If thoughts of date night conjure images of your hair baking in a straightener or spending an hour with curlers in your hair, think again, because you’re doing it wrong. Date night glam doesn’t have to take forever, and it certainly doesn’t have to lead to endless frustration. Take the guesswork out of your next sultry evening with these five super-easy hairstyles.

Beach Waves

Beach waves are the style of the moment everywhere from fashion runways to local coffee shops. This romantic, alluring look is super-easy to pull off. Simply grab a one-inch curling iron and wrap one- to two-inch sections of hair around it, leaving the ends loose. Finger-comb, spray, and then go. For an even easier take on this gorgeous look, try wrapping your …

Cosmetology is a career that offers a variety of different paths. As a cosmetologist, you can have the opportunity to help people feel better about themselves and help them in numerous other ways. Learn about the five hottest careers in cosmetology here!

Sharde-Marie Clark

Why did you enroll in beauty school?

At 19 I watched “Chicago” the musical for the first time on stage, and decided that was what I wanted to do, work on Broadway. The idea of my work being shown on stage for the world to see was my ideal choice of career. I’m a “jack of all trades”, have my degree in English and journalism, as I thought at one point I wanted to be a history teacher! I have done hair and makeup for drag queens and community outreach programs like Nightscare Productions where we raise money and have food drives for the local community.

Why did you choose Phagans?

It was the nicest school and they actually answered my inquiry! I moved …

The month of July in Portland is proving to be a sunny and hot one. Since few of us see the sun for 9 months out of the year it’s tempting to try to soak it up as much as possible during the short time it’s out. But be careful, as too much sun exposure can at the least dry out your skin or at the worst put you at a risk for skin damage that may lead to skin cancer years later. So here are a few tips to make sure your skin stays soft, supple, and undamaged while you’re living it up poolside:

Use Sunscreen: Use plenty of sunscreen while you’re soaking up rays. Look for ones that are labelled “broad spectrum” – effective …

Finally! The days are growing longer and longer, the sun is shining, and temperatures are creeping up above 70. All across Portland and Vancouver, Northwesterners are digging out our shorts from the dresser and dragging sundresses from the back of the closet. These light and airy looks are great for summertime, but for many people hairy legs could be ruining your warm-weather look.

What to do about your hairy stems? There are lots of options if you choose not to go au natural. Shaving, depilatories, and laser treatments will all remove hair effectively, but waxing offers the longest-lasting, most affordable treatment around. Here are a few reasons why we think waxing is the way to go:

Safe: Think about the last time you shaved your …

Every mother deserves a little pampering, but a busy life of work, family, and endless obligations can make it tough to keep up with complicated new looks. The best makeovers are low-effort, making it easy for mom to keep the look long after the excitement of Mother’s Day dies down. For a nearly effortless makeover that won’t leave mom looking goofy, try one – or all! — of these five options.

Treat your mother to the gift of beauty this mother’s day. Buy a gift certificate for $50 and receive $75 worth of services at Phagans School of Hair Design.

Subtle Makeup Changes

Massive makeovers will probably last no more than a few hours with busy moms. So don’t focus on giving mom an entirely new …

Are you ready for Valentine’s Day? If you’re looking to get more glam into your style, use these makeup ideas to get the most out of your night.

In many ways 2013 for Phagans was a year that allowed us to catch our breath. We have settled in to our new location at Clackamas Town Center, did a little remodeling of our Lloyd Center location, became even more engaged with our community, and spent the year growing the rolls of our alumni.

This year also was the 65th Anniversary of Phagans, so we spent the year honoring founder Wilma Lee Phagans Harrington with a number of events, prizes, and goody bags for customers.

Among our schools’ biggest accomplishments this year was both locations passed their 6-year accreditations “without limitations”, which in our world means with flying colors! I’m very grateful and proud of our staff for helping us achieve this high honor and carry on …

We are proud to welcome new staff member Brandy Mendez, who is a new instructor at our Clackamas location.

How old were you when you became interested in the beauty industry?

I always liked doing hair. I was always messing around, coloring my mom’s hair, doing my sister’s nails or cutting the cat’s fur. I went to beauty school during my sophomore year in high school and I actually graduated from beauty school before high school.

What did you like when you were attending beauty school?

I enjoyed interacting with all of the different people and helping the people in my community.

Where did you work after beauty school?

I worked in an Aveda Day Spa for a year and a half and then I had a child. I did …