Menu
Empire Beauty School
Empire Beauty School Customer Service Phone, Email, Contacts

Empire Beauty School
reviews and complaints

www.empire.edu
www.empire.edu

Learn how the rating is calculated

2.1 92 Reviews
Claimed
Empire Beauty School has claimed their business profile
Share
Write a review File a complaint

Empire Beauty School complaints 90

ComplaintsBoard
J
4:09 pm EST
Resolved
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.

Empire Beauty School service

I just went through a horrible experience with them. I understand that they are students, but the reason I went to this girl is because she is graduating in one week. I asked for highlights and she told that I needed to dye my hair first so she dyed it and my hair come out orange. After that she said well we will put highlights and make it better so she did that and my hair was completely orange/yellow. She than put a toner in my hair which made no difference. She told me that it was because they did not wash my hair right after the first dye so it made my hair get orange and there was nothing they could do. I went home and spent even more money on 2 boxes of hair dye which is making my hair so dry from all the dye and my hair is still horrible. I am going to have to go again today and spend more money on 2 more boxes of dye. I have spent so much money for no results. This is ridiculous. LIke I said I understand that they are students, but why put them to work on real people if they don't know how. What makes it worst is that the teacher told her what to do with my hair so she is a teacher and doesn't know what she is doing. I told them what I wanted and they did the opposite. I never told them I wanted blonde hair and now my hair is white. I will never ever go back to them. I wish they would pay me for all the money I just spend and for the pain they have caused me. I am so mad and I will tell everyone about this.

Read full review of Empire Beauty School and 4 comments
Resolved

The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.

Hide full review
4 comments
Add a comment
L
L
LeggsMcGee
Minneapolis, US
Jan 15, 2011 1:24 am EST

and these two other people flyandflashy and WMN go into a school and tell them you wnt something lets see how it turns out.

L
L
LeggsMcGee
Minneapolis, US
Jan 15, 2011 1:23 am EST

I GO TO EMPIRE AND I AGREE WITH THIS YOU SHOULD COMPLAIN. I dont go to this school, but i would go back and complain.

F
F
flyandflashy
Owings Mills, US
Aug 15, 2010 3:46 pm EDT

You went to a SCHOOL where people PRACTICE on you. You are there for the students to EXPERIMENT on, and you are so CHEAP that for 20 BUCKS you allowed it thinking that you were going to get PROFESSIONAL results!

W
W
WMN
Chicago Ridge, US
Feb 16, 2010 8:00 pm EST

you are a complete ###. it's a SCHOOL, enough said

ComplaintsBoard
P
2:04 pm EST
Resolved
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.

Empire Beauty School hanover, pa (what an absolute pathetic joke)

I just want to start by saying that The Hanover campus of Empire Beauty School is an absolute pathetic joke.

I am not gonna worry about discussing things that are in the hands of Empire corporate here, because it is just way to many. I am however gonna discuss problems associated with this campus and are within their control to fix.

First, there is so much down time for students, that time becomes so boring, that students have no choice but to sit and do nothing, or roam around from class to class and disrupt and bother the students who are trying to learn. And when you do have a problem, you can never find a teacher to help you, because they are either on the phone, or cant be found themselves.

Someone at this school has implemented 2 new programs, one is a maagers position, and one is an embassadors program. The students are completely out of control and run this campus. The school director is completely afraid to assert her authority and make students and teachers due their jobs. When confronted, you always get the same answer, I am aware of it, or its being handled. Problem is, nothing is ever done about it, and students know this. So, my point if students wont listen to the director, or the teacher, as experienced, they wont listen to me, and as manager I as a student have no one to back me up, so what is the point. You cant expect the students to listen when you are directed by someone who doesnt listen themselves.

The Embassador program is a complete joke. I have to set at the front door for a week and open and close the door for customers. I didnt pay to come to this school to open doors, I want to learn to cut hair, and am barely doing that with the lack of instruction. If the customers coming in for services dont know how to open a door and get in then they can just sit outside and beat on the door until someone lets them in.

The director and the teachers consistently change the rules and policies to suit there needs. You are told you cant do certain things today, and then next week when it suits them you are told its ok. Thats BS. We have meetings at the end of certain days where we go over the same ole crap day in and day out, and nothing is ever done about it anyway.

Students are allowed to leave the premises to do so called research at area salons and stay clocked in, yet goto the mall, to the movies out to eat and so on. They come back and no one verifies paperwork or where they have been. Students should be told to do this on their time.

The rules and policies set forth in the handbook are no where enforced or recognized. Dress code is absolutely appalling in many instances, clients have left feeling uncomfortable, with things they have seen that shouldnt be. Lost a client due to the negligence and ignorance of a teacher.

Teachers talk to us and treat us as if we were 5 years old, and some talk down to us and treat us like out right dirt. Teachers have students do their work, including paperwork just to keep them busy. I, m here to learn, not due their job.

There are many, many other problems with this school that are completely within their control. Many students who are trult here to learn have complained to teachers and the director and it always falls on deaf ears, or is swept under the rug. Will be soon time for a new rug, this ones getting full.

From one ripped off student

Read full review of Empire Beauty School and 1 comment
Resolved

The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.

