Empire Beauty School
reviews and complaints

I decided to enroll at Empire in Boston Massachusetts to better my life and for the lives of my children. I am a single parent of 3 children two of which have disabilities. I was told that the school is a great opportunity and has great programs great a learning experience and I come to find out that was all BS lies. We are told well the students are told that if you apply for the financial aid and federal assistance after your tuition goes through you get a $1, 700 refund that comes back to you but you have to earn that money within four different time amounts. I had earned my first two checks however a situation came up which caused me to withdraw. When I asked about the checks I had learned they denied me because I was withdrawing, now as a single parent I feel that it was not right that they denied me my checks. They told me if there was anything they could do to help me to let them know, so I proceeded to tell them that I honestly could use the money I had earned and yet they still manage to deny me. I do not know if I should go after this legally and hire an attorney or if I should just let it go. My experience there was bad as if I was still in high school. Students were talking about each other to teachers, the teachers and directors were talking about other students openly in front of other students. I feel like this school is more for making the money than helping people further their career in cosmetology. My honest opinion if you want to go into cosmetology to not go to Empire especially the one in Boston on West Street. Thank you

Below read my letter to the office of the president in regards to my readmission:

"i was i enrolled in empire at astoria queens in january of 2014. Due to my mother being in a car accident that left her permanently disabled my life was turned upside down. For the first time in my life i had to work full time to pay for rent, car insurance, groceries and other living expenses all while trying to finish school. Working full time hours while trying to complete school full time started to take a toll on my health. I began to miss school days after having to seek medical attention so often. After reporting multiple chest pains i knew that the stress i was under both physically and mentally could possibly lead to an even worst hospital visit.

In an attempt to relieve some stress i resigned from my full time job of almost 1 & 1 / 2 years in april if 2014. Unfortunately my medically excused absences made no difference in my below standard attendance rate and i was advised to take a leave and re - enroll in a different campus. As hard as it was for me to make the decision, i ended up choosing to defer my last 474 hours of cosmetology school in hopes of getting a fresh attendance rate start at empire 34th st. I was told that after 2 weeks i could return to school. Thought i could go back to school with no problem and but in november of 2014 after meeting with 34th st's robert curcio i was informed for the first time that i would not be able to.

For the first time i was told my absences had brought my attendance rate too low even though i had doctor's notes that accounted for every single absence on file. I had never failed a test and was a top academic student. All of these reasons gave curcio the impression that more than likely my appeal would have been approved and we scheduled my evaluation for re - entry that day. After filing a lengthy appeal that included medical notes, proof of my mothers disability and my future plan of action on the morning of my evaluation, i was declined re - entry to finish my education. I was devastated.

Im asking you to please reconsider (As i am told this is a corporate decision) the options available to students under family medical leave act and michelles law and grant my re - entry to empire. My undue hardships made it impossible for me to be successful in the completion of the program and i chose to go with the advice of empires faculty and that was to take a leave. I had no idea this is what would have come of my decision.

Being a cosmetologist is just not something i decided to do randomly but has been my passion for years. My brother who graduated from empire astoria in 2013 raved about beauty school being the best parts of his life and i just knew i'd share that experience with him. I come from a family with multiple licensed professionals in beauty and it's been my long time dream to join them. I even recruited my cousin to my same school who is now graduating next week! I'm proud of her but sadly my own dreams have been put on hold by not being able to finish my less than 3 months of a program i sacrificed everything in attempts to finish - my job, my relationships with family and friends and at times my health.

I am now paying almost 14k for an education i did not complete. I have been faithfully making payments to my balance with empire because i hope that i can someday return to empire to finish my last 474 hours. Since my last date of attendance at empire my circumstances have changed entirely. My mother has been granted disability benefits and i don't work at all. I am in good health again and i now have the focus, energy and time required to fully commit to finishing school. I know that i will attend school everyday until i graduate. Finishing my education is my dream. I just want a fair chance to succeed.

