January 23, 2018
Why a Phagans Barbering Education is Unique
A Phagans barbering education combines hair theory, hands-on training, customer service, and preparation to sit for Oregon’s barbering licensing exam. At Phagans School of Hair Design in Happy Valley, the 786-hour Barbering program gives students opportunities to learn hair cutting, styling, shampooing, scalp health, and other barbering skills before practicing technical and customer service skills on the clinic floor. Students can also develop their own approach to barbering while learning in an environment that isn’t affiliated with one particular beauty brand.
What makes the Phagans Barbering program unique?
Phagans’ Barbering program combines technical education with theory, practical experience, customer service, and professional development. Students progress through levels of training as they complete required hours, operations, and written and practical evaluations.
The program consists of 786 hours and is designed to help students qualify to sit for the applicable Oregon Health Licensing Office written exam.
Students can learn subjects such as:
- Hair shaping and cutting
- Hair design
- Shampooing and conditioning
- Wet and thermal styling
- Barbering techniques
- Hair and scalp diseases and disorders
- Customer service
- Career development
If barbering is the area of the beauty industry you’re interested in, you can learn more about the Phagans Barbering program and its current curriculum.
How does Phagans prepare barbering students for licensing?
Phagans places an emphasis on both barbering theory and practical skills so students can prepare to sit for the Oregon licensing exam. The current Barbering program lists one of its course goals as helping students qualify to take the Health Licensing Office written exam covering hair shaping, hair design, shampooing, and styling.
Students don’t simply study these subjects once. The program is structured in levels, and students must complete required hours, operations, written evaluations, and practical evaluations before progressing.
Phagans also requires students to maintain satisfactory academic progress. Current program information states that students must achieve a grade of 75% or better to be considered satisfactory.
The goal is to build both the knowledge and practical skills students need as they work toward completing their education and pursuing Oregon licensure.
What do you learn during the first part of barbering school?
Barbering students at Phagans begin by building foundational skills in a classroom environment. This gives students time to learn and practice before progressing to work with clients on the clinic floor.
During the first level of the Barbering program, students learn hair cutting basics and practice on mannequins, models, and each other. Students complete written and practical evaluations as part of this stage of training.
After successfully completing the required classroom work, students can move to the clinic floor to begin practicing technical and customer service skills.
This progression allows students to first understand the fundamentals, then apply what they’ve learned in a supervised setting.
Can Phagans barbering students explore their own style?
Yes. One characteristic highlighted in Phagans’ original Barbering article is that the school isn’t affiliated with a particular beauty brand. That gives students opportunities to encounter different products and approaches rather than building their education around a single brand.
Barbering can involve both technical skill and creativity. Learning foundational techniques gives students a starting point, while continued practice can help them discover the types of cuts, styles, and services they enjoy performing.
Students may also encounter different products and tools during their education. Becoming comfortable learning new techniques and adapting to different products can be useful as students develop their individual approach to barbering.
Do barbering students get hands-on experience?
Yes. Hands-on practice is part of the Barbering program at Phagans. Students begin by practicing foundational techniques in the classroom before progressing to the clinic floor after successfully completing their initial training requirements.
On the clinic floor, students can continue developing both technical and customer service skills under instructor supervision.
Hands-on education matters because barbering involves more than understanding a technique in theory. Students need opportunities to practice skills such as cutting, styling, shampooing, and working with clients.
Practical evaluations are also part of the program. Along with theory assignments and exams, students complete practical assignments and practical exams as they progress.
What professional skills can barbering students develop?
Barbering education isn’t limited to learning how to cut and style hair. Students also need opportunities to develop the professional and interpersonal skills involved in working with clients.
At Phagans, the Barbering program includes an emphasis on areas such as:
- Customer service
- Professionalism
- Client communication
- Technical practice
- Career development
- Personal pride in your work
Client communication can be particularly important in barbering. Before performing a service, a barber needs to understand what the client wants and communicate about the intended result.
Practicing in a supervised educational environment gives students opportunities to develop these habits alongside their technical training.
Can barbering students build connections while they’re in school?
Phagans has historically emphasized connections with its alumni and the surrounding Portland-area beauty community. Those relationships can expose current students to people who have already completed beauty school and entered the industry.
The original version of this article also highlights Phagans’ history of inviting alumni back to interact with and mentor current students. These types of connections can give students opportunities to hear different perspectives on barbering and life after beauty school.
