Budding beauty students breeze through Saturday Academy

Dozens of Year 11 students have graduated with flying colours from a Saturday Academy devoted to all things hair and make-up at UCB.

From Beauty Therapy to Hairdressing, 55 young beauticians were given a taste of busy college life with a day of practical taster sessions devoted to their course of interest.

“Our Saturday Academies are all about giving young people the chance to think more clearly about their careers and their future,” said event organiser Joanna Axinte.

“Having hands-on workshops like this is just a taster of what they’ll be doing on their college courses at UCB. So, not only are these young students gaining skills, they are getting a head-start on what they’ll be learning in September.”

From blow-drying techniques to body art, to wig fitting and dressing, students tried their hand at a range of activities in UCB’s professional hair studios, make-up studios and beauty suites.

An afternoon spent mastering complex prom hairstyles in the University’s hair studio, usually open to the public, proved a high point for future hairdressing students. Turning their hands to a range of different techniques, including waterfall braids, French plaits and classic updos, lecturers were left stunned at the progress made in just a couple of hours.

“This is a really nice way for us to introduce the course to students who will never have learned anything like this before,” said Sue Bedford, lecturer on UCB’s Theatrical Special Effects, Hair and Media Make-up course.

“It’s a great chance for us to get a snapshot of our future students’ skills and talents, too.”

The day was rounded off with talks from current students about their achievements with UCB. Toni Cheshire, who began her Specialist Hair and Media Make-up (SHMM) FdA with little experience and now runs her own successful freelance make-up business, shared stories of balancing her life as a working mum with the demands of her studies. Third-year SHMM student Leah Ratcliffe, who has worked for several BBC productions alongside her degree, gave advice and guidance on making the most of opportunities in the hair and beauty industry. 

A final ceremony awarded all graduates with a certificate of completion, and gave a special mention to those students who had excelled in their behaviour and performance over the course of the day.