I attended this school for a year and recently graduated summer 2017. This is one beautiful school, one of the reasons I decided to attend was because of the luxurious layout and decor. The establishment is actually a mansion, which once was a restaurant, now a beauty school. Every room has a different concept and design which kind of enamored me! Little did I know this school was going to be a headache and a total rip off!
First lets start with what your supposed to get in terms of classes, education and training. I was under the impression we would be fully learning all aspects of cosmetology as far as barbering, nail care, skin care, makeup, coloring, cutting and styling. We all are supposed to get certified in barbering, brazillian blow out classes, extension clasees, hair coloring classes and also at the completion of your 1500 hours, get a Photo Shoot, done by the administrator (brooke)... I graduated not recieving, or taking the barber class, brazillian blow out class, nor did I get my photo shoot. We never did nails unless it was painting little girls nails for the princess parties, Thats just for starters.
My first week of school was went smooth until I got to Saturday class, ten minutes late, and was greeted by a teacher saying "did you call to say you were going to be late?" meanwhile, amongst a whole group of classmates! (embarassing) I proceded to tell her I was late because I left my phone at home and had to double back. She then told me I have to call in advance and advise teachers when you are running late and how she was "Letting me slide" this time! Now, I couldnt argue that because I was indeed late, however she could have pulled me aside as an adult and PROFESSIONAL and not reprimand me in front of students. I then walked into the student area where all the students normally work on their mannequins, and proceded to get ready to start my saturday until I realized another student (caucasian) walking in late. So I calmly observed just to see if she was going to get embarassed for being late as well. NOT AT ALL. The teacher calmly pulled her to the side and spoke to her like an adult, how I hoped she would have treated me prior. This was only the beginning of the grievences I was yet to face with this particular teacher!
Another way I felt discriminated was by the way every time a black client came in, 90 percent of the time they would automatically give me those clients because Im black as well. Which at first never bothered me until I started realizing they were making things easier for the girls who didnt know how to work with kinky hair. Ive been doing hair since I was a child so I've pretty much mastered my hair type. Doin kinky hair wouldn't be a challenge for me. However I am also very well rounded in styling and I can work with every hair type. I also love a challenge. Days I wasn't even present in school, I would have black clients scheduled/booked under my name, clients I had never even met. So at that time I realized they were in fact giving all black clients to me. Why not give that client to a student who doesnt know how, or who isnt comfortable with working with that hair type? That's why we are in school, to LEARN. Those students were never challenged to work with other hair types and that was unacceptable to me. The teachers also told students that when they bring in a model for the barber class, it has to be a white model. The teachers wouldnt accept your model if they were black with kinky hair. This was told to me by a spanish student who wanted to bring her cousin in to the barber class to practice on him. That wasnt allowed. it had to be white hair because supposedly the teacher wasnt comfortable working on our hair types LOL
This school has a basic area where we take customers, a makeup room, a princess themed dining area for children and princess parties, and a barbershop area. Upstairs has classrooms, librarys, bathrooms, kitchen and offices for administators. To the far right of the school is the Owners own Personal salon TheBeautyShoppe. (which is connected to the school) A few months into attending this school, the owner completely took down the barbershop and makeup room. The makeup room was also another room used for students to work on their mannequins with, and was really needed to have enough space to accommodate the growing student base. But to the owner it was more about MONEY! So she completely demolished the barber area to create more space for her personal salon that she was renovating. Not only that but told us we could no longer use the makeup room to work on mannequins because she started a $3500 makeup course (totally seperate from the cirriculum). Basically taking space from students who already paid to be in the school, to accomodate New makeup students who wanted to take the class. To her I guess new students equalled to more money! This abrupt change made it challenging to be able to work on our doll heads comfortably. The limited space eventually resulted in students cramming in one tight space to work or we had to sometimes work in the area where we assisted clients. However when I was working on mannequins in the client area I would ALWAYS get grief from that ONE BITCHY teacher, but when other caucasian students did it, there was no issue! (this was on more than 1 occasion)
As far as professionalism, LMAO! In no way is this review directed towards LIZA (teacher) because she honestly was the reason why I stayed grounded and actually wanted to go to school. She was literally the best teacher I ever had. Never had an attitude, always eager to help no matter how many times you ask, never made you feel dumb or less than, never discriminated, she was always the same person everyday. I really admired that about her! The other two teachers, NOT so much. I once overheard those other two teachers gossipping about a student about how he was "Bitching" in her own words. Many students would complain about this one particular teacher (the one in the previous incident above) about her attitude, her delivery and being blatantly rude, sometimes even in front of clients, so I knew it wasn't just me over reacting.
