We learned a basic manicure, eyebrow and lip/chin waxing, updos, a basic facial (and I VERY much prefer the one I learned in massage school to this one, FYI), and the dreaded straight razor shave. Barbers are required to learn this very scary shave, and cosmetologists aren't allowed to do it. Cosmos do pedicures instead. At the beginning of this unit, I was determined that I'd rather have smelly feet than a razor blade in my hand!
For those that don't know, I'm a fainter when it comes to blood. My OB nurses were slow to learn how serious I was about needing to lay down in order to get my blood drawn, because I drop like a log. This also happens when I see other people's blood. This includes phony blood on TV shows like Grey's Anatomy (I've been known to shut my eyes and plug my ears throughout great portions of the show).
On Thursday, we watched a demo of a straight razor shave on a man's face - our instructor demo'd it for us. I was fine until she nicked a tiny pimple on his neck...I started to get woozy, but tried my best to stay strong. I finally sat down on a chair and put my head down. My instructor was immediately concerned, because I'm the student that gets so close when she demos anything, I practically breathe down her neck (she tells me she wishes more students would do this). A few students remarked on how the color had washed right out of my already-pasty face....it was a good time. BUT, I never went down. Hooray for me! ;) How embarrassing though.
We spent the next 2 hours razoring shaving cream off balloons - mine never popped. I was so proud. But still, NOT confident at all. I knew I had plenty of time to practice on the world's best guinea pig, Ryan, before state boards. Here is my balloon - post shave #12
So, no worries. I took my manikin head home that night to study the routine. There are 14 steps - and 3 hand movements involved. We had to know the order of each step and which way our hands were to shave for the written exam (I aced it).
And here is what happens when you bring a creepy manikin head home.
Arabella actually carried it around all night, talking to it, and pretending it was her head. She's a weird little kid.
Imagine my horror when, 2 days later, they called my name for a client, on Saturday in the salon. This client was here for his monthly face shave. Oh yah, and he gets his head shaved too. And what's that now? You expect Leia to do it? Ha ha ha ha ha....they were serious. I thought I might shake right out of my shoes. I had no choice in the matter either. After 2 hours of practicing on a balloon, and having zero knowledge about how to shave a head, yes, I think that qualified me.
Thankfully, if you want to call it that, this lovely client had mental handicaps, and I was told he'd sleep through the whole shave. And that, he did. Snored and everything. That took SO much pressure off me - I am now grateful they gave him to me. I aced it - several instructors saw the job I did (they have to sign off on everything we do) and none could believe it was my first shave. I didn't tell anybody that I sweat right through my entire outfit and forgot to breathe more than once...but it all worked out. I chose not to take a photo of this handsome man, but I will forever remember him as my first shave: Snoring Matt. :)
Immediately following my face/head shave, they called me to do an eyebrow wax. I panicked less, I suppose because there was less blood involved, but I was still worried about taking this lady's entire brow off. I didn't - both brows were even and nice. And she, a regular, said I did a lovely job. Whew. Mama is tired.
I also did an updo for a beautiful 10 year old, who was celebrating her cousin's Quinceanera that night. Her name was Gabi. I did just what she asked, and she was so patient - thickest hair I've ever encountered, but oh my world was that beautiful hair! It shined like no hair I'd ever seen before. Stunning.
Here are some other updos I made up during class this week.
This one is my favorite!
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