Picking a Career Is Like Picking a Hairstyle

How Cosmetology school affected three local women

By Katie Kelly

Sarah Perrego experimented with makeup in middle school and decided it would be her career, but after going to cosmetology school, she fell in love with hair. Kaitlin Loftus considered a local college but could only see herself being a hairstylist. While Rebecca Tomko attended community college for a semester and decided that it wasn't what she wanted, she desired to make something of herself through makeup and hair. According to the National Center for Educational Statistics, going to a trade school puts you in less debt than going to a four-year college and can also give you a job right out of the program that you're in. Depending on the field that you’re looking for.

Though, Loftus points out, "It's not for everyone though, some people can do this their whole life and make tons of money and be comfortable." All three of these girls went to Empire Beauty School located in Moosic, Pa. The school offers hands-on learning, allowing students to learn from stylists and take in clients of their own throughout the schooling process. The program lasts a matter of months, ending with a state test to determine if the student is ready for their license or not. Over these few months, the students learn different skills not only to use in the styling part of the job, but the business part of it too. Sherry Demark, who has owned her own salon for close to fifteen years, has had a lot of experience on the business side. Her salon is family owned and run, but there's always new things coming out in the cosmetology business. "Hair stylist, makeup artists, waxing specialist, or you can focus on just nails. You really have your pick," she said.

From Makeup to Hair

Maggie Kraser, 20, with a purple balyage styled by Sarah Perrego a hairstylist from Theory Salon and Wellness. (Photo Credit: Sarah Perrego) Instagram: sarahperrego

Perrego was sure from the moment she picked up a makeup brush that cosmetology was going to be her career. She said she first started playing around with makeup in middle school, when everyone thought it was “just a phase,” but her phase didn't end. As she went on to high school, she kept experimenting with special effects makeup and natural everyday makeup. When the time came to send out college applications, she was looking at how expensive it would be to go to cosmetology school. She didn't really care for hair until enrolling in Empire and realizing that there were more job opportunities when it came to hair and makeup. Hairstyling was a backup plan for her if her endeavor in makeup didn't go well. She ended up falling in love with hair and continued on after passing her boards. "I feel like I learned very little in beauty school,” Perrego said. “I learned the basics, enough to pass state board and become licensed but not enough to actually be comfortable behind the chair." She's currently working at Theory Salon and Wellness, in Kingston, where she's been for two years as a full-time stylist. She's known by her clients and her fellow stylists for the bright colors she's always putting into her clients’ hair, her balayage highlights and her makeup tutorials that she frequently posts on Instagram.

From Beauty School to Dental School

A twisted braid styled on a client by Kaitlin Loftus. (Photo Credit: Kaitlin Loftus) Instagram: hairbykaitlinmarie

Loftus dreamed of going to a beauty school in New York, but when the tuition came into play, she settled for an option closer-to-home. She said she couldn't picture herself doing anything else, and after a brief consideration of going to a local four-year college, she decided to go through with what she really wanted to do. She chose Empire because the cost of going to her dream school in New York and living there was too high for someone who was right out of high school with a minimum wage job.

A sun kissed style on a client by Kaitlin Loftus. (Photo Credit: Kaitlin Loftus) Instagram: hairbykaitlinmarie

She went into Empire with high hopes and big dreams, learning most of what she still uses today at MasterCuts, the salon where she's currently working. She agrees that there could have been more things learned during her time at Empire, but the only way she learns is working on different types of people. She still has high hopes for her career in hair but now has a clearer image on how the financial aspect of the job works. "You rely a lot on your tips and some weeks are good and some aren't so good,” she said. “I'm going to school to have more stability, benefits and a definite stable paycheck." Following this revelation, Loftus is looking to further her career in a different field: dental hygiene.

A Fresh Cut

Tomko is just coming to an end in her endeavor in cosmetology school. Prior to attending Empire, she was enrolled in Luzerne County Community College for a semester, but felt as though classroom learning and studying wasn't for her. She found that she couldn't concentrate when sitting in a classroom. The long hours of listening to professor's lecture and studying from books wasn't what she wanted to go to school for. She said she wanted to go for something she was actually interested in and could take part in. She decided to look into beauty school. "It motivated me to do something more hands on,” Tomko said. “I wanted to make something out of my interest in different hair colors and styles and makeup." Tomko is in the last portion of the schooling and is set to graduate from the program in the summer. She feels like the education is definitely a learning experience, and would attend the daytime classes instead of the nighttime to graduate a little quicker.

Tomko praised her choice in school,“I do feel like what I’ve learned has had a great benefit on my abilities and understanding of all things cosmetology. It’s definitely a learning experience the whole way through and you continue to learn even when aren’t doing the classroom-based studying anymore.”

Bio: Katie Kelly is currently studying Journalism as a senior at Point Park. In the future, she wishes to be an investigative journalist. For more information you can contact her at katiekelly1515@gmail.com