When the Presidency Election was final, and it was clear TRUMP won,the next day the owner of the school, yes OWNER came dressed as trump parading around the school celebrating. Very weird to see because religion and politics are something that should never be discussed in school, but Yea, that happened. Not to mention there were a few LGBT students, and hispanic students that attended the school, (whom trump have bashed and insulted numerous times) so even if you are a trump supporter, thats your right, but to parade, dress up and celebrate it in your place of business is just Poor Taste in my eyes .
Lastly, it took them until my LAST week of school for them to release my refund check. Something that I was supposef to get MONTHS in advance. They literally lied and gave me the run around for MONTHS. At that point I had, HAD IT with this school. After a HUGE fall out about MY MONEY.
I WOULD NEVER RECCOMMEND THIS SCHOOL TO ANYONE! The one thing I will say is that one thing you will be great at after attending this school is COLOR AND HIGHLIGHTING, because thats the only thing you will be doing esp on Saturday mornings. Theory was awesome because I had LIZA and she was very thorough in her teachings. If I hadn't had Liza as a theory teacher I'm almost certain I wouldn't have passed State Boards! If you are looking to learn more about STYLING, NOT the school for you. You will learn how to do more new aged styles by the STUDENTS. Half of the styling they mant you to know, the teachers cant do themselves. You will learn some cutting techniques as well. But Dont Come Here especially if you are black save your money honey!
Oxford Academy of Hair Design Reviews
I attended this school for a year and recently graduated summer 2017. This is one beautiful school, one of the reasons I decided to attend was because of the luxurious layout and decor. The establishment is actually a mansion, which once was a restaurant, now a beauty school. Every room has a different concept and design which kind of enamored me! Little did I know this school was going to be a headache and a total rip off!
First lets start with what your supposed to get in terms of classes, education and training. I was under the impression we would be fully learning all aspects of cosmetology as far as barbering, nail care, skin care, makeup, coloring, cutting and styling. We all are supposed to get certified in barbering, brazillian blow out classes, extension clasees, hair coloring classes and also at the completion of your 1500 hours, get a Photo Shoot, done by the administrator (brooke)... I graduated not recieving, or taking the barber class, brazillian blow out class, nor did I get my photo shoot. We never did nails unless it was painting little girls nails for the princess parties, Thats just for starters.
My first week of school was went smooth until I got to Saturday class, ten minutes late, and was greeted by a teacher saying "did you call to say you were going to be late?" meanwhile, amongst a whole group of classmates! (embarassing) I proceded to tell her I was late because I left my phone at home and had to double back. She then told me I have to call in advance and advise teachers when you are running late and how she was "Letting me slide" this time! Now, I couldnt argue that because I was indeed late, however she could have pulled me aside as an adult and PROFESSIONAL and not reprimand me in front of students. I then walked into the student area where all the students normally work on their mannequins, and proceded to get ready to start my saturday until I realized another student (caucasian) walking in late. So I calmly observed just to see if she was going to get embarassed for being late as well. NOT AT ALL. The teacher calmly pulled her to the side and spoke to her like an adult, how I hoped she would have treated me prior. This was only the beginning of the grievences I was yet to face with this particular teacher!
