They are hair and nail designs custom-made for a horrifying Halloween competition.
On this episode of the Supercast, we take you inside the JATC South in Riverton where Hair Design and Nail Tech students get really creative in a costume contest like no other. Find out how they put their talents to the test in a timed competition that resulted in some scary hairdos and outrageous nail designs.
Audio Transcription
Anthony Godfrey:
Hello and welcome to the Supercast. I'm your host, Superintendent Anthony Godfrey. They are hair and nail designs custom-made for a horrifying Halloween competition. On this episode of the Supercast we take you inside the Jordan Academy for Technology and Careers in Riverton, where hair design and nail tech students get creative in a costume contest like no other. Find out how they put their talents to the test in a timed competition that resulted in some scary hairdos and outrageous nail designs.
We're here with Shannon Mechling at JATC South to learn more about the Hair and Nails Halloween Competition. Tell me about how the competition works and about the theme for this year.
Shannon Mechling:
So the students are all assigned a theme we choose as a group, and the theme this year was legends and fables before 1900.
Anthony Godfrey:
Oh ok.
Shannon Mechling:
So they had to pick a fable or a legend and plan their theme, and then the team had to execute the hair, the nails, the makeup, the costume as a team. They had to do a little bit of preparation work with diagrams and research, and then go ahead and put the design. And it gives them a chance to be really creative.
Anthony Godfrey:
Now the student who has chosen to be decorated and to be in the costume, is that a place of honor or would people rather be applying rather than be applied to?
Shannon Mechling:
That probably is a team question. You know, it's probably a 50/50. It is as much fun doing the application of the hair, the nails or the skin as it is being chosen to be the model, but they kind of work that out as a team. It's kind of fun when we get to put two classes together, well actually three, hair, barbering, and nails, and let them work together as a team. It introduces team working skills and then the soft skills communicating what they're trying to execute as far as their design and theme, and then just watching the follow through is just a riot. I think it's great. And I am so proud of all these kids and their talent and abilities.
Anthony Godfrey:
There's obviously a lot of talent and a ton of hard work that's gone into this. Tell me what are some of the prizes or titles available?
Shannon Mechling:
So we do a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd for the AM class and the PM class. And then we have a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd prize for hair and nails. And it's usually stuff that pertains to the class, nail products, hair products, different things. They get a little bit of bragging rights for being able to be in the top three. I would hate to have to pick because every team, every student is working really hard to perform and do what the competition requires. So we're just grateful and thankful that they all step up to the plate and do their thing. And it is really fun.
Anthony Godfrey:
They've done a fabulous job. It's really overwhelming to see the finished product here. So there are no, like most terrifying prize or?
Shannon Mechling:
Well, we do different things. We try to keep it a little g-rated because sometimes we have preschoolers and different kids, so they can't bring weapons or anything like that along. So it pretty much is their creative idea of whatever goes.
Anthony Godfrey:
Okay. That's true.
Shannon Mechling:
We don't put too many limits, just a few of them.
Anthony Godfrey:
And by combining people from various classes. Yep. I mean, these teams could go on to open their own salon together and be a full service salon.
Shannon Mechling:
A lot of them do.
Anthony Godfrey:
Do they?
Shannon Mechling:
Yeah. I have a couple students right now that are looking to team up in a salon to work. So yes, it is great to watch where they go and what they do when they finish up school and get their licensing. And we have a pretty high percentage of students that do that, so we're proud of that fact too.
Anthony Godfrey:
That does not surprise me. Now tell me who judges the competition today?
Shannon Mechling:
So we usually have manufacturer reps come in to judge the competitions. People in the industry that kind of have a little bit more detail as far as what's involved with hair, skin, and nails. And then sometimes we include the staff to come in and help us be impartial in their judging. So it works a little both ways. So it's just great for the school and great for the other students and faculty and we just try to make it pretty inclusive with all of them. We've had like greenhouse in with us that have done the competition before. We're gonna do welding in the spring because we're doing a flower fairy contest and we're gonna invite them with the hair and nails. So you gotta come back, look at that one.
Anthony Godfrey:
Get welding guys out there. Yeah. I like it. I like it. And I'm with you. I don't wanna be any part of any judging. That would be too hard walking through here. They've all done an amazing job.
Shannon Mechling:
I could judge, but I like to watch what everybody else sees and what the students are doing.
Anthony Godfrey:
How do you describe this aroma? Is it lacker and aerosol altogether? What's that combination? What's that fragrance?
