Sarah Hunt is a professional freelance makeup artist based in Omaha, Nebraska who has styled a variety of clients from U.S. Senators, to sports legends, to actors and actresses.

I am a professional freelance make-up artist in the second half of my 30s. I’ve been working as a make-up artist in the film and print industry for 14 years. I have had the pleasure of styling a wide spectrum of personalities – U.S. Senators, sports legends, journalists, CEOs, billionaires, actors, actresses, and everyday people. Two years ago I approached my local YWCA about their domestic violence awareness campaign. I wanted to donate my talent to the women in need at the YWCA – a need I recognize, because I myself am a survivor of sexual assault.

Here are some startling statistics that illustrate the growing epidemic of violence:

• 1 in 6 women and 1 in 33 men are victims of sexual violence in their lifetime.
• College women are 6 times more likely to be a victim of sexual assault.
• In 2007 248,300 people reported a sexual assault in the U.S. That’s 1 person every 2 minutes.
• 60% of sexual assaults are not reported to the police.
• Approximately 73% of victims know their assailants.
• Only 6% of rapists spend even a day in jail.

The YWCA provides help to women, including survivors of rape and domestic violence, in times of crisis. They work to eliminate racism and empower women through counseling, career training, health and fitness, and childcare. This is how I met Felicia, the most beautiful person I have had the chance to style. She is my age, married young and raised five children with her husband – who beat and raped her repeatedly for more than a decade. Eventually, she made the decision to rise up and free herself and her children from this violence with the help of the YWCA. He is now in jail.

For one of their domestic violence awareness campaigns, I was asked to re-create the injuries she sustained the last time he beat her using makeup techniques. Law enforcement would not release the actual injury documentation photos because they were considered state evidence and could only be obtained by paying a fee. Because the cost was too much for the not-for-profit YWCA to pay, and they still needed to make a graphic statement about their awareness campaign, I was presented with a perfect opportunity. I used several products to re-create her injuries:

• Ben Nye EW-4 master bruise wheel
• Ben Nye CK-5 FX burns and blisters color wheel
• Modeling putty/wax
• Fake blood
• Neutral setting powder
• Dappling sponge, and my favorite brushes

Felicia handled the experience with strength and grace. I applied the bruises and gashes as she explained to me each injury and how it happened. In the span of 30 minutes we traveled back to the darkest time of her life. My work complete, I asked her if she wanted to see – she picked up the hand mirror and looked deeply at her reflection, nodding with approval as she looked back at me with satisfaction and spirit in her eyes. We quickly snapped the photos and removed the make-up with Bobbi Brown skincare products:

• Lathering Tube Soap
• Exfoliating Cream Wash
• Soothing Face Tonic
• Philosophy Hope in a Jar Moisturizer

Then, for the next half hour we talked about her children, her family, her goals and dreams, and how far her personal journey had taken her as I transformed her back into the stronger, even more beautiful woman she has become. We went full circle, from normal to nightmare and back, in 60 minutes. This was a difficult journey for me as a survivor and a professional makeup artist, but it illustrates to me the power of the human spirit.

One of the most important questions a potential cosmetology school student has is how to pay for cosmetology education. The Montgomery GI Bill was designed to provide soldiers and veterans with financial funding for higher education. Each state has its own Montgomery GI Bill approving agency, and technical schools such as beauty schools are ideal candidates. The GI Bill has even recently been expanded to cover the spouses and dependents of military personnel, so it’s important for beauty schools to recognize and appreciate the service soldiers and their families have given to our country.

Ryan Vaia, a U.S. Marine Corps sergeant, long dreamed of becoming a licensed cosmetologist. However, when she applied to one Illinois cosmetology school, she discovered the beauty school would not maintain Illinois VA compliance because of the need to have an on-site member of the staff maintain academic records. Fortunately there are more than two dozen other Illinois cosmetology schools that do not have that issue.

If you’re a member of the military or immediate family, you may be able to benefit from the Montgomery GI Bill – but make sure the cosmetology school you choose is approved and willing to work with you! As for Vaia, she is already looking at other cosmetology schools in Illinois in order to transfer to one approved for the Montgomery GI Bill.

