This is a guest post by Colleen "Vaseline Dion" Moore, TUBC student from our CNE campus.

Cutting hair is an art form, so there's really no right or wrong way to get awesome results with a haircut. Every stylist is different, but there are some basic principals that all stylists can use to improve speed and quality when doing a men's cut. Good technical skills will also increase your male client retention. Here's my thoughts:

DRY HAIR! When using clippers, its almost always better to use them on dry hair. Blending should be done dry, too. If the hair is wet, its hard to see the lines or how the hair is going to lay when its cut. Unless you're using a razor or shears, keep the hair dry.

CROSS CHECKING! I do this so much throughout my cuts. Its important to make sure the cut is even and proportional. When I'm doing a short haircut, I'm checking for blending and tapering in the mirror and standing back a few feet. I do this because usually I can see things from a distance I can't see up close. Proper lighting is essential.

BLENDING! Avoid lines of demarcation. When you're using clippers, go through three steps with each stroke. Start with the clipper anchored with the entire flat surface of the blade touching the head. Moving upward, pivot the clipper so only the back of the blade is touching. Next, suspend the clipper freehand as it moves up and out of the hair. This will create the smoothest transition possible. One method of blending that I use is shear-over-comb or clipper-over-comb. To do this, use a detachable blade clipper with a large blade. The large blade will give the client a smoother blend because the hair will be cut in a uniform length with a feathered end. NEVER use a short blade or the trimmer to blend because the blades will give the hair a very blunt cut and leave lots of demarcation.

TEXTURIZING! Razors with guards or point-cutting techniques can be used to give the haircut texture by cutting the ends of the hair in varying lengths. You want texture in the haircuts that are worn spiky or messy. MAKE SURE HAIR IS WET BEFORE USING A RAZOR OR YOU WILL MAKE YOUR CLIENT SCREAM! When pulling the hair between the razor and thumb, hold the razor at an angle and use a C-shaped scooping motion. The point-cutting technique is used to cut the ends of the hair at an angle, or even snipping out alternating pieces, to add texture.

FINISH HIM! A lot of stylists spend a lot of time finishing, but I think a great haircut can be completely destroyed by bad finishing, just as a bad haircut can look respectable with good finishing. Its important to make sure all lines are clean and neat. Most haircuts need slight tapering or beveling around the edges. To do sideburns, stand in front of the client and look them directly in the face to check balance. Make sure bangs are even, too.

So, those are some of my musings on men's cuts. Again, there's no right or wrong way to approach a haircut as long as the end result is technically solid and the client is happy.

This is a guest post by Andrea Zaragoza, TUBC Student at our CNE Campus.

With every season come different trends.

Let’s talk about shapes. Beauty school teaches us the basic nail shapes: pointed, oval, round, and square. Manicurist, Marian Newman, for Tory Burch doesn’t believe that any of these are the perfect shapes, but that the perfect shape is called a “Cutip.” The “Cutip” is a shape that follows along with your own cuticle shape. The end result of this cool technique leads into everyone having their own customized shape.

Another way to try out different shapes is in nail design. “V” nails are all over these days. The design became popular through manicurist Jin Soon Choi. They look so sleek and maybe even a little intimidating but they are very easy to recreate at home. To begin paint your nails with a base color of choice. Then you create a diagonal line with another color from the bottom left corner of your nail to the top center of your nail. Then you make another diagonal line from the bottom right corner of your nail to the top center again. Finish by filling in any spaces to the nail edges and using a top coat to seal the look in.

This season let’s tone down our nails and give them a fresh clean look. Neutral colors are everywhere. From cream colors to soft milky shades. It’s not really a new trend but it is a classic that never goes out. Minimalist is the way to go.

However, if you feeling that a soft neutral nail is not for you then add a little pop of color with the two tone manicure. Be a little bolder and choose two contrasting shades. You can do a two tone French manicure, moon manicure or even a small strip of color down the center.

Another and final trend to try is the matte nail. You can mattify just about any polish. Find a matte top coat and you can use it with any colors you already own. You can create several looks with this, why not try a few of the trends above and create a French manicure with a matte look.

This is a guest post by Renee Seuss, TUBC Esthetics student at our Rockford campus.

Have you ever gone into someone’s home and just felt so comfortable and welcome you didn’t want to leave? It doesn’t matter if it is a mansion on a hill, or a shack in the woods… you just feel GOOD there. On the other hand, have you ever been to a beautiful restaurant or a posh art gallery or boutique and didn’t feel like you could touch anything or sit on any of the furniture? Or couldn’t wait to leave because you were made to feel like you didn’t belong there?

Sometimes, it’s not anything tangible, just a feeling, an attitude, a “vibe”. In the Salon and Spa industry, the “vibe” is an all important factor in getting and KEEPING your clientele. You may be a great stylist, but if your clients aren’t comfortable in the surroundings you provide, they may think twice about returning, and it is doubtful that they will refer their friends. So how do we create a warm, inviting atmosphere where (sorry, but isn’t this the bottom line?) people want to spend money? These three steps seem to work well for the Ritz Carlton Hotel Company where I worked for almost 5 years.

