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Tricoci University

Tricoci University

Beauty school salon · 15 locations

Mario Tricoci began his hairstyling career in Italy and started working in Chicago in 1960, opening his first salon in Villa Park, Illinois in 1963. The salons and spas later merged with Elizabeth Arden Red Door Spas in 2001 and were bought back by Mario Tricoci in 2018. He founded the schools and opened the first Tricoci campus in 2004, though he is no longer involved with the schools.

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About

Mario Tricoci began his hairstyling career in Italy and started working in Chicago in 1960, opening his first salon in Villa Park, Illinois in 1963. The salons and spas later merged with Elizabeth Arden Red Door Spas in 2001 and were bought back by Mario Tricoci in 2018. He founded the schools and opened the first Tricoci campus in 2004, though he is no longer involved with the schools.

Campuses are in Bridgeview, two places in Chicago (Rogers Park and the Norwood Park campus near O'Hare), Elgin, Glendale Heights, Libertyville, Normal, Peoria, Rockford, Urbana, Bloomington, Highland, Fishers (Indianapolis NE), Lafayette and Janesville, Wisconsin. Many campuses run clinic salons open to the public, including Rogers Park, Glendale Heights, Libertyville, Normal, Elgin, Indianapolis NE and Janesville. Guests can walk in or call ahead, and the clinic booking line is 1.888.616.9051. Student salons can be busy, especially on Saturdays, so the school suggests calling ahead to check wait times.

Because students perform the services, appointments may take longer than at a traditional salon. Services may be adjusted after consultation based on instructor guidance, timing and the guest's needs. Specific student requests are not guaranteed; without one, appointments are assigned by campus rotation and student progress toward graduation.

Programs include Cosmetology (1,500 hours, roughly 10 months full time or 17 months part time at many campuses), Esthetics (750 hours, 5 months full time or 9 months part time), Barber, Nail Technology and Instructor Training for cosmetology, esthetics and teachers. Illinois cosmetology and barber licensure requires 1,500 training hours, and Illinois esthetician licensure requires 750. The cosmetology curriculum covers cutting, color, styling, chemical and texture services, skincare, nails and makeup, and includes salesmanship, retailing and basic salon management. Libertyville and Janesville include state board exam preparation.

Listed prices on the booking site are discounted and may change without notice; extra product may add a charge for longer or denser hair, discussed before service. Corrective color is quoted after a consultation. Cancellations and changes need at least 24 hours' notice. Students may apply for federal aid through the FAFSA, and Pell Grants and federal Direct Loans may be available to eligible students. No-interest payment plans and school scholarships and grants are also available.

Training is hands-on and supervised: students perform services in the clinic salon while licensed educators oversee the work. The curriculum is built around state licensing hour requirements.

Working salon floors sit alongside treatment rooms and theory classrooms, so visitors see the training as it happens.

Locations in Chicago

Locations in other areas

8 more, by area. Open one to see its locations.

  • Illinois 4 locations
    • Normal 1503 E College Ave Suite L, Normal, IL 61761
    • Peoria 602 West Glen Avenue, Peoria, IL 61614
    • Rockford 5485 East State Street, Rockford, IL 61108
    • Urbana 202 East University Avenue, Urbana, IL 61801
  • Indiana 2 locations
    • Bloomington 1681 North College Avenue, Bloomington, IN 47404
    • Lafayette 833 Ferry Street, Lafayette, IN 47901
  • Indianapolis 1 location
  • Wisconsin 1 location
    • Janesville 2310 West Court Street, Janesville, WI 53548

Specials & promotions

  • Friends & Family Days: discounted services at campus

    Guests visit campus for services delivered by students under supervision

    On their website as of Oct 30, 2026 · Where we saw it

  • Friends & Family Days: discounted services done by students

    Guests visit campus for services delivered by students under supervision

    On their website as of Oct 31, 2026 · Where we saw it

Services

Final prices may vary.

Corrective color work, priced by quote after a consultation.

  • Corrective Color (quote upon consultation) Consultation

Lash extensions, brow lamination and a nano needling clinical facial treatment.