Shannon Mechling:
I think you're smelling nail product. And you're smelling a lot of aerosols from hairspray.
Anthony Godfrey:
I guess I'll call it manmade.
Shannon Mechling:
It is all manmade. It is that. But look what they do with it.
Anthony Godfrey:
I know it's miraculous.
Shannon Mechling:
Hey, thank you so much.
Anthony Godfrey:
Thank you.
Time's winding down. Tell me what you guys are working on right now.
Student #1:
I'm doing the top buns on the hair. I don't know what.
Student #2:
I'm adding curls into the hairline cuz I'm almost done with the makeup.
Anthony Godfrey:
And you're just sitting still.
Student #3:
And I'm just sitting here looking pretty.
Student #2:
She puts her head up and down when I tell her to.
Anthony Godfrey:
Okay. You move your head the way you're supposed to.
Student #3:
Yes.
Anthony Godfrey:
And nothing else?
Student #3:
Nope.
Anthony Godfrey:
All right. Designed it.
Student #4:
Well, I picked it out. It's the candy witch from Hansel and Gretel. The one that tries to eat them and lures them to her candy house. But I guess this is the case where it goes wrong.
Anthony Godfrey:
And what drew you to wanting to be a witch that eats children?
Student #4:
Well, it's more so the candy.
Anthony Godfrey:
Oh, okay. Very good.
Student #4:
I love candy, more than children sometimes.
Anthony Godfrey:
Fair enough.
Student #4:
I just thought the candy would be a cute look.
Anthony Godfrey:
Now for those who can't see, you're in a pink dress. What is this material around the outside of that?
Student #4:
This is like tulle.
Anthony Godfrey:
Tulle. Okay. And you've got Starlight mints and taffy and suckers taped to you.
Student #4:
We've got it all.
Anthony Godfrey:
Yes. It's everywhere.
Student #4:
Sprinkles. blood even.
Anthony Godfrey:
Yes. Then there is blood involved.
Student #4:
Yes.
Anthony Godfrey:
Is this the blood of the children you've consumed?
Student #4:
Yes. This is.
Anthony Godfrey:
Okay. Fair enough. And you have sprinkles on your face?
Student #4:
Yes I do.
Anthony Godfrey:
It actually frames your face very nicely.
Student #4:
Thank you.
Anthony Godfrey:
How did you get the pink on your face? Because it almost looks like kind of highlighting and giving contour to your face.
Student #5:
Airbrushing and lots of pink eyeshadow and pink blush.
Anthony Godfrey:
Pink eyeshadow. Pink blush.
Student #4:
Mostly airbrushing it.
Anthony Godfrey:
What is the exact tone? Do you know the name of the tone? Is it like salmon or you know, is it named Paradise Dreams or?
Student #4
Peony
Anthony Godfrey:
Oh, Peony. Well, that's not very poetic.
Student #5:
Yeah. And Like and Rad.
Anthony Godfrey:
What is it?
Student #5:
Like and Rad.
Anthony Godfrey:
Like and Rad. Okay. The color is in fact rad.
Student #4:
Yes it is.
Anthony Godfrey:
Oh, pink hair is being added to your actual hair and those are maybe the tightest curls I've seen in a long time. Those are ramen like curls right there.
Student #4:
We wanted, you know, the Shirley Temple look to go with it. And that's what we did.
Anthony Godfrey:
Good inspiration. So do you have to prioritize what you're going to do?
Student #4:
Pretty much. Do the basics first, then out all the fun stuff.
Anthony Godfrey:
Stay with us for more on the spectacular Halloween Hair and Nail Design Competition.
Break:
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Anthony Godfrey:
Are you guys close? Can I ask you what you're working on here? So tell me about the concept here.
Student #6:
So our character that we picked was Persephone and we're basically doing like a half goddess type of look because like, she's like the goddess of nature and whatever, and spring. So the other side is like if humans stay too long, like where Hades is at, then slowly turn to death. So then we just executed that and made her like half turning because like she's down there for so long.
Anthony Godfrey:
So you're cutting it close in other words, in this costume?
Student #6:
Yeah.
Anthony Godfrey:
Okay.
Student #6:
Then for the nails we did like the nature, then like dark while she's still in the underworld.
Anthony Godfrey:
Those are long sharp nails, each with its own design. So can you describe the design on each nail for me?
Student #6:
So this first one has like gold foils and glitter underneath. And on top of it I have like 3D leaves that I sculpted myself. But basically that's just because she's like the goddess of nature again. And because it's like, I don't know, it just represents her a lot. Then this one is just like nature again, how it's like a thunderstorm while it's like on earth, how she controls it. Then this would be like her love for Hades. Like, it's like she was forced to love him. It's not actual, she just has to do it cuz she's forced to.
