The red ribbon was cut on the new CHI Lone Star College-North Harris School of Cosmetology in Houston, Texas on Dec. 6, 2013.  Assembled to witness this innovative parnership were local Texas dignitaries,  the Farouk family of employees, students of the school and their proud instructors, along with many invited guests. The new campus, built  adjacent to the CHI manufacturing plant, means students have access to all that CHI and Farouk Systems has to offer--its team of world-renowned educators and hairdressers and its affiliation with the Miss Universe and Miss Texas pageants.

"By parntering with LSC-North Harris, we are uniting one of the largest institutions of academics with our internationally renowned brand to create a new generation of schools," said CEO of Farouk Systems, Basim Shami.

In organizing and outlining the curricululm and this partnership, Dr. Steve Head, president of Lone Star College-North Harris , knew he had a goldmine of information in Farouk Systems Founder, Farouk Shami. "This is truly a business model," said Head. "The students will go to hair shows with CHI, they're going to be taught the business side--how to run a business, because Farouk Shami has been so successful in creating the brand and the products, with billion dollars a year in sales."

For his part, Farouk Shami emphasized the importance of education in any field for getting ahead and making a difference.

"We are a company of hairdressers. We are all about improving the profession and you do that with education. Education is behind everything we do," said Shami.

Mayor Pro Tem of Houston, Edward Gonzales spoke at the ceremony and surprised the audience with his intimate acquaintance with the world of beauty.

"I come from a family of hairdressers," said Gonzalez. "My Mom opened a salon and expanded it to three locations.  I saw her passion for it and how much it provided for our family."

Lisa Marie Garcia, Director of Education and Shows, was thanked many times from the stage by instructors and students for her help in opening the school.  Garcia, a respected hairdresser and educator in the industry, told students: "Do what you love, love what you do and you'll never work another day. And as Farouk said, we're a family. You can always come home to Farouk Systems."

The ribbon cutting was followed by a runway show of styles created by soon-to-graduate cosmetology students and a tour of the school.  Learn more at LoneStar/edu/CHIschool