Why spend money at an expensive salon when your own school can hook you up with the same services at a fraction of the cost?

The Skyline Cosmetology Programs have now began offering a variety of hair, nail, face and body services to all of Skyline College, with students getting discounts.

The services provided include basic procedures such as haircuts and shampoo, but also manicures, pedicures, facials, and myriad other beauty/spa treatments. All of these services are provided by Skyline’s own cosmetology students.

“It’s a great opportunity for our students to learn on real people instead of mannequins,” said Josie Glenn, coordinator of the cosmetology department and retired instructor.

Glenn said that the services the cosmetology program provides could benefit anyone. “Whatever condition they are in, we can make them feel better,” Glenn said. “They’ll look better and feel better.”

“It’s a great opportunity to try something new,” said Gigi Isaacs, the cosmetology department’s receptionist. “It’s a fun, inexpensive way to do it.”

All of the services provided are much cheaper than usual salon/spa prices, and this isn’t including the discount students receive if they show their ASSC card. Skyline students with their ASSC card will receive an extra 20 percent off any services the program provides.

Isaacs made a point to mention that the services weren’t just available to Skyline students. Anyone that wanted to could be a customer of the program.

“It’s a great vocational program,” Isaacs said. “The students here are dynamic, friendly and creative.”

According to instructors, being a cosmetology student is a full-time affair. Cosmetology students have to understand far more than simply how to cut hair or apply makeup.

“[The students] have to know chemistry, anatomy, theory, disinfection and sanitation,” said Karen Nielsen, a veteran instructor of the cosmetology department. “It’s real hands on. You have to learn to adapt to different people.”

Glenn also suggested that being a cosmetology student was hands on work, and suggested that if you want to work in this field, you have to be a people person.

“If you don’t like people,” Glenn said, “you need to be doing something else.”

Nielsen, who has more than 12 years of experience with the program, says that cosmetology students have to be very committed. The program runs from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. five days a week, with only a 30 minute break for lunch, considerably busier than the average student’s schedule.

However, all of that work goes toward helping the students earn their cosmetology licenses, so that one day they could go to work in their field of choice.

Edwina Stevens hopes to one day open up her own business when she is done with school.

“I like when they fall asleep,” Stevens said, when asked what her favorite part of performing facials was. “It means that I did a good job.”

Stevens is one of many students of the cosmetology program who has the opportunity to work with real people and practice their craft. On Oct. 7 she was one of a group of students that gave away free facials to anyone on Skyline campus.

“We like to open it up to whoever wants to come and find out about us,” said Regina Pelayo, an instructor of the aesthetics portion of the cosmetology program. She estimated that around 25 people came in on Oct. 7 to get free facials or hair removal. She touted the new building and its new facilities.

“If you need an hour and a half of pampering, relaxation and just feeling good, come in,” Pelayo said.

(For a full list of services the Cosmetology program offers, go visit the program in building 4 on the second floor.)