ISU students who want to look their best without paying top dollar often just go to school — Ames’ cosmetology school, that is.

Since 1978, The Salon Professional Academy, 309 Kitty Hawk Drive, has been helping ISU students look good and save a little cash.

But the academy’s primary goal is to train future professionals in fields such as cosmetology and massage therapy. The academy currently has 127 students from a variety of backgrounds.

“We actually have students of all age ranges,” said Brady Snider, director of education.

The largest number of students come directly out of high school. Others, like Hollie Sue Dvorak, are just looking for a career change.

“I hadn’t ever thought I was going to do cosmetology,” Dvorak said.

After graduating with a four-year degree from Northwestern College, she went to work for an electrical supply firm. However, she always felt drawn to cosmetology.

“As far as deciding, it was really spur-of-the-moment,” Dvorak said. “It was just a bad day at work.”

In September 2008, she officially entered the academy’s 16-month cosmetology program.

The first eight weeks of the program are dedicated to classwork.

Then, students are eased onto the salon floor, first performing services such as haircuts and colors on mannequin heads, then on friends and family.

The last portion of training is a split between classwork and hands-on experience, until the student reaches the 2100 hours required for a state cosmetology license.

But it’s not all technical, either. The academy also teaches students how to manage their clientele.

“Not only do they learn [hair] techniques, but we teach them the business side,” said Michelle Uthe, lead educator.

By the time they’ve graduated from the program, students should have an understanding of how to successfully build a client base for a future job at a salon.

It’s a task that depends on the right skills, the ability to manage clients’ needs and the application of hard work.

“That’s one of the cool things about our industry. You’re really in charge of your own income,” Snider said.

For Dvorak, the process has already started.

“I have people that I’ve been seeing since November,” Dvorak said.

Those relationships may or may not continue after Dvorak graduates in December.

“We tell students, ‘don’t get heartbroken if they choose not to follow you’,” Snider said.

Instead, her clients may get passed down to those she has helped through the school’s mentorship program.

In that case, Dvorak will start from scratch, building clients one at a time by making people look good and feel good about themselves. And in the end, that’s really what it’s all about.

“I get more excited when I have a guest that leaves really excited about their hair,” Dvorak said.

Business Breakdown:

The academy trains students in four main areas: cosmetology, esthetics [skin care], nail technology and massage therapy.

All services are performed by students but supervised by trained staff.

“We’ll go through the initial consultation with the guest,” Uthe said. “We also check the work while it’s happening.”

But because students are doing the bulk of the work, the academy can give customers service at a discount — haircuts and massages start at just $9.