Ask a beauty professional to talk about their childhood and you will hear stories of kids playing in mom’s makeup and raiding closets to dress in style. Now, as adults, we spend our few spare moments watching videos of intricate line designs and nail art for new inspiration. We chose this industry because we love this industry and we love this industry because it is fun. It allows us to blur the line between work and play. After all, who doesn’t want to have fun doing what they love?

Join contributing writer, Trevor Cobb, in this four-part series that peeks through the curtains and curriculum of AOHD to answer this simple question: what is left when we strip away the extras and examine the core elements that make us who we are?

Yearly Fashion Show

One of the most popular events of the school year is our 51³Ô¹Ï Fashion Show. It is the perfect opportunity for our students to express their creativity and take ownership of their work. On teams that combine students from all four of our programs, they create a series of looks around a voted-upon theme. Come the day of the show, they execute these looks on models, staff members, and fellow students.  The team with the highest quality, creativity, and technique is awarded the winning prize.

Breaking out of the box

The fashion show fills a lot of needs for AOHD students. For one, they get to create looks that are perhaps more avant-garde, high fashion, or creative than their daily services. They become their own client, deciding on a haircut, makeup, and style for themselves. Maintaining complete creative control over their models, their artistic vision, and their team’s styling is a rare opportunity. This is where our students are encouraged to try something new and push themselves out of their comfort zone.

Industry Connections

Additionally, the fashion show provides an opportunity to exhibit work to salon owners and beauty professionals in the Springfield area. We invite alumni and salon owners to judge the competition. This allows salon owners to take a close work at the incredible work AOHD students are doing. At events like these, students build their professional network and meet people who could be potential future employers. These employers have seen what our students can do, and they remember them when making hiring decisions months later. With over 20 guest judges invited, students are encouraged to mingle, shake hands, and bridge the gap between where they are now and where they want to be when they graduate.

Competition and Collaboration

Of course, the most important aspect is the collaboration and team spirit that binds together. Students enjoy the competitive nature of the show. They collaborate with their team to create a holistically designed fashion experience. During the weeks leading up to the show, the school is buzzing with friendly energy and competitive posturing. Students and staff boast about their team’s theme and our social media is overrun with playful posts and memes. Team colors fly as everyone claims the future first place prize as their own. This competition urges students to outdo one another, but also to outdo themselves. After weeks of preparation and practice, they create work they once believed to be an impossible task. We admit that it is impossible for us to hide our pride in these talented future professionals.

Sharing our Style

At its core, the fashion show is about sharing joy. Every day, we want our students find joy in their work. They serve with a smile and equip clients with confidence and happiness. Through annual events like the fashion show, we get to put this spirit of fun and joy that we live daily on display in a big way. The beauty industry is centered around personal happiness. We encourage our students to maintain a positive attitude and spread it to whatever salon they enter. We know when we are having a good time, our clients will as well.

Okay, so let’s get back to our original question: what is left when we strip away the extras and examine the core elements that make us who we are?

The AOHD Fashion Show combines creative experimentation, networking, and competition into a meaningful night for many of our students. Most of all, we put on this event because it is fun, for us, the students, the participants, and the public. Fun and happiness are the core of what we do and who we are as beauty professionals.  #FunIsLeft

Want to see more pictures of our 2018 fashion show?

Want to check out other blog posts that discuss our core values? Easy, click here!

Want to know how to pick a school that values Love, Excellence, Fun, and Transformation? Easy, click here! 

Ready to invest in yourself and turn your passions into a paycheck? You know the drill, click here!

Trevor Cobb is a 2018 graduate of Drury University who majored in Writing, Spanish, and Graphic Design. He was a social media intern for 51³Ô¹Ï in 2017 and is currently the Digital Marketing Specialist for 360 Communities in Burnsville, Minnesota. He enjoys creative writing, design and finding beauty wherever he goes.

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A component of esthetic and cosmetology education is, of course, makeup application. Many of 51³Ô¹Ï’s students have truly become artists of the craft. Many students come in to Academy with a strong passion and simply lack the technique. But art without passion is only technique. Learning is a relay race, educators can’t get you all the way to the finish line. You must take the personal accountability to push yourself to the next level.

At 51³Ô¹Ï, we know we are at our best when we are supporting those students who have the moxie and winning energy to take their career into their own hands. And they do this in many ways. We see students thrive when they focus on perfecting their skills, invest in their community, and cultivate a business mentality by recruiting clients to come be part of their success.

