Ayr College Salon on 3 is a big hit.

Nov 18 2011 by Lisa Boyle, Ayrshire Post (main ed)

EXPERIENCE necessary.

It’s two words that every new graduate dreads seeing on a job advert.

You need experience to get a job – but how are you to gain experience if you can’t get a job?

So students at Ayr College have taken matters into their own hands.

The hair and beauty classes run a fully-fledged hair and beauty salon within the Riverside Building.

Salon on 3, aptly named as it’s on the third floor, is already a big hit with cash strapped students taking advantage of the low prices.

And now it is becoming more and more popular with the general public keen to grab a bargain but not compromise on the quality of their chosen treatment.

The hair salon provides everything from a simple blow dry to hair up and a cut and colour.

While the salon’s extensive list of available treatments means it rivals any top notch beauty parlour.

Waxing, nails, facials and massages are a big hit with the 500 clients on the database.

And potential students are desperate to get onto the course at Ayr, such is it’s reputation.

Applications for next year’s course start coming in now, with class chiefs having to pick 75 students from more than 900 applications.

The Level 5, Level 6 and HNC Beauty Therapy students take turns to manage the salon, perform treatments and run the reception.

A sauna and relaxation room means that it has everything a normal beauty salon has to offer.

All the therapists wear a uniform and only perform treatments in the salon they have learned extensively.

Dianne Quinn, curriculum manager for fashion, hair and beauty, explained: “Some clients book in up to four weeks in advance and we’ve had some brilliant feedback from customers.

“The service here is very professional and some people say it’s the best massage or facial they’ve ever had.

“Having a salon alleviates the problem that girls can have in finding case studies. Obviously what we do say is that it may take a student slightly longer to finish the treatments because they may not be as slick or quick as people who have been working in salons for years.”

But although they are still students, the Salon on 3 three is quickly gaining a reputation.

They have been out to the hospice to pamper patients, carers and staff.

And they are open to arranging pamper days with community groups and charities.

The Cumnock branch of Ayr College also has a beauty salon, which has just opened this year.

To make an appointment at Ayr contact 01292 293562 or 01290 427950 for Cumnock.

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For more information log on to the Ayr College website.