TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — A local salon and spa uses a new method to allow their apprentices to become licensed in cosmetology.
Several years ago, Alchemy owner and American Board-Certified Hair Colorist Marta Robinson was on Facebook when she noticed that each state had different apprentice to licensure laws. This led to her creating a bill that passed in July. Robinson says that Alchemy in Terre Haute is now the first salon in Indiana offering a paid apprenticeship to cosmetology licensure.
“This is a paid, working every day in the salon apprenticeship.” Robinson said. “It’s 2,500 hours, there’s still a progress book that the apprentices have to work through, so while they are completing that 2,500 hours, they are taking discounted services, which we’d love for the public to take advantage of.”
The experience at Alchemy now resembles that of a traditional labor union. Apprentice Casey Strohm says that she gets to experience what working in the business will truly be like while getting paid.
“In the area we live in, we have a lot of labor unions in this area. Electricians, carpenters, this is just like that,” Strohm said. “We are apprentices, we’re hands-on, we’re seeing it every day, we’re doing it every day just like those unions have done it for years and years. It makes sense, we’re all tradesmen, it makes sense.”
The new law also provides opportunity for those who would not have been able to take the traditional beauty school route. Apprentice Kayleigh D’Angelo says she is one of them.
“Because of today’s economic climate, cosmetology school is full-time,” D’Angelo said. “You’re there all day, so short of doing that all day and taking a night job, which obviously is not feasible for everybody. It was not feasible for me, getting into a program where you’re getting paid was the only way that it was going to happen.”
Alchemy is a full-service salon and spa including hair, skin, nails, and massage. For more information on what they have to offer, visit their website.
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