Paul Mitchell The School

This review is based on a student’s perspective, for anyone considering attending this school. Like other for-​profit colleges, such as Corinthian’s or University of Phoenix, this school is a MAJOR scam. It was a few years ago when I attended, but the fact still remains: a certificate in cosmetology is NOT worth $ 17,000.
Paul Mitchell schools only teach THEIR specific ways of cutting and coloring, forgetting other traditional methodologies that are tried and true. Older, more experienced teachers always disappeared after a few months for not conforming to Paul Mitchell’s very specific ways. Worst of all, students were actually charged $ 75 fines for breaking silly rules. For example: tardiness, parking too close to the entrance, too many absences, or even gossiping (no joke!), which made the experience that much worse. To force students to pay steep fines as punishment in order to graduate is straight-​up EXTORTION. Colleges don’t do that, so why should this trade school? Not to mention the «designer» supplies in that $ 2,000 kit broke all the time and often had to be replaced. Obviously, my classmates who didn’t come from a privileged background suffered the most.
After only six weeks of cramming in state-​board required lessons, we were placed on «the floor,» or accepting clients. With so little instruction before transitioning from a mannequin to a human, mistakes happened often. On busy days, I never got a lunch break; however, 30 minutes was STILL subtracted from my daily instructional hours. Not cool. The whole year, I only performed one roller set, one perm, and never learned how to cut hair with a razor.
Despite what the advertisements say, you are definitely NOT guaranteed a higher paying job after graduating. In fact, some salons actually refuse Paul Mitchell students, since they’re not taught a variety of techniques other schools would teach. So why on earth did I stay? After eight weeks, I wanted to transfer elsewhere when I realized what I had gotten myself into. Out of the $ 17,000 I had already paid with a loan, I was told I could only get around $ 2,000 back. Wow! Based on my friends’ and my own experience, check out Winonah’s or a barber school, to better secure a job. Also, apprenticing may take longer, but you get paid to learn and better hands-​on experience. Paul Mitchell School is NOT worth it!

June 11^th: I have given the Paul Mitchell School of Cosmology one star. The student that did my hair did a great job and had an outstanding personality; however, the young lady at the front desk (I think her name is Kira) has had a terrible attitude since I started going to the school about 3 months ago. I know she’s not a people person and she has shown prejudice behavior toward African American students and clients. When I call to make my appointments I always know when its her because her attitude is always always so awful and unpleasant. I love the concept and I love the products but you really need to do something about your front line staff because you’re going to lose a lot of great clients and at the end of the day only the students will suffer.

Got my hair highlighted here, and the student did a great job! Her teacher was supervising and checking in, so I didn’t feel nervous about a student doing things to my hair. SO much cheaper than going to a real salon — I definitely recommend coming here if you’re looking for a cheaper way to color/​highlight your hair.

Students here are all very good! I was watching other people while they were getting cuts and colors and everything looked awesome! Mine did as well! There wasn’t a time that a teacher wasn’t around to help if needed. Great prices!