What are your thoughts on situations like Vaia’s? Have you ever run into any challenges applying the Montgomery GI Bill funding to a cosmetology school education?

Synchronicity was in the air today. There’s quite a buzz in the architectural and construction industries about the evolving LEED standards. We noticed that U.S. College Search had recommended architectural school students to begin investigating the LEED standards more closely and perhaps specialize in LEED compliance for a career boost. Then we noticed that the very first LEED certified salon and spa just went into business in Atlanta! Someone was paying attention.

The Brookhaven location of Atlanta’s Natural Body Spa & Shop has just been awarded a LEED Platinum certification, which is the highest environmentally-conscious building standard. The location features beauty and cosmetology services from both a Natural Body Spa & Shop and a 10TEN Nail Bar. But the buzz about LEED standards means that they’re doing it with the lightest environmental footprint possible, and that keeps their karma in line with their community.

Natural Body dedicated themselves to boosting their environmental responsibility by using regional building materials in the design of the salon, and incorporating up to 50% post-industrial material and low-energy lighting sources for the finishing touches.

The Natural Body location is especially noteworthy because it’s in a high-density, mixed-business development with mass transit, trendy shops and green space side by side. Awesome! Natural Body gets it, and we love it!

Do you know any LEED standards building projects being planned in your area? If any of them are eco-friendly spas, salons or resorts, we want to hear about it.

Salon Professional Academy in Nashville, TN

Salon Professional Academy, a cosmetology school in Nashville, Tennessee, is lending a hand in today’s hurting economy. They are now offering cosmetology scholarships to General Motors employees who’ve been recently laid off to help them get back on the career track.

Read the full article here.
More about Salon Professional Academy in Nashville.

Okay, I admit it. The Real Housewives franchise is my guilty pleasure! I was so excited when I watched the Atlanta season premiere the other night and saw Empire Beauty School featured on the show.

Kim Zolciak, one of the most controversial women on the show, took a lot of heat last season for wearing a wig. Turns out she claims to have had a disease that made her hair fall out. This season, she has decided to turn a negative into a positive and start her own wig line.

During her trip to Empire Beauty School, Kim seemed overwhelmed by the amount of education needed to become a cosmetologist. She made it very clear that education was not her thing, instead deciding to hire people with the know-how to help her in her business venture. Although she decided to personally skip on the Empire Beauty School education, she seemed to enjoy her trip and even made a comment about hiring one of the cosmetology-educated women she met that day.

Whether you love her or hate her, what do you think about Kim’s proposed wig line? I think it’s an obvious direction for her to go in and I’m excited to see what comes of it. I’ve personally never worn a wig but think it would be fun to have short and curly hair one day, and long and dramatic hair the next day. Plus many women suffering from cancer or a condition like Alopecia, which causes bald spots, want and need options.

Also, to the Empire Beauty School students and alumni out there, were you excited to see your school in the spotlight? Do you think it was accurately portrayed? Let us know!

House of Heavilin Beauty Colleges in Kansas City, MO

House of Heavilin, a Kansas City beauty school chain, is helping raise money for the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC). Each of their locations will be holding a cut-a-thon, offering inexpensive haircuts and donating the proceeds to NCMEC.

Read the full article here.
More about House of Heavilin Beauty College in Kansas City

When licensed beauty professionals need a brush-up on training – what’s the best way to continue your education? Some beauty schools are now offering online cosmetology training courses for licensed beauty professionals. Why? It’s easy and flexible.

Since higher education has largely turned to the Internet, students can now take classes from institutions that are not even located in their city, or state for that matter. Now, beauty schools are seeing the transition to online beauty classes, and don’t want to be left unplugged!

Given that this is a new avenue for beauty schools, there are some rules. You must already have your cosmetology license to take online continuing education beauty courses. Not all states accept online training for additional certificates or mandatory continued education so make sure you check with your state’s cosmetology licensing requirements before you enroll in online beauty school classes.

