Demyah Proctor soaked a mannequin head’s hair in a basin, running conditioner-lathered hands through it. After rinsing, drying, then styling the hair in finger waves, Proctor returned the mannequin to a shelf in the back of the cosmetology class for other students to use it.
Nearby, two dozen students were stationed at a long table with stands and mirrors on both sides, coloring and styling hair. Proctor’s task — shampooing and conditioning mannequin hair — simulated servicing a real client, her career goal.
“I want to be able to graduate, get my license and open up a shop one day,” said Proctor, a junior at Buchtel Community Learning Center who’s styled hair since she was a kid. “Hopefully this is preparing me, teaching me salon management.”…