It begins with step one: a warm welcome. This includes things that seem simple, like calling someone by their name, looking them in the eye, a firm handshake and a sincere smile. Sincerity is key because people aren’t dumb, they usually know when you’re faking it. If it’s hot outside, a cool towel upon arrival is such a simple thing but can make a big impact. A warm welcome encompasses the atmosphere presented in your entry way or the general look of the salon; the music playing; an inviting aroma. It doesn’t have to be the Taj Mahal, but it should be clean and pleasant, somewhere that feels inviting and comfortable.

Beyond the warm welcome, is step two: anticipating your guest’s needs. Be prepared for your guest when he or she arrives. Have your paperwork ready, and tools together based on the information you have already obtained from previous correspondence. Offer water or tea, a comfortable place to sit to discuss their concerns or purpose for their visit. The restroom should be stocked with the essentials, and maybe even more, some nice hand lotion, nail files, female items… things people need, but don’t necessarily think of asking for. I remember going to the tanning salon (a lonnnnng time ago) and thinking how great it was that they provided spray antiperspirant in the room. These things may not be revolutionary to some, but I never cease to be amazed when I walk into some places and the person with whom I have made an appointment is rushing around and fumbling through papers and you feel like you’re intruding or bothering them… then you have to ask for bathroom tissue.

Finally, once their amazing service is completed: a fond farewell. Send your guest home with not only an awesome new “do” or glowing skin, but with a great memory of their time with you. If possible, have a take home gift prepared for them, maybe it’s a sample size of a product you used, or a hand written thank you note attached to their receipt. Of course, don’t forget to invite them back for more pampering and touch ups in the future. A lot of the things we do in our industry are actually necessary maintenance and upkeep for our appearance, but why shouldn’t it feel like a luxury? And if they feel like it has been a fabulously luxurious experience, they will be more likely to share it with their friends, and you will be more confident asking for those referrals. Invite your guest back and rebook. Give them a reason to come back besides your amazing skills… like upcoming specials or your plans for their future services. These ideas aren’t rocket science. But sometimes in all the busy-ness of doing business, we need to be reminded to pay attention to the small gestures that make our clients really feel like honored guests and that they have stumbled upon a little slice of heaven in their hectic lives.

This is a guest post by Jesyka Pullins, TUBC student at our Glendale Heights campus.

Monday April 6^th was the first time I volunteered to help out at a fashion show for my school. The event was for disabled children. It was held at Alta Villa Banquets in Addison. Personally I have never been there before but I know people who have and they said it was nice. So when I first showed up out front there were white light posts all throughout the parking lot. The entrance has pillars and was white with a subtle red color.

When I first walked inside what caught my eye were the chandeliers on the ceiling all down the hallways and one huge chandelier in the middle of the entrance. There was also a beautiful hand painted mural of different place is Italy. Another thing that stood out to me was all of the mirrors lining the walls in the hallways; which is heaven to a cosmetologist, but that wasn’t all. They also had a very elegant main hall which for today was being used for a fashion show. Before the show started there was an auction being held. They had a bunch of things like jewelry, wine, clothes, toys, and many more stands.

One of the more popular stands was the photo booth. It was set up right in the main room with the show. They had props you could use while taking the pictures such as hats, mustaches, glasses, and even a microphone. People were having a blast in there. After taking a look around the place we headed back to the “bridal suites” where we all set up. There was about 12-15 girls that came with to help out. What we were assigned to do was to style the girls hair and do their makeup. There were all different ages of models from little girls to middle aged women, some older women, and surprisingly there were a couple dogs and a baby boy. It started out kind of slow with only a couple of girls doing hair and makeup. Then it picked up and every girl was doing some sort of up-do. For the most part we curled everyone’s hair but every girl had a different style.

There was one little girl who we did a twisted side ponytail and then curled the ends. Another who we curled the whole head a then pulled it half up. And then one, we took a little hair from the sides and twisted them around the head and pinned it kind of making a flower shape. We even had a very small maybe 2 years old little boy named Leonardo, who we attempted to spike what hair he had on top of his head, but that’s just naming a few.

The room we were in was coincidently located by the women’s bathroom with a constant flow of girls walking past. There was one instance where, these girls were passing by our room saw what we were doing and they instantly stopped and stared at us. Welcomingly, we asked them if they wanted their hair and makeup done for fun, and of course they said yes. So we all had another project to work on to keep us busy. Sadly, those were the last girls that we had for the day, which brought us to around one o’clock. All in all, I feel we had a very fun time doing this for these children. The location was beautiful, the people were extremely friendly, we were more than happy to help out for this event and I am in hopes of doing something like this again in the future.

