UCAS University of Cosmetology Arts & Sciences — Local services in Harlingen

I have often used beauty schools for services that are simple and straightforward. I was in Harlingen for an event and ran out of time to get my nails done so I decided to have my hair shampooed and blown out with a roller brush. I called earlier in the day and confirmed they took walk ins for a shampoo and blow out. I arrived at 4:45 pm and expected to be out the door nlt 6:00 pm. I didn’t express my expectation however I did specifically ask if there was a student available who could complete that services and I was asked for the last 4 digits of my phone number and name. As a student it is paramount that they understand there are two skills that must be developed - the technical aspect of being a hair stylist and the business side of providing a good customer experience. Sadly both need improvement. I was assigned a student. I don’t know her name. She didn’t tell me her name. She shampood my hair twice and put conditioner in it and began my blow out by selecting a section of hair. She blew out that section and then said - “I have to leave because I have to be at work”. She took her cape and left. So I sat there until another student took over. The next student didn’t bring her hair styling supplies. She didn’t have a cape, clips and she was very clear that she had never done this on another person - just on herself. I left the school at 6:30. No heat protectant was used on my hair, no volumizer product was used, no smoothing serum was used. My hair looked frizzy and poofy when I left and I expected my hair to have volume and shine. Instead it looked like my hair was dried at the highest setting for the longest time possible. Unfortunately this was done even with the instructor’s help. Adding insult to injury I had been misquoted the price of $23. My hair was considered extra long not medium- how can even the easiest assessment of hair length be wrong? So1hr 45 min and $33 later I walked out with frizzy hair that was plenty poofy on the bottom and flat on top and I only saw it for the first time when I got home. I went home and rewashed my hair, used the necessary products and did my own hair and was only 45 min late to my event. So if I could do my own hair - why would I go to get it done? Because normally having your hair blown out is relaxing and I wanted to “treat” myself. What I did accomplish was an exercise in restraint and kindness. I did not express my disappointment because I don’t think they would have understood how this service failed to meet on multiple levels - technical skill, customer service, customer expectation and business operations. There are plenty of opportunities to improve - pick one and do that. Your students and clients deserve better. I have attached a picture of what my hair SHOULD have looked like (this is my hair taken 4 days before visiting...

Horrible how they ‘care’ about you up until you owe them money. I had a SEMI decent experience until the day I decided I was done with them. They preached about their student code of conduct but I guess it doesn’t apply to the staff. I owed money and was in a tight situation financially. I expressed this several times, acknowledging my financial responsibilities time and time again. They, however, don’t care. Their student code of conduct stated that no one person was allowed to force another person to pay them money. Yet they had me in an office, bullying me to pay them money I owed. They threatened to remove my from their time clock so that I wasn’t allowed to put in the hours I needed to complete my program. All papers sign clearly state that any dues must be paid BY GRADUATION DATE but what they don’t tell you is that they will harass you week after week until you pay them. If you don’t pay, they remove you from the system. Very unorganized campus. Despite expanding, there isn’t enough staff or space to accommodate students. Which makes sense, because who would want to enroll here. My 1st instructor transferred to a different campus and tests that I’d already complete just ‘vanished’. I’d completed 4 course, taken written and practical exams and all that data was just allowed to disappear with no one to be accountable for it but me. I’d never been in such a stressful, hostile, draining environment in my LIFE. My anxiety peaked to a critical level during my time there, forcing me to take a necessary leave of absence. They never give you clear answers on anything. Material isn’t taught to a comprehensible level. Supplies are scarce. Student practically have to provide their own products. Implements are ‘lost’ (stolen) and you’d THINK they’d check the cameras they use. But god forbid a teacher missplace her keys and suddenly it’s a crucial situation and anything must be dropped. I’m honestly glad I never have to go back there. The parking situation, although out of their hands, was such an inconvenience. They don’t guarantee student safety. You could be harassed the second you walk outside and they just stand by, doing nothing. They have ample space to park in the ‘staff’ parking lot in the back but choose to inconvenience it’s own students. They went as far as to put a pin pad on the back door so students wouldn’t have access to it. If you choose to enroll, please be sure to read the fine print. Finish as schedule and get out of there as soon as possible. Save yourself the stress. Personally, it’s not worth...

This school I've heard so much about already and it's mainly about the staff only being concerned about money. They have asked someone close I know attending the school to complete the hours so they can receive the rest of the financial aid. I've heard how the staff talks to this loved one of mine and I don't like nor agree with it. Of course everyone puts on a good face when new people arrive, first impressions are indeed everything. But first impressions aren't always the most honest impressions either. For anybody looking to attend this particular school, UCAS at Harlingen Texas near the "99¢ Store", I would not recommend for anybody who isn't willing to pay to be self taught. For being talked to like a nobody and treated like nobody, that shouldnt be at a school environment and I sure hope these certain employees who teach about nails learn a lesson someday. The amount of stress they have put on this person close to me isn't worth going to school for. I wouldnt have a problem with this school of the nail tech staff would actually teach and provide knowledge to the students. But they do not, and they expect students to pass state exam? The only time they tried teaching for state, students asked thier teacher to slow down and go step by step and that teacher didn't at all have the patience for her students.They might put on a good face to people who show up to get their nails and hair done, but ask the students and I can speak for the nail tech students on how they are being treated and taught. Some may not have a problem paying this school to be self taught, but why pay for a school when you could have learned yourself for free? I hope this school gets shut down, or get replaced...