Another way I felt discriminated was by the way every time a black client came in, 90 percent of the time they would automatically give me those clients because Im black as well. Which at first never bothered me until I started realizing they were making things easier for the girls who didnt know how to work with kinky hair. Ive been doing hair since I was a child so I've pretty much mastered my hair type. Doin kinky hair wouldn't be a challenge for me. However I am also very well rounded in styling and I can work with every hair type. I also love a challenge. Days I wasn't even present in school, I would have black clients scheduled/booked under my name, clients I had never even met. So at that time I realized they were in fact giving all black clients to me. Why not give that client to a student who doesnt know how, or who isnt comfortable with working with that hair type? That's why we are in school, to LEARN. Those students were never challenged to work with other hair types and that was unacceptable to me. The teachers also told students that when they bring in a model for the barber class, it has to be a white model. The teachers wouldnt accept your model if they were black with kinky hair. This was told to me by a spanish student who wanted to bring her cousin in to the barber class to practice on him. That wasnt allowed. it had to be white hair because supposedly the teacher wasnt comfortable working on our hair types LOL
This school has a basic area where we take customers, a makeup room, a princess themed dining area for children and princess parties, and a barbershop area. Upstairs has classrooms, librarys, bathrooms, kitchen and offices for administators. To the far right of the school is the Owners own Personal salon TheBeautyShoppe. (which is connected to the school) A few months into attending this school, the owner completely took down the barbershop and makeup room. The makeup room was also another room used for students to work on their mannequins with, and was really needed to have enough space to accommodate the growing student base. But to the owner it was more about MONEY! So she completely demolished the barber area to create more space for her personal salon that she was renovating. Not only that but told us we could no longer use the makeup room to work on mannequins because she started a $3500 makeup course (totally seperate from the cirriculum). Basically taking space from students who already paid to be in the school, to accomodate New makeup students who wanted to take the class. To her I guess new students equalled to more money! This abrupt change made it challenging to be able to work on our doll heads comfortably. The limited space eventually resulted in students cramming in one tight space to work or we had to sometimes work in the area where we assisted clients. However when I was working on mannequins in the client area I would ALWAYS get grief from that ONE BITCHY teacher, but when other caucasian students did it, there was no issue! (this was on more than 1 occasion)
As far as professionalism, LMAO! In no way is this review directed towards LIZA (teacher) because she honestly was the reason why I stayed grounded and actually wanted to go to school. She was literally the best teacher I ever had. Never had an attitude, always eager to help no matter how many times you ask, never made you feel dumb or less than, never discriminated, she was always the same person everyday. I really admired that about her! The other two teachers, NOT so much. I once overheard those other two teachers gossipping about a student about how he was "Bitching" in her own words. Many students would complain about this one particular teacher (the one in the previous incident above) about her attitude, her delivery and being blatantly rude, sometimes even in front of clients, so I knew it wasn't just me over reacting.
When the Presidency Election was final, and it was clear TRUMP won,the next day the owner of the school, yes OWNER came dressed as trump parading around the school celebrating. Very weird to see because religion and politics are something that should never be discussed in school, but Yea, that happened. Not to mention there were a few LGBT students, and hispanic students that attended the school, (whom trump have bashed and insulted numerous times) so even if you are a trump supporter, thats your right, but to parade, dress up and celebrate it in your place of business is just Poor Taste in my eyes .
Lastly, it took them until my LAST week of school for them to release my refund check. Something that I was supposef to get MONTHS in advance. They literally lied and gave me the run around for MONTHS. At that point I had, HAD IT with this school. After a HUGE fall out about MY MONEY.
I WOULD NEVER RECCOMMEND THIS SCHOOL TO ANYONE! The one thing I will say is that one thing you will be great at after attending this school is COLOR AND HIGHLIGHTING, because thats the only thing you will be doing esp on Saturday mornings. Theory was awesome because I had LIZA and she was very thorough in her teachings. If I hadn't had Liza as a theory teacher I'm almost certain I wouldn't have passed State Boards! If you are looking to learn more about STYLING, NOT the school for you. You will learn how to do more new aged styles by the STUDENTS. Half of the styling they mant you to know, the teachers cant do themselves. You will learn some cutting techniques as well. But Dont Come Here especially if you are black save your money honey!