Hide full review
1 comment
Add a comment
D
D
Disappointed lady from denver
Westminster, US
Feb 08, 2010 3:03 pm EST

Geez where do I begin. First of all I currently attend an empire beauty daycare. First and foremost frighteningly every statement made about empire is true. The staff do not run the school its more like the students. Most students run around. Most who gossip, fight, argue in front of clients, and just dont care.
The Director in this school is weak and picks sides when it comes to students arguing, you'd better be her favorite to start a fight. The teachers get to comfortable with students which gives the students the right to run all over them.
In other incidents students are lead to believe that the people who are graduating recently are bigger and bettter than those students who have just started which then makes all students feel lower and more unaccepted. Speaking from personal experience this is the worst mistake ever made in my life As of 2/8/10.

Something needs to be done about these situations and if no one will do anything I think the more we complain the better.

Sincerely,
Confused and pist from Denver Colorado

ComplaintsBoard
D
12:23 pm EST
Resolved
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.

Empire Beauty School this school should be shut down

If you are smart you will not attend this school. From the door the school recruiter lies to you. Then you get to school and they give you the cheesiest supplies that break within weeks to a month of you using them.
You never know what director or teacher is leaving but trust me they leave faster then the students do. Every time you get a good teacher she is gone...go figure!
Financial aide is a joke...you will get a letter in the mail that you graduated when you didn't and need to repay your loan. Then you have a graduation date and then you don't...because the administartion can't keep good records...but its the students fault. I shouldn't have to be a student and do their job too!
The best is when they reward someone for perfect attendance who was on probation and had no choice but to be there or else get kicked out! or the student who is beligerant and rude to teachers and students on a daily basis but he is recognized in the student paper for having a great attitude!...tell me the school is not a joke now.
They are to teach you and get you ready for the industry but honestly I feel all Im qualified to be is an empire teacher...that doesn't say much for what I have learned.
If you expect them to care about your education or help you find a job...ha ha ha that is the biggest joke of all...they haven't found one student a job!
They are too busy sitting in their offices taking calls and telling you they are too busy for you or flirting with each other...One admistrator was on a sex website looking for a woman...he was also the same admistrator who handed out free passes to a strip club when you joined Empire...the best is he gets fired and they tell us he has moved on in the company...LIES!
Most of the students that are there have to be because of welfare or criminal act...they get money for going to school yet they sit in class disrupting it and blame the teacher for their ignorance.
Oh and don't complain because it will do no good...no one cares all the way too the top!
I suggest you THINK TWO AND THREE TIMES before you choose this school!

Read full review of Empire Beauty School and 3 comments
Resolved

The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.

Hide full review
3 comments
Add a comment
P
P
paisleylove
, US
Jan 15, 2012 4:24 am EST

I went to Empire in Colorado. It's such a scam. From the beginning the recruiter treats you like VIP, and she told me because of my financial situation, I wouldn't have to pay, and I wouldn't have to take out a loan. I finished a year ago and I owe 12, 000 in loans. I never knew the amount I owed until I already started there. She was later fired for being a coke addict and incredibly rude and inappropriate.

The school was a complete dump. I only went back because I was told it was going to be remodeled. I was too embarrassed to bring any clients in there. It was completely ghetto because 99% of the students had been to jail, so needless to say there were lots of fighting, and on the weekends if you came in you could expect that they would have their children running around the floor which isn't safe for anyone. Our "top quality" kits were a joke. Most of the tools in there broke within a month of using them.

Although in basics I did have a pretty decent teacher, she left for vacation during haircutting and we got a lazy pregnant instructor who didn't teach us. Needless to say, none of us were taught how to properly cut hair. The rest of the instructors were rude and lazy. I always kept wondering to myself if it was just me, but everyone at my school agreed that they didn't learn a thing.

When I did have clients on the floor. It would take about an hour to find the floor instructor to see my consultation, and if you got stuck or needed assistance, good luck. You would be passed back and forth between 3 instructors all telling you a different way to do layers. And never showing you how to do it, or giving you the individual attention that is required.

The whole program lacked. I was very interested in make up, but the only make up lesson we had was after learning to do a basic facial, and our instructor told us to "do whatever we wanted". Like I said, the instructors were incredibly lazy. A large portion of our tuition was because of our "in depth" books, which we only looked in a handful of times.

The outside education they brought in were from places like Great Clips, and the lady was obviously hung over. They didn't help in job assistance, oh sure, they had a "job board" that were always outdated. Which was similar to a Craigslist Posting. All of my classmates that have actually passed the boards and got a job have only gotten jobs at places like Great Clips and Cost Cutters. Also, many of the instructors come from places like that. Not very prestigious. If that's your cup of tea, then by all means, awesome. But I had bigger dreams than that.

Overall, I and the majority of my classmates feel cheated. I wanted a real education. I had a friend who went to a Paul Mitchell School, and she has learned so much. I am very resentful towards this school tricking me into going and giving me an education similar to something I could have learned myself from YouTube tutorials. The school isn't safe, the one I went to was dirty and needs to be remodeled. The staff is incredibly rude and never helpful. They just care getting your money. If anyone has considered going to this school, I advise you DO NOT GO HERE!

J
J
jessie 02
Milwaukee, US
Aug 24, 2011 3:30 am EDT

I am going through the same thing at the Milwaukee campus...and Im trying to transfer into an apprenticeship program and the executive director is telling me that I need to drop out in order to get my official transcripts...i am so tired and drained because of this school..I am suppose to graduate in a couple of months but I am choosing to further my education with this apprenticeship and know that I will pass my state boards but emire is trying to make it harder for me.

P
P
PallettePower
Greensburg, US
Jan 26, 2011 10:58 pm EST
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

Same at mine. While they get extra money for nothing, and spend their refunds on vacations, clothes, weaves, etc., I'm hoping I can make enough tips from clients and at my 2 jobs to cover gas for a few days!

