Star Courier news editor Charlotte Neal visited the Hair and Beauty Academy at Farnborough College of Technology for a pre-Christmas pamper. See her story below as featured in the Star Courier.
LIKE most women, when my hair is a mess, I feel a mess.
Nothing quite compares to the fresh hair feeling as you step out of the salon, or the relaxation from having a massage at the beauticians’.
But, like most women, I also cannot justify spending a small fortune every time I want to enjoy such luxuries, so often have to wait longer than the recommended six to eight weeks between hair colours, and even longer for beauty treatments.
So when I learned there is a professional salon offering low-cost hair and beauty treatments, my heart did a little woop of joy.
Farnborough College of Technology’s Hair and Beauty Academy operates just like a high street salon, but without the hefty price tag – they only charge for products.
I headed down on a Tuesday evening – when the already-qualified Level Three hairdressing students were hard at work – to get my scraggy bleach blonde hair revamped.
I decided to try out belayage for winter – essentially dying the roots slightly darker, blending from root to tip.
Lydia Brincap, a Level Three student who works at JK’s Hair & Beauty in Fleet, was friendly and chatted through the colour charts with me before settling on a golden blonde.
As she was mixing the colour I had a good look around – there was so many clients chatting and students working, and I was sucked in by the buzz of the place, forgetting I was in a college.
I relaxed and had a cup of tea as my colour was applied and left to develop under a heat lamp – lovely.
Lydia then washed my hair and, just like any other salon, gave me a head massage before we talked through the cut.
As my hair was quite damaged, she suggested ways to help keep it healthy, which I really appreciated.
She then blow-dried my hair, leaving it shiny and bouncy – just as I asked.
I was really impressed with her professionalism and, in fact, of all the students I could see working.
In the two hours I was there, I could see some girls whizzing through various clients, all leaving with smiles on their faces.
The price of my colour, cut and finish was £26 – usually I would expect to pay anything up to £150 for the same service on the high street, but I was just as chuffed with the result.
The students are supervised – not that they need it – and use good-quality Wella hair products.
It is also worth mentioning that beauty students are also on hand to offer services – including a very reasonable manicure and pedicure for just £20.
On Tuesday evenings they also offer barber services for just £2, for ages 12 and over.
I admit I was not quite as relaxed as I would have been in a high street salon – it is a learning environment after all – but for a practical, affordable and decent service, I will not be looking anywhere else.
Author – Charlotte Neal
For appointments with the Hair and Beauty Academy, call 01252 407243.
Find out more about our range of courses in Hair and Beauty.