I do utilize my beauty school for my roller sets. My regular hair stylist charges $40-$50. The beauty school charges $9.00 plus an extra $1.00 for the conditioner. I haven't tried the beauty school for pedicures but I may.

I would never go to someone in training for my hair -- particularly for color, but cut would scare me too. However, I would totally do this for a manicure --- if it looks bad, it's temporary

I went and got my hair cut at a beauty school recently. It took a really long time for her to cut it, but for $12 it was a GREAT haircut. I agree it's a bit of a "commitment" but I'm not a huge "my hair defines me" person, so I figured if it got fudged, I'd wear a hat and be done with it.

Hmm. I've never tried any of these, but I usually don't get massages or pedicures or anything like that anyway. But I might try out the massage one!

We have some excellent massage schools here and I LOVE helping the student practice their art It can be kind of hit-or-miss; sometimes I get someone who is excellent and near the end of their training and I can't tell they're a student. Other times I'll get someone who is a little more timid and not quite so good...but still totally worth the $30 for an hour-long massage!

did it once for a manicure and i'll never do it again. first off, i got a guy who really didn't want to- he was practically forced (for class credit). i saw why once he started- he was totally lazy and was prob just in beauty school bc his female best friend was (who he chatted with the whole time). he didn't wait for the polish to dry in between coats and it ended up looking really crappy. i'd rather just pay an extra $10 for a professional or do it myself (apparently i'm much better at doing nails than he was).

i'd be too scared to try a stylist-in-training (i barely trust full-fleged ones, as it is), but i might give massage school a whirl in the future.

Instead of getting a full pedicure when I get my nails filled, I just have them change the color. It still looks as nice, and as long as I remember to put lotion and socks on at night my feet stay soft and pretty-looking!

I also tried it for a manicures and had a bad experiences. The first time, girl didn't even have nail polish--she had to borrow it from someone else--and it was old and chunky so my money was wasted. The second time, in another place, the girl filed my cuticles until they bled and carved dents into my nail beds. I'm better off doing it myself--so long as I keep it simple, I'm fine.

They do this with massages here in LA... but it's a three week wait.

This is why I learned how to give myself my own manicures. Of course, it's always a treat to get a professional mani, but I think I do a pretty dang good job (if I do say so myself).

well i know of a few friends that have done the haircut and color by a beauty school student, but i've never thought about the other options out there which really do make a lot of sense. this is a great suggestion.

i have to say though that i've gotten really spoiled by what i do for work. i work in advertising and a lot of my reps will take me out for massages and dinner/lunch wine, manis/pedis etc. that's the best way to do things on a budget.

I've done this for a haircut..a friend of mine was going to school at Paul Mitchell in Rhode island. She cut it shorter than i wanted but hey it grew back! ANyone in the massachuetts area theres a place the Catherine Hinds school in Woburn that i think does facials/massages etc. i've been meaning to check it out!

I have had a massage from a school once, but it was my friend who was in training and she asked me to be one of her guinea pigs. It wasn't bad, but she was still very gentle and needed to use more pressure. She went on the work at the Ritz Carlton. I personally wouldn't go to the schools for a massage on my own b/c it is supposed to be a relaxing thing for me. The one that I had was in a room full of tables...no ambiance at all.

My husband knows too well about my spa trips at resorts. I get a room and schedule a bunch of treatments and just hang out at the facilities.

The salon that I have been going to for the past 4 years offers free cuts with stylists that have gone through beauty school, but are still being trained by the salon. I actually left with one of the best haircuts of my life (!) and have been going to the same gal ever since!