Portland Beauty School Salon

I wanted to look fetching for a Halloween event and decided to take a chance on them. I had to wait for a little bit for anyone to notice me and started to throw a little tizzy fit. I’m glad I hung in there because they did a spectacular job!!! I had a Steampunk outfit and some images I had downloaded from the internet, so they could get an idea of what I was wanting. They NAILED it. I had two of them working on me at once and they weren’t going to quit until they got it right… Unfortunately I didn’t get the name of the woman who did my hair, but it was a perfect Victorian ‘do complete with ringlets hanging down on the side and my cute little hat perched at a jaunty angle. It was sprayed so much I could have jumped up and down on a trampoline and it wouldn’t budge. Perfect!!! Helen did my makeup. She put layers and layers of makeup on, highlighted and contoured my face and glued on false eyelashes. I will say I’ve had false eyelashes before and they irritated my eyes, but Helen did it in such a way, I didn’t even notice them. She must have spent about two hours on my face and when she was done. .. well I could have won beauty contests. Oh, and the price for all: hair and makeup (drum roll), $ 25.00. It was the best job anyone has ever done on me for an event like that.

I don’t think I’ve ever been recognized by my Unilocal reviews upon returning to a business, but it happened when I needed a haircut at Portland Beauty School this week. I’m not writing an update and giving it a better rating because they asked what they could do to get a better rating or because I felt obligated in any way. I’m giving it a better rating because the reason I write so many Unilocal reviews is so that people can have reliable opinions about businesses and so that businesses can get better at what they do. The staff and Portland Beauty School cares about the opinions of reviewers and for that, I think they deserve the boost.
My visit here this week went well. It was much less hectic than the first time I visited, so it’s good to know it’s not always like that. I had a better understanding of what kind of haircut I wanted as the first time I had no idea really how to describe it. The student I had this time seemed more knowledgeable and confident, which is always nice when someone is holding scissors right next to your head.
Whenever my regular hairdresser (my mother) is too busy to do my hair, Portland Beauty School will be at the top of my list for places to go.

I found the Portland Beauty School by searching Google for a local spa that uses Dermalogica products for facials. I was able to book my appointment for the next day and enjoyed a 60 minute facial from Amber in a clean, private room for a very low price. I tipped 50% and scheduled another appointment. I highly recommend giving it a try.

Hey, I know it’s a beauty school, but that is no excuse. It was so chaotic in there with boxes every where, not clean, pretty dirty, loud, and disorganized work stations. There was not enough blew dryers, products, and curling irons. It was crazy in there. I walked in with an appointment and the lady at the front desk did not know anything. I just wanted to get my hair styled. It took them 20 minutes to check me in. Then the women who did my hair was really nice, but she had never used a curling iron before. The instructor had to tell her every step. She was great, but was supervising all the students and doing some ones hair. I knew more than the hair stylist student doing my hair. It took an hour and half and by the time we got ready for the wedding we were going to about 2 hours later all the curls had fallen out. So it was big waste of time and money (it was $ 12.00). Most places have people practice on the hair mannequins before they touch a person. Defiantly don’t want to go back.

I had a manicure and was very disappointed in the service. I originally had made 2 appointments, 1 for me 1 for my sister to get a shellac polish and manicure. Then after reading reviews decided to call and cancel the shellac and so regular polish, because you can’t really mess that up. We walk in at 12:45 for appointments at 1pm. The lady at the counter was very confused about what service we wanted… A manicure with polish!!? How confusing is that? So then she proceeded to tell us we’d have to wait for seats because it was completely full. Okay, understandable but we did have appointments so did they just take walk ins even with a full schedule?! (I’m a salon receptionist myself) I did not feel like the lady showed us any Customer service. She kept asking of our services and running around looking for open places to squeeze in. Whatever. PLUS, YOU PAY BEFORE THE SERVICE! WTH?! so then we are finally called, not too long after 1 to the back. I kid you not, they have people sitting in chairs wherever they could fit one getting manis and pedis. It was a freaking zoo!!! We squeeze into our seats and begin. My lady I couldn’t hardly understand, but that’s okay. what isn’t okay is my sister had short nails, bad biting habit, and her lady is giving disgusting faces and talking in a different language to my lady and they’re laughing and dirty looking. They had like 9 colors to choose from (only China glaze, which I hate but no big deal). She never cut my cuticles, she didn’t understand that I wanted them shaped and the same length. No instructor ever came over. 1 was too busy chatting, the other was too busy doing her own hair. After the polish, she sprays it with some fast dry and yells done at me 3 times. I’m like «uhh, okay should I wait for them to dry more» amd she just looked at me confused and said done. And started picking up her stuff. Getting her tip out of my pocket was a real difficult one. I had no coat on and couldn’t get my keys out of my bag for fear of ruining the polish. We I couldn’t stand being cold and longer and after air drying my nails I had to grab my keys. Well, there goes a perfectly decent mani… smudged every finger. I did realize that is my fault by why couldn’t I sit in the chair until fully dry??? Needless to say, it was a mad house. Great prices and a good opportunity to help a student complete school. But never again… we WILL NOT be returning.

