Beauty speaks volumes — Even in silence

For most high school students, including those attending Morganton’s North Carolina School for the Deaf (NCSD), prom night is a highly anticipated event. This year, a unique partnership with Western Piedmont Community College’s (WPCC) cosmetology school ensured the NCSD students stepped out looking and feeling like stars on their special night.

The collaboration allowed prom-goers to have fresh haircuts and professional makeup services, and it gave cosmetologists the opportunity to move beyond textbooks and mannequins to embrace a hands-on lesson in community and connection.

Just after lunch on May 8, prom day, a busload of excited NCSD students arrived at WPCC’s Cosmetology Center off Burkemont Avenue. As their clients exited the bus, the cosmetologists formed two lines and “cheered” (for the Deaf community, a cheer is performed by shaking one’s hands in the air) as the beaming students paraded into the salon.

Cries of joy echoed through the rooms as each NCSD student was paired with a hair or makeup stylist, and their treatments began.

In April, WPCC partnered with Nita’s Silent Hands, a nonprofit organization based in Gastonia, to help cosmetology students learn to communicate with their teenage clients. Representatives from the group traveled to Morganton to teach a basic sign language class to the cosmetology students, and in turn, the hairdressers were able to make the NCSD students feel more at ease.

Jenna Chapman, cosmetology coordinator at Western Piedmont Community College, said when representatives from Nita’s Silent Hands reached out to arrange the collaboration, she didn’t hesitate to seize the opportunity.

“When we were asked, there was no doubt at all that we would do it,” she said. “We really try hard to be as inclusive as we can, and that starts with me and the instructors, and then we try to make sure the students are doing the same.

“So, we welcome everyone, no matter what the case may be,” Chapman added. “You don’t realize what kind of impact you can make when you just know a little bit about somebody, and you can make them feel just a little more comfortable in the salon.”

Starr Clinton, founder of Nita’s Silent Hands, and Madeline Swann, who also works with the organization, came to the salon to help facilitate conversations between clients and students.

According to Swann, this was the fourth year the nonprofit has sponsored a prom for the School for the Deaf. Not only did Nita’s Silent Hands provide dinner in a nice restaurant for the teens on prom night, but they also donated 35 dresses to NCSD for students who may have needed help finding just the right thing to wear.

“We are excited to be here with (WPCC) and we hope to collaborate for years to come. We did a workshop with them, so they are getting acquainted with the Deaf culture,” she explained.

Chapman said the session provided more for her cosmetology students than basic sign language skills.

“They (Clinton and Swann) came out and did about an hour-long deaf awareness workshop,” she said. “They shared some like signs and phrases, and they shared the alphabet with us.

“But then they talked about Deaf culture and about body language and how that comes into play when you are signing,” Chapman added. “They were the ones that were the bridge between us and NCSD.”

According to cosmetology student Natalia Storie, the experience gave her a new insight about communicating with clients.

“It made me realize that communication is key to any service I’m providing, (and) that it is important to let the client know the process and what tools and products are being used for the service prior to starting,” Storie said. “I learned to spend more time with consultations, especially with clients when there is a language barrier.”

For several cosmetology students, the event provided their final clinical experience as students at WPCC.

“Some of them, this is their very last client day here,” Chapman stated. “I told them that you have the opportunity to be part of someone’s prom. You get to be part of some people’s biggest days. It’s a big deal and you get to be part of that.

“You get to help make them feel good and let them have this big experience,” she added.

Cosmetology student Olivia Chatman said she enjoyed the day. “I absolutely loved working with the NCSD students,” she said. “It was such a rewarding experience. I feel like it really helped me grow, especially in terms of communication.

“In this profession, it’s so important to know how to connect and communicate with all kinds of people,” she added. I’m beyond thankful for the opportunity and everything I’ve learned along the way.”

WPCC student Melissa Marlow said, “Being allowed to participate in something so beautiful as NCSD’s prom was very heart warming. I enjoyed being able to have a positive impact on my community and help make their night a little more magical.”

Chapman said the role of a cosmetologist can often be underestimated.

“Yes, we get to cut hair and play beauty shop, but we also get to be part of wedding days and proms and first haircuts and of these great big experiences,” she explained. “That’s a beautiful thing, to be of service to people like that.

“So, I told my students, you go out on a high note. Really make this the best client date ever for them.”