This is a guest post by Geneva Liebergen, a TUBC student at our Rockford campus.

All my life I’ve always been considered the creative one in my family. I’ve always enjoyed art and sculpture and working with my hands but I never knew I wanted to apply that skill to real life. Ever since my Junior to Senior year of High school, I pondered around Cosmetology school and Community college. After visiting Tricoci, something about the school stuck with me, but I never completely followed through.

After trying Community College for less than 4 weeks, I realized that I couldn’t stop thinking about Cosmetology school. I knew it was the closest thing to being able to work with my hands and interact with people daily. I couldn’t stand the fact of sitting in a classroom, learning about something I had no interest in whatsoever. I had talked to my family members about my thoughts of switching to Cosmetology, and almost every one of them knew that this was what I was meant to do. So after going to only a few classes that month, I called Tricoci and signed up for the next class opening.

I started my career September 25^th, with a class of nine, and after a couple weeks, all of us had bonded. After a few short weeks of learning the essentials to Cosmetology, I passed my graduate testing to get on the floor and I was finally able to take clients. The first few weeks of being on the floor were nerve wracking. It felt like being a freshman in High School again, not knowing anyone and feeling inferior to all the so called “upper classmen” who seemed to know everything about Cosmetology. It took me a few weeks to adjust to remembering haircuts and what to do when you get your first relaxer, which is terrifying. But after being on the floor for a few months, and growing comfortable with what I did at school, I realized I wanted to pursue my career by becoming a barber. My decision to pursue cosmetology was fast and last minute, but looking back on it now, it was the best decision I ever made for myself. I’ve met some of the most fun and beautiful people, and I’ve been given so many opportunities to grow in this field and grow within myself. I love this school, and all it offers me, and I wouldn’t change my choice of career for the world.

This is a guest blog by Renee Lopez, TUBC Student at our Chicago NE Campus.

I had the privilege of attending the Arrojo Expo in Chicago and it was truly inspiring. What intrigued me most was Nick Arrojo’s new product, "American Wave". This gave all the models great texture and made them look effortlessly trendy! The "American Wave" was born when Arrojo felt there was a lack of modern texturizing products.

American wave system is an exothermic lotion, less damaging then a perm because it doesn't have the active ingredient Ammonium Thioglycolate and it only breaks 20% of the bonds in order to reshape the hair. Best of all it has no "perm smell"! The waves will last up to 6 months. Something like this can become very big and can definitely bring a lot of business for the stylist. They offer training on the product because we all know the importance of being properly trained on a product and all the different techniques. Who wouldn't want amazing volume or beach waives with little damage to the hair? I for one can't think of a better way to get some texture.

This is a guest post by Jana Mitchell, TUBC Student at our Chicago NE Campus.

The American Beauty show was such a wonderful experience this year. I was happy to have a year of cosmetology under my belt when attending this year. I had much more appreciation for the vendors, displays, techniques, products, tools and demonstrations.

 I think for the next show I will go by myself or with a non-stylist. I don’t think that I gave myself enough time to look at all of the different vendors and demonstrations that I was interested in. There were a lot of different classes that you could take that you can get great deals on. That is something that I will also be interested in taking advantage of next year. I think once I am in the industry longer and find out what my true passion is in cosmetology, I will be able to pin point my greatest interests at the show and what will be worth attending.

There were many different techniques, new tools and products that made me a little bit overwhelmed. Spending 2 days at the show next year will give me a chance to evaluate everything and decide which new products and tools will be worth buying. I found myself getting stuff that would mostly benefit me and not my career as a stylist. It will be important for me to focus more on enhancing my career with the show then enhancing my own looks and needs.

It is fun to see the famous stylist and the way that they promote themselves at the show. I think that is the most exciting part. I had the most fun looking at the different extensions. I wish I would have invested in taking a class on the extensions that I was interested in. However, extensions are a big investment so I think taking a class next year will be a better time for me to start doing extensions. Overall, the show was wonderful and such an amazing experience. I cannot wait to attend next year when I have another year as a stylist under my belt.

This is a guest post by Rahresha Thomas, TUBC Student at our Harlem Campus.

This past weekend I attended the St. Baldrick's fundraiser to help find a cure for children battling with cancer. The event was held at the Chicago’s Police Department 25^th precinct from 6am-6pm on March 22, 2013.

Tricoci University was invited to give haircuts to everyone who donated and wanted to support this wonderful cause. It was a very heartwarming experience for me and I am grateful that I had the opportunity to be a part of it. I was very excited to see everyone working together for something so positive and life changing. The organizer of the event was able to have a professional face painter, a professional photographer, a DJ, CoCo’s beauty lounge, t-shirts, and tons of food. It is very difficult to see anyone having to struggle with something so serious and life threatening as cancer. However, seeing children who have persevered through this sickness made me have a whole new appreciation for my life.