I want to transfer so bad. I'm done in June, but is it worth it? It may be. Though I'll have to re-do my financial aid because the other school that is close is $2k more, I don't hear about it being a [censor] school.

ComplaintsBoard
I
3:24 pm EST
Resolved
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.

Empire Beauty School abusive campus director

Empire beauty school tucson arizona, located on speedway and country club, abusive director mark vannatta. Abuse towards the staff and students. Do not go to this school unless you want to be humiliated. This school has the worst reputation in all of tucson arizona. Academic director rachelle minter does not possess a cosmetology license and is working on the public illegally. The instructors are all burned out. The school is absolutely awful, do not let the admission reps con you into going to this school. Dont listen to them when they give you a tour and show you all the pretty clic books. They are liars. Run as fast as you can from them!

Read full review of Empire Beauty School and 2 comments
Resolved

The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.

Hide full review
2 comments
Add a comment
B
B
B.Lee
El Mirage, US
Jun 04, 2010 2:05 pm EDT

I go to Empire in Avondale and our school aint no better. Im glad its sumbody in the area that agrees.

R
R
rosiel
Battle Ground, US
Dec 08, 2009 9:55 am EST

thats harsh! I hope you are okay.

ComplaintsBoard
M
9:56 am EDT
Verified customer This complaint was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

Empire Beauty School hanover, pa (does it again)

Once again the intelligence of the staff at this institution shines thru. NOT !

Another high five for the instructional team and director of the Hanover, Pa campus for instituting yet another totally useless and rediculous program into their already lacking curriculum. Most recently implemented is the embassador position in which each student takes a week and sits by the front doors and learns the newwest and most innovative ways to open and close the entrance doors for empire clients as well as the classic art and science of coat checking.

Whats next? Valet parking.

In a school where curriculum, instruction, and direction is already severely missing and lacking, it is simply amazing to me that students actually pay to go to this instituition to learn about cosmetology and spend much of their time doing nothing at all in this field, and spend countless hours wasting time and money on learning and doing things that any normal idiot already knows and does on a daily basis.

If this is an example of Empire getting its students ready for the real world after they graduate, please remind me to ask my next stylist as to where he/she graduated from.

No thanks, I'll pass

Read full review of Empire Beauty School and 1 comment
Hide full review
1 comment
Add a comment
S
S
SHARBROWN
LAKEWOOD, US
Jul 27, 2010 8:23 am EDT
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

I am a current student at Empire in Lakewood, Colorado. What a joke, I completely agree with all these complaints. No educators, we even have a kindergarten teacher in the core class. I am on the floor with one teacher only to help with all the floor students, more times than not I do a client with no consultation or check. I see the instructors really care about the license they hold, NOT. I fully intend to file a law suit and let Empire pay for my loans since the education here stinks. The staff is unable to follow thru on anything, they teach us nothing. Do NOT go to EMPIRE, they will destroy your education.

ComplaintsBoard
U
2:00 am EDT
Resolved
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.

Empire Beauty School poor education service

I must say that EMPIRE is one school that needs to be shut down & all funds should be refunded to every one that have attended. I can not express my disappointment more or enough with the school. I wish I would had drop out before completing the course and having to pay back the cost of attending. I have nothing positive to say about the school in general. From the 1st day of class until the last day attending. I had complian to every director that came into leadership at the school, about how poorly the education was presented. Some of the teachers were great, but when you are in class with very disruptive people that dont seem to follow rules and the are not enforced, it makes learning very difficult. Then on the other hand some of the teachers did not know if they were coming or going, they were so boring or wasnt teaching anything new, our attention were lost, we were get into doing other things and not paying attention to what should had been going on. the bottom line the education was being presented to us in a paper bag, when it was sold to us as if it was going to be served on a gold plater. All I can say to any one that is nearly interested in attending a beauty school and your are serious about the hair industy, EMPIRE I S NOT THE ONE FOR YOU. the school is nothing more than a DREAM KILLER!

YOU CAN LOOSE ALL INTEREST ATTENDING EMPIRE

The lies that were told on a regular, and all of the changes that were done to cater the excutive director needs to make her look good in numbers is extremely selfish and curel. Not once did she do anything for the students, half of the time she walk around with her nose in the air, AND did not speak, she was extremely rude to anyone that she felt was below her that include both teaches and students. Not professional at all.

The daily curriculum was nothing compare to what I was told that was going to be taught, I barely learn the stateboard hair cut, even after I had move up to being a senior I would still on a regular basis sit in other classrooms just to get knowlege on information that my own teacher did not teach. However the revoling door of teachers coming and going may had played a part in the lack of education provided.

We also had to deal with the poor additudes of the teachers of having to deal with the rudness of the director, or being pulled out of class to attend a 2 to the 3 hour long meeting that did nothing to make the education process any better for us. (just more rules or changes at the moment to help the directior look good as if everything was in order)

There was extremely way too much time wasted, the planning of the days lesson was poorly sought out, there was never enough of anything to do. Half of the time there was no products for us to work with and not enough cleints available for us to get livehands on practice . The school had no intention of getting or attempting to bring in people for service. This cause a great deal of being bored which lead to students leaving or just simply handing out in the break room or out side.

It maynot had been as bad if the teachers hire were professional had the skills to teach. None of them even had a specialty to share. So if you have both the students and teachers with no motivation to teach or learn you are not going to get anywhere but wasted time and a huge bill to pay for nothing

There so much negative that I can poitn out, the bottom line, Empire is not a school to attend if you are serious about being in the hair industry.

