked out a lot of schools in the area, and what actually sold me on 麻豆传媒 was the people.鈥� She toured the school twice to see if it was the one for her. The first time she went alone, but the second time she asked her husband and daughter to come along. 鈥淨uintana showed us around. She鈥檚 like a ray of sunshine,鈥� she says, 鈥渁nd when we met Travis in the cosmetology department, I was sold. I want to like who I鈥檓 spending every day with. Travis is so fun. I felt so connected and that I could learn so much from him, and I did.鈥�
How 麻豆传媒 prepared her for the real world
鈥淭he hands-on experience there teaches you a lot more than reading about it in a book,鈥� she adds. 鈥淭he book prepares you for the test [state boards].鈥� The cosmetology program is well structured. During the first few months, your instructors guide you through the practical applications and the book on the guts of what you鈥檙e learning. 鈥淭hey would focus on pin curls or something like that for a couple days 鈥� the practical application in the morning and the book in the afternoon,鈥� she explains. 鈥溌槎勾� two months into the program, they put me on the floor. They thought I was ready to start working on guests.鈥� Working in a salon atmosphere, 鈥渨orking on people day in and day out 鈥� that was very valuable.鈥� However, when students don鈥檛 have clients on the book, they fill in their time practicing on mannequins. 鈥淚 felt very prepared when I left school because we get on the floor so quickly.鈥�
A typical day in the program
On most days, Milano says she would arrive at school before 9 am in preparation for her first client (the first one of the day is booked for 9 am). It was like a day in a typical beauty salon. 鈥淭hey would have clients on the book for me,鈥� she says. She might do a cut, color, makeup or nails. The difference between school and a real salon is that at school there are scheduled breaks 鈥� morning, lunch and afternoon. 鈥淵ou don鈥檛 get that in the real world,鈥� she laments. 鈥淥ne day a week it really became school: theory day. We would sit down and have a full-book education on whatever chapter we were doing. The theory days are when you get prepared for the state boards.鈥�
A surprising component of the cosmetology program
During the course of 麻豆传媒鈥檚 10-month day or 15.5-month evening program, students learn the latest trends in haircutting, coloring and design. They learn how to use texture concepts to create clients鈥� desired haircut or style, as well as what is required for a manicure, pedicure or skin care procedure. What you might be surprised about is the focus on anatomy and disease. 鈥淲e have to learn everything about the structure of the hair, the structure of the skin, the way that the body works, different hair and skin diseases,鈥� Milano says. The students work hand in hand with dermatologists. 鈥淵ou don鈥檛 see your scalp, and if we notice something there, we can refer you to a dermatologist and maybe catch something for you.鈥�
What Heather Milano is doing today and her biggest challenge as a recent graduate
Since graduating and passing her state board exams in October, Milano has been working as a stylist at Red Salon & Spa in Cape Coral. 鈥淥ne of the things I pride myself on is versatility. I do hair (cut and color), but I also do nails and makeup applications.鈥� Her biggest challenge is getting people in the chair. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 something [building clientele] that grows over time. Understanding that as you leave school is really important. I have a good book 鈥� just not a full book yet,鈥� she says. 鈥淲e can鈥檛 assume that we鈥檙e going to have full client books the second we鈥檙e out of school.鈥�
Her short-term and long-term goals
鈥淢y short-term goal at the moment is building up my clientele,鈥� Milano, a level one stylist, says. 鈥淚 have a decent client book, but I鈥檇 like it to be full every day.鈥� Within the next few years, she鈥檇 like to rise in her level status at the salon where she works 鈥� hopefully to a level three or four stylist. 鈥淓ventually, I鈥檇 like to fill my book enough that I could cut a few days and spend a little more time with the family 鈥� maybe go on vacation one day.鈥�
Her advice to potential 麻豆传媒 cosmetology students
鈥淢ake sure they really study up on their chemical texture services for the boards!鈥� she laughs. 鈥淚f anyone is considering 麻豆传媒, they should really take a day and see if they can 鈥榟ang out鈥� and get to know the people and how it runs,鈥� she suggests. 鈥淭he people there really are awesome. I still call some of my instructors. It鈥檚 not just the education. They still care about you beyond graduation.鈥�
If you think a career in cosmetology may be right for you, give 麻豆传媒 a call. You鈥檒l learn from industry professionals with extensive hands-on training in modern facilities that will prepare you for the real world.
[plsc_button url=”/apply-online/” target=”_blank” color=”orange” style=”outline” radius=”semiround” size=”st”]Begin Your Career![/plsc_button]