SHELBY, N.C. — A North Carolina woman was teaching esthetics when the idea struck her to create a school that makes hands-on learning a high priority.
Niya Pitts was teaching esthetics courses at a school when she said she discovered the need for more real-world work in the curriculum, and decided to start her own program.
What you need to know
Niya Pitts opened the Shelby School of Esthetics in 2021 for her first students
The school is PCA certified
They have small class sizes up to six people and focus on hands-on learning
“We were just preparing the students for boards, we were just preparing the students to go out here and test but when it comes to real world experience, especially in esthetics, you know students don’t really get that,” Pitts, founder of the Shelby School Esthetics said.
In 2019, she set out to make her own school, and this past October the school received its license, and they are now on their first group of students this year.
“Not only are they able to pass the boards, but they’re also able to go into a salon, spa, medical spa, whatever setting they’re going into and be efficient and be business owners,” Pitts said.
They start the day with classes, and then the bulk of the day is hands-on experience that Pitts prioritizes.
Her school offers a competitive edge, she said others in the growing business may not.
“Not only is the class ratio low, but we concentrate on a lot of different areas that people don’t normally get. Chemical peels, we are a PCA certified school, so that’s a big one if you’re going into the medical spa esthetics,” Pitts said.
After over eight years in the business in a educational setting, she wanted to give back and have young professionals be inspired like others did for her.
“We are empowered women. We wanna be out here and open businesses ... we wanna open successful businesses,” Pitts said.
With her small class sizes, she gives her students the extra time and attention daily, which she said is one of the most important things in this field.
“The teacher always becomes the client sometimes, especially in a small setting we only have about six students, that is so we can really, really get hands-on experience. That’s the portion that I really pride myself on, giving you that hands-on experience, so when you go out to the real world you know how to do this. You’re not just doing this from the text book,” Pitts said.
She’s already teaching her students to come back and be instructors.
Making them all well-rounded in the field is important to her because this business means everything to her, she said.
“It gives you an added confidence, we concentrate on the beauty outside, but we also concentrate on the beauty inside. Once you make a person feel good about themselves or feel confident then that in the inside clicks, and it shows outside so that's the joy of our industry,” Pitts said.
For more information on the Shelby School of Esthetics, you can head to their website or calling them at 704-669-5818.