The benefits of an Old Colony manicure are not lost on Henry Stopka, 84. As cosmetology teacher Carol Charbonneau and student Savannah Lopes each take one of Stopka’s hands to begin removing the gold glitter polish from his last visit, he comments, “There are a lot of perks.”

Every month, a group of tenth grade cosmetology students from the vocational high school visits the Rochester Council on Aging to give free manicures, one of several services offered by the program.

“This is their first experience with the public,” said Charbonneau, who has 31 years of experience herself.

As a teacher at Old Colony, she helps prepare students to work in the beauty field.

The cosmetology program is much more than an intro to doing hair and nails. Students graduate work-ready without 1,000 hours of experience and a state board license in cosmetology. They also have the option of getting the license for nails.

“They can actually leave with two licenses and a diploma,” said Charbonneau.

A cosmetology program for high school graduates costs at least $12,000, but Old Colony’s students need only pay for their textbooks and supplies. Before they even graduate, students can begin working in salons.

Plus, they get the opportunity to refine their skills on clients in the school’s salon.

“We’re always looking for new people to come in,” said teacher Kim Parnell, who is also a graduate of the program.

Clients can get manicures, pedicures, facials, haircuts, perms, keratin treatments, highlights and coloring, among other services. As with repairs in the automotive shop and meals at the Cougar's Den cafe, customers are only charged for the materials used, not the work.

In the cosmetology shop, a haircut is only $3, $12 for coloring.

“It’s cost effective. It’s a good way for the kids to practice,” said Kim Polillio of West Wareham.

During her latest visit she got a pedicure, followed up with highlights, a soothing hair wash and blow dry by senior Kristy Fitzpatrick.

“It comes out almost the same as a high-end shop. I could pay $100 for the same things I can get for $26, a fourth of the cost,” said Polillio. Additionally, “it gives them confidence.”

Polillio was happy to have Fitzpatrick as her stylist.

The Lakeville student is one of ten in the shop with her cosmetology license and the only one who also has her manicure license.

“I’ve always had a passion for doing hair and nails,” Fitzpatrick said.

After more than 1,000 hours of practice, she feels confident in her work. Her first time cutting hair for a client was a little nerve-wracking, however.

“I cut a little 90-year-old lady’s hair, and she had oxygen tubes,” Fitzpatrick said. “Now, I don’t even really think about it. It definitely takes practice, but this is the perfect environment to do it in.”

It’s a great option for members of the community, said Pollilo, and a great way to get her daughter a princess hairdo for pauper prices.

With experienced teachers on hand, no one goes home with blue hair, unless of course, that’s what they wanted.

The service is also a nice, low-cost way to get some pampering and even try something new like, Henry Stopka.

Last Halloween, he got his nails painted black and red. “I wanted to be somebody different!” he said. After glitter in February, he went with white nails for March.

“They laugh about it, especially my grandsons,” said Stopka, who also gets haircuts and facials at the Old Colony salon.

“It makes you feel good,” he said. “It’s uplifting.”

The Rochester Council on Aging manicures are offered free of charge on a first come, first served basis. Consult the COA for exact dates.

A full list of services is listed at www.oldcolony.us/departments/technical-programs/cosmetology.

Appointments can be made for the salon most Tuesday through Friday mornings. Call the shop at 508-763-8011, ext.137.