Stopped by a barber school in Nashville and saw something wild

I was in Nashville last weekend visiting a friend and figured I'd check out the barber school near his place. Walked in and there were like 6 students all working on mannequin heads but none of them were using any guards on their clippers. They were just freehand fading straight onto plastic heads with no real hair texture. The instructor told me they start everyone on plastic for 2 months before letting them touch a real person. I thought that was crazy honestly because plastic head and a real head feel completely different. I get practicing fundamentals but doesn't that setup bad habits? Has anyone else trained on plastic heads or did you go straight into working on people with supervision?

2 comments

2 Comments

hunt.rowan1d ago

No way, two months on plastic heads before touching real hair is insane.

lewis.diana1d ago

Bet that plastic head cost more than half the supplies they'll actually use on real people too. Shops love padding their kit fees with stuff nobody needs.