The Salt Lake Community College Barbering and Cosmetology program offers affordable salon services to the public, faculty, staff and fellow students. Although the program’s eventual closure was announced earlier this year, it is still open for business through the remainder of its current students’ time at SLCC.
“We will be taking clients until spring of 2014,” says Daytime Coordinator Bonnie Penrose.
A beard trim or a shave for men, haircuts, hair styling, and hair coloring are among the many services offered.
“I like to go for a shave,” says SLCC Graduate Jose Campos. “It’s relaxing and inexpensive.
Men’s haircuts are priced at $2 each and women’s haircuts are $3. A men’s beard trim is $1. An all over color is a minimum of $15, depending on how much product is used. The price for a coloring service does not include a haircut. An up-do is $5.
These prices are more affordable than the same services offered at local salons, which cost upward of $12 for a haircut or $20 for an up-do.
The program salon also offers esthetic services ranging from eyebrow and lip waxing to manicures and pedicures.
Pricing for waxing services range from $3 to $35 depending on the area of the body being waxed. Manicures cost $8 and pedicures are $15.
Beginning fall semester of 2012, the cosmetology program’s spa services are available. The master esthetics spa services include hot stone massages (heated smooth stones placed and massaged on key points of the body) at $15, microdermabrasion (an anti-aging facial treatment to soften fine lines and wrinkles) for $30 and chemical facial peels (treatment to slough off dead facial skin to improve texture)for between $30-$40.
A hot stone massage at a local massage spa would cost around $75 and a microdermabrasion or chemical peel would cost about $90.
Some clients may be wary of having their locks handled by student stylists; instructors always supervise any services in the school salon.
Current students enrolled in the program acquire their experience through course hours in the school salon and need clients in the salon to complete their course requirements.
Earlier this year, the SLCC Board of Trustees voted unanimously to terminate the SLCC Barbering and Cosmetology program by the spring semester of 2014.
School officials were concerned with the cost of the program, which brings in about $800,000 but has about $1.5 million in expenses.
Although the job outlook for hairstylists in the United States in continually growing, the school is concerned about the average salary of a barbering and cosmetology graduate. According to indeed.com, the average yearly salary for someone with an associate’s degree is $43,000 per year. The average salary for a hairstylist in Utah is about $20,000 per year.
The program will not be shut down for another two years giving the 200 current students time to finish their degree requirements.
The Barbering and Cosmetology salon is located at the Taylorsville Redwood Campus in room 178 of the Administration Building. The summer hours of operation are Monday – Friday from 8:10-11:00 a.m., 1:00-4:00 p.m., and 6:10-9:00 p.m. For appointments call 801-957-4030.
