CC's graduation

CC's graduation
2nd in our class to graduate

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

1st week on the floor!

Perhaps I bit off more than I can chew: it's been a long week!

Our first day on the floor was Tuesday and I didn't expect to be so busy.  My first guests were people that I did not know and I think that was for the best.  I could be myself and like I've been told for weeks: be a duck.  Smooth on the top and feet scrambling under water.  Well, that's what happened.  I've found that it is a little tricky to find a balance between having your guest wait a really long time when you are waiting in line for a check from your educator, my education and my guest's satisfaction.  I'm trying to strike a balance.  I have not found it yet, but hopefully through out the next several weeks I will.

So... saturday was the end of week 19 and the last day of my first week on the floor.  I get a guest with long... and I mean long hair.  Not only was it long, it was tangled like I've never seen before!  AND it was 6pm.  As a Mod 2 student, we are given 1.5 hours to complete a hair cut.  At 6pm, I've got to finish up with my guest and start cleaning up so every one can get outta there at 7pm.  I just kept thinking... how is this going to happen?  It took me around 15 minutes just to untangle her hair!  I ended up giving her a decent cut, my educator cut bangs that looked great and gave her just want she wanted.  I booked her an appointment for next week - just to make sure those bangs are working for her, the right length, etc. and made an appointment 8 weeks out, just before the holidays to ensure that she was able to get a new cut right before the holidays.  She also went home with some detangling spray for sure!  This is a prime example of how you can make it right with a guest, even when you are cutting it short on time.  Thanks to my instructor Bianca who cut section 3 with perfection and helped me send home a happy guest!  I stayed late, but ended my first week with much success!

Here's to a successful week 2 on the floor!

Friday, September 17, 2010

We're moving! Caution: make no assumptions until you read my blog:)

Not me and my family, but my class.  Yes, tomorrow will mark a big day for me and my classmates.  We are moving from the annex building to the main building and most importantly the clinic floor.  It's been 4 1/2 months, 18 weeks and just about 500 hours and now we're ready to take on the world by storm... at least a little.  Some of us are wracked with fear and have no idea how to handle the pressure of what, as of tonight is pretty unknown for us.  Some of us are ready to jump in, but really have no request guests to speak of!  One gal in our class has 15 requests on the books and she has no idea how she's gonna do it!  We are as a class of about 10... all over the board.

Movie Contest: Audrey Hepburn as Holly Golightly in Breakfast at Tiffanys


As I reflect back, time has flown by.  Six months ago, I had no idea that I would be in school full time, let alone, know how to cut a woman's and man's hair cut, give a scalp massage, color, perm, highlight - and didn't know what a relaxer even was... but I now know how to do them!  In the past week alone, we've learned corrective color and passed the final, manicures and pedicure practical and written finals.

I wonder, where will I eat lunch... the break room is awfully small.  Will we have time to chat and learn new things?  Is our foundational education over?  We've got 8 months left - I've learned so much in 4 1/5 - I cannot imagine what the next 8 holds.

We've been told, "wait until your on  the floor" and "we'll let you know when you need to know" and "just wait for now" - tomorrow is the day they "let us know" - we'll get our new lockers, assignments and expectations.

This move feels like a graduation of sorts - we've met the requirements, we've made the grades and had the attendance to warrant moving onto the clinic floor... Tomorrow's moving day... gotta pack!

Good-bye for now annex - I'll be back for State Board Prep!  See ya working on the floor Tuesday!