An angel and a devil.  Eve and the serpent.  Little Red Riding Hood and the Big Bad Wolf.  These pairs of characters are representations of the conflicting ideas of good and evil, concepts that we are continually defining.

These ideas were brought to life by the imaginations of student stylists in the City College Cosmetology Department’s first student hair and fashion show.

On Feb. 23 the students divided the auditorium of the technology building into two sides.  The “good” side had white lights, bubbles and a sky blue banner with clouds while the “evil” one had red lights, red crepe paper and a banner filled with flames.  This decor was topped with flashing lights and pumping dance music.

Each group of stylists interpreted the show’s theme of good versus evil differently.  Some used two models, one to represent each idea.  One stylist used a mermaid and fisherwoman to illustrate her ideas. The mermaid dressed in a shimmery light blue outfit with sun-kissed makeup and fish net shawl, the fisherwoman in a yellow raincoat with fish net stockings and fishing lure accents in her hair.

Another team chose to use Eve and the serpent.  Skin-tight black and scaly green, the serpent carried a glittering red apple, while Eve in her metallic green one-piece wore painted vines on her skin.

The winning stylists fused the two ideas in one model.   A white, feathered cape and flowing dress was stitched together with a short tattered black one. Stringy black hair topped with a horn-like headpiece was contrasted with flowing auburn hair laced with golden string.  The sinister half of the model’s face wore black makeup and an eerie white contact lens.

First place stylists Karla Arrieta and Yvette Parusheva also swept the secondary categories, winning Best Hair, Best Makeup and Best Attire.

Second place went to Carina Hernandez, Alexandra Iniguez, and Stephanie Seramur for their Eve and serpent entries, and third place went to Chelsea Opzeeland for her mermaid and fisherwoman.

Judges of the competition included an international guest judge from Italy, a representative from Aveda, and professionals from local salons.  Prizes included gift baskets filled with beauty products and certificates for training time at local salons.

Each team spent hours preparing their models leading up to the competition, working on hairstyle, makeup and costumes.  The event broke boundaries in the Cosmetology Department, allowing students from different groups to work together.

This collaboration was the highlight of the competition, according to senior stylist Carina Hernandez.

“In the past, seniors didn’t interact with me as a freshman,” said Hernandez.  “The best part of this experience was the interaction and exchanging of ideas with the freshmen.”

With about four weeks of preparation, seniors Allana Guignard and Marleesha Cross lead the committee that created the hair and fashion show.  The department held a bake sale in the weeks leading up to the event, using the money to pay for all of the supplies and some of the prizes for the show.
The cosmetology program at City College is considered one of the best in the nation, according to Department Chair Dr. E. Sloan.  She noted that the program has a new home in the technology building.
“Because of the move we will be able to make use of the facility,” said Sloan.  “The technology and the lighting and space to accommodate more students, and make better shows.”
She sees the show becoming an opportunity to network, as well as a platform to showcase the talents of the senior students to influential people in the industry. “Community college programs are not looked upon with seriousness, we want to change that.”