LIC School runs on-site beauty salon

Students in the cosmetology program at the Queens Vocational and Technical High School in Long Island City are putting what they learn to use by going out into the community to provide services and also having customers come to the school's on-site beauty salon.
Through the cosmetology program, which is part of the School of Entrepreneurial Studies and currently has 244 students, the teens learn what they need to know to pass the state licensing exam while getting hands on experience and completing the necessary 1,000 hours also needed to get a license. Students learn how to do waves, set, color, perm and relax hair, among other things.
The students in the program are taught that the profession involves more than &#8220just hair.” They learn about the components of hair, the skin, the business side of cosmetology and many other related aspects.
&#8220I thought it would only involve hair, but there's more (that goes) into it,” said Anadia Diaz, a senior from Corona.
&#8220It connects the reality of their academics to real work skills,” Jeanette Newman, director of the School of Entrepreneurial Studies and Assistant Principal of Business and Cosmetology, said of the program.
In order to get hands on experience, the senior students in the program hold clinics for the Elite Salon that is open to the public. The clinics are held Wednesday from 12:30 p.m. to 3 p.m., Thursday from 8 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. and Friday from 8 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
Available services include blow dry, haircut, braids and flat twists, facials, eyebrow shaping, wax, nail services, hair coloring and hair styling. The services cost between $2 and $25, with the money going towards cosmetology supplies.
&#8220It's fun,” student Rayvan Walker, a senior from Jamaica said of the clinics. &#8220It's good experience.”
Students also gain experience through their volunteer work at the Sunnyside Community Center and Ravenswood Senior Center. About every other month, the students go to the centers to provide services to senior citizens. Also, the students collaborated with the Susan B. Anthony Junior High School to do make-up for their production of &#8220Cats.”
&#8220They love to go out and do what they do,” said instructor Heidi Quartuccio. &#8220They rise to the occasion.”
Walker said she had always been interested in doing hair so, when she read about the program, she decided to apply for it. Following graduation, she wants to go to college for business administration and wants to eventually open up her own spa.
Anna-Kay Vaz, also from Jamaica, said that she has been doing hair since she was 13, which was why she wanted to join the program.
&#8220It's really nice if you want to do hair,” said Vaz, who wants to some day open her own salon.
Stanley Grochala, also an instructor with the program, said the students work very hard and are enthusiastic about what they do.
&#8220They're just very serious about the business,” he said. &#8220I really enjoy working with them.”
Newman said that the program is very popular, with approximately 1,600 students applying for about 65 openings.
&#8220This is such a great business for them to get in to,” said Quartuccio. &#8220They're learning about so many things. There's just so much they can go into.”
The school also has many partnerships, including ones with Vidal Sassoon, Dudley Products, Hair Fashions East, Hairstyles by Joseph's, DeVry Institute of Technology, Queensborough Community College, LIC Business Development Corporation and the U.S. Small Business Administration, among others.
For information on the Elite Salon, contact Newman at 718-937-3010 x4131 or the salon at 718-937-3010 x3231. You can also visit the school's website at www.qvths.org.