The smell of hairspray clouding the room, music blasting from speakers and lots and lots of glitter, the cosmetology students were preparing for their annual spring show and competition on April 30 at the Haugh Performing Arts Center.
This year, the show is titled “Galactic Heroes and Villains” where up to 75 students create a hero or villain makeup, hair and costume look.
Cosmetology club president Jonathan Aguayo said each of the students have to participate in the show in some way, whether it is being a model, makeup artist, hair designer or costume designer.
“Once you start building people’s creativity they start to realize ‘oh this is fun—let’s participate,’” Aguayo said.
Creative director Patty Glover said the students are only limited to their creativity. Besides running the show, Glover teaches hair, skin and nail classes within the cosmetology program.
Depending on the design of their character, students brought their own materials to work with–the professors were there to provide instruction.
“The first thing they do is conceptualize,” Glover said. “It’s a concept they have to come up with, it depends on the student.”
After students decided whether they were going to create a hero or villain look, they began designing the theme of their character.
Students Jasmine Romero, 22, Desi Michel, 21, and Sabrina Knebel, 22, chose to do a villain based on their love for aliens. Their character is inspired by the film, ‘Mars Attacks.”
“His goal is to annihilate the human race and take over planet Earth,” Romero said. “You know the usual.”
Though the show took place at 7 p.m., the students were judged upon their appearance hours prior to the show. Glover said students were required to be ready by 3 p.m., four hours before the show starts. The students were graded upon their hair, makeup and costume, and their workmanship, originality, creativity and execution.
“Each of the judges are professionals,” Glover said. “Makeup artists, hair designers, colorists.”
The awards were granted in three separate categories: Avant Garde (new and unusual), hair and makeup.
Those who won were granted hair and makeup classes taught by professionals.
The show was a collaborative effort among the whole campus. Cosmetology students were photographed by photography professor Amanda Konya before the show started. Citrus’ performing arts department provided music and set design.
It was a show dedicated to student-based cosmetology work, but it also provided entertainment from student band “Superhero” run by Gino Munoz and Citrus’ dance company run by Renee Liskey and lighting and set design from technical theatre instructor Dan Volonte.
The show is also a fundraiser to raise money for students that will allow them for more resources. Glover said the money that is raised will go towards field trips for the cosmetology students to improve the skills they have obtained in the field.
“It’s an out of this world hair adventure,” Aguayo said.
