Neihule Salon + Academy, the new hybrid beauty school and full service salon in downtown Los Angeles, was founded by industry veterans Yvonne Neihule and her husband, Atouzo Neihule, who come to this new venture with a combined 35 years of experience in the world of professional beauty. Programs now on offer include cosmetology, esthetics, massage, manicuring, and microblading.

 Neihule Salon + Academy offers students an elevated learning experience that includes training alongside seasoned stylists, manicurist and estheticians. This opportunity for real world application of their skills equips aspiring beauty professionals with experiential learning and apprenticeship opportunities, which Atouzo says makes their grads salon-ready upon completion of their program.

“After a student reaches a1000 hours, they are launched into our externship program where they are exposed to real salon life, culture, experience and hands-on training from seasoned stylist,” he explains. “Graduating from our academy and going through our externship program can mean time assisting is reduced from 1 to 2 years to a few months.” 

Both Yvonne and Atouzo are hairdressers who eventually moved into salon ownership. They opened their flagship salon in 2008 and it taught them what they wanted to see in a stylist just coming out of school. “Something we’ve always done is test-out any assistants applying so we can spot holes in their training and where we would need to focus their education,” Atouzo says. “Some students are just too raw and it would take too much time to train them so we would cherry pick new graduates from different schools who were at least half way there.  Unlike a lot of salons, we want them on the floor as fast as possible so they’re not spending two years just doing shampoos and getting burned out. That is why we decided to open a school where we can close that gap.” 

The space they have designed is spare and elegant and speaks to their mission of being a “beacon of light.”  “Our brand is very white and clean and inviting and so we want to stick with what has worked for us and create that same sensation when a client walks through the doors,” Yvonne says. “We also want our students to act and dress like salon professionals while in school.  I think your environment makes you behave a certain way so walking into a school that looks like a high end salon makes them feel like they’re in a high-send salon. They arrive groomed and ready to be salon professionals.”

The students follow the classic Milady’s curriculum so they will have the skills needed to pass their practical and their written State Board exams. At the same time, they are working alongside experienced stylists who all have their own way of approaching things, so they are learning to be flexible, communicative and collaborative.

In addition to schooling, Neihule Salon + Academy is an education hub for licensed professionals and brands looking for a venue to facilitate classes or host events. They’ve recently facilitated classes with Jayne Edwards of  Edwards and Co,  Emma Chen @emmachenartistry, Cate “Ruby” Torrealba @beautybymissruby and Heidi Marie Garret @heidimariegarret and are offering advanced classes to come from Kevin Murphy and Bumble and bumble.  They’ve also partnered with Schwarzkopf USA and are now a Schwarzkopf Academy.

 “We use a variety of color, care and styling lines because after graduating and going into a salon, it can handicap a stylist if they’ve only worked with one product line,” Atouzo says.”

“We use products that are results-based so the education level is better for the student,” Yvonne adds. “We are striving for excellence, from our training, to the buildout of our space, to the products we carry.”

The pair believe so strongly in education and the power it has to transform lives that they have created a non-profit, the Neihule Family Foundation. They will be offering free school tuition to foster children and women rescued from trafficking.

Learn more at: https://www.neihuleacademy.com/