Fundamentals and structure shouldnt lack core values in the personal interests of any person. The fear and denial of student status and medical leave and its repercussions, due to medical conditions, causes many cosmetology students to drop - out or force others to sign themselves out. The numbers will speak for themselves. Drop out levels would not be as atrocious if empire didnt lack empathy on a corporate level. So if you have it in your power to help me, please do so. "

Update* the office has since contacted me to let me know that they will not reinstate my status as an enrolled student. This organization does not care about its students and only wishes to take as much money as possible from people whether or not they complete the program. Many people have experienced health issues, family death and other tragic ordeals only to have this school slap them in the face with termination. I chose to withdraw due to health concerns and in the end they dont want me to be a successful student, they already have their money so they are done with me. I would not recommend empire to my worst enemy and i am beyond disappointed at how they ripped me off.

I finished Empire Beauty School of York June of 2014 and I have to say
that it was one of the worst experiences of my life. I feel as if I wasted
almost a year of my life. I am now faced
with a very large student loan for a school
that shouldn't even be allowed to continue
in my opinion. I have a college education
and was a forty year old woman going into
the program, yet I was treated as though
I were a young girl in reform school by the
staff who were supposed to be my educators.
I would happily give back my joke of a license
in exchange for my tuition fees.
Words of wisdom for anyone thinking about
signing up, DON'T!

I am a student of Empire Beauty School located at our Manitowoc, WI campus. During the time that I have attended school I have felt and scene nothing but favoritism to other students from the faculty. Making everything they do obvious to another on how much they like one student better then others. On top of the facility they also fail to enforce the students to act and dress professional. The domineer of the instructors towards one another is another place with lack of professionalism. The teachers, directors, and including the receptionist are unfair, unequal, and favor the many students of this school! I would and never will reefer anyone to attend an Empire Beauty School chain as I assume each school is the same as the next.

I have been in Empire beauty school going on 4 months perfect attendance and never late. Yesterday I for got to clock in, so I clock in 1 hour late. I was told that administration saw me there on time like every other morning, but could not help fix my time. I was considering going through the teachers program but this made me feel like no one cares whether your there or not. I take a lot of pride of being there and being on time. UPSET

Empire beauty schools "rules" are a joke. They are made for the administrators to follow or break at their own choice. School rules say that if a student misses more than 33% of a ciriculum that they are DROPPED. But some students miss random days and are dropped even though they score high on all their tests, while other students "charm" their way into missing and are allowed. One such student is on a family vacation with her husband and kids and missed a whole week chemical relaxing classes but yet she is not going to be dropped, while another girl missed 2 days of facials and was dropped. I don't know about you, but if someone is going to be putting chemicals on my head, I want her to have attended classes not just read the book! This school is a joke and I don't recommend it to anyone and DON'T GET YOUR HAIR DONE THERE, no telling who you will get and you don't know if they attended class or not!

I had a second bad experience with the Tucson, Arizona School today. The person duing my hair was great, the supervisor and front desk staff were horrible. They lacked professionalism and made rude remarks, when I expressed my displeasure with having spent 5 plus hours getting a hair coloring treatment. If, this front desk staff represents this school, I will never set foot in that school again... In addition, the charge for what I had done was way out of line for a training school, especially, with the bad experience I had today. One comment that sticks in my mind, was made by the cashier, "that's what you get from a training school" and "I don't have time to argue with you, just pay your bill." I personally, will not recomend this school to anyone that may ask me. The staff, just are no professional, they should have listen to my comments versus being blunt and uncaring!

When I first enrolled into Empire Beauty School I was ready to get my career going. I did not know that things would end so badly. I have been 80/80 and 1/90 since I statred back after surgery and then march of 2011 I go into warning and then probation I ask my director what could I do to graduate on time she says 5 weeks on time everyday. I asked her at the end of my 5 weeks to see when I graduate and she says 37.3 days my grad date went from Mar. 24th to May 28th to July something. I have 255 hours to complete and I am currently unenrolled and I am furios they say they don't mess with our hours but it seems mighty strang that only we african americans are having this issue this school in Madison, WI plays favortism and changes the rules to fit them now that they have received the whole 18, 000 in tuition they claim I owe them 1737.00 for maxing out my hours why don't they have a medical cause in the contract. They act like they are not there to help you pursue your future but to get all that financial aid and then make it hard for you to become a gret stylist. I am getting me a lawyer because this is rediculous and I have to pay all that money back and have nothing to prove from it.

