Former Medway Cosmetology Student Follows His Passion While Giving Back to Help Others

Former Medway Cosmetology Student Follows His Passion While Giving Back to Help Others

There was a time in the field of cosmetology when it used to be viewed as a women-only career. Now times have changed and more men are enrolling in cosmetology schools.  Talent is no longer gender specific. Some of the most successful stylists in the world are men, and there’s no limit to their success. Harley Anderson, a 2015 Tri-County RVTHS graduate from Medway, knew this. In fact, he always wanted to be a stylist since the seventh grade. He was harassed by many of his peers for his career choice, but he never let other’s opinions alter his goal. Later when he was a junior, Harley became very sought after with students asking him to work on their hair.

One day while watching the television show, Chronicle, Julie Donahue a Tri-County RVTHS Cosmetology instructor, saw that Sandy Poirier, the owner of Shag in Boston was being featured on the show. She thought it would be a great experience for her students to get to see Mr. Poirier cutting hair.  She invited him to come to Tri-County RVTHS to give a demonstration to freshman students. Fortunately, Mr. Poirier agreed to come to the school.  During the demonstration, Mr. Poirier was showing students a hair cutting technique.  Harley saw there was hair on the floor and got right up and swept the floor without being asked.  Mr. Poirier noticed this and told Harley that someday he would like Harley to work for him. Harley took what Mr. Poirier said to heart and made it his goal to someday work at Shag.

While at Tri-County, Harley learned all that he could.  The cosmetology program provides students with so much more than the required 1,000 hours of instruction necessary for Massachusetts licensure.  So much so, that Harley had already started his training program at Supercuts in Franklin, MA prior to graduation. Harley is the first licensed cosmetology male student at Tri-County in twenty years to work in a salon. After working there for two months, Harley decided he wanted more.

One day while perusing Instagram, he noticed that Shag had an advertisement looking for stylists. He decided this was his chance to make his dream come true.  He contacted the eclectic salon, and was invited to work for the day on a trial basis. That day he was watched by many of the assistants and none of the stylists spoke to him. After the day was over, he was hired on as an assistant. Beginning with a blow drying class, cutting and color apprentices undergo an extensive training program taught hands on by master stylists and colorists. Harley has chosen to work on the cutting side of the business due to his inability to differentiate colors very well.  He explained that each haircut typically takes about an hour to complete due to the intricacy of the cut.  When not cutting hair, Harley continues to refine his cutting technique by watching other master cutters work on clients. 

Harley has now been at Shag for the past two years and is in charge of all the 8 assistants.  “Step out of your comfort zone to get to where you want to go,” advises Harley. Today there are six men who work at Shag. In fact, celebrity hair stylist and Shag owner Sandy Poirier, recently won the first American Beauty Star contest on Lifetime TV.

“We hold Harley in such high esteem,” said Tri-County RVTHS Cosmetology instructor Julie Donahue. “He never forgets where he came from and always gives back by talking to students and encouraging them. We don’t even have to ask him to come in, he just shows up.” 

During freshman year at Tri-County, students are encouraged to explore and consider Career Programs that have been labeled "non-traditional." These are those programs for which individuals from one gender make up less than 25-percent of the individuals employed in the industry. Harley encourages all students to ignore what is deemed "traditional" or "non-traditional" and simply pursue their dreams.

 

Tri-County RVTHS, located at 147 Pond Street in Franklin, is a recipient of the High Schools That Work Gold Achievement Award and serves the communities of Franklin, Medfield, Medway, Millis, Norfolk, North Attleborough, Plainville, Seekonk, Sherborn, Walpole, and Wrentham.

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MEDIA CONTACT:

Jodie A. Luksha

Marketing & Public Relations, Tri-County RVTSD

luksha@tri-county.us

508-528-5400, ext. 208