Our educators and staff work hard to make Academy a safe place for you to step outside of your comfort zone so that you can truly shine. Let your passion drive you into your best future through bettering yourself. You won’t be alone, especially while surrounded by other students with like-minded ambitions.

And when in doubt, find comfort in the fact that we know it can be done because we have seen time and time again. Even before graduation, we watch our talented student’s careers blossom. One such example is current cosmetology student, Hailey Boots. At just 18, this Austin resident is wowing the makeup world. Her strong passion for makeup shines throughout her hard work and persistent dedication. So much so that she was hand-picked to take part in the RAW Austin Ovation show.

You can check out her Instagram, @haileybootsbeauty,  to see how she seamlessly blends seasonal special effects makeup and her excellent beauty application. This is what it means to be a professional. Taking a passion, adding technique and crafting a career.

Go support Hailey and purchase a using her bio link. The show is November 12th at 7:00pm and artists are in-part recognized through their ticket sales.

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What? No, not for Christmas. It’s time for our annual Fashion Show!

We’re rolling out the red carpet.

If you’re hearing about this for the first time, let’s break down what has everyone so excited.

Our talented students are divided into five teams: Yellow, Purple, Red, Black, and Blue.

Over the last few weeks, each team pulled together and created a show highlighting their collective creativity. They’ve designed every element, from the on-screen presentation to the unique looks their models will embody as they move down the catwalk.

This year’s theme is as big and bright as the personality and performances that define it: HOLLYWOOD!

So get in on the glitz and the glam and come see us Monday, October 15th. Doors open at 6:30 pm.

We only look expensive, admission is free.

Lights… Camera… Academy!

(PSSST. Want to see a preview? )

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The 51³Ô¹Ï is celebrating its 20th year in 2016!

51³Ô¹Ï focuses on individual transformation starting with a first-class education in cosmetology, barbering, esthetics, and manicuring. The academy is committed to helping students reach their full potential by preparing them for a career in the beauty and barber industry. 51³Ô¹Ï provides a unique education for students who desire to explore their passions and creativity, learn professional salon techniques and business skills, and successfully stand out in the beauty industry.

Jerry Bevelle, his daughter, Christie Gonzales, and her husband, David Gonzales, started the school in 1996, after struggling to find talented hair stylist to work at their successful and growing hair salon chain. They wanted a place where they could train students on the latest techniques and give them the business knowledge that they would need to be successful! The 51³Ô¹Ï was born!

In the 20 years The 51³Ô¹Ï has been around it has seen over 1000 students come through its four programs for training, including students from all over the Midwest. The Academy has won multiple awards including Salon Owner’s Choice for the best school in Southwest Missouri and a Missouri State University Best Salon Award. We are proud of the outstanding educators and students who have been connected with the Academy over the years!

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Our students did an amazing job at our Fashion Show! They designed costumes, make up, nails, body art, and theatrics using Disney movies for inspiration. Each team spent weeks designing and perfecting their team’s looks. It was great to see it all come together for a great night of fun, food, and fashion!

Team One used the theme of “Villains & Heroes” for their inspiration. Characters included in their presentation included: Ariel, Ursula, and Flounder (Little Mermaid). Simba and Mufasa (The Lion King), Davey Jones and Captain Jack Sparrow (Pirates of the Carribean), Winifred, Sarah, and Mary (Hocus Pocus).

Team Two used the theme of “Alice & Wonderland” for their inspiration. Characters in their presentation included: Queen of Hearts, White Rabbit, The Mad Hatter, Caterpillar, Cheshire Cat, Cards, A Young & Older Alice, and The White Queen.

Team Three used the theme of “Two is Better than One” for their inspiration. Characters in their presentation included: Princess Leia and Chewbacca (Star Wars), Princess Jasmine and the Genie (Aladdin), Cruella de Vil and Pongo (101 Dalmations), Peter Pan and Tinker Bell (Peter Pan), Pocahontas and Flit (Pocahontas), Snow White and Grumpy (Snow White), Rocket Raccoon and Groot (Guardians of the Galaxy).

The Fashion Show concluded by announcing team category winners. Team 2, “Alice and Wonderland,” was declared this year’s overall winner! We want to give a big thanks to all of our students and educators who worked so hard to bring this together and to our judges who dedicated their time and expertise! It was a wonderful evening!

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