Empire Beauty School
reviews and complaints

This message is for everyone who is interested in enrolling in this joke of a school and waisting $23,000 of tuition.

Just a little inside info y'all will be needing.

Sooo, the school director lesha Neal at empire beauty school located in Tucson Arizona. She is HIGHLY UNPROFESSIONAL! She has personally taken client appointments and study time away from me and multiple other students to clean "HER" school. I do have a video of proof. They have our peer students stop us about 45 minutes to an hour before the day ends to monitor us to perform end of day duties. Such as clean the restrooms, wipe light switches, clean empty stations that don't belong to a specific stylist, Wipe the windows and door handles. And when I asked Jen turensky the senior director located in Phoenix, Arizona if students were supposed to be doing those exact jobs, she stated no that they were only supposed to be cleaning, wiping and sweeping their personal station cleaning their personal tools and implements and that was it. That's what she stated to me So there should be no reason why we should be taking time (that we paid for to learn cosmetology) away from us. She stated a doing all those duties was part of sanitation. However, Jen stated that empire hires a custodian/janitorial company to clean at the end of every night. She also brings her personal problems to the school and let's it interfere with her work. She threatens students by saying she isn't going to "give" them clocked hours if something doesn't go her way of if anyone tries to stand up for themselves. Lesha also torments students verbally, she also walks around the school very judgemental of students and clients and loudly expresses her opinions out in the open on the salon floor in front of other students, educators and clients. She also calls students from her personal phone and outside of school hours to gossip and ask them about their fellows. Even the employee turnover rate in administration has been higher since she has become the director in late 2022. They also have many HIPAA violations specifically Lesha Neal and Bridget Mann's, they walk around telling students and their remaining balance, tax forms that they need for FAFSA, very personal information that does not need to be disclosed to the whole school. They have posted students first name, a last name and student ID number on the time clock where everyone can read it, with HIPAA violation stating what they needed from them financially to be able to go to school. Both lesha and Bridget also have students doing their job with filing paperwork, reaching out to salons for a job fair, setting up for a new student orientation, which all blows my mind. I also tried to report everything to the senior director Jen turensky and no actions of discipline was taken and she was very biased on the situation because she has a relationship with lesha already. I then tried to go higher than jen and was told I would get a call back and still have yet to hear back corporate. I just feel as a PAYING student this unacceptable, unprofessional, and degrading as a school.

I guess this is just a way of letting the future cosmetologists and estheticians know what goes on behind closed doors because recruiters portray the school for being number one nationwide School and you literally get the bare minimum of even sanitation knowledge and is actually a degrading school towards students who willingly withdraw themselves from making their dream a reality.

About 2 months ago I came to get my hair trimmed, the receptionist was very friendly and helpful... The young lady Nazanin that trimmed my hair did amazing job on my hair and I can't get over it... I'm going back Tuesday the 17th for a hair cut and color! This place is amazing the staff and everyone that goes to the school! I would recommend this place... Thank You Empire 🥰💇‍♀️❤️😍

I’ve been going to the McKnight rd location for over a year now. The cut and dye services are ok but don’t ask them for any other services or they will screw your hair up and blame it all on you. I had made appointments for two different types of extensions and had issues from day one. The first cost me almost 400 only to have the keratin glue ruin my hair. Next I tried the tape ins and they got twisted even thought I had been in for a touch up on the dye three weeks prior and no issues with the hair. When I came into the location to have the extensions moved up they had forgotten I had an appointment and there was no way they had all the supplies they needed bc I had them put on 6-8 weeks before and they all would need moved up. The back was matted and the teacher proceeded to blame me for them having to move them all up. When in all honesty they all would have needed moved up. Let’s not talk about being double booked previously bc the instructor removed my appointment without notifying myself or the student. So I show up and I’m not on their schedule. I was made to pay for the removal of the extensions with tears on my eyes. And I still don’t believe I refined all the supplies I paid for

On April 13th, I was trying to sign up for makeup work when I was told by miss Moore it was full and I couldn’t sign up anymore. I told my teacher that I was unable to get on the list when my classmate over heard and offer her spot on Saturday for makeup work because she couldn’t make it, i then went to find miss Moore to inform her she immediately shut me down saying “I don’t know who your on the phone with but you can’t be on the phone on the floor” I informed her I was clocked out and it was my mother on the phone, we also weren’t on the floor we were standing at the top before the salon chairs start. Once I realized it wasn’t getting anywhere i said I’ll just go talk to miss day about it. Then I left now I have an email saying I am suspended. I believe she is abusing her authority now I am suspended just because she said so, I didn’t say anything out of term.

