Longtime Key West hair stylist and aesthetician Tina Adkins grew tired in her struggle to find dedicated workers in her salon.
“I had to start a school — Key West Beauty Academy — because I had so much trouble hiring good people,” said Adkins, who has been doing hair, nail and makeup for 38 years and opened the beauty academy in November 2021.
Key West Beauty Academy, 918 Kennedy Dr., offers a full 18 months of training in the industry, with both day and evening classes designed to ensure students can still work their current jobs while also attending beauty school.
The seven students currently enrolled have other jobs as restaurant servers and bartenders. One of the students, Emilio Cabrera, is already a certified and working barber who wanted to broaden his skills and expertise to cut, color and style women’s hair as well.
On a recent Monday afternoon, colorist professor Candice Palomino expertly guided Cabrera and fellow student Natalie Petras on the intricacies of “foiling” highlights into hair using wig heads to practice. Meanwhile, in one of the haircut chairs soon-to-graduate Alex Stoughton cut a real, live person’s hair, still under the guidance and watchful eyes of Adkins and cutting instructor Lee Stinton. He was named Irelend’s Most Stylish Man a few years back, has won British Hairdresser of the Year awards and has worked at Fashion Week in London and Paris. (Read more about Stinton in a 2020 Keys Weekly interview.)
Tuition at Key West Beauty Academy is $1,000 per month for 18 months. After successfully completing the training, students will be prepared to take the state exams for their licensure, Adkins said.
She also is in the process of launching a nonprofits organization, Island Beauty Foundation, in the hopes of developing partnerships and raising money for scholarships to continue creating and cultivating a local workforce for Key West rather than expecting newcomers to be able to afford the island’s outrageous rents and home prices.
“Our mission with the foundation is to pave a pathway toward a stable and lucrative profession that not only promises significant income potential, but also champions uniqueness and creativity,” Adkins said. “We are devoted to fostering a welcoming environment that embraces all, ensuring every student has the chance to learn, grow and succeed in the beauty industry. Through tailored training, mentorship, and support, we aim to arm our students with the skills, knowledge, and confidence to excel in their new careers and positively impact their communities.”
For more information about Key West Beauty Academy and Island Beauty Foundation, visit keywestbeautyacademy.com or call 305-396-7796.