The children survivors who came to help support and raise money for St. Baldrick's showed that despite their own sickness they are still able to partake is selfless acts. The fundraiser not only made the students realize how important it is to help find a cure it also affected one of the student’s mothers who decided to shave her head. I was very shocked but extremely impressed to see woman self-sacrificing and shaving their heads to help make a statement. St. Baldrick's was able to raise over $50,000 to help find a cure for childrens cancer. I will take this experience with me throughout the rest of my life. It is very calming to know that when we as a people need to work together to achieve something greater; it can be done. Even after I graduate from TUBC I plan to continue to go back and help with fundraisers. So until next tim…. “Go Bald or Go Home”.

This is a guest post by Adriana Vega, TUBC Student at our Harlem Campus

Last weekend I was fortunate enough to participate in St. Baldrick's. A fundraising event held every year in which people donate money to get their heads shaved for kids with cancer. I knew going in it was going to be a pretty emotional event. But as the day unfolded it turned out to be more than I expect. My day started off fairly slow. I came into the event with my mother as my buddy; we ate some food hung out with my classmates. And I shaved a few heads. It was pretty slow for a view hours, each student there which was at least 20 got to shave at least one head until around 2pm and that’s when things changed for the better.

A huge rush of people came in and me and my mother were astounded at the numbers. Out of a groups of men, my very brave mother became the first woman to shave her head. I was lucky enough to be allowed to do it. It started off as a Mohawk but then progressed into a fully shaved head. She didn’t have much hair to begin with so it wasn’t that bad, but the task took and emotional toll on her. The son of one of her lifelong friends was diagnosed with cancer, a young eight year old boy. This was more than just a donation it had meaning. I watched as some tears dripped down her face. Once all her locks have fallen to the ground the room of people stood up and gave her a big round of applause. Here I thought she’d be the only female, but I was proven wrong, twice. A young girl came in, with hair down to her butt. She said she was going to cut off her beautiful ponytails which she was growing for two years, specifically to donate to Locks of Love, ever since she saw her hero, her father, do the same.

Lastly, another young girl came in, with about chin length hair. She bravely cut all her hair off, shaved it, just as my mother had done. I know women are very particular about their hair. There is a standard on how they should look according to society. But these women, two young women and my mother, bravely decided to ignore society and listen to the cause. Valiant efforts to stomp out cancer once and for all. I wish I could have donated my hair to the cause, but we were so busy no students had the time, but I had a great time and my spirits were lifted witnessing such an outcome, for an amazing cause. Even more seeing those beauty brave, short hair and bald headed ladies, ignoring society and doing what is right.

This is a guest post by Shelby Underwood, TUBC student at our Glendale Heights campus.

On March 21, 2013, Tricoci University students hosted a Prom demo for prospective students and their families. Over 25 students participated in the demo as either a stylist or a model. Each model wore a prom dress and was categorized into 5 categories: full down do, full updo, half up half down do, avant-garde, and short hair style.

Stylist students were given 2.5 hours to complete their look before presenting them to the awaiting prospective students and their families where they would then vote for 1 model from each category. As the students get got ready for this event student stylist really let their imaginations flow; adding props to the hair such as leafs, flowers, and even colorful eggs! They also incorporated many braiding techniques, advanced curling tools and creative uses of products in order to achieve their desired outcome.

Students also created new make-up styles to go along with the theme of the hair or the dresses the models wore. Some were subtle others were as extravagant as the hair. Students incorporated many colors in their make-up designs adding gems, glitter, and body paint to complete the look. Students were able to show off their creativity and also use make-up techniques they learned in school or from a guest speaker. 

Prospective students were able to walk around the school with their families getting information from our admissions coordinator. There was food, gift bags, and brochures for the guests as well. When the show started the students were brought in with numbers and by their category so as guests would be able to select a winner from each group. After the voting was complete they announced the winners and each winning model and stylist received a $5 gift card to Starbucks!          

Overall this demo allowed students to design and create new looks showing off their advanced training and techniques knowledge. Also demonstrating to the prospective students their creativity and dedication to their craft, styling the most intricate looks we have seen at many of the demos. Congratulations to the winning models and stylist and we hope to see many of the prospective students return soon!

This is a guest post by Angeline Danca, TUBC Student at our Libertyville Campus.

Tricoci University in Libertyville is full of excitement and talent. What better way to exhibit the talents than a creative demonstration following the theme "prom night". 

The evening started early at Tricoci University with students working together in teams of 2 or 3. Night and day cosmetology students along with the esthetic students were to choose a model and makeover them into a prom queen or king. With prom season approaching quickly, the practice of elegant updos and formal make up is important. Soon these important techniques and styles will be put to use on our clinic floor! 

As the night proceeded the spotlight was not only on current students at TUBC, it was also directed to reach to prospective students. To create the anticipation for learning at Tricoci University, we prepared a brief demonstration of a formal style and make up applications. The prospective students received a full presentation on the programs and even got the opportunity to create their own formal styles on a manikin. 

