We're STAR® struck!

When you become a student at Regency, you become a member of a community that's behind you every step of the way. And to make that promise a reality, we have a program to back it up: STAR!  

Unique to Regency Beauty Institute, STAR stands for Student Training and Rewards. Our STAR Program helps you stay on track towards graduation, celebrates the milestones along the way, and rewards you for doing the kinds of things that will help you succeed in your career.  And when we say rewards, we're not kidding.  

For starters, you'll feel the support and backing of your cheerleading section here at Regency. We're your biggest fans! As you reach milestones and goals in your program, you'll be recognized and celebrated by your entire campus, and you'll earn goodies along the way.   

Next, you'll feel empowered with the tools we provide you to manage your own success in the program. At any time, you can see your progress, plan your attendance to make sure you graduate on time, and check how close you are to reaching other milestones and goals. You're in control of your own success!

If you choose to go above and beyond and really hone your guest service skills, more rewards await. Rewards like prestigious Designer or Master Designer designations, industry gift certificates, and a flexible dress code.  

With Regency's STAR Program, you'll get support, you'll get rewarded, and you'll get an arsenal of skills that will turn heads.

Haircuts for Haiti

What do you get when you combine the passion of the beauty industry with a worthy cause? Haircuts for Haiti, a nationwide effort for salons and schools to raise funds for the people of Haiti. Leave it to the hair industry to make charitable giving creative and fun!  

According to Champaign campus manager Amy Tewell, "It is amazing to see so many surgeons and nurses give up their own time and money to help others in need. When we told our student body that we wanted to participate in this benefit, they got really excited. Many of our students cannot afford to help others monetarily, so this way they can give back just by donating a few hours of their day."

The campus event was a smashing success! Members of the community came out in force to show their support, local news stations showed up to cover the event, and one news anchor even got his hair cut while filming! Amy said, "So m uch excitement was generating through the campus.  The students had a great time as well as the guests! During those two days we completed 128 appointments, and 92 were haircuts.  Our student council donated $500 and also put a donation jar at the front desk. With only a week to plan, prepare and spread the word, those donations combined with the haircut money amounted to over $1500!"  

Students Makiba Woods (left) and Abbey Snyder (right) put their skills to work to benefit Haiti

Thanks to our students, staff and guests, the event was a great success! Imagine the possibilities; what can you do to make a difference in someone's life?

Regency Backstage Pass:
Sebastian's Omar Antonio
International Core Team Member/ Platform Artist/ Educator for Sebastian Professional  

Meet Omar Antonio, hairstylist extraordinaire and International Core Team Member for Sebastian Professional. Omar graciously agreed to share a part of his world with us so that we could bring that information straight to you! He's just as inspired as he is inspiring, and his love for the industry is contagious. You'll see.  

We met him for the first time in 2010 backstage at America's Beauty Show, where he spent some time with some of Regency's students as he prepared for the weekend of hair shows. So it was no surprise when we saw him backstage again this year at America's Beauty Show 2011, primping and prepping his models for a series of runway shows and the Stylist Choice Awards. Even amidst the craziness behind the scenes, he made the time to chat with us and share what he was working on.    

Regency: Can you give us a little background about yourself?
Omar: I grew up in a small suburb right outside beautiful San Francisco. I lived the life of a regular everyday kid. Well, kind of. I come from a very artistic family. School was very hard for me. I was bullied a lot. I liked to sew, and draw, and dance. When I was 14, my grandmother enrolled me in a dance class and I began what would be a 15 year career as a dancer, choreographer an d teacher of Hip Hop. Over the next 10 years I had four children! You can imagine that having your own tribe at such a young age, you don't really get a chance to ask yourself, "What do I want to be when I grow up?"   

