Remember that dark, empty classroom at the end of the Math hallway? That room is finally a world full of makeup, hair products, and salon chairs since the opening of the long-awaited Cosmetology and Barbering program this year at FCHS.  Fluvanna native Katy Wilkerson– who taught Cosmetology in Greene County before moving back to the land of the Blue and Gold– is teaching the classes.

Wilkerson started out in the cosmetology world when she was in a high school, taking a course very similar to what she now teaches. She’s been behind the chair ever since, but it wasn’t until she started training new cosmetologists that she really found her niche and started training high schoolers seven years ago.

“When I was training, I loved being the person to answer everyone’s questions. I learned I really loved helping people learn new things,” said Wilkerson.

Open to juniors and seniors, the new course enables students to learn Cosmetology and Barbering free of charge.  This is a huge opportunity since the same courses taken after high school could cost a person $5,000 to $15,000. Unfortunately, due to the number of salon chairs, class sizes are limited to 13 students in each class.

That fact, combined with the huge popularity of the class, meant that many students who wanted to take the classes this year were unable to do so. Another drawback is that Cosmetology/Barbering is a two-year program, so seniors that are taking the course will have to continue the program at their own expense after they graduate.

“I’ve heard some complaints from current seniors about having to finish the program after they graduate, but I believe they should be grateful. The people that graduated last year didn’t have the opportunity to even take one year of this class,” said Wilkerson.

Those students who did make it into the class seem to be grateful. “I like styling other people’s hair and doing their makeup, but I’ve never been really good at cutting hair, so I’m looking forward to learning that in this class,” said senior Olivia Johnson.

Not only will Cosmetology students learn about makeup and cutting hair, they will also learn important life skills including professionalism, job skills, facial bone structure, and bacteria associated with performing cosmetology. “Regardless of whether you go into cosmetology later in life, you will learn things in this class that will be helpful after you graduate,” said Wilkerson.

So are free haircuts on the horizon? Not quite. This year, the students will be offering non-chemical services to staff, at a half-price value. These will include manicures, styling, and makeup, but not coloring or cutting hair, since the students are new to their craft. But according to Wilkerson, next year you could see second-year students offering haircuts at a reasonable price.