With the help of Student council, staff, and our student body, Tricoci of Libertyville had a successful, creative prom night. TUBC holds consistent creative demonstrations for prospective students and we welcome anyone to enjoy the evening as much as we do.

This is a guest post by Maritza Lara, TUBC student at our Glendale Heights Campus.

Tricoci University students from the Glendale Heights campus had another opportunity to give back. TUBC students were able to go to New Life Church in New Lenox on Friday March 22, 2013. They had the chance to work with this club known as MOPS, which stands for Mothers Of Pre-Schoolers. This group consists of about 48 mothers with young children. From infants to teens, this group gives mothers the opportunity to get together and relax. Some of the moms that we got to know were very friendly. They shared pictures with us and told us all about their kids. There was one woman that had five children, three boys and two twin girls. They ranged from two to seven years of age. I cannot imagine what it would be like with all those young children. All of the mothers put in a lot of hard work for their kids. I thought it was so wonderful for them to get a little break. They deserve a little pampering once in a while.

At New Life Church, TUBC students were doing mini manicures. They clipped nails, filed, gave hand massages and did polish changes. A few of the mothers that stopped by our table started to tell us that they were very relaxed. I found this event very unique. New Life Church staff offered daycare for the moms that had infants and they also took care of the older kids in another area of the church. The moms were really happy that they had two hours of peace. They were also able to enjoy back massages, eyebrow waxing, haircuts and styles also food and drinks. They were being spoiled for a few hours. Some of the moms took advantage of everything that was being offered. Others just went to relax and enjoy each other’s company. I feel like most of the moms knew each other because they would talk about their children, school and mutual friends.

For all the mothers that work hard to raise their families of three of more, you all deserve gold medals and I know you are very well respected. These mothers learned how to multitask and stay efficient. Most of them have a schedule they live by. They are very lucky to have a group like MOPS to fall back on. This group gives them the opportunity to stay united as mothers and as friends. I hope that Tricoci University Students get to participate again next year and give back to all the hard working mothers.

Tricoci University may be new to Indianapolis, having launched its first Central Indiana campus in 2012, but the students and staff are getting a “hand start” on the Indianapolis 500 race excitement by hosting the biggest spectacle in manicuring.

On April 16, 2013, students participated in a manicuring competition to create an Indy-500 inspired nail design. The winners were:

1^st Place (Left) – Tiffany Hallam. Tiffany’s nails celebrated the black-and-white checkered flag motif associated with Indy car racing.

2^nd Place (Middle) – Phylicia Woodson. Phylicia couldn’t resist adding some “backstretch” excitement by integrating a “fast lane” into her nail design.

3^rd Place (Right) – Martina Williams. Martina’s manicure “closed the loop” on creative nail design by including a fully wrapped “track” between two of her hand mannequin’s fingers.

The competition inspired students to think about other ways to incorporate community events and holidays into their nail designs. Nail instructor Sabrenda Williams said they’re already dreaming up nail designs that celebrate Mother’s Day, the Indiana State Fair and of course, the Indianapolis Colts!

Tricoci University will offer black-and-white race themed manicures during the month of May.

Students and staff agreed that hands down, the fundraiser was a great way to build excitement for the 97^th running of the Indianapolis 500 on May 26.

This is a guest blog post by Lucia Fernandez, TUBC student at our Glendale Heights campus.

On March 20th, 2013 we had the pleasure of having Ms. Gaby Santana-Blackburn as a guest speaker for a make up demo. Ms. Gaby is head of the esthetics program for all Tricoci schools, she has been with company since the beginning. All the esthetics protocols and procedures, including makeup, are created by Ms. Gaby. "Makeup is an expression of art," she says enthusiastically. The key to great makeup is to have a great consultation, for example, if someone wants dramatic eyes show them pictures and color schemes to better understand what "dramatic" is to them.

In order to have the makeup look great, the face must be properly prepped, as in a client should be informed of how to take care of their skin. Also, the face must be clean and must have moisturizer, preferably with SPF. Then one must apply primer to the entire face to ensure the make up will last up to a whole day. Concealer comes right after, it should be applied on under eyes circles, dark spots,and any unwanted blemishes. The concealer must be a shade lighter than the natural skin tone, "you don't want your guest to end up with raccoon eyes." Afterwards, foundation is to be applied. To determine the foundation shade for your guest do a stripe test from their chin to the beginning of their neck and which ever line disappears is the shade you use. "Remember your guest has a neck feel free to ask them to move their head so YOU don't make them dizzy," Ms. Gaby referred to moving around your guest. To a fairly clear complexion or someone who doesn't want a heavy foundation application just simply dab on foundation with a Q-Tip all over the face , then lightly stipple with a sponge. For heavier foundation, just use a sponge or a foundation brush.

