WELDON — Kenisha Conyers, of Enfield, said she has been doing hair all of her life.

Jacqueline Hough | The Daily Herald Cosmetology student Monica M. Mitchell, of Scotland Neck, styled the hair of fellow student Shantel Owens’ while Ivey Copeland, an instructor with the program, watched. Advertisement

In May, she plans to graduate from the cosmetology program at Halifax Community College (HCC).

“It is a good career field because you give people an opportunity to look good and feel good about themselves,” Conyers said. Her goal is to open a salon in Atlanta.

The 34 students in the program at HCC must complete 1,500 hours of training in four consecutive semesters in order to graduate.

Theory classes meet four days a week at an hour a day, while practical classes meet four or five hours a day with students doing 28 hours a week.

Cosmetology Department Head Kenneth B. Harris said the program’s history began in January 1999 with the purchase of the Roanoke Academy of Cosmetology. The school operated at the Roanoke Avenue location until the building on campus was completed later that year. Class officially began on the HCC campus in the spring of 2000.

Harris said for the first 300 hours students practice on mannequins doing shampoo sets and hair cuts.

After 300 hours, they move on to real clients. Cosmetology students provide services to the community for a discounted price. Patrons range from residents in rest homes, fellow students, faculty and staff at HCC and many others in the surrounding area.

After graduation, the work doesn’t stop for students. They have to study and prepare for State board exams. The program’s passing rate is 87 percent on state board examinations. “I want students to leave with a positive attitude and be proficient in skills,” Harris said.

After graduation, most students are employed in the area and many have gone on to open their own businesses. By working eight to 10 hours a day for five days a week, a cosmetologist could make at the least between $21,000 to $24,000.

“Cosmetologists have the opportunity to increase their income with hair shows and owning their own salon or spa,” he added. “$50,000 is not uncommon in this area.”

Even in an economic downturn, the field of cosmetology has maintained jobs. “People want to look good,” he said.

Since the program is well-established in the area, Harris maintains a job board with information on employment opportunities.

Harris said the program offers hair cuts, permanent waxes, relaxers, facials, hair coloring, manicure, pedicures and more at a minimal charge. “There is no appointment,” Harris said. “It is first come, first serve.”

He said he has seen an increase in student enrollments as well as an increase in the clientele. “Once a customer finds outs we are here, they usually come back,” he said.

For example, a relaxer might be $50 to $60 at a regular salon but in the cosmetology program, it is $24.

“In order for students to get the training, they need to have live clients,” he said.

And Harris is not only the department head and instructor, but also he sits in the chair as a client. “Last summer, I let them put makeup on me,” he said. “I looked like Bozo the Clown but it helped the students get ahead.” Clients do have to sign a release form.

Fall/Spring hours are 9 a.m. to noon, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday and from 8 a.m. to noon, Friday.

Angela L. Long, of Roanoke Rapids, said having clients helps students a lot. “We pick up speed whenever we have more clients,” she said. One thing the program has taught her, she said, is patience.

For more information about the program or services call 252-536-6345 or 252-536-6353.