Read full review of Empire Beauty School and 16 comments
Update by upset student
Sep 24, 2009 2:03 am EDT

I hated it!
really ghetto, the school, the teachers, that horrible director. I probably would had been better off going to the tech center, I was given such bad reviews there, but at least I would had paid a lot less. I can not beleive how back wards the school is. it was turly a waste. they need to be a lot more honest the place needs to be sued, i want to be 1st in line.

Resolved

The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.

Hide full review
16 comments
Add a comment
P
P
Porsha Thompson
, US
Jul 12, 2016 11:34 am EDT

I agree I also withdrew because of lack of professionalism I would also like know how can i dispute certain charges from empire beauty school

H
H
Hq15
, US
Aug 31, 2015 7:20 pm EDT

I strongly agree with this it should be taken down and everyone should be refunded the money because the way the staff and teachers treat the students is very poorly it is that of I don't even know the correct term but the fact of the matter is its not professional in any manner whatsoever I attended the one in Boston and I was completely unprofessional teachers were rude to students half of the time you'll horsing around and he couldn't understand anything that you were being taught and then when you do move up if you find out there what you were taught was half assed I don't leave ridiculous I withdrew for personal reasons and I will not be returning back

D
D
Disappointed-Student
Lowell, US
Jan 05, 2013 10:51 pm EST

I don't mind the school to much. It's fun and a great experience for someone like me who wants to make a career change or just to have something under my belt just in case the industrial business is doomed to the 3rd world countries. With all the lay off in the manufacturing career, I needed something that people cant live without. And that is beauty!
My only bad experience at the Lowell MA empire school that I attended was a few student that were just mean and ugly on an everyday base. They were absolute bullies. I had to bring it to the teachers attention and talked to the woman that was basically the BOSS. They didn't do anything about it or write a report. They just told me to mind my own business and they got those girls to turn on me for telling on them. I had to transfer school because those girls made me feel horrible. (threaten me and mock me) I was so upset with the way they handle the issue.
But like the other post stated... This business is full of evil, two face, back stabbing people. It all in the fight of who is the most fierce! Its a hard business to be in, and you got to have a tough skin to succeed. Being nice doesn't get you too far in this world. You gotta be a DIVA... But you do have to be nice to your costumers! :-)

H
H
HairQueen
phx, US
Dec 11, 2012 9:35 am EST
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

You have to look above all the things you guys are all complaining about. What you put into school you get out of it. I am a proud Empire alum and I am signing up to get my educater studies from them as well. Any new cosmetology student has to understand that asking questions, practicing on your own, and showing up on time will help you get the best out of school! Beauty schools are only in place to get you ready to pass state boards and learn basic technique. Everything else is on you. If beauty school turns you off trust me when I say the industry will gobble you up without the time to spit you out! Work hard and you will be rewarded greatly!

D
D
disgusted!
, US
Nov 10, 2012 1:23 pm EST
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

I went to Empire in Avondale, AZ and it was awful! So bad that after 6 months I had to quit I was so miserable. The teachers barely taught, we sat around for hours doing nothing, we were forced to use wubbies a lot and when there were towels in the cupboards they were damp, had all sorts of crusted nasty crap on them and were half unraveled. Color for our color classes were in such a short supply we were told to pay out of pocket at dispense if we wanted a different color, teachers were always giving us conflicting advice or telling us to figure it out...I am sorry but when tuition is sooooo expensive you better be giving me the best education there is! I owe half of the tuition after dropping out and to add insult to injury I got a 1000 dollar bill in the mail from Empire. WHY?! Does anyone know how I can challenge that? There is no way after owing 8, 000 in student loans for my time in that place that I would owe them an additional grand for the lack of education and resources. But I can't find anything on the web on if I can do anything about it.

S
S
17901SKOOK
Shenandoah, US
Nov 10, 2012 9:23 am EST

It is a business... privately owned.. The have a good backbone with years and years in the industry but have lost sight of the student needs, and focused rather on the enrollmnet numbers and profit margin. Don't give up on your campus. You are paying for your education so you need to demand to be educated. I worked at their Home Office for over 5 years and have grown with the company only to loose my job due to the bottom line of not meeting the 'numbers'. The upper management have lost their insight into the current students needs and instead focused on the glammer and glitz of being the largest beauty school in the nation. The students needs to bring them back to reality that it is YOU that matters the most. Speak up if you are not happy. Tell them who you feel does and does not do their job to your expectations. Don't just sit back and take on dept that you don't feel is worth the cost.

Y
Y
25yearveteran
, US
Oct 23, 2012 3:26 pm EDT

also stay focused, you are giving the school too much control. you are only there for a purpose. if you feel you are not learning alot, try working part-time in a salon, intern, or ask them if you can come in a few hours a week to watch. you may surprised with the answer you will get. take control over your own destiny, study your books, google videos, contact your local state board, they will send you a packet with the application and instructions as to how to do your stateboard practicals and written. after you graduate you never have to see these people again! do you!

