Award Beauty School, Hagerstown | Fees, Rankings, Address, Admission, Vacancies, Reviews & More

So before I explain the 2 stars, I just would like to make this known that this is based on my personal experience at Award Beauty school, and may not be yours.

I started Award beauty school in June of 2017, and it took me approximately 1 year and a month to graduate, and be a licensed barber. After diving into the industry, I’ve come to realize that schools are more so about pumping students through than the experience of being educated. I can honestly say, when I left, and was put into a shop, that is where I begun to “learn” how to cut hair. I honestly can’t blame that on the instructors either, the cuts just weren’t there at night school. I can also honestly say that after being there for a year, Award and most other barber schools should really consider a quarterly schedule to bring new students in, rather than pumping new students in every month after pressuring them by claiming there is a waitlist, and you can either start now or 8 months or so later. If you do that, it is less stressful on staff, and allows a better learning environment for everyone.

The staff (teaching level) were great. Clay became a great friend of mine, and I still show him my progress time from time. Mrs. T was also amazing when it came to cosmetology tips. They don’t get enough credit, in my opinion.

The main thing that really irks me about this place, is getting into a shop that literally everyone went to award beauty school, and hearing practically the same story as mine, and that they really didn’t start learning how to cut until they got into a shop, pressured into enrolling, etc etc. I guess that’s “how it is” is the main excuse in our industry…

Another thing that irks me is that we had a theory part of the day, where you’d get into a classroom and learn the book part of everything, where the entire class would one by one read out loud parts of the chapter and then at the end of the week there would be a test. I personally couldn’t focus, so I actually stopped going midway through the year, and read the book myself, twice. I understand that is how some people learn, but that’s just some people. I cannot listen to people who cannot read, try to read, it’s not my thing.

While my barber career is well on its way, I have $12,000 in loans from going to a school where I didn’t really learn anything but the absolute basics, and self taught myself everything in the book, and passed both state board tests with flying colors with one day of prep (for the practical). I essentially paid $12,000 plus interest for about $700 (not factoring in all the manikin heads I used) in barber tools, a couple of new friends, basic barbering skills (it was a bumpy anxiety filled road) and a book. It would’ve been nice to have some of that knocked off since I self taught myself practically everything that mattered, but that’s just business I guess.

A few months ago, I went to this school excited. I am a Person of Melanin Skin. I do not have 4C hair but it is close. Because it is a learning environment, I understood when they had someone who never touched hair of my texture. She had to wash my hair twice because a student suggested that she put Shea Butter in my hair. She had it in clumps. My experience started at 2:00 pm. I wanted a st. I felt that was safe for a newbie. At one point, a graduate was kind to get in my hair and visually show the student how to comb my hair and do a roller set. The graduate student did more than the instructors. It is getting close for me to go to work when I finally suggested that another student help. They gave me another student who knew nothing about my type of hair but she was given instructions on how to do it and she appeared to be happy to help. While I was under the dryer, the evening class started. The original student was constantly complaining that she has to babysit her siblings and her ride maybe waiting on her. It was like she was insinuating that the length of time it was taking her was my fault. I left the dryer early. I still have not paid. The evening instructor is now agitated at me for still being there. Again, as if it is my fault. I could have not been honest and not paid. The instructor claimed that she could not sign my parking space ticket for free parking because the only people who does it is the office. It is now 6:00 pm. I was not thanked for coming but treated as an intruder. I went across the street to the Barber School and vented to one of the instructors. She walked me to the parking garage and got me out free. Since this was on a Friday, I called the following Monday and spoken to a women from the office. She explained that her biggest concern was how I was treated by the instructor. My concern was the whole entire experience. Women of Melanin Skin is the major reason the beauty industry is a billion dollar one. This school does not put that in consideration. Why? I was told by the women from the office that next time I should call to see if they will have someone who is able to do “natural hair” because my hair is not permed. This is unfortunate that People of Melanin Skin are not valued that I have to come on days and times when someone knows how to do my hair type. I would have thought that they would have learned from this experience and decided to incorporate more teachings and practice on different hair textures of Women of Melanin Skin. Obviously, we are unimportant. I spent four hours in a chair and was treated poorly. It was my first experience and will be my last.

Can’t beat these PRICES! FOR A CUT IT’S ONLY $8 & includes wash! (shampoo/ conditioner) HIGHLIGHTS DONE W/CAP is $30 & to have HIGHLIGHTS DONE W/FOIL it’s $40! I had a wonderful experience there the last time, so chances of going back for another cut, is a definite! But FYI, if your on a tight timed schedule, don’t go! Must plan to possibly be there for more than an hour, even if it is something simple! THESE PEOPLE ARE LEARNING AND WANT TO MAKE SURE THEY GIVE YOU THE RESULTS OF WHAT YOU WANT! OH & ALSO A VERY FRIENDLY ATMOSPHERE!!