With the humming of blow dryers, the smiles from clients, and the smell of nail polish filling the room, cosmetology students at Manchester School of Technology are capable of learning everything they need to know for their future in this field.
Cosmetology is the study of hair, skin & nails–from simple haircutting and styling to advanced services such as hair coloring, and permanently curling or straightening hair. It is a world where creativity intertwines with technical expertise, so the role of an instructor is pivotal.
Cosmetology instructors such as Mollie Chase don’t just teach skills, they ignite passion, foster innovation and instill confidence among learners.
Chase started working in a salon in 1989.
“But when I went on maternity leave, I decided that was a good time to change professions,” Chase said. “I worked at Continental Academies for four years before getting hired at MST.”
Working in a salon and going to school was a great start to Chase’s career. These different environments helped her prepare for the differences she would have to face in the future.
“All through high school I was involved in our art department and theater department,” Chase said. “I initially went to college as a fine arts major because I wanted to be an illustrator. After a year in college I realized that college just wasn’t a good fit for me.”
Chase spent around a year working various jobs and doing her own form of art on her own ranging from working at cafes, helping with school arts, and salons. After a year, her father suggested that she go to school to be a teacher since she was always at the high school helping the theater department with hair and makeup.
“I enrolled at UNH Manchester as an education major,” Chase said. “Again, I found that it just wasn’t right for me. When I dropped out of college for the second time, my father suggested that I become a hairdresser as I was always ‘doing someone’s hair’ and seemed to enjoy that. So I enrolled in cosmetology school.”
Chase has “always had a heart” for helping people in the best way she can, so when she got into the salon she found it as a pleasant learning environment.
“The last three years or so in the salon, I found myself enjoying mentoring the newly graduated stylists,” Chase said. “I spent more time helping them. And as far as teaching, I would say it takes about three years to feel comfortable.”
Chase explains that when getting comfortable in a new workspace and environment it may take some time, and that it can go like that for any career.
“The first year is all about learning what to do, ,” Chase said. “The second year is fine-tuning from the first year and the third year is usually the sweet spot where you know what to do and what needs to change, what works, what doesn’t, etc.”
As with any career, getting used to the people, skills needed to be taught, and making the space comfortable, changes as the years pass.
“I started this journey not really knowing what I wanted to be when I grew up, so it was just an easy way to go,” Chase said. “Blending my joy of art as well as my joy of being on stage in front of people was an easy entrance for me. Once I was the manager for a salon, I really enjoyed running it, from balancing the checkbook, to ordering, to mentoring stylists. I would run in salon classes as well as help new stylists with their craft as well as their personal lives.”
Chase found that people would come to her all the time needing advice on all things, not just hair, and soon there were clients. Chase formed many new bonds with a wide variety of people, which helped her realize that helping clients look and feel better is a large part of the industry.
To Chase, cosmetology is a work of art.
“Cosmetologists design and shape hair,” Chase said. “A painter creates images on canvas. A sculptor creates images with marble and clay. A cosmetologist creates with hair. It is the same as any art form, our medium is just hair.”
Chase explained that you do not need to be wildly artistic or even creative to be in cosmetology. There are different stylists for all different people. If you are not super creative, that’s perfectly fine.
“There are so many people that like a nice plain haircut or ‘basic’ hair color,” Chase said. “You just need to be consistent and those clients will stay with you for many years.”
Blending modern beauty standards and trends is a professional skill stylists are equipped to have and consistently keep up with. This helps cosmetologists learn new skills, all while working.
“We never stop learning in the industry,” Chase said. “There will always be new trends, new styles, and new techniques to learn. In any career you need to keep up to date on new technology and trends.”
Cosmetology is able to connect everyone with inspiring people as well as ideas. Salons and barbershops are the center of a community when you really look at it, especially if you’re located in a small town where there are only one or two establishments.
“As stylists, we are there for clients all through their lives,” Chase said. “We go through marriages, births of children, divorce, and death. We are there to make our clients look and feel better no matter what is going on in their lives. We help them see all their beauty when they can’t see it themselves.”
When it comes to wanting to look good it’s our priority to make sure the clients feel good. It is important to make sure that the impact you’re making is going to be the most comfortable and confident outcome for your client.
“Our industry is classified as ‘Human Services’. We are a perfect blend of art and compassion,” said Chase. “Most of our industry is very involved in community service not because it is good business practice but because we genuinely care about our community.”
Chase explained that when it comes to making a welcoming environment, different stylists have their preferences as well as skills they are more confident with than other skills. When working in a salon as well as working with clients, classmates, and current trends, it’s important to acknowledge everyone’s ideas, as well as voices. If there’s a moment where someone may mess up or feel overwhelmed, it’s important to know that it’s always okay to take a step back and go back to it when you feel more confident.
“My personal style of teaching is to let students know that ‘everyone has something,’” Chase said. “What they are good at and are not so good at. We all learn and grow at different rates.”
Helping students grow is why she became a teacher. She said she enjoys “seeing all the different paths” her students take. Over the years, keeping in touch with students who continue with their careers and making their own choices is always a part of her job that makes her the happiest.
“This is not the end,” Chase said, “Your career will take you to all different places if you want. There are many areas to grow into.”
After working with many students Chase is aware that cosmetology can be the entrance for someone else’s success
“Even if they do not pursue cosmetology,” Chase said. “I like to think that I have helped them in all aspects of their career choices. Many of my students will continue their friendship for years after graduation.”
Chase will constantly reach out to former students to come back and help students understand the trends in multiple salons.
“I’ll have them come in and teach a class or just as guest speakers, to let students know about their salon experience, answer any questions, etc,” Chase said.
At the end of the day, Chase is able to identify how much impact she is making on her students’ lives as well as how they make an impact on hers. She is able to represent herself as someone who will always respect and help encourage all of her students, no matter where they go after her class.
“I am so proud of all my students and I love seeing them grow and learn,” Chase said. “I love seeing what they become. It is honestly the best part of my job.”
Chase’s father had a saying that has stayed with her: “Everybody’s money is green.” She said this has been “her mantra.”
“All people deserve the same treatment and respect, whether they are super poor or homeless or extremely well off, Chase said. “It doesn’t matter what walk of life they come from. I try everyday to respect this saying with my students and as well as my clients.”