Y
Y
25yearveteran
, US
Oct 23, 2012 3:12 pm EDT

i am a cosmetology instructor and have been doing hair for the past 25 years. things certainly havent changed much since i went to school back in 1993. all schools have the same complaint. welcome to the world of beauty. unfortunately sometimes things are told to students to get them to sign up for the schools, and then the schools dont or cant deliver. im not excusing the problems in the cosmetology schools but at the end of the day, you have to be responsible for your own education. this is the type of industry you have to be proactive and do what you need to do to make your money. cosmetology school is only required to teach you state board. i once owned my own school, i tried to give back and it wasnt appreciated...my school, was small and i was charging a third of the price as some of the larger schools, my education was better and i was able to give the students one on one attention. but guess what, i couldnt get students, because all the students were attracted to the bells and whistles that the bigger schools offer but dont deliver on. the other thing is i gave students the opportunity to make low payments so by the time they finished school they would also be finished with the payments. that still didnt lure the students in. the students rather pay back a $30, 000 loan than to pay $5000 over 2years and be debt free. so my advice is suck it up...get through it, and once you are finished its over with!

E
E
er12345
Woburn, US
Sep 13, 2012 7:40 am EDT

i currently go to empire and its a peice of ### its my 4th week there and im de-enrolling my self worst chioce ive ever made a waste of my time and money. i wish i found this earlier becasue i would have nver gone. even though these are from 2009-10 NOTHING HAS CHANGED the teachers absolutly suck!no one helps me and they just threw me out there and let me do my own thing basically and then my teacher would finally come around the check our work after being on the computer for half the class downloading music and reading news articles. he told me i did half my work wrong and i then had to restart it and that would have never happened if he didnt show me the right way to do it at first. any one looking to go to this school please DONT dont waste your time or your money on this ### hole. look at other schools and make the better desicion and DONT GO TO EMPIRE IN MALDEN OR ANY OTHER LOCATION ive heard awful things about the other schools.

E
E
EmpireInKySucks
Louisville, US
May 02, 2011 11:37 pm EDT
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

OMG. I am kicking myself right now for not finding this article before I enrolled @ Empire. Everything on this page - comments as well as article - is complete deja vu - a flashback of a nightmare @ Empire. I started in March of 2010 I hated. Going so much that by Feb of 2011 I just completed half my needed hours. I got really depressed and stopped going. I want to tell them about theirselves and get my money back but I have no idea on how. Any suggestions?
EmpireInKySucks

ComplaintsBoard
M
12:57 pm EDT
Verified customer This complaint was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

Empire Beauty School empire beauty school (hanover, pa) educational institution or adult daycare provider

Empire Beauty School (Hanover, Pa) is the most absurd, ###-backwards, pathetic, poor excuse, three ring circus for an educational institution that I have ever seen. This school falsely advertises its educational services, lies to students on a regular basis, changes their own rules and policies to suit their needs, and does nothing but teach the basics of the industry. Students spend 2 days per week in the classroom, and 3 days on the floor, however the majority spend most of their time standing, or sitting around due to the fact that the school does not have enough of a curriculum to teach during class days, and the days they are on the floor, the school cannot sustain enough business to keep the students busy on the floor, so therefore the students get bored and begin to roam and wonder from class to class, disrupting other students, sneaking out and roaming the mall complex the school is located in among a million other things. So basically, students are paying tuition to sit and do nothing and to also learn nothing. Well, the last I looked, most people already know how to sit and do nothing, I dont think students should have to pay for this service.

Now, if the teachers would have the initiative and motivation to teach, I am sure they could come up with plenty of things that these students have not yet been taught, but wait, they cant do that, because they are to busy trying to round up and find their students that are wondering the facility in a state of boredom, and making phone calls to all of the students who have not shown up for the day. (last time I looked, most of the students were 18-50 years old and adults, thought that this was a secondary educational institution, not elementary school, and since when is it any of Empires business where I am or What I do when I am not there.) Another example of a babysitting service.

I hae seen students fall asleep in class, each and every day, for hours at a time, and nothing been said by the teacher or the director, with the exception of Oh Well, their loss. I have seen classmates from another class come into another class and start an hour long conversation with several classmates during teaching, and the teacher has said nothing and no teacher came looking for them as M.I.A. . The policies and the handbook are not followed and enforced by anyone within the school, it mine as well be thown in the trash.

I could go on and on about the happenings and (not happenings) in this school, but that would require me to write a book that upon reading would make any person with even an inkling of human intelligence stop and think "can anyone possibly be this stupid" ANSWER: ENROLL TODAY

My personal opinion is that this is a horrible institution that should be stayed away from. You mine as well put your money in the trash can every day, atleast when the trash man empties it at the end of the week, you will have gotten the satisfaction of getting the services you paid for.

Read full review of Empire Beauty School and 5 comments
Update by mrshadowfax
Oct 08, 2009 6:49 am EDT

I am going to contradict myself here a little bit. While I firmly believe that the director and the teaching staff walk around aimlessly in a state of confusion, and are as lost as a student on their first day, there are many things that the director is aware of. These are all things that have been brought to the attention by students, patrons and outsiders.

Now, I do understand the inner workings of corporate policies, and how ones hands can be tied, however, there are many things that happen and dont happen within those school walls that are capable of being handled and fixed by the so-called director that have nothing to do with corporate. (How about following their own rule book and regulations), by doing that atleast 50% of the problems could be solved. But, what is the answer we get, when this is brought up? "its not that simple".

If the teachers cant do their jobs, and report to the director, and if the director is to busy behind the desk, who is left to correct the problems? NO ONE.

But its a little hard for a teacher do the job when they can never be found. You just arent looking in the right places. Try looking for them on the phone, making all those phone calls to find out where there students are. In my opinion, instead of wondering where they are, they should be wondering WHY there not there.

