Cosmetology school at the Cinta Aveda Institute was a good experience. There was so much to learn in so little time. It was quite an experience learning color, hair cutting, using different brushes, and all the different types of up do’s.
I think, at first, the most challenging thing for me was using the round brush. I never knew how to use a round brush, or how to use one hand with a brush while using the other with a blow dryer. To be honest, at first using a round brush made me feel like an idiot! But as my hands got used to the brush/dryer combination and as I learned the different twists and turns involved in a round brush blowout, it became really fun. It’s amazing how lifting the hair up in one direction and pulling it out in the other direction can create so much beauty and volume in a hairstyle.
I also thought that using a round boar-bristle brush to create slick straight hair was an amazing technique to learn. In combination with the Aveda product “Naturally Straight”, the boar-bristle brush could straighten curly Latino or African American hair into straight slick hair. I’ve used this technique on several clients and they’ve left extremely surprised and impressed that their hair could go from curly to straight without using a straightener. It’s always rewarding to see your clients happy and feeling great about themselves.
Another thing I’ve appreciated learning at Cinta Aveda was giving scalp and shoulder massages. I think I’ve gotten more complements on the massages I’ve given compared to the services I’ve performed. The different aromas that Aveda provides in combination with a good back rub or scalp massage gives the client a great sense of peace and relaxation before going into a hair cut or putting color in their hair. I always get a positive reaction or expression on my client’s face.
By the end of the Gamma Phase, we sometimes get lazy. But I strongly believe in a good scalp or shoulder massage! I enjoy giving a shoulder massage because it’s an extremely rewarding sensation to see someone physically feeling better.
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