July 25, 2021
Helping Generations of Future Salon Professionals Elevate their Careers
Helping Elevate Generations of Future Beauty Professionals
Aisling Institute is new to the Triad but its owners, managers and instructors have been elevating the beauty industry in the same kickass style for decades! We wanted to share a little bit about who we are, how we’ve grown and some highlights of the school and its owners. Are you interested in learning how to start a career as a hairdresser or a barber? This blog includes a little insight about that too!
Our owners, Julie and Corey Barham have owned successful salons in New York, Florida and here in North Carolina since 1994. In 2017, while owning and managing a local value-priced walk-in salon, we became frustrated with the lack of training that applicants were bringing to their new careers. We had both worked for other schools in the past and Corey was also currently teaching as an adjunct instructor at Rowan-Cabbarus Community College. We started searching for sources of funding and a building and Dermacademy was born!
In January 2020, we accepted our first esthetics student and the following month we started a class of 7 just before COVID-19 shut down the world. However, while no one could have predicted that chain of events, we had indeed structured our schools with the North Carolina State Board of Cosmetic Arts Examiners and we continued to thrive and grow during that trying time.
By the time we resumed classes, it became apparent that we had outgrown our 1500 square foot facility and we began construction on an additional classroom, a conference room and office space. However, before that construction was even completed, we knew we had began something special and we contracted for an additional 3,500 square feet that would become the Aisling Institute, which would allow us to add programs including cosmetology and men’s grooming.
Expanding With the Beauty Industry
We recognize that the beauty industry is always growing and changing as more techniques and products are developed to help achieve the perfect look. At our schools we’re always striving to improve and better the education we can provide to our students. Because we recognize that technical skills are worthless without marketing skills, we are the only school in North Carolina currently teaching the formalized social media marketing program by Beauty as a Business (https://www.beautyasabusiness.com/). All or our curriculums use only the finest products. Our programs use products from:
We also added a second location offering Esthetics our portfolio of schools in North Carolina. We hope that as we add more schools, more students will be able to find a location close to them for an education they can use in future jobs.
How We’ve Kept Our Legacy
As our schools have expanded, we strive to keep what’s important to us the same. Each of our locations are focused on the same mission. We try to provide:
- Small classes
- Flexible schedules
- Experienced instructors
- A student-first philosophy
- A professional student salon*
*All services provided by students under the direct supervision of licensed professionals.
Advice For the Future
As more generations of students embark on their journey to enter the beauty school industry, we wanted to give some advice for generations in the past and generations in the future:
KEEP IN TOUCH
We love hearing from students who have graduated in the past and finding where their future has taken them! After graduation you can and should keep in touch with the friends you’ve made during your time at school. Not only can it be fun to catch up about all things beauty, you can always learn from each other, too.
GIVE BACK TO YOUR COMMUNITY
We offer unique opportunities for our students to participate in a variety of fashion shows and competitions, often for good causes. We hope that our students after graduation continue the mentality of helping those around them with their education in beauty.
Are you an alumnus of one of our schools? We may give you a call to judge some of our future fashion shows!
CONTINUE LEARNING
It’s important to keep learning and improving. You can further your education by taking classes after becoming a licensed professional, such as our Advanced Courses, a unique opportunity for those who want to continue to be the best in their fields!
Join Our Legacy
Be a part of a community that’s a combined force of over 50 years strong. If you’re interested in exploring a future in beauty, it’s not too late to start. Rely on experienced instructors in one of our many programs, including cosmetology, men’s grooming, and esthetics. Book a tour today to learn how you can take the next step!