Beauty school to open in Carson City in May

Carson City will soon have a beauty school again.

Sierra Academy of Style is scheduled to open in May in the same spot on the corner of Roop Street and Fairview Drive that once housed Carson City Beauty Academy.

The cosmetology school will be owned and operated by husband-and-wife team Anthony and Brandy Gayner, who see a lot of opportunity in the beauty industry, especially since the closure of the former Carson City school was followed by the shuttering of one of Reno’s schools, the Marinello School of Beauty.

“The forecast for cosmetology job growth is 13 percent,” said Anthony Gayner.

Gayner is currently working as a crusher operator at the Kinross Gold Corp. mine northeast of Tonopah, which has helped the pair save up money to launch the school, while Brandy Gayner has worked as a nail tech, most recently at the Expressions Family Salon on Highway 50.

“I love the industry and think everyone should do it,” she said.

The school will offer four tracks: a full 1,600 hour, or 11.5 month, cosmetology course that teaches hair, nails and skincare, as well as three shorter programs specifically for aestheticians, nail technicians and hair design. The nail tech track, for example, is 600 hours or 3.5 months.

Erica Hufford and Shelby Kuhn, instructors at the former school, will teach and the school will operate 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday.

Once the first students have enough hours under their belt, Sierra Academy will open to the public for discount haircuts, manicures and other services.

The couple hope to build up to 100 students within the first year.

“That would be phenomenal,” said Anthony Gayner.

The previous school’s equipment — including four pedicure chairs, six manicure desks, five aesthetician beds and skincare equipment, and 60 hair stations — was included with the lease of the building.

The school will be certified but not accredited, which means students can get licensed through the Nevada State Board of Cosmetology but can’t get a federally-backed loan for tuition.

Anthony Gayner said the school would be more affordable than other regional schools.

He recommends students consider going to United Federal Credit Union, where the Gayners secured a business loan, if they’re looking for assistance with tuition.

The pair said they’re working with local businesses including Alpine Signs for signage and with Tara Burke at Computer Artistry for graphics design.

They also worked for four months with Michael Salogga, then Carson City’s business resource manager, to develop a business plan.

“The bank said it was the best business plan they had ever seen,” said Anthony Gayner.

The Gayners hope to open Sierra Academy of Style on May 2.

The school will be located at 1851 Roop St. and the phone number is 885-7417.