Okay here's the skinny on empire. They have you come in to be suckered into signing a contract. They tell you they can change your life, send you to an overated national competition blah blah blah! They show you pretty books, nice kit, gorgeous mannequins, but at the end of the day you dont learn how to cut hair! Their technique "clic" is not consistantly reinforced by their instructors, because the instructors are not on the same page, they want to teach you what they know, not stay on the same page with each other. At the end of the day you will pay thousands of dollars and not know how to go about a simple clipper fade, long hair layered haircut, and your sorry # will be so slow at cutting hair, salons will have to retrain you in order to hire you.. Save you money go to your local community college, enroll in their programs, save money and learn how to cut hair. You wont deal with instructors in competition with each other!

Went to my theory class with my laptop today, under doctor advisement. My doctor recommended I take my notes by typing or recording the theory seminar. I was told to put both away because they both fell under the "electronics" section of my student agreement. Typically, this section is brought up for cell phones. I was under the impression that Empire provided a "state of the art" education and believe laptops to be included in that section. Especially with a doctor's note. I reluctantly went back to my car and locked up my equipment so it would not be stolen. Of course, the problem my doctor was attempting to eliminate has flared.

Enrolling in Empire Beauty School was the biggest mistake I've ever made. Before I enrolled, they were so nice to me, and it seemed like such a nice place, until I was a student for a little while and got behind the scenes. Once they get your money things change. Please, if you're considering a career in cosmetology, find anywhere else to go other than Empire Beauty School

I attended north Phoenix empire for one month and then found out that Empire had a school in Prescott Az. I wanted to attend the prescott School so I thought I would Transfer (wrong). I was told I would have to withdraw (this was in July, something to do with the financial aid) and reenroll. I've had nothing but problems, I get the run around, my calls are not returned, I was told I could not enroll in the next enrollment date that I would have to wait till November. It's November and I still can't get someone to return my calls. But they have no problem sending me bills, go figure.

I attended Empire Beauty School in 2010. When I first contacted them about going to school their they treated me with royalty, until after I enrolled and they got my money then everything changed. I was used and abused their. They did many wrongdoing their, threatening me telling me not to tell ANYONE about what happened. Now I am seeing an attorney to fight for me and hopefully transfer to a different cosmetology school. The so called education they promised me was nothing short than a huge scam. I've also witness students cutting clients and making them bleed, students being rebellious and cutting someone's hair the wrong way, and they don't tell the client they did it. They just do their best to conceal it and hope that the client won't notice, which they of course usually don't, because they're not cosmetologists. I have also witnessed our school being vandalized by students, and of course we were instructed to clean it up immediately so the clients did not see. The staff are awful once they get your money they treat you like crap. I also found out many of their students are failing state boards.

Empire School touched up my roots on 7/15/2010 around 3:20pm. No patch test was done by the student or the (1) teacher who was overseeing several students. The teacher, not the student mixed the product and toner. The roots lifted very fast but came out orange/red. (I did state on several occasions that my hair pulls red but not to the teacher). For an extra charge, Toner was added to deal with the orange/red roots. The toner almost immediately brought the color down to an acceptable light brown. During the initial root lift I noticed the product smelled strong and tingled a bit. The toner appeared to cool things down and my hair was smooth and looked good when I left. My scalp continued to have sensation of burning especially around ears and back of neck. Hair thin and extra un-naturally silky texture to my hair. This burning sensation became unbearable on Monday 7/19/2010 and caused me to call ER at 2:00 am to ask questions to help determine if I needed emergency care. I was unable to see red but by late morning my head was on fire and red. I went to another salon who took the photo's below and applied protein conditioner. I also had to cut /layer my hair about 2.5 inches so as to avoid further strain on scalp by pulling it back into a pony tail. I am not sure if I am going to lose my hair. I only hope that it will grow back. I understand this is a school and that you sign waivers but I do think Empire should take some responsibility as they are not doing patch testing and have really burned me. I am told the product used was Goldwell - 20 volume perm and the toner was a semi perm by Goldwell. Something went terribly wrong. Agonizing pain. I hope it goes away soon!