Recent News

Celebrating our 50th Year Anniversary

The College of Hair Design has been family owned and operated since 1960 when it began as Lincoln Barber College. The founder, Albert D. Howard, started the school when he returned from the Korean War where he worked as a barber for the U.S. Navy. His program offered a six-month course in traditional mens barbering followed by a one-year apprenticeship.

Not long after Mr. Howard founded the Lincoln Barber College, a revolution in mens hairstyles took place. The mid-1960's was a time in which longer hair was all the rage for men. This trend took a toll on barbershops across the country. Men were not coming in regularly to get their haircut, and when they did come in for a cut, they wanted the longer style that was hip at the time. Barbers were not trained for these new styles and many went out of business as a result.
Mr. Howard saw where the trend was going and began offering courses on "long hair styling." His success soon prompted changing the name of the school to Men's Hairstyling College. A search for a larger location led to the purchase of Ben Your Hairdresser School of Beauty from Ben Meyers. The combined schools began training students together in 1975 -- and it was the merger of the barbering and hairstyling schools that established the College of Hair Design. In fact, the College of Hair Design is one of the first schools in the United States to be licensed to train both cosmetology and barber styling students. 

Today, the College of Hair Design remains on the cutting edge of trends in hair design. Still owned and operated by the Howard family, the College offers exceptional instruction through the Pivot Point International curriculum, hands-on learning, business training, and job placement assistance. With a history of seeing opportunity in the trends of tomorrow, the College of Hair Design prepares each student to make their own career dreams come true.  

 

College of Hair Design Celebrates New Second Location and New Look

October 2009 - College of Hair Design is celebrating the grand opening of its new second location, a 25,000 square-foot east campus and student salon and spa,9000 Andermatt Dr. (So. 90th and Highway 2), Monday, Oct. 19.  A Lincoln Chamber of Commerce ribbon-cutting ceremony at 3:30 p.m. will be followed by an open house from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. that features special guest Robert Passage.

Passage is a Global Ambassador and Industry Consultant for Pivot Point International, of which College of Hair Design is a member. Pivot Point International offers award-winning cosmetology, barber and esthetics education in more than 70 countries and 13 languages.  

Known for its downtown location, College of Hair Design has been Lincoln's leader in beauty education since 1960. The new campus, along with CHD's new brand identity "demonstrate the college's commitment to excellence and vision," said Greg Howard, CHD co-owner and vice president.

The new southeast Lincoln location offers full-time esthetic and cosmetology education programs, student designer salon and spa.   

Howard set out to build a one-of-a-kind beauty college, visiting other beauty colleges across the country with an architect and hand-picking the best features that include spacious classrooms with 82 styling stations, a luxurious student spa with 16 treatment rooms, and heated floors. In addition there is a pedicure party room featuring nine pedicure stations and a gathering room to accommodate group spa treatments.     

"It has the ambiance of an upscale hair salon and spa but services tend to cost less than one might pay at commercial salons," said Howard.   

The student salon and spa includes a wide range of services for men, women and children, including affordable cuts, colors, styles, barbering, facials and body treatments performed by trained students. Courses are taught by extensively trained and experienced instructors.   

In addition to the new $4 million building, CHD has a new brand identity created by Parsons Marketing | PR | Design of Lincoln, Neb.  

"It's a clean, stylistic look that complements our commitment to excellence and quality education," said Howard.   

The college was started in 1960 as a barber college by the late Albert D. Howard. In 1975, he began offering cosmetology training as well. The college is still owned by the Howard family under the direction of Mrs. Alyce Howard and her son, Greg Howard.  

"My father would be proud of our new campus," said Howard. "My mother and I are excited to continue a tradition of excellence in beauty education that he began nearly half a century ago."   

Those interested in attending the open house should call (402) 474-4244.