New Cosmetology Class Makes Waves at HGTC

By Jessica Foster
The Sun News
TOM MURRAY/The Sun News Cosmetology student Jennifer Rivera unpacks two of the three hair mannequins from her cosmetology kit on the first day of classes at Horry-Georgetown Technical College in Conway. The kits contain all of the tools and materials the students will need for their classes and later for work as cosmetologists. Some Horry-Georgetown Technical College students that headed back to class Monday will spend a chunk of their class time in a beauty salon.

That salon, located in the recently renovated 500 building on the Conway campus, is the new cosmetology program's clinical area where students will practice to take a state licensure exam.

After completing the four-semester program with 1,500 hours of class and lab time, students in the new program will get a certificate from the college and will be qualified to take the S.C. State Board of Cosmetology licensure exam, said cosmetology instructor Mary Cox.

The program is approved by the S.C. Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation, which is responsible for licensing and regulating the activities of more than 139 professions and occupations.

The inaugural cosmetology class, decked out in pink uniforms and black jackets, met for the first time Monday morning.

Jennifer Rivera of Myrtle Beach is one of 20 students who were accepted into the program. When Rivera's mom told her about the new program in April, she jumped at the opportunity to follow her dream of opening a salon in Myrtle Beach.

"I said, 'This is it, I'm going to go for it,'" she said.

Rivera, 26, has wanted to become a licensed cosmetologist since she started working for Clinique about eight years ago, she said.

During the course of the program, students will learn about hair shaping, hairstyling, hair coloring, chemical services, manicuring and skin care. They will start out by practicing on mannequins and later will offer services to the public.

Student interest in the program has been high, said Shirley Butler, HGTC's assistant vice president for academic affairs. Its 20 openings were filled in one day without any advertising, she said.

There were about five openings Monday as students dropped and added classes to their schedules, Cox said. Friday is the last day students can change their schedules.

The state cosmetology board will only allow 20 students per class, and there is a waiting list of about 10 students for next semester, Cox said.

Tourism makes this area a prime location for licensed cosmetologists, she said.

"People come into this area and want to be catered to," Cox said. "We're always going to be in demand."

Cosmetology is one of several new programs, including the crime scene investigation track in the criminal justice program, a sports turf concentration in golf course management and a wildlife management track in forestry management.

How to enroll

To enroll in the Horry-Georgetown Technical College's cosmetology program, call 349-5225. Friday is the last day to add or drop classes for the fall semester.