It's Official!

I prepaid for my license so it arrived on Saturday!!!

YAY me.

I Passed!

I passed the TDLR Cosmetology Practical!  I did have a glitch...believe it or not I could not open the fingernail polish! The base coat bottle was stuck, and that sucked. Big Time, but did manage to open the small bottle of the color. Wow, I should have pre opened the bottles at home. It was truly my bad, my bad.

I can say you have to really listen to the ladies at the testing site! Sanitize -sanitize- sanitize that's all I suggest. Have your kit organized to the "T". I rented my kit from school and I'm glad I did. I would not have been able to get everything as organized. I did notice others did not have rented kits. But all went well. The room was cold. Be sure that you practice the curl demo, and all of the other things that are required.

It's hard not to have a case of the nerves.

I'm glad that this journey is over and a new one will begin. Now, I will await for my LICENSE to come in the mail! A door closes and another one opens. It's a new beginning.

Finger Waves

For those who want to learn how to do Finger Waves! We went over this in school but you can never go over it more.  These a just 2 additional ways to achieve the look with a twist.


http://www.modernsalon.com/features/hair-beauty/How-To-Finger-Wave-Like-A-Pro-BONUS-Video-Tutorial-203659301.html


It makes me want to get my doll and practice.

The Practical!

Well it is official, I was able to register, pay & schedule for my Practical Exam!
The only thing it does not happen right away, you have to first wait for your hours to be submitted to
TDLR. After this you will wait for the testing center website PSI to have your info. Once this is completed you are good to go. Now I wait for my date. Back to school to rent a test kit.

Practice a home is in order while I wait.

Hours Submitted

My hours are submitted, I have filled out all the necessary paperwork on my end. Now the wait for TDLR to get the information to PSI. This will allow me to pay, register & schedule the PRACTICAL EXAM!  Now the waiting game. ;)

It's nice to be off from school......sad to say I do miss working on clients.

Finally!

I entered school on May 1, 2012 and graduated on April 2, 2013.

I had my exit interview, giving me the instructions on what to expect when taking my practical testing.
This testing can't come soon enough, now I have to wait for my hours to be submitted and then scheduling the test is the next step. I will upon satisfactory completion of the test receive my license!
After this the field is wide open. I must make the decision on were to apply. So for now rest and reflection is on my agenda.

It was certainly a rocky road to complete my cosmetology training. I received the basic knowledge for me to enter the work world. But much more is needed in my opinion. All I can say is you must focus on your training and try to do the very best on each client that you work on. Some you will do a great job others, not so well but they all are learning experiences. I'm glad I went over on my requirements.
I would have liked to have more extensive training and haircutting. But since my school had a heavy clientele and a lack of students; this was not the case. It's really too bad some students are not as focused as others.
I hope the school will look into this and make changes that will improve and encourage attendance.

I do thank all of those who helped me reach my goal.

Countdown....

Anxiously awaiting for my last hours to pass. I'm almost done with this journey!!

Reflection Before Graduation

This time it's me graduating on this coming Tuesday. Yay for me. It has been a very long journey for me. Some of it positive and some negative....other moments I don't want to relive.  Beauty School on the whole was a positive move for me. I'm just perplexed at some of the things that go on at school.

The many things I did learn has helped me to progress with my general skills working with hair. You learn how to do it faster and ways to get things done with great results.

There are different ways to get the same results. Each instructor has a different way of explaining things  and or showing you how to achieve what you are trying to do. Not all instructors are good instructors, not all are into what they or doing or up to the latest styles or techniques. But all do have something to offer. I'm grateful for all of the instructors I have learned something from everyone. Without them, I'd suffer while doing a perm, cut or style. I know many times in there in praise, not all of my stuff looked great, but I do understand what they were doing. I came to realize not all of my work was great, but it did help me to improve. I finally got what they were doing. SMH

 Student Instructors are the same, they are licensed cosmetologist who are training how to teach. Some are great helpers others should remain a cosmetologist.

Same thing for students, I have met some great students with superior skills they will excel in the field and I'd love to have the opportunity to work in a salon with them. I have learned to many techniques and or short cuts from them. I thank them for their tips. There are other students who are horrible, hopefully I will never have to work with them, they have no honorable work ethic. From them I have learn what not to do. I thank them for showing me the worst.

As I look back, I'm glad that it is over with and I can look forward to the future in the world of beauty.

Don't know where I will end up but as long as I'm behind the chair I will be fine.

Things I'd wished the school would have spent more time on:

Working with ethnic hair, I just don't think enough time is spent on the curlier hair textures. They on all races and this should be address more. Especially, if you have never work with this type of hair.
As things change, more and more women will desire to walk away from relaxers. Why they use relaxer I will never know.

Weaves, Fusion & Braids. It has been added to the services but not enough has been covered. In my opinion. This came into effect way too close to my graduation.

Trendy hair cuts. What more can I say? The most popular things should be covered. It's what is in demand.

To have the option of choosing Makeup or Nails. Nails not my favorite thing, Makeup the only thing, at least for me. But a light brushing over the nails are fine. I still have SO MUCH stuff in my nail kit untouched!