Anthony Godfrey:
Okay. You're very torn I see.
Student #6:
But this one is just like representing her while she's staying underneath, the underlayer basically.
Anthony Godfrey:
Okay, that's it. So this is kind of from earth to Hades all the way down?
Student #6
Yes. Mm-Hmm.
Anthony Godfrey:
Okay. And what about the thumb then?
Student #6:
The thumb is just like, adds a little darkness, like you can't really
Anthony Godfrey:
Seems very ominous.
Student #6:
Yeah. Mm-hmm.
Anthony Godfrey:
And it's clear at the tip. Very mysterious. And are you okay with being only half goddess?
Student #7:
Yeah. Because I'm kind of forced into it. So it's like there's good in it but also bad because it's like a forced thing I guess.
Anthony Godfrey:
Okay. And did all of you design this together or which one of you was responsible for the design?
Student #6:
For the nails?
Anthony Godfrey:
Just the overall.
Student #6:
Oh, we all decided to do Persephone.
Anthony Godfrey:
And why Persephone?
Student #6:
Cause? It just seems like her story isn't really told. Like yeah, we talk about Hades and whatever, but there's no real representation with her story.
Anthony Godfrey:
Looks fabulous. Great job.
Student #6:
Thank you so much.
Anthony Godfrey:
You guys only have five minutes left, but can you tell me about your design?
Student #8:
So we did the tooth fairy, but pink edition.
Anthony Godfrey:
Oh, the pink edition. I've never run into her.
Student #8:
It's our own twist.
Anthony Godfrey:
I like it. Tell me about that. Why the tooth fairy? Did any of you have a particularly good or particularly bad tooth fairy experience?
Student #8:
No, only good.
Anthony Godfrey:
Only good. Okay. That's very on brand for the tooth fairy. So the pink tooth fairy. Tell me about this design.
Student #8:
I don't know, I feel like it's just more of a fancier look and we just wanted to do a tooth fairy, I guess.
Anthony Godfrey:
Tell me about the nails. This is 3D all the way.
Student #8:
Bailey's the one that did that. This one's a mouse cuz it all started off with a mouse. This is a wand. This is wings. This is money. And this is a shoe.
Student #9:
Don't ask me how that's a shoe.
Anthony Godfrey:
No, I can see the shoe. I see it.
Student #8:
There's money in this one. Like a piece of money.
Anthony Godfrey:
There's actually a piece of money in that. Wow. Oh yeah, I can see it. That's something. And is it both hands or just one?
Student #8:
Just one.
Anthony Godfrey:
Just one. Okay. That's part of the competition. And tell me about the hair design here. What are the elements of the design?
Student #9:
We have some braids back here. We added tinsel to the hair., just make it more sparkly and stand out. And then we added a bunch of pearls and glitter spray.
Anthony Godfrey:
Oh, and you have pearls lining the edge of your hair. Very nice. And how do you apply pearls to the forehead, cheek and ear? Asking for a friend.
Student #8:
So we just use that eyelash glue.
Anthony Godfrey:
Eyelash glue. Oh, well. Well done. Everything looks great. Good luck in the competition.
All right, we're talking to one of the judges. Introduce yourself to everybody.
Randi Beagley:
I am Randi Beagley. I'm the registrar here at JATC South.
Anthony Godfrey:
Now Randi, when you applied to be registrar, did they tell you that you were going to have to be judging really good hair and nail projects in this competition?
Randi Beagley:
I had no idea what I was up against. So it's been fun because we get to do an array of all kinds of different things here. So this has been fun.
Anthony Godfrey:
I'm sure throughout the building, various programs have different things that they want you to judge.
Randi Beagley:
All the time.
Anthony Godfrey:
Well, I'm not envious of you because that is going to be tough.
Randi Beagley:
It is.
Anthony Godfrey:
How do you approach this because you know these kids, you know how hard they've worked. How do you choose a winner?
Randi Beagley:
You know, I just kind of look at the overall time and effort they've put into this and the detail that they do. You can tell, some kids maybe just kind of threw it together at the last minute. Others have practiced this over and over and have really taken the time to put into it. So that's what I judge on specifically.
Anthony Godfrey:
Okay. Well good luck out there.
Thanks for joining us on another episode of the Supercast. Remember, education is the most important thing you'll do today. We'll see you out there.