COLLECTIV Academy Braintree, MA

The school describes itself as a leading beauty school built by industry professionals. It was founded by Kenny and Lenore Gibson, who previously worked with TONI&GUY Hairdressing. Kenny Gibson has more than thirty years in education, has trained hairdressers around the world, and ended his time as President of the TONI&GUY Academy and Salon Divisions in 2014. Lenore Gibson has more than thirty years as a stylist, educator and manager of education, and spent 15 years as Vice President of Marketing. The Sandy campus says it has operated for 10 years and was a finalist in the Specialty School category of Best of SLC in 2020.

The stated mission is to give students an education relevant to the current industry, with intensive, hands-on training built on fundamentals and room to develop a personal style. Cosmetology programs generally run 1,000 to 1,500 state-mandated hours over roughly nine to twelve months, and Utah requires 1,000 hours. Cosmetology covers hair, skin and nail care. Esthetics programs focus on skin care skills and run 600 hours in Cranston and 750 hours in Dallas and Fort Worth.

Learning happens in stages. Students start on mannequins and then move to real clients in the student salon under licensed instructor supervision. Sandy organizes cosmetology into five levels from freshman to graduating senior, with classes Monday through Wednesday from 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM plus 4.5 hours of theory per week. Dallas offers multiple schedules and starts a new course each month.

Salon and spa services are performed by students, and the school says these are priced at a fraction of the usual cost. Starting prices vary by campus. At Sandy, a shampoo and blow dry style is $12, a full head of highlights starts at $50, and a balayage starts at $50. In Dallas, a balayage is listed at $60 and a Hydrafacial is priced by phone. Salon services can be booked by phone at (888) 908-3211.

Applicants need a high school diploma or GED and must complete a tour and interview with the admissions team. Sandy applicants must submit two forms of approved identification and pay a $50 non-refundable registration fee, and no prior experience is required for the cosmetology program. The Dallas campus holds provisional additional location accreditation, and the Fort Worth campus has provisional accreditation from NACCAS.

Training is intensive and hands-on, with an emphasis on fundamentals and personal style, and students move from mannequins to supervised work with real clients.

Campuses are built around working salon floors, and Braintree is designed to resemble a high-end salon.