As far as the school drug policy, they have a zero tolerance policy, yet do nothing about the drug problem within the school or on school premises, and in the parking lot during school hours. This has been brought to their attention on many occassions.

As the old saying goes, you pay for what you get, you dont always get what you pay for.

One thing that I have not figured out yet is why so many people (students) in such a bad economy are so willing to go to a school where you basically not only pay to sit and do nothing (which you can do at home for free), and you essentially pay the staff salary every week to allow you to sit and do nothing.

Not to be mean, but if there are that many eager people willing to pay to sit and do nothing in this economy, I am quitting my day job and I will open up my own place, at half the price. Come one, come all. LOL

Update by mrshadowfax
Oct 01, 2009 7:48 am EDT

I think we all just found out where the retirees and misfits from the local circus go to find a job. Can you imagine going for an interview for a teaching position.

Well miss so an so,

What do you know about teaching in this industry? Very Little
Do you think you have what it takes to teach in this industry? Not sure, but worth a try
Do you have the ability to not be totaly forthcoming with your students? sure, why not
Do you have any degree in daycare, or babysitting services? None
What do you have to offer your students if hired? Absolutely nothing
Can you look busy on a daily basis, while running around totally clueless? Huh!
Do you have the ability to overlook policy and guidelines? What policy, what guidelines

CONGRATUALATIONS: Miss so and so, you have met all our requirements, when can you start.

Hide full review
5 comments
Add a comment
E
E
empirestudentcincy
Cincinnati, US
Jan 02, 2014 1:18 pm EST

I utterly agree. I am currently attending Empire in Cincinnati Ohio. Its miserable there. Our old director left and now we have a retired cop as a director. He knows nothing about hair or the salon business. He's downright unpleasant to talk to and constantly mixes students up. While we have a few great teachers who actually know something about the curriculum, we have others who just have free time all the time or are hard to find to get checked in when we actually do get a client. We never have all the products we need to perform the service and are constantly running around with our heads cut off trying to improvise. Some teachers and students have paid out of pocket just to get some supplies to complete the service. Empire is the worst school ever! Even some of the teachers admit to Empire sinking into the ground.

T
T
trishthedish
Roebling, US
Oct 15, 2009 6:01 pm EDT

I AGREE WITH ALL OF THIS. I attend Empire in Bordentown, NJ. I have had it even worse... half the staff got fired besides the teachers for fraud... all my financial aid papers were forged on and people signed my name and my Moms name. They lied to get money for them. And it gets worse and worse, I cant believe how its every empire that ahs the same issues... Man this was a huge mistake.

S
S
sw thing
Littlestown, US
Oct 06, 2009 12:49 am EDT

I also attended there in hanover and got out I now go to the temple and I am so glad I made the change that place is a joke and they know nothing it is a big circus... No business and the students are all high on herion nodding out and the director does nothing about it and knows that all the drugs are being shot up in the bathroom this is when I said I am out...

S
S
stardreamer
Hanover, US
Oct 05, 2009 5:11 pm EDT

oh i know ive attended empire in hanover and could not agree more although i did not finish my time im glad i got out when i did it is nothing but a laughing joke you sit around for 8 hours and half the time do nothing and then when you do you can never find a teacher...and those dang tech sheets are a joke all they are is busy work but how long do they really keep us busy maybe three hours a day if that and then you sometimes compleate them in a day or two then the rest of the week your sitting on your ### or cleaning which is a bunch of crap...and then on days you have class its pointless because most of the time youve already learned what they are trying to teach you...i really believe no one there knows what they are doing they just make ### up as they go...whats the point of even trying to get an education if you cant learn when you want to?
So my advice is if you wanna blow $16, 000 easaly go to empire they know exactly how to waste your envestments and they will even show you how to be a bum for the rest of you career in the cosmotolgoy world

U
U
upset student
Richmond, US
Sep 24, 2009 12:54 am EDT

I can only 100% agree with you whole heartly, I also attended Empire in Richmond VA, and it was extremely HORRIBLE. We went threw the exacte same thing, there was absolutely no structure or displine in the school. I was lied to with a straight face about the education that I would be receiving. I was only taught the basic, now that I have graduated and working in a salon, I am still attending different training classes, my skills are not up to par to what I paid for. We were giving the run around all the time, with promises and rules that were change on a daily basis to accomdate the staff, nothing for the student. I had better education in the free public county high school that I attended. I WOULD NEVER REFER ANY ONE TO EMPIRE, the school needs to be shut down. from what I hear all the school are poorly organize.

ComplaintsBoard
L
12:49 am EDT
Resolved
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
Featured review
This review was chosen algorithmically as the most valued customer feedback.

I would never recommond empire to any one. I attended empire beauty school in 2008, I was 100% not satisfied!!! I was told ebs was the best school to attend for cometology education. This education you would not find anywhere. These were all lies. I was promise that I would be fully certifed in the bussiness field of salon owner ship, a nail tech...

Read full review of Empire Beauty School and 6 comments
ComplaintsBoard
T
1:10 am EDT
Resolved
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.

Empire Beauty School un caring

I was inrolled at Empire Beauty School since Jan.2008 went thru alot. They do not follow rules there, only the ones they want to or the ones they make up. They do not help there students, particularly the night class. My husbands sister got cancer, it was bad they didnt think that she would make it so my family went to see her in Arizona. I called the school and told them what was going on.When i got back two weeks later they told me I was dropped oneday prior of getting home. They said you can only miss 14 days excused or not, i had a doctors note. we left 7/13/09 got back 7/25/09. That is only ten days, school days. They counted the weekend before we left, and the weekend i was gone. I was suppost to graduate in December 2009. And they are sending me letters saying i owe them $100 for administration fees. Plus i am still going to have to pay for my loans. I do not recommend this school to anyone!

