Stacey James Institute - Parker Campus - Parker, Colorado

Josh Gonzales

The barber that was assigned to me today, Chris, was absolutely stellar! One of the greatest haircuts I've received! He was meticulous in getting my hair to the place he envisioned when he first started cutting. I really wasn't too sure on what to do since my Covid hair was still going strong. I am looking forward to getting my haircut from Chris from now on whether it's at Stacy James or wherever he goes. Jess did a fine job of checking on Chris every now and then to see how he was doing with my hair. A bonus of the experience was getting to know him as a person. I thought we had a great conversation about many things. This young man is going to go far in this business! That's a fact, Jack!

Becci Dorazil

I think one star may actually be too generous. My review got taken down along time ago for what reason, I’m not sure. I was a student at Stacey James from June of 2019 to September 2020. To say that my experience at Stacey James Institute was unpleasant would be a bit of an understatement. It was an absolute nightmare of an experience and I would not reccomend that you waste your hard earned money, scholarships/grants, or time here. If you’re interested in a cosmetology, barbering, or esthetician career path I would strongly encourage to literally go anywhere else.

I could write an entire BOOK on all the things I experienced while attending this school but instead, I’ll highlight the most important things:

-They have no idea what they’re doing in terms of handling tuition and the financial aid process. Or rather they do know what they’re doing and they cheated me out of thousands of dollars. My EFC score was 0. I come from a low income family. My tuition was $21,026. When I first signed off on the financial aid, I had $12,000 in Pell Grants and enough subsidized loans to cover the rest. They surprised me not even a week before my graduation with about $4,000 left of the tuition and threatened that if I didn’t pay them, I couldn’t graduate. They also fought me and denied I had a scholarship for $1,000 from the school from when I first started until I showed them they’re own email that they sent to me with proof of the scholarship being awarded to me.

-They have an extremely high turnover rate of instructors who are either severely under qualified or overworked and treated disrespectfully by admin and the owners. We also had some very sketchy instructors who did things in the bulding that I can’t disclose in this review.

-They did not properly prepare for our State Boards Exam and they are not honest about the percentage of students that pass their boards exams. I had a feeling that what was in this tacky boards exam kit they gave us was not all that we needed and I was 100% correct and found that out when I did the practical exam. Luckily, I went on YouTube and found someone who knew what needed to be in the kit. Their information in regards to the practical exam was outdated. I actually returned to the school after I completed my practical exam to help the other women as they were preparing for their practical exams. Patty, one of the admin people informed me that if I wanted to help the other women, I should tell them that SJI prepares it’s students for the practical boards exam. As if I was actually going to do that, of course.

-75% of my education was YouTube and other online videos. I attended the school during the shutdown in 2020 and instead of discounting us for the lack of education we were receiving or making it up somehow, we were instructed to watch YouTube videos and log them for our instructor to count as actual learning hours. I didn’t pay thousands of dollars to watch YouTube. I paid SJI to teach me the skills to become a licensed cosmetologist, not YouTube.

On the surface, SJI looks like a nice little local school and while I doubt it actually measures up to the standards they claim to have, I hope they intend to do better for their current students because they unapologetically failed a lot of barbers and cosmetologists for years.

Photo is proof that I was actually a student here. My legal surname changed this past summer due to getting married.

EDIT: Vince, one of SJI’s owner’s did contact me via voicemail and text. I responded over text as I’ve wasted much of my time already talking to them in their office while I was enrolled in their school. They apologized but unless the apology comes with the tuition they owe me or the 1500 hours of my life I’ll never get back, apologies are useless. There was no response to my text.

Haley Piper

They always seem to amaze me! Before in black, after in the red and black! Thank you Emma Brown and her instructor for this beautiful cut! It’s given me so much confidence for my upcoming interviews!

Kierstin Mohr

I would be lying, if I didn’t say I was a bit hesitant because it’s Beauty School. I had this image in my head of the movie Grease. Song, “Beauty School dropout go back to High school.” Oh was I wrong to think that way. I had a great experience with Leslie B. She not only listened to my wants but she heard me and delivered. The atmosphere was inviting and the Instructors were always there observing, checking in and answering any questions. I Have to say I have a newfound love, a.k.a. my hairdresser, Leslie B. Thank you sweet lady!

Brooke Stoddard

I would give 100 stars! I found this place to help my sister and I with our arm/shoulder pain with washing our own hair, and I clicked with Jeannie instantly! A human rainbow My visits quickly went from just washing my hair to using many of their other services from the scalp facial to a full rainbow hair dye job! Jeannie always makes sure I'm comfortable and know what step is next and is so good at explaining everything as well. I am so happy I found this place and plan on following Jeannie when she graduates in the fall! ?

Lisa Janisse

I was referred to the Stacy James cosmetology Institute and it was well worth it. I met Maria and she is fabulous! She colored my hair and did a great blowout. I am definitely coming back. It will see Mariah again.

Jenn Sweeney

I have been bringing my daughter here for years (color, highlights, cuts) and have been impressed by the caliber of the students. I finally went myself (highlight and cut) and the student stylist did an amazing job with the color - spot on at an affordable price. This time around, Cory did such a great job guiding students (if needed).

Jaclyn Kaska

One star is too high. I have been going to this school to color my hair for over a year and the only reason I’ve continued to schedule is because of Nikki! She is a 5-Star instructor and person. She helps the students learn, is patient, kind, and very personable.
My last two appointments have been less than a zero star due to Janet, the instructor. She does not allow the students to provide their insight, she insists her way is the right way and she knows more than anyone because she’s an instructor. Let me tell you, I was Highly Disappointed with her and my interaction with her both times.
Janet was rude, combative with me, talked down to both her student and me, the client. She did short, crabby, and had zero tolerance to listen to me or her student. She was telling me that she’s been doing this for 15 years and this was going to be what she was going to allow her student to do to my hair. After she rudely walked after the consult, the student and I chatted and she clearly listened to what I wanted. I went in with lighter brown hair that had highlights, and I wanted more brown balayage. Once she went back to mix, Janet NEVER came back out again to check in. She left the student alone and on her own. Nikki had NEVER done that because she’s involved and wants these students to learn. Janet chooses to walk around like a dictator, and from the listening to the students, they do not like her or her style of instructing, which is not helpful.
The student let me sit in my color for 45 minutes and then came back and said she was going to tone my tips (which I wanted to lighten them more), and I explained this was different because they usually tone my hair when washing. Anyhow, after washing my hair, the student left to talk to Janet and wanted to use lightener shampoo, unbeknownst to me,y hair was BLACK! Janet instructed her to not use the shampoo.
After I sat back down after shampooing and realized the student was being instructed by Janet, I realized Janet ruined my hair and offered NOTHING to fix it. I was frustrated with how my hair looked.

When I went to pay, I caught Janet at the counter and she was even more rude and combative with how unhappy I was. SHE IS AWFUL! I left upset and once I arrived home and evaluated my hair further, there were blotches of lighter color from my previous hair color.

What’s more upsetting is I left multiple messages for the Director, Patty, with ZERO CALLBACKS!!!!