More than two dozen Sandy Elementary students left with fresh haircuts and smiles recently, thanks to a service project led by Canyons Technical Education Center cosmetology students.

Seniors in the program volunteered to provide free haircuts for Sandy Elementary and Midvale Elementary students during parent-teacher conferences. The event gave families a convenient service while allowing older students to gain real-world experience working with clients.

“It’s a service project to help kids get a nice, fresh haircut that’s free,” said CTEC instructor Marci Melendez. “We do it for our students too, because they’re in training and it gives them a good experience.”

Seven cosmetology students came to each elementary school, giving them the opportunity to work with younger clients, something that isn’t common at CTEC. 

Cutting children’s hair presents different challenges from adult haircuts.

“Kids are wiggly, so that can be hard. The reason why I bring my seniors is because it doesn’t take them as long to do the haircuts,” said the instructor with 28 years of experience.

Most cuts took about 30 minutes, depending on the style.

“Some parents bring photos of hairstyles they want, but others allow the kids to have a creative leeway,” she said. “A lot can go into it, but we can do basic haircuts here and if they want more than that, we offer them coupons to come to our school.”

The project is especially meaningful to Melendez since she attended Sandy Elementary as a child.

“I came here so it’s really fun for me to come here and see everything again,” she said.

The program has offered services at Sandy Elementary for two years and now has expanded to include Midvale Elementary.

“We’re trying to branch out and help the community any way we can,” she said.

Cosmetology students said the opportunity provided them with valuable hands-on practice.

“We’re getting better at kids’ cuts since we don’t get them often,” said Alta High senior Tyler Lantis. “We get more older men’s haircuts or women’s colors at CTEC.”

Despite the challenge to keep the younger students still while cutting hair, senior Sadie Nigbur said her favorite part was doing it for the kids.

“They watch all these adults get their hair done so it’s a special thing for them to come,” she said.

Hillcrest High senior Addy Simper added: “We’re hoping they’ll be more confident and happier with the haircut. Most of them are excited to show their friends at school tomorrow.”

Sandy Elementary families have welcomed the addition to the services — including health, clothing, food and more — provided by the school, said Isa Connelly, Sandy’s community school facilitator. 

Connelly said the idea started two years ago when her daughter, Sunny Whitman, then a CTEC cosmetology student, gave a haircut to a child at the school who needed one. That led to another session where she offered them to any students.

“We had a line out the door with 40 students waiting,” Connelly said. “That’s when we realized this is a need in the community. We bring the haircuts here because going to CTEC is an issue with transportation.”

Parent Brittney Grell said the experience for her first-grade daughter Gwen was positive.

“She wanted bangs and she’s getting a bob,” Grell said. “It’s free and convenient and it’s a great for her first haircut.”

Third-grader Sage Burgard also was excited to get a new hairstyle.

“I want to match my best friend’s hair length, and I like getting something new done to my hair; it makes me happy,” Sage said. “Haircuts are important so my hair won’t be like Rapunzel’s.”