Omar backstage at ABS 2011 with his model: during and after

It wasn't until the age of 26 that I started beauty school. I enrolled at "Miss Marty's Cosmetology College" in downtown San Francisco. I had an amazing time in beauty school and truly embedded myself into my education and the art of hair.  I can confidently say that the time I dedicated in beauty school to the artistry of hair and surrounding myself with other artists is what got me to where I am in the industry today.  

Regency: Why did you want to become a cosmetologist?
Omar: I became a cosmetologist because of the many different directions in which I could steer my career. The versatility of my career as a cosmetologist allows me to always feel fresh, new, inspired.

Regency: Tell us a little bit about your career path, and how you ended up where you are now.
Omar:  I started working RIGHT after beauty school in a 10-chair salon called The Gallery. Since I was the new guy (literally) I was VERY self conscious! I was one of three commission workers so I had a lot of extra time and I spent a lot of time filling in as an assistant. I learned so much from the amazing staff there. This is where I really learned how to read my client. During that time I also took as many classes in hair cutting, coloring, and up-dos as I could afford. I spent every spare nickel and dime on further education. I was a perfectionist; it took me about 3 years before I felt comfortable behind the chair!  

I had been working at The Gallery for five years when I attended my very first audition. Sebastian Professional was auditioning for a hair cutting instructor. So I drummed up a model and worked on a presentation. With my stomach in knots, I headed into the city to the interview that would change my life. I started my career with Sebastian Professional five years ago, and in that time I have opened my own salon and been on stages around the world educating, inspiring and sharing my love of hair with other stylists. I've done numerous photo shoots, runway shows, presentations, etc, etc, etc. I am having the time of my life!  

Regency: Can you describe a typical work week? Omar: There is no such thing as a typical work week for me! I spend approximately three days a week behind the chair at the salon and experiencing the challenges and rewards of the everyday stylist. I travel all over the world educating and performing. Sebastian puts together an ever-growing schedule that is constantly changing. I may fly to New York or Los Angeles for a photo shoot, then off to Paris for a runway show.

Omar on stage at America's Beauty Show 2011

I also have a studio in San Francisco where I spend a lot of time working. Its basically an art class for the totally insane. Drawing, sketching, building, designing, creating. I can be a bit of a workaholic. If I am working on a piece that's got me on a roll, I've been known to work all throughout the night into the morning with no sleep.  

Regency: Do you have a "specialty" or a favorite type of service you like to perform?
Omar: If I ever had to say that I specialized in anything it would be Avant-garde hairstyling, editorial fantasy hair, wigs, and hair pieces.  

Regency: What are the biggest challenges of your job?
Omar:  As with any job, there are challenges. Time away from my family; time away from my amazing clientele; appointments conflicting with my crazy schedule; endless hours on plane after plane after plane.

Regency: Is there any piece of advice you received that still sticks with you today?
Omar: For sure! Hair master Michael Polsinelli once told me, "Look here kid - you want to stick around, you gotta bring something new to the table." Every show, every stage, every runway, every classroom... I have to bring something new and fresh. A million people want my job! I constantly challenge myself to create and recreate and design and un-design. It's the most amazing experience.  

Omar admires his model onstage at the 2011 Stylist Choice Awards

Regency: What do you love most about your job and this industry?
Omar: I love the artistic approach to hair. The possibilities are endless with imagination. From the simplistic to the futuristic, hair is art and I love that I am a part of it!  

Regency: Knowing what you know now, is there anything you would have done differently - either in beauty school or since?
Omar: Knowing what I know now, the only thing I'd do differently is start sooner!!!  

Regency: Finally, what advice would you give to Regency's students?
Omar: My advice to you, ALL REGENCY STUDENTS, is hone your craft. This isn't a job!!! This is your career!!! Surround yourself with artists. Surround yourself with inspiration. Study your bibles (Vogue, Modern Salon, Behindthechair.com, etc.). There are a million different directions you can steer your career as a cosmetologist; now is the time to focus on those directions and find which one is for you. You are a part of a dream now. What will you bring to the table?