Less people make presentations that in the end cost money! We are students, $$ is not in abundance.
Does anyone come and give educational classes without a price attached? No, wow.

Sisterlocks

I had my consultation on getting hair done in Sisterlocks It was a decision that I did not take lightly.
Perviously, I've had locks (the thicker version) for about 15 years. They began to get heavy so out they
went. Now wearing lots of variations of "natural" hair styles, flat iron, curly fro and twist...I'm going to go with the Sisterlocks.

An fellow Cosmetology student who attends another school, recently took the certification course on the locks. So what a great bonus for me, she is in trainee status and needs heads in order to complete the  process.  I did the consult and had 3 locks done. This is to see if you are committed and to evaluate how the locks have faired after a couple of weeks. They are done in special grid patterns, the locks can be small, medium or large. I'm going with the larger version, not too fond of the small ones. Most people with have 450 or more! Yikes I only have a little over 100 with my larger version.

Anyway, if you are interested in this type of natural styling which can be cut & styled, usage of hair curlers can also be used, thermal or the old roll it up type.

Checkout the web for more info. It's for those who are truly interested in going natural and have no problem letting you natural hair thrive.

How's Your Work Ethic?

As my time counts down, I'm working harder than ever at school. Being on the floor on a continuous basis is exhausting. We are short students and several that are at school and unwilling to chip in and work.

It's no fun, just work. but where does the blame lie, a little of both, students and management.
Music will sooth the beast, a change would be welcome.
You signed up for school, so expect that you will have to work.
 In other words there are tickets/clients to service and we all need services.

 Oh, yeah I hear you, so you don't need anymore services?
Well you enrolled and on this note, suck it up and work.
Seems that this is a profession that will make or break you. I do understand the habits that you form now are the habits that will carry you in the work world. I would love to be a fly on the wall; when some of these students finally get a job. If they secure one at all.

Well my rant is over for now.

I have enjoyed the contacts I have made at school and look forward to the next chapter in my life as a licensed cosmetologist.

So "How's Your Work Ethic?"

What's New?

Sorry to say I've been out of commission for awhile. But nevertheless, very busy at school. Lots of tickets waiting for us all to do. I'm SO TIRED of those students who decide to hide and or avoid the tickets at all cost. It's old news, really. I wonder why some people decided to enroll in Beauty School. Scratching my head most of the time. For those trying to determine if this type of work is for you get ready to stand on your feet most of the day, work a steady pace and have the ability to communicate with clients. Not your type of thing then don't continue with school. Think about it, is this what you really want to do?

What's even sadder, the instructors who allow them to avoid the tickets. Which is worst?

Looking forward to counting down my last weeks at school.

Hours Countdown

Today I have1213.40 hours clocked.
Waiting on my monthly report.
It's so slow at school today my mannequin is sleep.

2 Strand Twist

Last weekend over a period of 2 days I did the 2 strand twist. It was stop and go all weekend. This weekend no hair styling on myself. I have decided to go with Sister
Locs. Just determining when.

A friend has gotten the certification. I want to be one of her trail runs. How else do we learn. From one student to the other.

I've had locs before so this won't be such a new thing. Just lighter weight than before. Can't wait.

Next month.....

My graduation day is yet to be determined. Everything depends upon the
Number of hours that you attend school.
We will see I'm going to stop counting days. It's next month.

Written Exam

On Monday, 1/21/2013 I passed my written exam. Very happy to say the least. Lots of stuff I studied was not on the test. All I could say is WOW!!! But I passed that's all that matters. No more theory.

I did not get a chance to do the entire textbook. Hmmmm

Study Study Study

Reviewing as much as possible. I've scheduled my written test. Wish me to remember and no forgetting.

Color Change

I did this on Thursday.

Reconstruct

I did my first Reconstruct today. I will never complain about doing a perm again. The Reconstruct chemical took my breath once the instructor opened the jar. It REALLY stinks!! After applying this & getting sick; rinse and roll with perm rods. This process is long and draw out. But nevertheless it looked very nice after I completed the process. If I can help it I will only do the required amount left to graduate on my mannequin! Double yuck.

Crossing fingers no more of these.

Ms Square

I'm sad to see her go. She has been very helpful in instructing, haircut checking & general motivation. Thanks.

Waxing

 Finally purchased the Epilation System, from Sally's Beauty
Supply, on sale. It came with the DVD, muslin cloths, honey wax and liner ring for wax machine.  I watched the DVD, it gives instructions of how to proper go through each of the services that you might want to offer your clients; along with pricing. The detail was very good, more detail than what's in the textbook.(Facial & Body procedures) 

If you are thinking of getting this machine or either want to catch the system on sale it's a good value.

You will need to get some wooden sticks.  I did see a bar that goes across the machine on the inside of the chamber for the wax on the DVD. It seems like a good idea in order to keep the wax removal neat. I'm thinking on making one of my own. I do notice that at school its annoying to have the wax trailers all over. This way I can neatly wipe off my wooden stick and move on. :)