Hair Braiding and Barbering Program Teaches Students Career Skills
A Youth Braider Explosion Barber, Loc, and Learn program was held on Sunday, September 8, 2024, at the City of Bolivar Municipal Center. The first-time event was a twist on the original Youth Braider Explosion that in the past has only focused on hair braiding. The hands-on program has been expanded to include an introduction to barbering.
In 2023, Hair Talk With Camille Shavon Educational Courses first partnered with City of Bolivar Mayor Julian McTizic to offer the hair technique event to Bolivar area children and teens. The program was designed to teach the technique of hair braiding and introduce students to a trade that enables them to go into the work force and increase household incomes.
Ms. Shavon’s collaboration with Master Barber Wiluardo Stanley of City Cuts in Bolivar, provided a perfect opportunity for girls and boys to learn skills that can result in lifelong and profitable careers.
“The combination was awesome! I had been looking for a way to incorporate young men in my classes and the barbering addition was the perfect solution,” said Ms. Shavon, who has a passion for equipping young people for financial success in a career they love. “I am excited because my desire is to reach all youth, not just one gender. All youth deserve the opportunity to become inspired and this expansion [of the program] did just that.”
There were about 50 students that attended the event. It was the first time for all of the barber students. There were many new hair braiding students as well as some repeat students. In the hair braiding class, student skill levels are from beginners to advance. Many students continue attending the class until they reach the advanced level, preparing them for the next step in becoming licensed hair braiders. Ms. Shavon also shared that several of her higher achieving students started attending the program without any interest in hair braiding, enjoyed the skill, and are now working towards becoming licensed.
“Many of my assistants that helped today went through my program and are now licensed hair braiders. Their ages are 14,16, and 17 years old,” said Ms. Shavon.
The program is open to ages 10 to 17 years old for barbering and ages seven to 17 years old for youth braiding. Students ages sic to 15 years old were attendance at the event. Ms. Shavon and Mr. Stanley gave general instruction to all students at the beginning of the class. As the day progressed, students were able to work at their own pace, at their own level, and on the technique of interest while receiving individual guidance from Ms. Shavon and her assistants, and Mr. Stanley.
Hair braider students learned the technique of hair braiding on three different levels:
1) Beginners: Those who will learn how to execute and master a basic braid/plat.
2) Intermediate: Those who will excel from basic braiding and learn how to execute then master a Corn Row/French Braid. Adding hair extensions will also be introduced on this level.
3) Advanced: Those who have mastered the basic technique of hair braiding will learn more intricate hair extension techniques such as box braiding, feed in braiding, and knotless braiding.
Youth Braider Explosion Barber, Loc, and Learn Photo Gallery
Click arrow/swipe screen to see the slideshow.
Fundamentals of barbering covered the following topics:
- Knowing your clippers and each function
- Clipper guard sizes and their functions
- Techniques such as fading, blending, an shaping
- Loc and twisting
Jayden Wilkes, age 15, took a very strong interest in the loc and twisting demonstration.
“I want to pursue barbering and also want to attend the next certification class, so I can become licensed to twist and loc,” said Jayden.
Ms. Shavon, who looks forward to again offering the combination class, encourages parents to share the opportunity with their children. Although the focus is a trade working with hair, Ms. Shavon shares business sense and success tools a student can use in any career they plan to pursue in the future.
“I ‘Aspire to Inspire’ and it is always a joy to plant a positive seed in our future leaders no matter what career they choose,” said Ms. Shavon. “A special thanks to our great Mayor Juilan McTizic for the opportunity and sponsorship of the event.”
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