Ms. Gaby chose to show us a dramatic smokey eye, she drew in the lid with eyeliner as a primer as well as a base for the darker eye shadow. Then she applied the darker shade on the entire lid to begin her smokey eye, diffusing the line before continuing. Then she applied a medium shade under the brow, she didn't highlight the brow bone because it would make the model's eyes looks sunk in. "You must work with your guest's eyes and figure out the best look for them." She later applied a highlight shade in the inner lid of her eye to make her eyes pop, as well as filling in her eyebrows with a pencil and shadow. Finally, she cleaned off the fallout with a sponge with a dab of foundation and finished her off with powder, blush and a bold plum lip.

Overall, I learned that make up can be a real work of art that takes shape with a little practice. There is always something new to learn whether it's cosmetology or esthetics, you should always have your mind wide open to learn new techniques and tricks.

This is a guest blog post by Tiffany Jasmine, TUBC student at our Glendale Heights Campus.

Curling irons, bobby pins, hairspray. Every station is occupied. Every individual is accompanied by a reflection. Tricoci University's finest stylists of tomorrow are today working together and competing against one another in one of the schools fun creative demos. These events are free admission to friends, family, and prospective students. They are a great way to demonstrate and get to know our school's program. We open the doors to the public with friendly warm hospitality, and even offer free refreshments, free goodie bags, and free raffles for awesome prizes. Guests sit back and get to see all the exciting visions of students' beauty imagination and vote for their favorite look from each category.

Our initiative was for students to separate in four groups of five to create a look that a person would create to go in for a certain interview. The four groups being interviewed were news reporter, reality tv star, broadway, and high end salon stylist. Students ranging from beginners to seniors all worked hard to achieve the look they thought was best.

I took the challenge as a stylist. As a stylist it was my responsibility to perform proper protocol on my model, Ashley Segovia, 19, a full time cosmetology student. I gave her what I believed would be the best look to land her an interview for a position for a high end salon stylist. Her responsibility as my model was to be cooperative and optimistic to lend a hand to my ideas in achieving her all over look.

We were given our category a few days prior to the show and I had given it a lot of thought. I even visited a few high end salons to jog my creative juices and stimulate my imagination. My vision of a high end salon stylist was someone who was clean, professional, but also edgy, and bold. Someone not afraid to take risks but also knew what they were doing. They had to be very fashionable, with clothing that seemed high end fashion, someone who kept up with what was "in" for her guests. In my mind the beauty industry is a part of the fashion extravaganza. It only makes sense that all the pieces to the look's puzzle should go together hand in hand complementing each other in the look's statement. That is the overall goal in achieving a look; to make a statement. I wanted my statement to say, "hey, look at me, I work hard to keep myself looking good to ensure my guests that I will make them look good as well. My look fits my environment because I'm only working with the high end of fashion and beauty culture".

To achieve such a statement, I broke up my model's look in three categories; makeup, outfit, and hair. I wanted her makeup to be fierce, beautiful, clean. I went with a dark smokey eye to compliment her beautiful eyes. I hint of blush colored up her smile a bit. And just a nude like pink gloss glaze hugged her lips. Her smile would pull it all together. For her outfit, I had her wear something that very fashionable people these days wore. I didn't want her to be representing a high end salon with pants and a shirt from Walmart. I dressed her with an edgy looking leather zipper cropped jacket over a white tee. Her legs danced down the runway in black cheetah legging and black and white stripped shorts. Her feet were protected with some leather thigh high boots to match the jacket. The professionalism was kept in the crisp clean black and white clothes while she also looked like she hopped out of a fashion magazine. She looked great. I told her to make sure her attitude better walk with her on the runway. I wanted her attitude to say, "hey, you with the hair! Let's do this. I'm gonna make you look fabulous!" For her hair was like a chandelier in the house of glass, the main piece. I styled a half up half down updo Mohawk. Pinned the hair on her sides back to compliment her cheek bones. Then I curled all the hair in the middle from the crown down to the nape to hang low below her shoulders with innocent bouncy curls. Her overall look was clean, fierce, edgy, bold, professional, and fashionable. She was ready for any job thrown at her and would look good doing it!

The other stylists models and I worked hard for a good hour and a half. The amazing school's coordinator provided free pizza for us to stock up on energy while working hard. When we were all set and done we lined up in our categories and awaited our turn to present. Our category was last. We were competing with 4 other teams. We each took turns getting up on stage to give them a look at our model and had our model walk up and down the runway while stylists explained their look. We did not win this round but we were the only ones in the group who were not dressed like everyone else. We got props for creativity and uniqueness. Overall it was a fun night and gave students an experience of working in a salon in the future. We didn't win the competition but we did win some fun memories and accomplished our mission. I would advise anyone and everyone who is ever invited to a creative demo to go and experience it yourself. Whether you're into getting to know the program to see if it is for you or if you just like to see all the great creative looks, Tricoci University’s creative demo events are definitely the place to be!

