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— Valerie Vinyard

Beauty may be only skin deep, but sometimes the cost of achieving it can cut to the bone. If eliminating your massage or living with dark roots seems like too large a sacrifice even in these cash-strapped times, here's a solution. Put yourself in the hands of students well on their way to becoming licensed in hair care, nail care, massage therapy and skin care.

Because trainees need to practice techniques, the handful of local schools and colleges prepping them offer the same services you'd get at a regular salon or spa — but at a much lower price.

Rochelle Carr, director of Tucson College of Beauty, provides an example. At her school, four microdermabrasion treatments cost $125.

"Most salons and spas are going to charge you $500," she said.

Pure Aesthetics, a skin-care school, opened in November 2006.

"We're an all-natural skin-care school in a spalike environment," said Kaelen Johnson, the 38-year-old owner. "Any service that you get here is going to be a lot less."

Amanda Finkl goes to Pure Aesthetics for peels, microdermabrasion, facials and waxing. She recommends the $30 facial.

"It's such a treat," said the 39-year-old teacher. "I think it's a lot like going to a salon. It's beautiful inside — it's so nice and peaceful. They ask a lot of questions to make sure you're doing OK.

"In a way I think it's even nicer than the last salon my skin-care person was in."

Ann Mihina is the massage-school director at Providence Institute, a locally owned massage school.

"Clients can expect a peaceful, calm atmosphere," she said. "The students are very attentive. They go to great lengths to put the client at ease."

Depending on what service is performed, all students at the local schools have practiced for up to hundreds of hours on fellow students, supervisors, friends and family before they're allowed to work on paying customers.

Supervisors patrol the floor or check in on students to make sure they're performing tasks correctly. Customers often are asked for feedback or to fill out a mini-evaluation on the person who performed the service.

And certain services require customers to sign a waiver — just in case, say, the hair color turns out wrong.

If things do turn out right, which they often do, tips always are appreciated. Because it's part of their training, students don't receive any money from the schools for their work.

Beatriz Rasco, assistant director of Regency Beauty Institute, said it's important that guests have a good experience.

"We're not as inexpensive as some of the others, but (Regency) has the feel of a luxury spa," Rasco said.

Monthly specials sweeten the deal. In July, customers receive a free bottle of nail polish with each manicure or pedicure.

Regency also offers incentives to returning customers. After a sixth visit, customers receive a specialty facial worth $22, or $10 off any service. Referrals and the referee get $5 off their next visit.

Joann MacMaster, president of Cortiva Institute, said that clients visit the school for various reasons. Her school charges $30 for about an hourlong student massage.

"There are people who just want relaxation, and there are people who are using it as a more preventative package and looking to improve their health," MacMaster said.

Jeff Clymer, 53, books a massage at Cortiva about once a week. He's benefited from student massages since 2001.

"It's a good treatment and I feel much more relaxed — I feel a lot better," said the retiree. "By the end of the week, I'm pretty uptight and sore. I don't go to any licensed (therapists) because it's too expensive."

A new salon and spa school is scheduled to open in October near the University of Arizona. Aveda Institute Tucson will offer discounted services — and even have a food runner for hungry clients.

Aveda will have a grand opening event at its new site, located at 845 N. Park Ave., at 8 p.m. Aug. 21.

For people looking at a new career, a trade-school profession might be the way to go.

U.S. News and World Report recently described a hairstylist/cosmetologist as in a "cutting-edge" career.

The story said: "More and more students are graduating from college at the same time that employers are offshoring more professional jobs.

"Meanwhile, society has been telling high school students that college is the way, so there's an accelerating shortage of skilled people in jobs that don't require college."

Joann MacMaster of Cortiva agreed.

"It's a great time to consider doing this, especially with the economy," MacMaster said. "Massage is one of the fastest-growing sectors of health care."

Financial aid often is available for students, whether it's through the school or through national grants and loans.

Pure Aesthetics is offering one half-tuition scholarship to an incoming student. The deadline to apply is Aug. 4.

"Salons call me for my kids because we're progressive," said Sandy Dorame, director of education for Arizona Academy of Beauty. "I allow them to move ahead. That's what it's all about. This is going to be their career for life."

Obviously, salaries vary, but according to PayScale.com data, the national pay for a hairstylist was $33,700 in December 2007. PayScale states that massage therapists nationwide make about $29,000 their first year.

Johnson from Pure Aesthetics said salaries start at $30,000.

Dorame estimated that new hairstylists' salaries in Tucson start at $25,000 plus tips.

After completing the classes and putting in the hours of practice, students usually must take written and practical exams to get licensed.

At Cortiva, no additional tests are required of graduates, because it is an accredited institution. Graduates of the massage school simply submit an application and a $190 fee to the Arizona state board for their license, which is valid for two years.

To remain in good standing, many trades require continuing-education classes while in the field.

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