It goes without saying, after paying tuition and books, rent and utilities, college students are usually left financially distraught.  At the end of the month the decision between re-touching those grown out roots and buying groceries puts many students at unease.

However, there is a way to get both: MJ Murphy Beauty School. 

The beauty school is located in downtown Mt. Pleasant at 201 West Broadway.  While the clinic on the corner never seems to be empty, many CMU students are uninformed of the money they can be saving getting their hair done at MJ Murphy Beauty School. 

I'm sure we are all aware of the pains of paying those fancy salon prices.  Here is a way to get that lavish cut and color for more than half the price. 

Facials, hair repair, waxes, mani-pedis as well as the common haircut and color are offered with prices ranging from as little as $7 to no more than $40. 

Carol Walker, style director and a senior instructor at the college, said, "Right now in the month of February we have a special for a manicure and pedicure at only 20 bucks."

One of the biggest misconceptions of getting a discount price at a beauty school is that you'll walk out with some serious mis-snips. 

"Our students are much more knowledgeable because we bring in guest artists from all over the state," Walker said. "We've given [the students] so much education here that we are actually more advanced than most beauty schools because of the contacts we have."

Be fully confident that the students working on your hair at MJ Murphy Beauty School are seniors, fully supervised by experienced professors and have already spent over 350 hours in training during their junior classes.

Pete Grondin, a junior at MJ Murphy Beauty School, is soon to graduate to senior student and will be working in the clinic in just over a week.  While he has some concerns about the move from classroom to clients, Grondin has confidence that his professors and fellow classmates will help him out until he adjusts. 

"We have some of the best instructors at this school," Grondin said.

Many of the instructional staff doubles as important contributors to the cosmetology community.  Walker is the President of Michigan Cosmetologist Association Inc., Kathy Spiller, the administration manager, is also a member of Michigan Cosmetology State Board and Brenda Brennan is President of the School Board Association for Cosmetology.

"The school has three big wigs up here that can help students get anywhere they want to go, they know the contacts and you're not going to find a better deal," Joe Lawless, a senior, said. 

Lawless is a first place winner for MCA State Student Competitions in Trendy Hair Cuts.  He is only one of the many students of MJ Murphy Beauty School who also took places in MCA State Student Competitions.

Getting those dead ends trimmed off costs only $7.  A manicure and pedicure together costs $8. 

The clinic offers foil or cap highlights, coloring and color re-touching starting from $20 and no more than $40.  You can get professional salon services at discounted prices. 

The ambitious students of MJ Murphy Beauty School are ready and welcoming the students of CMU.

By Lindsey Digue

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