Wade Gordon Hairdressing Academy

Wade Gordon Hairdressing Academy runs three campuses, in Amarillo and Lubbock, Texas, and in southwest Oklahoma City, where the school is located in a large shopping center. Students can train for cosmetology, barbering or esthetics licensing. Each campus has classrooms and a student salon, and the Amarillo campus also has a full-service student salon and parking. Free on-site parking is offered at the Lubbock and Oklahoma City campuses, and the Oklahoma City campus has updated classrooms and professional-grade salon stations.

The school's stated mission is to prepare students for licensing, teach them the trade, and graduate people who can find work. Courses are designed to go beyond state minimums so that students are ready for the state licensure exam. Training also covers soft skills such as communication, time management and client experience, along with professional branding for both in-person and online presence. Guest salon owners, managers and educators share real-world perspective with students, and career exploration introduces paths such as salon stylist and platform artist. The school describes its graduates as both skilled stylists and business-minded entrepreneurs, and its Beauty as a Business curriculum covers digital marketing, Instagram use, smartphone photography and personal branding.

Students train on real clients under the supervision of licensed instructors. The student salon and spa is open to the public, and walk-ins are accepted when space is available, though appointments are encouraged. Prices and appointment times are arranged by calling the campus closest to you. Prospective students can book a campus tour, which includes meeting instructors and seeing students at work, and they can fill out a tour questionnaire beforehand. Applicants apply by booking a tour with the admissions team.

Cosmetology requires 1,000 clock hours in Texas and 1,500 in Oklahoma, divided into three phases. Texas cosmetology costs total $18,000 and Oklahoma City's total $19,000, according to the school's cost breakdown, and both include tuition, books, a kit and state board materials. The school offers payment plans, and financial aid is available to students who qualify. Applicants can complete the FAFSA using federal school code 042052, and the school also points to federal Pell Grants, federal loans, third-party scholarships and GI Bill eligibility for veterans. Job placement is not guaranteed, but the school arranges meetings with local salon owners and managers through tours and networking events, and it helps with portfolios, resumes and interview preparation.

Students work on real clients in salon, barbershop-style and spa settings under licensed instructor supervision, with courses designed to exceed state requirements.

Esthetics students practice in an on-site student spa designed to mirror a working spa.