Mr Stinson is prejudice and I basically got kicked out of school for doing ms wise job she stands there and allows people to get bullied for not being able to read and once I took up for the girl I got kicked out [censored] empire. & they claim I made derogatory remarks when the class curses all day. Everybody comes in late people are always disrupting the class it’s literally high school. I mean the one girl was laughing so hard she literally walked out the class and the teacher said nothing. I don’t understand what the point of having the teacher was because she literally did pop corn reading from the text book everyday and because she can’t read big words put it on the students this place is ghetto and thinking about it. It may be a good thing that I didn’t waste too much time there. This was a blessing in disguise because when I’m rich I’m going to buy the school tear it down and make it a goodwill.

Very disappointed as I waited almost two weeks to get my hair done they let me walk out with nothing. It was a very unprofessional visit and I feel lied to just to get me out. On January 4th at 6:45 I went in and wanted blonde they did a strand test and decided they wouldn’t be able to finish in the time they were given. I then decided to try and work with them and do a brown instead. They washed out my hair and blowed dried it took a hour in a half. Then decide to come and ask me how long it’s been since I’ve been there because they received new chemicals and they would have to do a patch test. They need to understand what they are putting people threw even though it’s a school and there prices are lower we are still clients they should have noticed that at the beginning or even making the appointment.

Ok, let us get to the nitty-gritty of things. THIS IS NOT THE SCHOOL TO GO TO IF YOU WANT TO LEARN.

The pre-salon teachers except one (Ms. Lala), also excluding the night teachers she knows who she is, are as fake as press on nails. They are mad shady all they do is talk crap about each other and the students. Be on the phone all day and do their make-up. You can legit as for help and it's like you're inconveniencing them because you need help. I was absent for a week due to me having covid I came back and It was nothing but hell in the classroom. My depression was getting worse and I went to school to further my business in hair. I fully complained and asked to be moved for the remaining of the mode because I knew I wouldn't get far due to what I started feeling in that classroom. I went to the director in tears like I don't want to be there anymore and she refused to cater to my complaint. The day I left, I have a medical condition that I am legally obligated to smoke for my pain. I am At a rate of 8 pain level 24 hours a day. Yet, I still Made It to school on time with a smile on my face knowing, I was dying inside. The day I left felt in my gut this was it.

Before I withdrew, I have seen females rolling up in the bathroom, and smoking in the backyard, cause they had permission. Emphasis on PERMISSION. Smoking across the street and around the corner. Not one time will you be able to walk into that building and not smell weed. They all knew too.

Besides that, multiple students have complained about how teachers speak to you in that school. They speak to you, like you are beneath them. They say shady stuff and laugh It off and you can't say anything back cause you'll be the one being escorted out by police. That is another thing, this school loves to call the police for any little thing. I was there for about 4 months and the police were called on average at least 5 times each month. They truly show nothing but favoritism in that school. They pick and choose when they want to follow the rules. Then they justify it as "I'm not willing to lose my license for this" but you are willing to lose your license for students smoking in the backyard, teachers cursing and students reporting It, nothing was done, and students be making threats and bullying other students. Let's not forget when not willing to lose your license for a teacher picking on a student with a broken arm and when that student tells you everything that's being done she gets kicked out.

Lastly, when It comes to actually passing your state board, best believe It won't happen here. I've fully transferred and had to take a mock board exam with an actual protector from the state board. They said I would have failed no questions asked if I did anything I was taught at this school. To make matter worse I was taking my exam with another empire student from this location that had left as well. We did the exact same thing to the T. It was completely wrong it's truly a waste of time and money. This school is legit a joke. This is the place to go just to get your hours and go about your merry way. You're going to have to take outside classes just to learn what you're actually interested in because you won't learn It here. If you want to pass your state board this is not the school to go to.

My Daughter, years old who is living at home enrolled in the Winston Salem NC Empire Beauty School. The classes have yet to begin, we were in the finalization of the FASFA processes. The paperwork all had been completed for the government while awaiting the acceptance from student aide, the lady Mrs Nublock continued to harass my child speaking to her in a very unprofessional manner. All the while demanding she be at the school the next day when she called for no reason, again the school had not even had her orientation. Mrs Nublock thought she would get spry and call me with her attitude, demeaning me and demanding I have my child at her office. I advised her she was speaking to the wrong person that way, I am the one funding the money for my child to attend while paying her pay check and she is in no position to demand my being anywhere. She continued to over talk very rude disrespectfully. I terminated the call and called back to her supervisor Mrs Brent. While on speaker phone Mrs Brent asked why I was cancelling enrollment, I simply advised Mrs Brent her staff was not going to get 22,000.00 from me thinking this was any way to get my child in school. I asked for an email confirmation of the withdrawl for Vivian Agosti. She advised I would receive an email. I called back 5 hours later asking for the same, she gave reasons why and how she had just gotten back from vacation. I have yet to receive the email and ask you to ensure the withdrawl of Vivian Agosti from Empire Beauty School Winston Salem NC.

