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Professional's Choice Hair Design Academy
Professional's Choice Hair Design Academy

Professional's Choice Hair Design Academy

Hair salon in Joliet, IL

Rated 4.4 out of 5 (57 on Google Maps) (opens in a new tab) Closed now

Professional's Choice is a cosmetology school with over 8,000 square feet of instruction space, a 35-chair clinic floor, four classrooms equipped with audio and visual tools, a reception area, a spa area, a lunch room, a laundry room, and one locker for each student. It is founded and owned by Tony Golobitsh and John Thompson, who also own and operate two salons in the Joliet area and have taught advanced cutting and perming classes for numerous distributors.

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About

Professional's Choice is a cosmetology school with over 8,000 square feet of instruction space, a 35-chair clinic floor, four classrooms equipped with audio and visual tools, a reception area, a spa area, a lunch room, a laundry room, and one locker for each student. It is founded and owned by Tony Golobitsh and John Thompson, who also own and operate two salons in the Joliet area and have taught advanced cutting and perming classes for numerous distributors.

Services are performed by students in the student salon, with instruction from directors, permanent faculty and visiting faculty. The academy describes its visiting faculty as award-winning, and states that Modern Salon magazine has published articles and photos of its founders' work. Those are the academy's own statements.

Student salon hours are Tuesday to Friday from 10 AM to 4:30 PM and Saturday from 9 AM to 2:30 PM. Walk-ins only; reservations are not accepted. Women's and men's cuts are listed at $8.00, or $6.40 with the senior discount, and kids' cuts at $5.00. Senior discounts also apply to blow dry and curling iron, roller set, permanent wave and basic hair color. Prices may change at any time at management's discretion, and an additional product charge of $10.00 and up applies to color services.

The 1500-hour basic cosmetology program covers hair, skin, nails, and services for men, women and children. Its listed components include 150 hours of general theory and practical application, 500 hours of chemical applications and hair treatments (perming, coloring, bleaching and relaxing), 475 hours of hair styling (cutting, thinning, curling and marcelling), 200 hours of shop management, sanitation and client relations, 85 hours of ethics covering skin analysis, massage, basic makeup, and waxing and tweezing, and 55 hours of nail technology plus 35 hours of electives. Students must score 75% or higher on each course exam and 85% or higher on the final written and practical exam. The program prepares students for the Illinois State Cosmetology licensing exam, a 100-question multiple choice test. Graduates receive a diploma and may earn a perfect attendance award or honor roll certificate.

Instructor programs run 1000 hours or 500 hours. The 1000-hour program is for people right out of beauty school or who have been out of the salon for years, and includes 500 hours of post-graduate basic cosmetology training plus coursework in educational psychology, teaching methods and business methods. The 500-hour program is for people who have worked in a salon within the past two years. The 500-hour program is listed at $7,910.30 in total, including $6,775.00 tuition, $1,035.30 equipment and a $100.00 registration fee. Students pay a State Board exam fee separately, and $12.00 per hour for time beyond the contract termination date.

The academy reports the following for 2024: 89.29% of instructor program students scheduled to graduate did so, 80.95% of eligible graduates found cosmetology jobs, and 82.61% of students taking the Illinois state instructor exam passed. The academy also reports that fewer than 10 students completed the 1500-hour program within normal time, with the exact number withheld.

Services are performed by students in training, under the supervision of instructors.

A working school setting with a clinic floor, classrooms and a spa area.

Specials & promotions

  • Senior women's haircut $6.40

    $6.40 (regularly $8)

    Senior discount

    On their website as of Oct 28, 2026 · Where we saw it

  • Senior men's haircut $6.40

    $6.40 (regularly $8)

    Senior discount

    On their website as of Oct 28, 2026 · Where we saw it

  • Senior blow dry and curling iron $8.00

    $8 (regularly $10)

    Senior discount

    On their website as of Oct 28, 2026 · Where we saw it

  • Senior roller set $6.40

    $6.40 (regularly $8)

    Senior discount

    On their website as of Oct 28, 2026 · Where we saw it

  • Senior permanent wave $28.00

    $28 (regularly $35)

    Senior discount

    On their website as of Oct 28, 2026 · Where we saw it

Services

Final prices may vary.

A package for children ages 12 and under that combines an updo, makeup and a manicure.

  • Updo, Makeup, Manicure (ages 12 & under) $20
  • Updo, Makeup, Manicure $20

Basic hair color, one and two dimensional highlights, balayage, toner and full bleach, with an additional product charge starting at $10.

  • Additional Product Charge $10+
  • Basic Hair Color $24+ / $30+
  • Toner $30+
  • Full Bleach $35+
  • Balayage $40+
  • Highlights (One Dimensional) $40+
  • Highlights (Two Dimensional) $55+

Men's, women's and kids' cuts, bang and beard trims, shampoo, roller and rod sets, blow dries, braiding, single braids and ponytails, and special occasion styles.

  • Shampoo Only $2
  • Bang Trim $5
  • Beard Trim Only $5
  • Kid's Haircut $5
  • Men's Haircut $6 / $8
  • Roller Set $6 / $8
  • Women's Haircut $6 / $8
  • Blow Dry & Curling Iron $8 / $10
  • Deep Condition Treatment $10
  • Detoxifying Treatment $10
  • Single Braid or Ponytail $10
  • Haircut & Blowdry Style $14
  • Blow Dry & Flat Iron $25+
  • Braiding Only (up to 4 braids) $25+
  • Rod Set $25+
  • Special Occasion Style $25+

Tweezing, waxing, makeup, manicures, nail polish changes, hair and scalp treatments, and facials including an exfoliating option.

  • Tweeze $2
  • Nail Polish Change $5
  • Waxing $8
  • Make-Up $10
  • Manicure $10
  • Hair & Scalp Treatment $12
  • Facial $13
  • Exfoliating Facial $15

Permanent waves, including a long hair version.

  • Permanent Wave $28 / $35
  • Long Hair Permanent Wave $50+

Photos

  • Salon floor with styling stations, chairs and school name on wall

Meet the team

Their website doesn't list the team, so we don't either.

Highlights
  • Student salon with haircut, color, texture and spa services
  • Walk-in visits only; reservations not accepted
  • Senior discounts on several haircut, styling, perm and color services
  • Basic 1500-hour cosmetology program and 1000- and 500-hour instructor programs
  • Founders also own two Joliet-area salons and have taught advanced cutting and perming classes
Good for
  • Walk-in clients
  • Seniors (discounts on select services)
  • Children's haircuts and birthday party packages for ages 12 and under
  • Clients seeking student-performed services at listed prices
  • People considering a cosmetology or instructor career
Treats
  • Haircuts and styling
  • Hair color changes
  • Lightening hair
  • Permanent waves
  • Hair removal
  • Facial treatments
Techniques
  • Balayage
  • One dimensional highlights
  • Two dimensional highlights
  • Toner
  • Full bleach
  • Basic hair color
  • Permanent wave
  • Long hair permanent wave
  • Roller set
  • Rod set

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