  • Brow Lamination $50
  • Lash Extensions $55
  • Nano Needling Clinical Facial Treatment $65

Braided sew-in, glue-in and braid-in installs, removal and maintenance, plus consultations for K-Tip, tape-in and sew-in weft extensions.

  • Braided Sew-In, Glue-In & Braid-In Install $50
  • Hair Additions Removal Maintenance $50
  • Hair Additions Consult for KTip, Tape-in & Sew-In Weft Price at booking

Beard and neck trims, shampoo and set, haircut with blow-dry, updos, fingerwaves and head wraps, and rod sets or pin curls.

  • Beard Trim $5
  • Fringe/Neck Trim $5
  • Shampoo and Set $12
  • Haircut + Blow-dry $15
  • Fingerwaves/Head Wrap $20
  • Updo/Special Occasion $20
  • Rod Set/Pin Curls $30

A head spa treatment, listed without a fixed price on the booking site.

  • Head Spa Price at booking

Foil highlights in several sizes, balayage, ombre and babylights.

  • Express Foil - Up to 8 foils $20
  • Partial Foil - 9-20 foils $40
  • Balayage $45
  • Ombre $45
  • Full Foil - 21+ foils $55
  • Ombre/Balayage/Babylights $60

Braid and twist removal, plus protective braids priced by the number of braids.

  • Braid & Twist Removal $25
  • Protective Style Braids Large (up to 8 braids) $30
  • Protective Style Braids Medium (9-20 braids) $35
  • Protective Style Braids Small (21-40 braids) $45
  • Protective Style Braids Small (21-40 braids) (excludes micro-braiding) $45

Fashion color, root retouches, virgin color, lightener services and a predisposition patch test.

  • Fashion Color - Per 2 oz $20
  • Color Retouch - Up to 1 Inch $30
  • Virgin Color $40
  • Lightner Retouch $45
  • Virgin Lightner $55
  • Predisposition Test (Patch Test) Price at booking

Relaxer retouches, perms, virgin chemical relaxers, express blowouts, KC texture treatment, and keratin smoothing or curl enhancement.

  • Relaxer Retouch $40
  • Perm/Relaxer $50
  • Virgin Chemical Relaxer $50
  • Express Blowout (KC Express) $65
  • KC Texture Treatment $65
  • Keratin Smoothing/Curl Enhancement $65

Photos

  • Large training room with students at workstations
  • Student blow-drying a client's hair in salon
  • Busy classroom with students at styling stations
  • Bright salon floor with styling stations and product shelves in Bridgeview
  • Esthetician training room with massage tables and students in Chicago NE
  • Esthetician treatment room with black tables and equipment in Norwood
  • Student applying hair color to a client in the Elgin salon
  • Glendale salon reception and retail area with product wall
  • Libertyville salon floor with students working on clients at mirror stations
  • Indianapolis salon hall with styling chairs and hanging campaign banners
  • Salon floor with styling stations and mirrors at the Lafayette campus
  • Student cosmetology work on a client's curly hair
Highlights
  • Student-run clinic salons and spas open to the public on several campuses
  • Discounted listed prices on color, braids, texture and esthetics services
  • Cosmetology program of 1,500 hours with supervised services in an on-campus salon
  • NACCAS accreditation and training aligned with Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin licensing
  • Free on-site parking at Elgin, Indianapolis NE and Janesville
  • No-interest payment plans, scholarships and grants available
Good for
  • Budget-conscious clients
  • Guests with flexible timing or who can book ahead
  • Protective braids and hair additions
  • Clients comfortable with longer appointment times
  • Future beauty professionals
  • Saturday visits with room for a wait
Treats
  • Hair color changes
  • Root retouching and corrective color
  • Relaxed or textured hair
  • Protective styling
  • Hair length and density additions
  • Facial skin care
  • Brow shaping
  • Lash enhancement
Techniques
  • Balayage
  • Ombre
  • Babylights
  • Foil highlights
  • Keratin smoothing
  • Relaxers and perms
  • Express blowout
  • Protective braids
  • Sew-in, glue-in and braid-in installs
  • Tape-in and K-Tip hair additions

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