Southeastern Community College’s salon was full of smiling faces and new haircuts on Aug. 21 during the cosmetology department’s free back to school haircut event. Cosmetology students styled hair for children ages kindergarten through 12th grade. 

Cosmetology student Zemii Nunez said that hearing each child’s excitement about their new haircuts, hearing their stories about entering a new grade level and hearing their appreciative farewells while leaving the salon was the best part of the free haircut event.  

“Giving them their haircuts and hearing them say ‘thank you’ makes me feel 10 times more helpful than just a regular cut,” Nunez said. “Today, I did two boy haircuts and one girl haircut, and they were all so excited.” 

Nunez said that giving haircuts to children was “easier than I thought it was.” She was impressed with each child’s calm behavior while sitting still during the cut. She said that giving back to the community was important for families who may not have funds to get haircuts at a retail barber shop or salon.  

Cosmetology student Olivia Stocks said that her favorite part of the haircut event was meeting the children and seeing how her classmates interacted with them.  

“It’s kind of fun being able to talk to them and hear the child’s side because we’re so used to hearing all the adults and adult situations,” Stocks said. “It brings life to the salon.” 

Stocks said she learned patience, openness and listening skills while working with the children. She loved having an event dedicated to children and supporting them before going back to school.  

Cosmetology student Robin Milligan said her favorite part of the haircut event was her conversations with the children and “making them feel heard.” She said it has been a fun day. 

“Talking with them about things they enjoy and making them feel good about themselves,” Milligan said. “This helps families in need, and I’ve done three haircuts so far.” 

Lead cosmetology instructor Eli Murillo said the back-to-school haircut event gave children a sense of empowerment and confidence while looking good on their first day of school. Murillo explained that the event was good experience for her students in working with child clients, and it counts towards their 1500 hours of required floor time in the salon for state board certification. She plans to make this an annual event. 

“I’m trying to implement service learning into all my programs because it is important for students to see how their work impacts other people,” said Angie Ransom, Dean of Technical Training and Business Careers. “Our salon schedule is more conducive to adults while kids are in school, so having this event for children during the last days of summer gets them ready for school.” 

Kids have one more chance to get their free haircuts at SCC on Thursday, Aug. 22 from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in B building, room 128.