I adore spa services that make me feel like a pretty, pampered princess.
But I don’t want to become a pauper over my beauty and skincare needs!
That’s why I am so happy to pass along my absolute favorite tip for getting wonderful, top-notch spa and salon services at a fraction of the cost. This tip works in just about any city, although I’ll be sharing Columbus-specific info below.
Are you ready for my big secret? Beauty student services! That’s right, you can go for salon or spa services at beauty schools around central Ohio to be pampered on a budget.
Getting services from a student, under the watchful eye of a seasoned professional, can be just as relaxing and enjoyable as going to a high-end spa. And, you get the added feel-good perk of helping out the students by serving as their “models.”
I’ve gotten manicures, pedicures, facials, waxing and even dermaplane services from students at these reputable Columbus beauty schools. I highly recommend using these services for anyone who would like to experience spa and salon beauty treatments on a budget.
Here are my four go-tos for beauty and esthetics student services in central Ohio:
- Kenneth’s Academy on Reed Rd. off Bethel Rd. is my favorite place to go for student spa and salon services. Affiliated with Kenneth’s Spas and Salons, the services taught are high-end and the instruction is top-notch. The only catch here is that appointments are offered and made through a Facebook group, Professional Hair and Nail Services at Discounted Rates. Once you join the group (be sure to answer all questions), you’ll begin to see posts offering appointments for various services. You may want to set your notifications to “All” so you don’t miss a shot at a facial or gel pedi! Follow the instructions in each post, as sometimes the students want you to comment on that post, but other times they prefer you to message them directly to request an appointment. I’ve had everything from waxing to gel nails to dermaplane facials here and everything was terrific.
- Aveda Institute Columbus on Bethel Rd. also provides full salon and spa services done by supervised students at affordable prices. They offer a wide variety of skin, hair, nail and body services all with that trademark Aveda flair and aromatherapy. They also have memberships you can sign up for, including a facial membership for $30/month that gets you TWO facials for that cost. Considering facials are usually $100 each at a salon or spa, that’s an insane value. You can also get a waxing membership that gives you unlimited waxing for $40/month, which could also be a great deal if you are a regular waxer. I had many treatments here when they were in their old downtown location, including facials, manicures and pedicures. I need to check out the Bethel Rd. location soon.
- Salon Institute right here in Lewis Center is a relatively new beauty school providing salon and spa services performed by students at a discount. I haven’t tried this one yet – which is odd since it’s the closest to my home – but I definitely plan to in the next month or two. I will say their online scheduling app seems to be down at the moment so you’ll want to call them to schedule your appointment. Maybe I’ll see you there soon for a gel mani!
- Mason Anthony Cosmetology School in Westerville is another beauty school offering student services including both hair, nail, waxing and skincare treatments. Their online scheduling app on their website appears to be working just fine, or you can call and make an appointment. Mason Anthony is a woman-owned business and I definitely plan to give them a try soon as well. One question I have is they seem to have a massage school on the premises but aren’t currently offering student massage services. I would love a discount massage hook-up so I’ll be keeping an eye on this website to see if they start offering those soon.
If you don’t live in Columbus, never fear – just google “beauty school near me” and then visit each website to see if the cosmetology and esthetics schools near you offer student services at a discount. I’ll bet they do.
Have you ever gotten spa or salon services from students in training, and how was the experience? I’d love to hear your beauty stories in the comments below or over on Facebook or Instagram.
