pivot point

Long Hair Design: Updos are AWESOME

I’m in my 10th week at Pivot Point, and we’re just wrapping up our lessons on long hair design. I love being creative, but I have a hard time getting started. Because I don’t have much experience, I need to have an idea of what I want to do before I begin—but I’m not at the point where I feel confident enough to create a wearable look that doesn’t look too prom-y or avant-garde. It’s like I’m having a tough time finding a happy medium. Now that I got out the “Debbie Downer” in me, OH MY GOD! I love updos!

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My First Hair Sculpture on Jackie Onassis

It was exactly one-week ago that I started beauty school at Pivot Point, and exactly one-week ago that I met Jackie O. She is a beautiful woman with long lashes and big, beautiful eyes. And now, world, I introduce her to you. Meet Jackie O.

Pursuing a Passion

Ever since I was a little girl, I’ve wanted to go to beauty school. My first experience cutting hair, aside from my Barbies’ heads, was on my little sister Megan. Her hair was getting a little long, I thought she could use a bang trim. The problem was, I was seven years old, and she was four. I used kitchen shears, and then proceeded to let her cut my hair afterward.

Pivot Point Names Paul Suttles Education Director

Pivot Point Academy adds Paul Suttles to its team as Education Director. Suttles brings a strong background in salon and school education, including Education Director for Aveda Fredric’s Institutes.

L.E.O. Awards at ABS

Pivot Point International honored six of its alumni with L.E.O. awards at America’s Beauty Show. The awards stand for Leadership in the salon industry, Excellence in hair designer education and Outstanding Pivot Point Alumnus. The acronym also stands for Leo Passage, the founder of Pivot Point and teacher and mentor to many salon professionals. The 2009 L.E.O. awards were presented to Luis Alvarez, Rohn Hamel, Dwight Miller, Judy Rambert, Barbara Sansone and Andy Uffels.

1500 Hours Completed!

HUGE news! Last night I completed my 1,500 hours at Pivot Point International Academy and am now a BEAUTY SCHOOL GRADUATE! WOOWOO!

241 Hours to Go!

Someone once told me, beauty school students don't think in terms of weeks or days—they think in terms of hours... and, when you're 241 hours away from graduation, I've found that this statement couldn't be more true! That's right, guys. I'm 241 hours away from being a licensed cosmetologist (given that I, hopefully, pass my state boards!)! It's been such an incredible journey. I remember my first day—I was so nervous/excited/anxious to get going. I remember sitting in the classroom, looking around at all the strangers... never did I imagine that I would grow SO close to this group of people, and I had no idea how much I would learn!

Pivot Point Study Abroad: London's Tate Museum and Queen's We Will Rock You!

Wow! It was a day FULL of the arts on our study abroad trip with Pivot Point in London. This trip has been amazing!! We began our day with a trip to Shakespeare's Globe Theatre. Then, headed to the Tate Modern Museum and saw Picasso and Andy Warhol. Then, went to a musical based on the music of Queen called We Will Rock You. It was a day PACKED with arts!

Education at London's Sassoon Academy with Yolly ten Koppel

Hi everyone! Day four of my study abroad trip with Pivot Point International in London--and loving it! Today has been so fantastic. We began our morning bright and early with an english breakfast at the Corus Hotel in Hyde Park. Then, we took the Underground over to the famed Vidal Sassoon Advanced Academy. The whole experience (the education, the surroundings, the salon, the people) was just way too fabulous.

Male Sculpting: Practice Makes Perfect, Right?!

My class at Pivot Point International is nearing the end of Phase 1. In other words, ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh man, we hit the salon floor, taking real live clients, in just a few weeks. I am so freaked out. Luckily I have a lot of awesome people in my life who have been great (and very, very brave) for letting me practice on them. More on that later. As my class continues to improve upon our skills in sculpting the basic forms by adding advanced sculpting techniques, we’ve started to sprinkle in male client design techniques as well.