Students should keep in mind that networking opportunities, events, guest educators, and extracurricular activities can change over time. Ask the school about current opportunities when you tour or speak with admissions.
What can you do with a barbering education?
Completing barbering school can be one step toward pursuing Oregon barbering licensure. After meeting the applicable education and licensing requirements, licensed barbers may explore different professional environments and types of work.
Depending on your interests and applicable licensing requirements, possibilities may include:
- Working in a barbershop
- Working in a salon that offers barbering services
- Specializing in men’s hair and grooming
- Building a clientele around specific cutting or styling techniques
- Exploring business ownership after gaining appropriate experience and meeting applicable requirements
Beauty school doesn’t guarantee a particular career or employment outcome. Instead, barbering education provides the technical knowledge and practical training students can use as they work toward licensure and begin exploring opportunities in the industry.
How long is barbering school at Phagans?
The current Barbering program at Phagans School of Hair Design consists of 786 hours. The program includes both theory and practical education.
Students progress through the course in levels rather than simply accumulating hours. Moving forward requires students to complete the required hours, operations, written evaluations, and practical evaluations for each level while maintaining satisfactory academic progress.
Because individual completion times can depend on scheduling and attendance, prospective students should talk with the admissions team about current schedules and estimated completion timelines.
What should you look for when choosing a barbering school?
When comparing barbering schools, look beyond the total number of hours. The curriculum, practical experience, licensing preparation, learning environment, and opportunities to work with clients can all affect your educational experience.
Consider asking each school:
- What will I learn? Review the curriculum and make sure it covers the barbering skills you want to develop.
- How much hands-on practice will I receive? Ask when students begin practicing and how clinic-floor experience works.
- How does the program prepare me for licensing? Understand how theory and state board preparation fit into the curriculum.
- What products and tools will I use? Ask whether the school focuses on one brand or exposes students to different products.
- What is the learning environment like? Touring the school can help you see classrooms and practical learning spaces for yourself.
- What does the program cost? Ask about tuition, supplies, and financial aid. Financial aid is available at Phagans for those who qualify.
Is financial aid available for the Phagans Barbering program?
Yes. Phagans School of Hair Design offers financial aid to those who qualify, including students pursuing barbering education.
The type and amount of financial aid available depends on individual eligibility. Phagans currently participates in federal financial aid programs and provides information about additional ways students may manage the cost of their education.
You can review financial aid and education funding options at Phagans or speak with the Financial Aid Office about your individual situation.
How can you decide if Phagans Barbering is right for you?
The best way to determine whether the Phagans Barbering program fits your goals is to compare the curriculum with what you want from your education and visit the school for yourself.
If you’re interested in hair cutting, styling, barbering techniques, client service, and developing practical skills, the Barbering program may align with the areas you want to study.
A school tour also gives you an opportunity to see the learning environment, ask about the current program schedule, learn about tuition and financial aid for those who qualify, and talk with admissions about the enrollment process.
If you’re ready to learn more, request information or schedule a tour at Phagans. The admissions team can answer your questions about Barbering and help you understand what to expect before enrolling.
Frequently Asked Questions About Barbering School at Phagans
How many hours is the Barbering program at Phagans?
The current Barbering program at Phagans School of Hair Design consists of 786 hours of education. Students complete required hours, operations, written evaluations, and practical evaluations as they progress through the program.
What do you learn in the Phagans Barbering program?
Students can study hair shaping, hair design, shampooing and conditioning, styling, barbering techniques, hair and scalp diseases and disorders, customer service, and other subjects related to barbering.
Does Phagans prepare students for the Oregon barbering licensing exam?
Yes. One of the stated goals of the Barbering program is to qualify students to take the applicable Oregon Health Licensing Office written exam. Completing school does not guarantee passing the licensing exam.
Do barbering students work with clients at Phagans?
After successfully completing the initial classroom portion of their education, students can move to the clinic floor to practice technical and customer service skills under instructor supervision.
Does Phagans offer financial aid for barbering students?
Financial aid is available to those who qualify. Prospective students can speak with the Phagans Financial Aid Office about federal financial aid and other potential ways to manage education costs.
Can I tour Phagans before enrolling in Barbering?
Yes. Prospective students can request enrollment information and schedule a tour of Phagans School of Hair Design in Happy Valley to learn more about Barbering and the admissions process.