I was very impressed with the quality of work that these professionals in training provided. The scheduling of the manicure was quick and easy and they were able to fit me in on a short notice. While I have been to other beauty schools for various things, I was very impressed by the overall experience of Portland Beauty School.
I would love to come back here for many other services!

I see that this school has a two star rating. I unfortunately have been to that school as a customer, and was very dissatisfied with their services. My first service was haircolor, they did it so wrong, that they had to do it over again. Those students mostly don’t speak English which is unfortunate to any customer that go there. The second service I had was nails I got my nails done on a Thursday, that very next day my nails were becoming more destroyed. The girls that done my nails, which seem like there were three of them which don’t speak English did a horrible job the instructor was very rude to the point that she and I got to a big argument in front of the students. By the way, the instructor is American so English wasn’t her problem. There are several cosmetology, beauty schools and the Portland area. Please do not go to that school you will have a bad experience. Try other schools they will likely be worth a try. Portland beauty school is very unorganized. 0

I’ve had several hair services here and I’ve been very satisfied with the results. I appreciate that the instructors care a lot about the work of the students and are constantly checking in.
I disliked my hair color and came back the next day to get it fixed for free. The staff (Kymra and Regina) and student didn’t make me feel bad at all and were very welcoming. I highly recommend this place for hair services but be aware that students work at a much slower pace.

Never ever ever will I step foot in this place again. Not only did I get a horrible haircut (how difficult is it cut in a strait line for a trim), but now I can’t stop itching. Do they wash their combs?

you can’t expect the highest quality of service at a beauty school, but you should still receive the same spa-​like services with the basics at the very least.
i went in for their dermalogica facial (since i’ve used dermalogica products before and duly approve). the facial was VERY reasonably priced — but for a reason. it was $ 23 for a facial that lasted about an hour. the main problem lies in their lack of training for their estheticians, which is sad considering it’s a beauty SCHOOL.
the student walked me into a dark room with about 4 beds separated by standing screens and just asked me to lie down. she never asked me anything about my skin (conditions, type, products used, etc.). and when she placed the hot towel on my face, she spent so much time wiping away every last drop of cleanser/​mask that the towel would be cold by the time she was still «cleaning,» and my face would feel raw from so much pushing around.
at the end of the facial, i asked her what specific dermalogica products were used and she couldn’t even tell me, because her teacher had pre-​poured the products. students should know about the products they’re using on clients; who knows if someone could be allergic to something! even though the pricing was great, i won’t be returning :(

