New beauty academy in Carson City open to public

Since opening its doors to students about four months ago, the Sierra Academy of Style (SAS) has started three class cycles and began accepting clients from the community, co-owner Anthony Gayner said.

The school is about to start a fourth class cycle, he said, as enrollment has climbed to 30 students since the program first opened on May 2.

Students from the inaugural class began work on clients at the school salon in July, Gayner said, after having finished 100 hours or more of classroom education.

Cosmetologist trainees had to complete 300 hours of classroom learning before they could begin working on clients, while estheticians and nail technicians had to log 150 and 100 hours, respectively.

That first class includes a cosmetologist and two estheticians who are on pace to graduate the program by early November, Gayner said.

A total of 16 cosmetology students are currently enrolled, eight esthetician students, five nail technicians and one hair design student, Gayner said.

"Each course varies in required hours," he said. "From 600 to 1,600 hours."

Cosmetologists, whose skills encompass the full range of beauty services, are required to complete 1,600 hours of training, followed closely by hair designers at 1,200 hours.

Estheticians must complete 900 hours of training, while nail technicians are required to finish 600 hours before earning their credenitals.

Students are now providing a host of cosmetology services to consumers — including haircuts and hairstyling, nails and esthetics — at a substantial savings to consumers, Gayner said.

"Our prices are extremely affordable," he said. "We have reasonable prices so that our students have clients to work on in order to practice on the trade they are learning."

But this doesn't mean customers should shy away from receiving services from a trainee, Gayner said.

"All of our students are supervised by licensed instructors to aid the student during the appointment," he said.

Gayner said he hopes customers will try all of the services that SAS offers the community.

"We have an outstanding esthetic clinic that offers everything from waxing to facials to microdermibrasion," he said. "We will soon be offering eyelash extensions as a service, too."

Gayner said SAS continues to recruit prospective students, too, delivering quality, affordability and flexibility to those looking to either change careers or start one for the first time.

Area businesses are scheduled to give presentations to students during training, he said, so they can learn 'real life lessons' on what type of insurance they need, how to set up a business account, and how to accept different types of payments.

"We give a sales and marketing class as well," Gayner said. "We want out students to leave our school with real life knowledge on 'what to do next,' rather than let them hope for the best."

Day and night classes are currently offered, he said, along with reasonable payments options.

The program is even offered through Job Opportunities In Nevada, Inc., a nonprofit employment training organization that helps clients pay for their education.

"Our staff is focused on customer service and we are here to help our students succeed in this career," Gayner said.

The school is also setting up a voucher system through the Ron Wood Foundation, Gayner said, to give haircuts to job-seeking clients of the Ron Wood Family Resource Center.

Sierra Academy of Style accepts appointments and walk-ins, but Gayner said appointments are encouraged to avoid long waits.

For service pricing and enrollment information, visit SAS online or find it here on Facebook.