The International Institute of Cosmetology (IIC), Connecticut’s exclusive Pivot Point–member school, with campuses in Wethersfield and Plainville has a lot to celebrate. Not only is it the only cosmetology school in Connecticut, from 2014 to present,  to have students who scored 100% on the state’s hairdressing/cosmetology licensing exam but its students have the highest average test score in the state at 90.12%.

A hairdressing family, the Gugliotti’s, founded IIC in 2002. Finding it harder and harder to hire the kind of stylists they wanted for their Hartford salon, Gugliotti’s Hair Fashion, they decided to start their own school. They assembled a top-notch staff and each took on lead roles in the administration of the school. They also selected a special curriculum, “A Designer’s Approach,” offered by Pivot Point International. The curriculum strives to “create the most skilled, savvy, salon-ready professionals.”  It does this by utilizing technology, hands-on experience, and educational structure to develop hair designers who are encouraged to do more than just master techniques. Student designers are taught to “see, think, create, and adapt all facets of their work,” creating the best possible results for their clients.

Two of the schools top students, who both passed their state cosmetology boards with a perfect score in the last year, agree that the school’s approach is a key to their success. They both note that the school took the extra time to help them to not only know answers, but to understand the reasons behind those answers. They also agree that the diverse faculty who reinforce techniques and the hands-on emphasis were invaluable in preparing them to step directly into their careers after graduation.

IIC’s director of education, Marie Bobair, states, “We are very proud of our 100% pass rate – it’s phenomenal – and reinforces in my mind how well we are preparing our students.”  Martin Gugliotti, IIC’s dean of students, agrees. “Our success is due in part to our exclusive partnership with Pivot Point, whose curriculum focuses on the why and not just the how of hairdressing. The other key is our team of very talented and knowledgeable educators.” Gugliotti adds, “At our schools we aspire to create true hair designers. Anyone can be taught to simply cut and blow dry hair. We want our students to learn to address their clients needs not only with skill, but with creativity and vision.”

The International Institute of Cosmetology will be evolving to a fully online education platform called LAB later this year.

To find out more about a career in the field of cosmetology, contact the International Institute of Cosmetology at 860-571-0330 or www.studyhair.com.