On a chilly December morning, Heritage High School cosmetology students nervously readied their stations for the arrival of the day’s clients. Usually, they practiced their craft on mannequins, teachers, and each other. But today was different.
A knock at the door signaled the special guests’ arrival. In shuffled 13 students from Heritage Elementary School, led by their teacher. They took in the classroom with wide eyes. It was different than any they’d seen before: furnished with professional salon equipment, stocked with beauty products, and sprinkled with holiday decor the high schoolers had hung just for today’s visit.
Today, Heritage High cosmetology students would treat these visitors to a professional salon experience, free of charge. Each of the elementary schoolers had chosen a service beforehand, and now they were ready for the haircuts, hairstyles, and manicures to commence.
“This is probably some students’ first salon experience, which is exciting,” said Heritage High cosmetology teacher Jasmine Payne. “It’s also a way to show these elementary students what their school system has to offer and give them ideas about what they might want to do when they grow up.”
Twelfth grader Jayna Sykes, the “salon coordinator” for the day, greeted each guest. Clipboard in hand, she paired each elementary student with their stylist.
“Cutting a real person’s hair is a lot scarier than cutting a mannequin’s hair. I was nervous,” said 12th grader Bella Trevey. “I never liked my haircuts as a kid, so I wanted to give these kids a good experience.”
The room came alive with activity as Trevey and her peers got to work, asking their clients for their preferences before diving in. Some led their charges to the manicure station and began tidying their cuticles, while others started with a shampoo. This class of seniors had spent months learning salon etiquette, sanitation, and technique. Today presented a unique opportunity to apply their knowledge.
“You might not think about this, but we learn a lot about client care in this class. Not just how to do different hairstyles and cuts, but also things like cleanliness, sanitation, and salon etiquette,” Trevey said.
Though Trevey loves working with hair, she’s developed a passion for skincare through her experiences in this class. She plans to pursue a nursing degree after graduation so she can become a medical esthetician.
Heritage High student Bella Trevey and her client are all smiles after a haircut.
While Trevey trimmed her client’s hair, Sykes darted about the room, ensuring workspaces were clean, stylists had the supplies they needed, and students waiting for their turn in the styling chair were occupied. Nicknamed “Mama J” by her friends, Sykes has a knack for administration. She’s become a leader in the classroom, always offering guidance to peers when they need it. Sykes’s role matches up to her career goals—she dreams of owning and managing a salon one day.
“When I first started learning cosmetology, I was a scared person. I didn’t want to speak up for myself. But the girls in this program helped me build confidence,” Sykes said. “This class has helped me develop customer service skills.”
Heritage High student Jayna Sykes dressed as an elf to add an air of festivity to the elementary students’ experience.
While these cosmetology students are getting familiar with the ins and outs of running a salon, their elementary-school clients are learning to identify goods and services. This experience brings their social studies curriculum to life while introducing them to new career paths.
“It’s never too early to introduce students to the different career pathways they can explore. There are so many opportunities available to them through our division, from computer science to architecture to cosmetology, as you see today,” said Lynchburg City Schools Career and Technical Education Supervisor Robbie Dooley.
Heritage Elementary student Bella styles a mannequin’s hair.
Heritage Elementary student Bella left the manicure station sporting bubblegum pink fingernails. With the cosmetology teacher’s encouragement, she practiced styling a mannequin’s hair while her classmates finished up their salon treatments. She’s painted her own nails before, she says, but she can see herself learning to give professional-quality manicures someday like the high schooler she was paired with.
“She made me feel like a superstar,” Bella said.
Just before lunchtime, the elementary students lined up to return to their school. They’d come home to their families that afternoon with brand-new looks and stories to tell. Though their hair and nails will eventually grow out, they’ll keep the memories of the time they visited a salon inside a high school.
