Day 217 ~ Finished But Not Done ~ 6/19/14

Cosmetology School Journey ~ Day 217 ~ Finished But Not Done ~ 6/19/14

1500.06 Hours
121 Guests

Last thursday I went to school and clocked 5.34 hours. Which means I clocked out about 2:50. And thankfully I figured the math out correctly enough so that it did say 1500.06 and not before 1500.

You just never realize what impact you have on people. There were positive things that happened with my clock out that I wasn't expecting. Some I was hoping for. Students from the other group came rushing from the floor to the hallway to not miss it. I wish I could do the same for them.

On Friday I went back to do some celebrating but not for my diploma yet. I plan to go get that tomorrow morning. Then I need to get the State Board test done ASAP. This waiting around is not going to be good for me. Unless I make good use of the off time. Its like a repeat of last summer. I have this off time to do things with and try to prepare myself for the unknown. Which I am faced with again. Something came up and I won't be going to work where I thought I was. So I'm kinda in the position I already expected to be. I'm a 38 year old fresh graduate who doesn't know everything. Yet I have been so focused on building a full guest list (clientele) that now I'm in this limbo area. I need a chair. If I go to a salon and assist or shampoo people only I'm not going to be able to take care of those who came to see me. At the same time I need a place that doesn't have high prices or that lets me make my own because I just don't see myself charging high prices. And if the prices are high I won't be able to promote myself to get walk ins. I know its foolish of me to think I can call the shots but I am stubborn. I didn't come this far to settle for a paycheck. I am selfish. I have found that out about myself. But what I have realized is I am selfish about how I want to do things for other people. I believe in the way I do things. I think my ways are worth a try. And I'd rather fail trying them. Or better yet succeed. Or at least be happy trying. I keep seeing the quote about keep your passion or you're just cutting hair. That being said I know that many carrots will be dangled before me. I may even see some more silver platters. But I'm doing my best to maintain my patience.

My real issue with this is Location. I need a location that is still central for my guests to be able to come to. Those who want to follow me.

Was going to write more but for now................

Day 216 ~ One More Day ~ 6/11/14

Cosmetology School Journey ~ Day 216 ~ One More Day ~ 6/11/14

1494 Hours of 1500
121 Guests

This one is a bit hard to write. Its the last one before the other side. This journal now has 190+ entries. Guess I had things to say.

I'm sitting here trying to put together playlists of songs that will play on my phone from Youtube. I never did learn any of the dances they were doing on Fridays or Saturdays. Reality is that there hasn't been as much dancing over the past sevral months as there was the first few. So I kinda let it go to the back burner. They just aren't my dances anyway. The music on the other hand is something I have held onto. It got me through. So anyway that's my project right now. 

Unless the computer tells me differently my practicals are now done. So I will go to school tomorrow and just participate in the classroom day until the 5+ hours passes and its time to put my finger on the computer clock out pad one last time. People ask me if I'm excited. Its hard to know really. I have this quiet calm going. Much like I had throughout this past year while waiting for a guest to arrive whether a request or a walk in. I'd like to say that I'll be excited when I do clock out. But I know me too well. My friends will see a 38 year old man cry. And I won't be ashamed. I might sing. I might clap. But I'll be happy. I'll be relieved. But its just a beginning. I don't know what the other schools would have been like. I didn't tour them. On June 27th of last year I opened a door with the name Regency on it. Upon walking in I saw this nice modern shelf with salon name brand products on it. I saw a very nice reception desk with some nice students behind it who did their job well. I heard music playing. And I sat there in the lobby just listening to what was going on in there. The salon floor area was on the other side of a regular sized wall. But the ceiling was higher up. I wondered what it would be like to be there after the 350 hour mark I was once again faced with to do services for the public. Then Mrs S greeted me and gave me my tour. And I knew. The tools were there for me. I just had to use them. I was going to learn. I was still scared of not learning. But I was going to.

I did. More than I thought I would. More than I thought I could. And I'll never stop learning......nor teaching.  No matter what my job title is I will always share what I learn. I can still feel that hunger inside of me everytime I get the chance to explain something. So lets see where the train goes from here ~~~~~~

Thank you for reading
I Love You All <3
~ No Tangles ~

Day 215 ~ Head'ing Towards The Finish ~ 6/10/14

Cosmetology School Journey ~ Day 215 ~ Head'ing Towards The Finish ~ 6/10/14

1487 Hours of 1500
121 Guests

This morning when I checked the computer it said I had just over 1480 hours. That leaves under 20. At 7 hours per day that means I'll probably clock out on Thursday around 3:30. Then I plan to come back on the 20th in the morning for my celebration. Hoping that works out.

