Frequently Asked Questions
Why Choose Taylor Andrews Academy?
There are many things to consider when choosing a cosmetology school. Location, environment, curriculum and reputation are all factors when making your decision; the feeling you get when you visit the school is another. When looking around for the school that is right for you, here are some things that we believe in at Taylor Andrews that you should expect from your school.
What is the facility like? Is it consistent with today’s modern salons?
All of the Taylor Andrews facilities are beautiful high-end environments that give you the experience of working in a modern salon. Equally as important, you are treated with respect by a motivating and encouraging staff.
Who owns and runs the school?
What is their background and experience in the professional beauty industry? Are they accessible? Are they committed to and passionate about your education?
Owners Larry and Sherri Curtis each has nearly 25 years of experience as successful Salon and School owners with many awards for excellence between them. Both Larry and Sherri frequently teach classes and are passionate about assisting students in reaching their dreams.
Does the school provide opportunities to participate and contribute in areas of personal strength and interest?
Is there a Design Team? A Study Abroad program? Photo shoots? Student Hairshow? Student trips? Consistent National Guest Artists?
The Taylor Andrews event schedule is second to none. You will have the opportunity to be part of frequent photo shoots and events including The Next Dimension Hair Show (a student production) and optional trips to London, Paris, New York, Chicago and Los Angeles. Additionally, you’ll hear and learn from some of the best national and local artists the industry has to offer.
Does the school demand technical and professional excellence from its educators? What kind of training do the schools educators have? Are they required to take advanced training classes on an ongoing basis, and what are they?
Taylor Andrews staff members are required to complete a rigid, advanced training program as well as monthly continuing education. Taylor Andrews staff members travel several times each year to participate in advanced education around the world on both technical and personal skills.
How does the curriculum go beyond the basic state requirements?
Many schools view their ultimate purpose as preparing you to pass the state licensure test. At Taylor Andrews, that is just the beginning. Taylor Andrews is a world class academy with the feel of a high end salon. We stay on the cutting edge of what the beauty industry demands and are consistently enhancing our curriculum to ensure our graduates have received the most advanced training. We believe that salon success comes from mixing strong technical skills, along with personal development and business skills. Our graduates know how to build and keep a clientele and what it takes to be successful in today’s modern salons.
Does the school provide support to its graduates? Are alumni actively engaged and is continuing education offered?
A good way to judge a beauty school is to talk with graduates. Did they feel well prepared when they began at their first job out of school? Have they advanced as quickly as they had hoped, and how does that compare to graduates from other schools? Does the school keep in touch and provide value after graduation? Taylor Andrews graduates regularly tell us that they were more confident and prepared than their peers that graduated from other schools. For most, this translates to a faster career track and success. In addition, Taylor Andrews Academy has a strong Alumni Association program that includes regular communication and invitations to special events that provide education and networking opportunities.
What do salons and spas say about the performance of your graduates?
Another effective way to judge any company is to talk with the customers that “buy” the company’s product. For beauty schools, the salons and spas that hire a school’s graduates will be able to tell you: how much additional training do the graduates need? Do they appear confident with clients, have strong technical skills and know how to drive salon profits by up-selling clients? Taylor Andrews consistently receives high praise about our graduates from the salons that hire them. We encourage you to call several salons for recommendations and find out for yourself.
Is the school accredited?
Yes, Taylor Andrews is accredited by the National Accrediting Commission of Cosmetology Arts and Sciences. (NACCAS) 4401 Ford Avenue Suite 1300 Alexandria, VA 22302
What is the school’s philosophy on product lines?
Taylor Andrews is not tied into any one product line, but instead uses several high end product lines including Redken, Pureology and Wella-Sebastian. In addition, Taylor Andrews educates our students on the merits of other lines as well. We believe that using a limited number of product lines, taught correctly, leads to the best beauty education. Students gain the skills and confidence to read product labels from ANY product line, and know how to apply that product for the desired results for their client. This training prepares our graduates to succeed regardless of the product line used by their future salon or spa.
How much hands-on practice will I get with real clients?
Mannequins are valuable tools that have their place at any school, but there is no substitute for performing real services on real clients. To deliver salon-ready graduates, Taylor Andrews designed each clinic to look and feel like an upscale salon and day spa, and we train our students to deliver the wide range of services we offer. As a result, our clinics draw a high volume of loyal clients, which provides our students with extensive guest experiences. Taylor Andrews has a high set of standards in the minimum number of times a technical skill must be performed in order to complete our programs.
What is the school’s attendance policy?
While it is tempting to go to a school with a “come when you want” attendance policy, it will ultimately harm your education, delay the start of your career and affect the quality of your skills. Taylor Andrews strongly believes your first day of school is the first day of your career. Our commitment to the industry is to cultivate professionals. Taylor Andrews wants you to be a successful graduate and ultimately have a great career, not just enroll in school.
If you have additional questions not covered on our website, contact us for more information.