School was advised about my knee injuries. The instructor decided to divide the class in two and have us compete with relaxer product blindfolded this is unethical and with only five days into the class having us work on speed with this product was inappropriate at the time if I had known there were so many complaints against empire I never would have a greed to come to the school needless to say they violated The Americans with disabilities act as I am they caused me injury to my knee and they had a pregnant woman blindfolded and she could’ve lost her baby because of their negligence. You also couldn’t refuse to not do the project because they would’ve suspended you don’t waste your money don’t go to the school save your breath the most unprofessional place on earth.

Please give us a call [protected] The director .. is forcing a pregnant student to leave school after her and the parent has already made a decision on staying in empire beauty school, assuming that if the student is not on medication they should leave after the parent has already stated she will give proof of the child having a disability. Feel if the child is being forced to leave school to two Incident that happen over a drink being in the class room due to pregnant emotions & not mental emotions

Me as a student I feel very uncomfortable to be watched after I have stated I will use self control & will focus on my school work.

This school is a complete joke ! Theirs no mature staff in this school. Conversations with them are always pointless. They love to yell and belittle grown women. You have to ask to go to the bathroom and if you don’t they throw temper tantrum’s. Ms dedra is the most racist , childish person. She’s basically a Karen. She trolls and tried to provoke people with her power. She looked at me and told me I was kicked out for literally no reason so I had to clean out my locker. Oh yea she doesn’t believe in talking to students because we are nobodies, she rather talk to educators, point at students , and whisper. I was interrupted from finishing my practical because I was not allowed to tell her to stop coming in my face yelling at me . Serious actions from higher ups needs to be done.

The director at Empire Beauty School in Brooklyn is a racist towards Black People. From the first day starting my classes at this school has been a problem. The Director Ms, D, has no respect for the students, she doesn't know how to communicate properly when trying to resolve issues with in the school. Her attitude is very disturbing and screaming at grown people like their children. She talks like she's better than everyone and always threatening to kick students out of the school. She only does this to Black & Brown Students. Today on 4/21/2022 there was a mishap within the classroom where words where said by the Director as if she wanted to fight with a student (me) telling me do you want it with me this is coming from the director of Empire Beauty School here in Brooklyn. I feel threatened as well as other students in the school she has crossed paths with.

Yesterday on March 1st I was told I was getting suspended because of a student feeling uncomfortable first and foremost before you suspended a student you are required by law to counsel a student before suspending them not only did I not get counseled but my side of the story was never heard or anything and the teacher who suspended me without even knowing what my story was she told me not to tell my parents anything that goes on in this school first and foremost I can tell my parents anything I want they have the right to know what is happening and the teacher was writing my suspension letter infront of me and didn’t even pull me to the side or anything so that teacher is wrong and I told that teacher I want my refund from this school because y’all don’t care at all false accusations is a serious thing and I told the teacher if there no physical evidence of a “threat” you can’t go off what another person is saying that is he said she said stuff that you deal with in high school cause that’s drama and unprofessional this school is a joke and how can they suspended without investigation that makes no sense whatsoever as a black female feel discriminated but I know god has me in the end but would not recommend this school to anyone even if they tell you they don’t tolerate bullying or harassment that’s false they just want y’all money the teachers are very unprofessional and will cuss at you

Teachers don't care about you they care about their paycheck, forget learning anything everyone acts like monkeys and this school robs your time and money. They don't care that the students fight with each other, I was told it wasn't empires fault if I got stung by a bee while on lunch outside I'm allergic to bees. 26, 000$ to practice on sticks, what a damn joke. I was told many times that I was not passionate about school and that I didn't care. They also told me that was in danger of being below attendance because I had to take care of my two year sister but yet these other students had their own schedule nor do they show up on Mondays but yet I'm the targeted one.

I'm a student at empire beauty school on midlothian. Our school needs better equipment and more variety or products. We don't have nail supplies such as polish or gels. Our washer and dryer needs to be replaced. Our school is filthy, and we only have design essentials for the ethnic section. I am one of many with this complaint. Please help them do something. If it's not hair related our products are cheap and worthless. I feel like they need to take action on this matter. If someone could please come in one day and listen to day and night class voice our opinions and take action on these matters it would help A LOT!