Unless something happens tomorrow to change it I had my last two guests on Friday. The last being Mrs D. I've officially passed the box of rollers. I gave it to her per her request so that she'll always have the right ones. She also gave me another gift.

These last three days presented me with a to do list. First I had to take my final multiple choice exam. I got 48 right out of 50 questions for 96%
The rest of the list consists of the three remaining categories of practical work. This morning I had 18 Hairstyling electives, 3 Hair color electives, and 10 Chemical electives remaining. I came prepared. I brought several manikin heads with me. At the end of the day I had done 3 color retouches and 10 relaxer retouches. This week is the repeat of the relaxer chapter so the rest of the class was doing timed applications. Before lunch I did the 3 colors and 2 relaxers. After lunch I started pushing myself to meet the times that they were being told. So I ended up doing the other 10 after lunch. Tomorrow I'll wash and blow dry them all to get some hairstyling credits. With thursday still to come for any leftovers I need to finish.

I'm trying to think of something else to say. Its starting to hit me that I'm only going to walk those hallways a few more times. I'll only wear my apron a few more times. Then its going in a poster / picture frame. So many of the unknowns I was to be facing afte graduation seem to have presented themselves before then. There are things I want to shout out with joy that I am holding back. Some people know them. But most don't. I'm managing not to spill it.
I'm planning to write again tomorrow to at least report my progress.
Until then.....

Thank you for reading
I Love you all <3
~ No Tangles ~

Day 211 ~ Reforming Curls ~ 6/4/14

Cosmetology School Journey ~ Day 211 ~ Reforming Curls ~ 6/4/14

1467 Hours
119 Guests

Just a quick update. Yesterday was my 4th Regency Mock / Pretend State Board test. It consists of manikin work. First a manicure, then a facial. Then you section in 4 and do a different chemical application technique in 3 of the 4 sections. Then you demonstrate 5 perm rods and applying solution. Then we pretend to cut a round layered haircut (at the real test you cut it) and then we blow dry just the top and do three Marcel iron curls. I got my best score yet and got 99%. I don't know what I got marked down for though.

Today I had a return guest from months ago. I was requested. Back then I did just the perm rods rolling of a curl reformation aka Jheri Curl. This time I ran the whole show. First using a Thio relaxing chemical I relaxed her new growth. This was my first time ever applying a relaxer of any type on a person. Then I rinsed and section by section applied the cream like perming / waving lotion and wrapped the perm on thin pink rods. The only part I had help with was when it said on the bottle to rinse while removing rods I asked for someone to remove while I rinsed. And it turned out nice again.

33 hours left. Less than a week. Did I really type that?

Thanks for reading
I love you all <3
~ No Tangles ~

Day 209 ~ The Streak Ends At 2 Months ~ 6/2/14

Cosmetology School Journey ~ Day 209 ~ The Streak Ends At 2 Months ~ 6/2/14

1453 Hours
118 Guests

Last I wrote it was last Tuesday so its been 5 school days since. Another 35 hours done.
I mentioned the streak ending. From April 2nd to today June 2nd the only guests that I had at school were those who came as requests. I'd like to thank anyone who was a part of that. So how did it end? I originally had two people scheduled for today but my afternoon had to cancel. So after I came back from lunch today I set up a manikin to try to knock out some practicals. As I was going past the desk to the hallway I noticed that there were some ladies walking in. So I set up and as I did I saw that the instructor was trying to figure out who was available and who hadn't had anyone yet. So I spoke up and said I was available if needed. The students who were there with me will know how things really were and it was a bit of a let down with the Mom not being happy about some of the ways we do pedicures and nails. But I got to give a nice young adult lady with special needs a pedicure and she seemed to really have a good time so that's what I'm taking from today's experience with that.

I was in too good of a mood to let any of it get me down. This morning my request guest was a lady who came in December. I paid for her haircut back then because her family had just been through a house fire with total loss of property. I wanted to do something to make her feel good with all that stuff on her mind. So today she returned and her hair had grown out but she liked how it had grown out so not only was she really happy with her angled wedge bob last time but it didn't annoy her at all growing out. Last time Mrs E helped me cut the hair. This time I ran the whole show. And again my guest was delighted. I'm so glad I have her as a guest cuz she's a lot of fun. I always tell people I'm not scissor happy but the truth is I like to cut hair. It is fun. I just prefer to do it when the guest wants me to cut it and I get to try new cuts. I like cutting hair when its going to make them happy. Because whether its a few tips of hair of dust on the ground or a few piles of large curls its only fun when they want it that way. But I do love that I have had the chance to see so many satisfied faces that I got to enjoy time with.

Tomorrow is the last pretend / Mock State Board test at school. Next time I take it after tomorrow its going to be for the marbles.....

Thanks for reading
I Love You All <3
~ No Tangles ~