Author: TUBC Student Haley Skora

Imagine you are in a car driving down the street through a school zone. All of the sudden things start moving faster and there is no time to look around, you look at the speedometer and it reads 90 miles per hour. This is how I felt going from my average day at school to attending the James Ryder Makeup Boot camp.

It all started sometime in the beginning of September. We had a guest speaker coming in that morning to talk to the school about makeup. I was ecstatic. His name was James Ryder, an established makeup artist from Los Angeles, California. He caught my attention with his passion and inspiring words. He told us of a makeup lab he was holding in Chicago where one person would potentially be picked to attend a makeup boot camp in Los Angeles.

I attended the lab the next month where I was then invited to the makeup boot camp. I couldn’t stop crying when he told me I was the one they had selected! I felt mixed emotions about being invited. I was mostly excited but I was overcome with fear and stress, as I knew I was about to do something big, bigger than anything I had ever done.

On February 24, 2013 I flew to Los Angeles to take the first step to becoming a makeup artist. The very next day my journey began. We worked from a studio in the top level of Naime’s, the biggest makeup store in the world.

The models started filtering into the studio on day one and put into our chairs immediately, James was not wasting any time to start our training. It was glamour day so the objective was to make the model in your chair look as pretty as possible.

The theme for day two was 40’s and 50’s pinup. This is one of my favorite looks, classic beauty meets edgy. Later that day we learned how to make prosthetics and the application of prosthetics. We were put into groups of two and applied prosthetics on a model to be shot.

Wednesday’s theme was gothic/Victorian/lavishly undead. We created dark looks but still had the challenge of making the model look pretty. This day was really fun because there was a lot of room to play around with a look.

Copyright: RYDER makeup-labs LLC, Model: Nea Dune
Photographer: James Ryder, Art Director: Aly Ryder, Makeup Artist: Haley Skora

Thursday was models choice day, the day everyone had been worried about. The anxiety of not knowing what look you were going to have to create slowly diminished as we grew more confident of ourselves and came prepared with ideas.

Thursday night we prepared for, “the hardest day of our live”, to quote James. The mock movie shoot was the next day and we had from 6pm to 8am to prepare. This included analyzing the script, making face sheets for every character, gathering supplies, making prosthetics and creating posters to keep everything in order for the many characters in the movie.

It was finally Friday and I could barely eat. I was so nervous as my fellow boot camp attendees had appointed me as the department head. It was up to me to make sure everything was in order, if it wasn’t I was going to get yelled at. This was the day our featured model, Mosh, was coming in as well. The look you create on Mosh has to be grade A work. The pressure was on but my team and I did very well. I was proud. I didn’t even get yelled at that day!

Copyright: RYDER makeup-labs LLC, Model: Mosh
Photographer: Ama Lea, Art Director: Aly Ryder, Makeup Artist: Haley Skora

By the time Friday was over we were exhausted but the night wasn’t over yet. James, his wife Aly, and Adelina invited the group out for dinner. We laughed, talked about the week, and our future careers. It was awesome to get to know all of them on a professional and a personal level. The night was over and all that was left to do on Saturday was to go to breakfast with James, Aly, and Adelina, pack up, clean, and shop at Naime’s.

As the week was almost over I really couldn’t have had a better time at the makeup boot camp. I made some great friendships with the other girls there. I had the opportunity to network with models and other makeup artists as well as photographers. Unfortunately I have to wait about a month to receive my prints of the photos that were taken but it is well worth the wait. I miss the team and Los Angeles every day but there is no doubt in my mind that I will be back there soon doing some great makeup.

This is a guest post by Kara Zerga, TUBC student at our Rockford campus.

Prom is the most exciting time for any high school student. It’s their moment to shine! This is why I chose to be a stylist for our Prom fashion show event. The school selected six teen beautiful young ladies that were enrolled in high school to be our models. The school had dresses donated by a boutique in town called “That Boutique."

There were a variety of dresses, different shapes and styles. There was a pink sweetheart shaped gown with beautiful sequences and a beautiful princess puffed bottom that would definitely make any girl feel like a princess. There was also a purple figure fitting shaped, sleek gown with glitter and rhinestones down the side with a thigh high slit and it had a gorgeous, very smoothing train on the bottom. My favorite dress was the one my model was wearing. It was a baby blue and white sweetheart shaped top with rhinestones and sequences, with a fluffy, Latina flare skirt that touched the floor.

The morning of the show while everyone was working, it was crazy! There were beautiful up dos with big curls, braids, and French twists. There were bobby pins everywhere, hairspray in the air, and curling irons all over the place. Everyone was working incredibly hard on everything. There were ladies doing nails, while others were doing their makeup. Everyone really put their creativity to the test.