Read full review of Empire Beauty School and 4 comments
Resolved

The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.

Hide full review
4 comments
Add a comment
I
I
injured student
tucson, US
Dec 03, 2009 3:34 pm EST

Frank Shoeneman CEO of Empire Education is clearly asleep at the wheel. He has allowed for the worst of the worst employees to come in and abuse students and staff. His pit bull Joe Carretta VP of operations has led this company down the wrong track. What happened to good old fashioned kindness. This company has ruined many peoples lives . In the end they will have to answer to a higher authority. For one, many students who attend their schools never get jobs, or arent skilled enough to get a job. They dont discipline the bad students and they mistreat the good students. They hire incompetent instructors and at the same time mistreat them. They are a company full of lies and they have the worst reputation ever. I am ashamed to say I was ever associated with them.

I
I
Italiannumber one
E. Boston, US
Nov 11, 2009 6:56 pm EST

Our class is in the process of well it looks like it could be a civil lawsuit. We are documenting all information, problems, ect ect. We have even been verbally abused. Teacher called us stupid and said we were a bunch of GREASEBALLS. Very racist remark towards the italian race. This coming from a African American teacher. So...here we go. Bring it on...You want to play... Will keep you posted.

L
L
lisarosa
henrico, US
Sep 17, 2009 1:07 am EDT

I agree! my school had a protest to get corperate attention, about the lack of education, The director not being profressional, teachers being fired, transferred or quiting. NONE OF THE PROMISES THAT WERE MADE OR TOLD WERE BEING HONOR. The young lady that enrolled me stop working there, bcuz she could no longer deal with her self from the lies that she have given the students about what the school had to offer.

THE SCHOOL IS NOTHING MORE THAN A RIP OFF

M
M
mrshadowfax
Hanover, US
Sep 14, 2009 3:42 pm EDT
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

I agree, whole heartedly. My wife currently attends the empire school in hanover, pa and I have never seen such a poor example of an educational institution as this one. Upon further research on the web I am finding that this and many other problems are a frequent occurence at all of their schools across the country.

It seems to me that corporate (empire), is not doing anything about these problems and is continuing to let it happen. My question is this !, Why are'nt the accredidation companies and the state stepping into investigate these allegations. Someone is not doing their job, and its time that alot of these empire students (past and present) step up to the plate and find some ways to make them clean up their act.

Please keep checking back here on the board, I will soon be posting a complete complaint of my own about our wonderful local EMPIRE.

Best of Luck to All

ComplaintsBoard
D
4:09 pm EDT
Resolved
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.

Empire Beauty School awful service

I went for a modeling, so they ask for something you would like to do. Every one knows that it is a school and they practice with dolls and then with people. well i request highlights and even show a picture. the thing is that the women that supose to do said i know how to do it. But then she start asking others and others and i just triying to be calm i let her do it and at the end my hair was a big mess, i ask them to tint my hair with only one color because of the results, they said that they ca not give more stuff free, and I said a have been nice, i'm not getting or being rude with you after the results, so i expect the same from you. the only thing they did was put tint just to color the yellows and oranges, and thats it. they said if a want something else a have to comeback later and pay for it. i expect the wrong way, as a profetional school they should be responsables with their students mistakes and not just because you were a model make a big mess in your hair and send you home.

Read full review of Empire Beauty School and 8 comments
Resolved

The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.

Hide full review
8 comments
Add a comment
Z
Z
Zada Harris
, US
Mar 04, 2024 1:46 am EST

Weekly long time patron. Educators r professional, knowledgeable, and helpful(Ms.Mcqueen,Ms.Mo,Mr KY and Ms.Lynn) as well as Administrators. Positive interaction with clients creates an environment that makes patrons want to return. Student interaction positive

R
R
Riley Lyons
, US
Nov 04, 2023 2:21 pm EDT

She was great she was great with my nails and not one smudge in my fingers she was so gentle (Lauren Johnson)

I
I
Ihearthair
, US
Jul 27, 2016 5:25 am EDT

I am a student at this school and it has been the worst experience of my life. I now have 6 weeks until graduation, love the field, hate the school, strongly dislike the staff. They are uncaring, they like to favor and blame every issue on the students. Front desk teacher or staff member has no idea what she is doing, over books and does not give clients the satisfaction they need. This place is an absolute joke, they have no idea on how to run a business. I have never felt so down graded in my life. They forget we are students. I wish state boards or any one higher would fix this school. Who ever has hired these people are clueless. I hate it and I would never recommend this school to anyone, even someone that I loathe. Biggest joke ever.

H
H
heeheehahaaa
middletown, US
May 13, 2012 8:49 am EDT
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

Yall must b empire admin or sumthin. Empire is a very unprofessional school and this is from a student. Yall could have responded simply with DISCLAIMER.

B
B
Bisquit
, US
Jun 30, 2010 5:39 pm EDT

Wow Micai, sounds like you have a serious problem. I suggest you get a hair implant. Perhaps they can take hair from your anus. It might be a little curlier but hey...at least you'll have hair. Oh ya...don't forget to have them remove any T.P. cling ons that might have gotten caught before plugging the folicles. Good luck.

