Nicole D’Silva | The Chronicle
At Mason High School, students are turning skills like cutting hair and painting nails into the first steps of a professional future in cosmetology.
As interest in skilled trades grows, a number of seniors plan to enter the cosmetology field after graduation. The industry spans hair cutting and styling, nail care and skin services, offering a range of career paths. For some students, what began as personal grooming has evolved into a serious pursuit they intend to carry into the workforce.
MHS senior Emma Searls is going into cosmetology after she graduates from high school. She will attend Paul Mitchell The School Cincinnati, a cosmetology school where she will participate in a 1,500-hour program. She will complete her education with an apprentice program at Mitchell’s Salon & Day Spa in Kenwood.
“It sounds crazy, but I started being interested in cosmetology in fifth grade,” Searls said. “I’ve never thought about doing anything else. I’ve looked into other things, like most people do, but I’ve never strayed away from cosmetology.”
MHS senior Addison Corder practices cosmetology by practicing on herself and her friends.
Addison Corder, another senior at MHS, is also pursuing cosmetology. She plans to attend cosmetology school, where she will work towards getting licensed to do hair and nails for clients. Corder’s interest in the path began in her freshman year.
“I like that you can express a lot of creativity and do whatever you want,” Corder said. “There’s a lot of creative freedom, [and you can] express yourself in any way and just be yourself.”
Corder said she practices doing hair on herself, but has also experience doing some of her friends’ nails.
“[My friends] all are surprised that I can do nails that well,” Corder said. “But my friends have definitely seen my growth in how I do my nails, from when I did it the first time to now. They look so much better, and they tell me all the time.”
For Corder, she said she would prefer working in a smaller salon because she wants to build personal connections with her clients.
“You can have a one-on-one client, like a regular, instead of finding a new person every day,” Corder said. “I mean, that is fun, but also finding a different person every day adds to your experience, but working in a smaller one is probably better [for me].”
Searls plans to work at Mitchell’s Salon & Day Spa, a higher end spa with cosmetologists making up to $300,000 annually. Searls said, though she may not make a lot of money initially, she is not concerned about the financial aspect.
“I’m insanely passionate about Cosmetology,” Searls said. “People probably think I’m crazy. But, I just want to learn so much.”
Searls said she values getting to know people and is excited to get to know her clients. She said with Cosmetology, she thinks it is rewarding to help people feel better about how they look.
“That’s the most important part,” Searls said. “I like to make people feel beautiful. I always liked doing hair.”