On 11÷4÷11 I went into the business to have my hair colored and highlighted and to have a spa pedicure. I have gone to the business 2 times prior and received services as I would expect. This time is completely different!!! When I approached the front desk, Robert the manager, was trying to take care of several people at the same time so I waited. Another person, a woman was attempting to check in me in and seemed to be having an issue with what services I was supposed to be getting. Please know I had scheduled this appointment 10 days in advance. Robert then in amongst all the chaos told me to pull my hair down and turn around; he never came around from behind the counter to look at my hair. I told him I wanted the same thing I had gotten before the last two times I was there. I stated that I wanted my entire gray to be gone as before. He mumbled something to the other woman and she rang up my services. This was odd as I had always paid for services after getting them.
I was then taken back by the technician, who never spoke a word to me for the first 45 minutes. I sat in the chair for 2.5 hours. Right before the wash out the technician seemed confused and asked me if I wanted color around my face. I said that the dye color looked darker than usual. She said it would make dark brown. This was not the color I had wanted. At this point it was already done. I was then confused as well. I told her I wanted the entire gray gone and asked what was going on. She showed me my client card and explained to me that the last two technicians had not filled out what they had done for my service, therefore she didn’t know what to do. Through this whole process a supervising teacher checked the technician’s work once, again not what I had experienced in the past visits.
After about 20 minutes my hair was washed and dried. The supervisor THEN walks over to tell me that what was done to me was not right. At this point, almost 3 hours later and thinking I was done, I was upset and angry. I proceeded to have my pedicure, which was done by two people. How weird to have each foot being done at the same time and by two different people! The work was not consistent and yet again I was upset and angry!!!
When I got home, telling my husband what happened he too became angry. The following day we both went over to the business and Robert was on the front desk. My husband asked if we could receive a money refund for the services as nothing had been done properly. Robert told us they won’t give us a refund. My husband was trying to understand why no one wanted to make things right, he never raised his voice once. Robert then began to become angry, refused to provide his last name, and begrudgingly gave us the name Joe Pepper as the business owner. When my husband asked for his telephone number Robert pointed to the standard business card and said nothing! Robert accused my husband of being argumentative, which he wasn’t. NOT one time did Robert apologize or make ANY effort to make anything right!!! In fact he was downright RUDE. My husband has called the business several times asking for Joe Pepper and he was hung up on EVERY time.
My advice is save your money for a ‘real’ salon and know that the $ 100 you pay for your highlights is worth it in the end. My hair is now so dried out and damaged that I will have to wait 4 – 6 weeks before trying to fix the mess!

A 90 minute massage for $ 40 is insane. It was super relaxing, the masseuse was nice, and they were even able to get me in for a brow wax afterwards. The pedicure stations are awesome, and it is a much better atmosphere than what I expected for a beauty school.
That being said, this IS a beauty school, so while you’re being pampered, the reason you’re getting a deal is because they’re learning from you, so I’m kind of surprised about a couple of these reviews. I’m not sure if you expected some super pretentious salon atmosphere from a beauty school where a haircut is $ 5… Personally I think it’s fun to be tested on, and everyone I spoke to was nice. The students made me feel comfortable, and my brows and massage were done well.

I just tried Portland Beauty school for a waxing and had a lady who was great. She was just shy of completing her course, so had decent experience. It was quick and painless!

Roommate and I needed to get our eyebrows did… And we live right down the street. I thought that since this is a beauty school, it would be cleaner and nicer than some janky nail salon. Nope. The chick that did our eyebrows had her lunch just chillin’ in the treatment room. It also took her about an hour to wax two sets of eyebrows… I felt like I was going to grow old and die before she finished…
She also seemed sort of… intimidated by me. I’m not sure how to explain it. I’m into makeup and fashion, etc etc… and it seemed like she was afraid to just get in there and wax my brows how they needed to be waxed. She kept asking for my input and stopping and starting. It’s not like I have perfect Angelina Jolie brows that need to be maintained. They’re very thin as a relic of my «I grew up goth in the 90’s» former tweeze happy years, so I really just need the random hairs and blonde fuzzies to be cleaned up. I have to draw them on with pencil anyway.
Anyway, it was a deal at $ 7, but I’m never going back. I’ve since found Gateway Nails (
) and they do a great job.

I went to this place with my mom and sister. We all had facials that were great and the women were so nice. After that, my sister and I got acrylic nails. My sister was done very fast. I had an older man do mine. It was his first time and he did pretty well, it just took him about twice as long as the other person. I didn’t mind because it is a school and he was learning. It was also extremely inexpensive. I had a lot of fun there. Just make sure you aren’t on a time limit and call ahead to check student availability.

Seriously when will i learn! 1 star for the place 1 star for the chic
This place is wanna be flashy but yes it is soo trashy!
Service SUCKED was kept waiting for more than 10 minutes while people chatted — about what i don’t know cuz i can’t speak any language but English soo not their fault I’m lacking in basic skills. ANYWAY they did continue to speak another language in front of me all the while ignoring me and attempting to do my nails which I find just rude.
The girl that took over was sweet and did try but kept being interrupted by other students to chat about the week — some did chat in English for my benefit which was appreciated.
My nails were uneven and the polish was caked on (clear polish mind you). Definitely stay away this place it’s just bad!