S
S
Saywhat?
Fridley, US
May 03, 2010 11:47 am EDT

I always get my hair done at Empire and I never have that kind of experience. You seem to be kind of dumb for a model. Your sentences don't make sense and your words are spelled wrong big time. Anyways if you are scared for mess ups then ask for students who are close to graduating to do your hair for you instead of students who just got on the floor. Eventually, it is a beauty school for starters. What do you expect, professional to go there? The prices are very reasonable and if you know students that goes to Empire you even get a 50% of discounts. Students are supposed to be practicing on people... how are they gonna learn how to do hair if they don't get any practice at on on real people. Also everyone that thinks about getting their hair done at any schools should not expect that all result will come out the way they like it... If you want nice hair then pay more and go to a professional salon and pay over$200 just to get your hair color and cut the way you wanted. But it's a gurantee that 3 out of 10 people still aren't satified with their results even when it's professionaly done. Hair will always grow back and if you don't like that color you can always change it. So suck it up.

B
B
Bridget15
, US
Feb 07, 2010 12:27 pm EST

You must of been what they call a "360 Client" where you let a student practice on your hair before they go on the floor to service paying coustomers.
I go to Empire Beauty, and although it may be diffrent from school to school, I find it hard to believe this happend. A girl I know who was just a student in 360 messed up on two peoples hair, and the teachers fixed it, and it was all free of charge. They will try and give you what you want, but if they aren't able to, the will put the color back to what it was before. As far as perms and what not, it is kinda hard to fix them. What's done is done, but from the sounds of it you didn't have a perm or relaxer.
Another thing that could of happend is if you had box color in your hair, they are only allowed to match that color or go darker. So if you lied about having box color in your hair, and the new color came out spotty that is why. Every Empire School uses the same line, and that line isn't compatable with box dye, and will mess up the color, and can often times make it spotty or splotchy. If that is the case, that is why they wouldn't give you what you wanted, just fixed the mess, and told you if you wanted something different that you would have to come back and be a paying coustomer.
If none of what I said happend, and you still feel like you were treated unfairly, I'd suggest contacting the main office and placing a complaint, from what I hear they take things very seriously.
Good luck.

T
T
taralb
, US
Aug 27, 2009 9:11 am EDT

its a beauty school honey... there still learning! Also for your information, 9 times out ot 10, highlights do come out funky colors untill they are toned(not tinted). Once they are toned, you will see the results you expected.

About Empire Beauty School

Since 1934, Empire Beauty School has been educating future beauty professionals in the art of cosmetology.

From its Home Office in Pottsville, Pennsylvania Empire Beauty School continues with providing a high-quality education and training to future beauty professionals for rewarding careers in the beauty industry. The goal of every Empire Beauty School employee is to support students through every phase of their education, graduation and career placement. Providing opportunities for others and maintaining excellence in education is at the cornerstone of the company, and has been from the very beginning.

Empire Beauty School Customer Reviews Overview

 
Ratings on other sites
Trustpilot
Trustpilot
3.7
2 review

Overview of Empire Beauty School complaint handling

Empire Beauty School reviews first appeared on Complaints Board on Aug 3, 2009. The latest review Tuition, misguidance and negligence in student safety was posted on Feb 17, 2024. The latest complaint dropping program was resolved on Oct 22, 2019. Empire Beauty School has an average consumer rating of 2 stars from 92 reviews. Empire Beauty School has resolved 23 complaints.
Trust badge
Collect Your Trust Badge
Be recognized for outstanding customer service
  1. Empire Beauty School contacts

  2. Empire Beauty School phone numbers
    +1 (800) 295-8160
    +1 (800) 295-8160
    Click up if you have successfully reached Empire Beauty School by calling +1 (800) 295-8160 phone number 0 0 users reported that they have successfully reached Empire Beauty School by calling +1 (800) 295-8160 phone number Click up if you have UNsuccessfully reached Empire Beauty School by calling +1 (800) 295-8160 phone number 0 0 users reported that they have UNsuccessfully reached Empire Beauty School by calling +1 (800) 295-8160 phone number
  3. Empire Beauty School emails
  4. Empire Beauty School headquarters
    396 Pottsville Saint Clair Hwy, Pottsville, 17901, United States
  5. Empire Beauty School social media
Empire Beauty School Category
Empire Beauty School is related to the Colleges and Universities category.

Most discussed Empire Beauty School complaints

awful service
2
(opinions to this review)

Our Commitment

We stand for unbiased reviews

We make sure all complaints and reviews are from real people sharing genuine experiences.

We help resolving issues

We offer easy tools for businesses and reviewers to solve issues together. Learn how it works.

We advocate freedom of speech

We support and promote the right for reviewers to express their opinions and ideas freely without censorship or restrictions, as long as it's respectful and within our Terms and Conditions, of course ;)

We ensure transparent and fair ratings

Our rating system is open and honest, ensuring unbiased evaluations for all businesses on the platform. Learn more.

We care about your privacy

Personal details of reviewers are strictly confidential and hidden from everyone.

We are easy, free and open to everyone

Our website is designed to be user-friendly, accessible, and absolutely free for everyone to use.

Is ComplaintsBoard.com associated with Empire Beauty School?

ComplaintsBoard.com is not affiliated, associated, authorized, endorsed by, or in any way officially connected with Empire Beauty School Customer Service. Initial Empire Beauty School complaints should be directed to their team directly. You can find contact details for Empire Beauty School above.

ComplaintsBoard.com is an independent complaint resolution platform that has been successfully voicing consumer concerns since 2004. We are doing work that matters - connecting customers with businesses around the world and help them resolve issues and be heard.