4/3/2024 via Google

4/3/2024
via Google

As an alumni of Paul Mitchell Tyson’s Corner, I would “NEVER” recommend anyone, who is interested in attending a cosmetology program, to attend this school. Since graduating, I have taken some time to reflect on my poor experience at Paul Mitchell: The School and offer a response that is clear and concise. To begin with, my name is Christopher Scott and I attended Paul Mitchell: The School, Tyson’s Corner in the fall of 2019 and I graduated in November of 2020. When I toured the school, I met Brian “Beama” Whalen and he was nothing short of amazing. The upper class students were very welcoming and it made me feel like I found a cosmetology home. For those students who are reading this, please do not be fooled by the glitz and glamour by this school in Tyson’s Corner, Virginia. Everything that glitters is not gold and I learned this firsthand. The former School Director, Yovania Rosa, was neither here nor there with the students. There were days when she would not acknowledge people’s presence in the hallways nor on the clinic classroom floor. As a leader of the school, it is important to establish relationships with students and she chose to do otherwise. The former Educational Director, Johari “JoJo” Jefferson, was very selective in who she communicated with and if you were not apart of her inner circle, then you were merely a stranger to her. She was not personable at all and she would spend majority of her time in her office. One time, I had a question and I asked if it was a good time to speak with her. She said, “Yes”. When I was talking to her, JoJo’s back was to me and she kept typing/ scrolling on the computer. At that point, I did not feel acknowledged and I left feeling like she lacked professionalism. She even mentioned to me, “I got my license; you have to get yours.” In all, JoJo left a bad taste in my mouth while attending this school. Two former learning leaders, Tyrice Otts and Robert “Rob” Booterbaugh were modern-day “Mean Girls”. Similar to JoJo, if you were not one of their favorites, then you were not selected for specific services, such as highlighting/ toning services and coloring services or you were not approached to apply and enter Phase II, which is PMTS’s Honor’s Program. It was clear that PMTS in Tyson’s Corner did not cater to Black people. For example, Caucasian students were always given highlighting/ toning services and coloring services whereas Black students, like myself, were given Black people who more than likely needed blowdrying and thermal services, deep conditioning treatments and haircutting services. When I noticed the trend, I approached Rob and I asked for more lightening/ toning services and coloring services. However, nothing came from the conversation. Then, there were no products available for Black hair on the clinic classroom floor. If the students were not stealing them, then management locked it up in the storage closets or at the front desk. Lastly, the school itself went downhill during the pandemic. Three of my learning leaders left mid-year, one of which was the Theory instructor. The remaining faculty members were not organized at all and I did question their skills as licensed cosmetologists many times. It was apparent that these learning leaders were collecting their minimum-waged checks and were mediocre by default. Because of the lack of organization, I was left to my own devices and I had to empower myself to finish off strong because I did not feel no support from Antonia Richardson, Johari Jefferson, Judy Ma, Robert Booterbaugh, Tonnie Moore or Yovania Rosa. When I voiced my disdain about the school via email to Yovania, I was met with “you are free to find another cosmetology school to finish your remaining hours” as opposed to finding common grounds as to why your school is not preparing me for life outside of cosmetology school. In all, I will not completely bash this school because I did learn some things: You have to aggressively fight for your right to a quality education and Be unapologetically Black in spaces where you do not see yourself in.

3/25/2024 via Google

3/25/2024
via Google

While the stylist, who ended up doing my hair seemed semi-nice and polite, she ended up cutting my hair really unevenly (within a 2-hour span). I didn't find out how bad it was until I went to a different hair salon recently to trim my hair. Also, the way she forced me to lay literally flat at the hair wash station was a bit much too. She had laid a small bench beneath me so that I was literally forced to lay at a 90-degree angle which was extremely uncomfortable. At the end, when I gave her tips through Venmo, it was almost like she was done with dealing with me completely because she had gotten her tips. When I tried to say something else, she dismissed me outright. Other than this not-so-pleasant experience, the people at the front desk were pleasantly friendly and wonderful, in addition to the people who answer the phone and the hair stylist's instructor. No offense but if this place offered hair services again to the public, I would not recommend or go back. It's better to stick with other salons that have more experienced stylists.

2/8/2024 via Google

2/8/2024
via Google

My appointment was set for 10:15 , they have a 15 min. Window . I called them told them I’d be there at 10:25. Told me as long as it’s before 10:30 or they will cancel the appointment. Which was fine until I come and 5 minutes of me being there lady at front desk told me my hair stylist will be 15/20 minutes late . Which over all I was waiting an hour to be seen . I was late for work having to be there at 2:30 . The stylist was very sweet Rachel did an amazing job . She did explain to me she told them prior she had an appointment and was going to be really late and did not want me waiting to have someone else do it . Which upset me because if they knew prior to me even calling why wouldn’t they tell me my stylist was going to be really late so I could reschedule ? Instead tell me if I’m over 15 min late that they were cancelling my appointment: This was my first time at this location , I was very disappointed and upset at how they run business . At least give someone a discount for making them wait over an hour and not communicating .BUT I was overall satisfied with Rachel and that’s prbly the only reason I’d come back . I still tipped her because it was not her fault