We all transferred to the hotel where the event was being held. When we arrived, we all helped the ladies get into their gowns and double checked their hair and makeup to be sure everything was absolutely perfect to rip the runway. We all waited patiently sitting in the first two rows and as our models walked down the runway, the stylist stood up to show off their work. There were four very handsome gentlemen escorting them up and down the runway. They were all dressed up in great suits. Each one of the models walked down the runway with smiles and twinkle in their eyes. Everyone look magnificently gorgeous!

Overall, my experience that day was great! I really enjoyed myself and learned a little something about myself. Seeing everyone work as hard as they did really made me proud to have everyone of those ladies my fellow students. Everyone is truly there for you when you really need them the most. You become a part of one big family once you step your foot into that door whether you know it or not. Everyone really enjoys helping each other and you never hear them complain. I’ve never been somewhere where you can truly see that they all really have a passion for what they do.

The teacher and staff are a huge inspiration to the students in the school. They all love what they do and teach us that can too. They always encourage me and motivate me to do better and really help you along your path to graduation. The staff show they truly care and you don’t see that everywhere you go nowadays. I am proud to say that I am a student of Tricoci University of Beauty Culture.

This is a guest post by Jennifer Klarner, TUBC student at our Rockford Campus

My experience at Tricoci University has truly been one of the greatest experiences of my life. I learned how to cut hair from my Aunt and my Grandmother and had been cutting hair for several years before I entered into Tricoci. Of course I thought I knew everything about cutting hair. How wrong I was! My first day of Essentials proved to be quite a task as when I walked in I immediately had to do a haircut on my mannequin. I felt completely overwhelmed until a teacher named Miss Michele came over and said to take a deep breath and everything would be ok. Miss Michele was the greatest. She not only taught me to overcome my fear of failing, she taught me to stand tall and trust in the gifts that I had. It wasn’t an easy thing to do, but by the end of Essentials I was starting to find my own way through this crazy thing we call cosmetology.

My first days out on the floor were terrifying. What if I messed someone’s hair up? I had to reach back into myself and allow the confidence I had found in Essentials to shine through again. I knew I could do this. This is what I was meant to do with my life. I am a cosmetologist. There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t want to cut or color someone’s hair. Miss Michele reminds me of that constantly. I have such a passion for this industry that I can’t imagine doing anything else.

As the months have passed and I have continued this adventure into cosmetology, I have learned a great many things about myself. I can do anything I put my mind to. I have the perseverance to see this through, no matter what throws itself into my path. I have the support of my teachers and staff to help guide me through this adventure in my life right now. They have time and again put themselves on the line for me to see me succeed. I can’t imagine a better place for me to be at this time in my life.

When I entered this school, I thought my mission was to cut beautiful hair. Now I realize that while I still want to cut beautiful hair, my true calling is coloring hair. It allows me the artistic side of cosmetology that I never thought I’d find. I love to paint at home and now I can enjoy it at work as well. It’s something that truly makes me happy. I get to take someone’s hair and give them a whole new identity simply by adding color to their hair. It makes me enjoy my job just a little more knowing I can transform someone’s look with color.

In closing, I would just like to thank the staff of Tricoci University for making me what I truly am; a cosmetologist. Without this school and without this opportunity I would still be wandering aimlessly, trying to figure out what to do with this life of mine. You have truly made me feel welcome and gave me a purpose for which I will always be grateful. Thank you.

This is a guest post by Ronald Warner, TUBC student at our Bridgeview campus.

On Wednesday, February 27^th, Bridgeview was the host to a variety of salons for our Career Fair. OMG, it was a great success. We had representatives from Sports Clips, Johnathon Kane Day Spa, Mario Tricoci Day Spa - Orland Park, and a cast of others. We also had an individual stylist to speak about what it is to be a professional stylist on your own. I believe that it was very beneficial for two reasons; I was able to see the world through the eyes of someone already licensed and I was able to pass my resume on to potential employers. Not to mention, it also gave me an opportunity to sharpen my interviewing tools. This was a great opportunity for the student body to spread their wings and take their first steps in to the industry!

This is a guest blog post by TUBC student, Valeria Alanis.

On March 9^th – 11^th I attended America’s Beauty Show held in Chicago, IL at the McCormick Place. The beauty show was amazing!! The minute I walked in I could feel the excitement and energy in the room. I couldn’t wait to see what the show had to offer. There was so much to see, do, and most importantly there were so many great deals on products, equipment, makeup, everything!! I enjoyed seeing the Pravana show.

Two of my fellow classmates were models for them, and they looked amazing!! I loved the vibrant colors and patterns they chose for them. Their haircuts were definitely a different style, but were perfect for my classmates. It was very cool to see different haircuts going on as well the hair styles. You could see the passion these hairstylists have, how fast they work, the knowledge they have acquired of the years and their dedication to continue learning, because as we all know, there is always a new trend. Everything the stylists possess, makes you wonder, will I be up there in the future? Whether doing a haircut, an up-do, or color, the hairstylists transmit the energy, passion, and love they have for the industry… I can’t wait to go next year; I am saving my pennies already!