If you live in a state where you can enroll in online beauty courses then it can be the perfect way to brush up on your cosmetology skills or learn new beauty methods or procedures. Some of the courses you can take are:
• Additional coloring methods
• Mandatory sanitation information
• Building your career tips
• And more!

We know that attending a cosmetology school in the flesh is the best way to get hands-on cosmetology training. But in an online environment, you don’t have to worry about when to go to beauty school – it’s all in front of you on your computer on your own schedule. It’s perfect for stylists who want to continue their cosmetology education and not have to go to a classroom, or for individuals wanting to return to a beauty profession they left for a while. But

What about you? Have you thought about, or ever taken any online beauty school classes? Do you feel you get as much out of it as a class in a real beauty school?

Kenneth Shuler School of Cosmetology in South Carolina

South Carolina’s Kenneth Shuler School of Cosmetology is lending a hand to victims of tornado damage. On July 22, students at this South Carolina beauty school offered five hours of free haircuts to local residents who were dealing with setbacks from storm damage earlier this year.

Read the full article here.
More about Kenneth Shuler School of Cosmetology in South Carolina.

Brio Academy of Cosmetology in East Hartford, Connecticut

Brio Academy of Cosmetology in East Hartford, Connecticut is offering free back-to-school haircuts for kids whose families are struggling financially and need a little help with back-to-school supplies. The Connecticut cosmetology school is participating as part of the city social services “Back to School Supplies” program.

Read the full article here.
More about Brio Academy of Cosmetology in East Hartford.

Holistic means ‘whole’ and holistic health focuses on the whole self: mind, body and spirit.  The practices used in holistic therapies are also sometimes referred to as alternative medicine.  These holistic and alternative approaches to medicine may not be a part of mainstream health care, but they are growing in the world of cosmetology.  The National Center for Complimentary and Alternative Medicine , a research group, has found that 38% of American adults use some form of alternative medicine.

People may think that the holistic health industry is separate from cosmetology, but that simply isn’t the case.  Cosmetology has extended far beyond hairstyling alone.  Many cosmetology schools offer programs in esthetics and skin care, nail care, hair care and massage therapy.  Each of these areas of cosmetology can work well with a holistic approach to health.  Cosmetology schools and beauty schools focus on outward appearance, and many people may not realize that outward appearance is often a reflection of our health.  When we are stressed, we may have tense muscles or more skin breakouts.  If we aren’t eating right, we might have brittle hair and nails.  All of these outward issues may be indicators of bigger problems.  As a society we need to be less stressed and focus more on our health.

Cosmetology and holistic health can work together to reach this goal.  We need to focus on our minds, bodies and spirits, and we need to be training future cosmetology professionals to help their clients find that same focus.  Getting a beauty treatment can help relax your clients.  As an esthetician, you can give advice on not only soothing broken out skin, but also mind/body/spirit exercises that can help prevent skin problems from coming back.  A session with a massage therapist can calm clients’ muscles and keep them relaxed as they go through their busy lives.  The health of the whole self is linked to outward appearance, so the cosmetology industry and holistic health industry should work more closely together to help our society become and remain healthy.

What about you? How does your cosmetology school or beauty salon tie holistics and alternative medicine into your services?

Aveda Institute of Beauty and Wellness in Milwaukee, Wisconsin

This article from the Examiner talks about the number of people getting massages doubling in the last decade for relief of stress, muscle pain and back pain. The article mentions the wildly successful Aveda Institute of Beauty & Wellness in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, which is a massage therapy school that those future licensed massage therapists to be successful in the massage therapy field!

Read the full article here.
More about the Aveda Institute of Beauty and Wellness in Milwaukee.

Brio Academy of Cosmetology in Niantic, Connecticut

This is a heartwarming story about 18-year-old Kimberley Gladue who struggled early in high school and didn’t have much going for her who turned her life around and now plans to attend Brio Academy of Cosmetology in Niantic, CT in the fall. She is passionate about hair, makeup and skincare, and someday hopes to open her own salon.

Read the full article here.
More about the Brio Academy of Cosmetology in Connecticut.