Manhattan Hair Styling Academy

At the tine I enjoyed my experience at MHA in South Tampa. I had always wanted to be a hairstylist. I am a very positive person and try to see the good in every situation. the school was just a few blocks from my home where I cared for my terminally ill mother. We discussed the fact that the school would cost $10,000 and the remaining $5000 would be taken care of with the FAFSA paperwork the school would submit. However 18 months after giving me a certificate of graduation they claim that I owe them the $5,000. Now I have been dealing with law offices and collectors and trying to explain the situation. I have to say in retrospect that the students were 'used' bybthe school to generate income by working on clients' hair all day long. We really weren't given the instruction that we needed. I discovered this when I went to the Great Clips training school and learned more in a couple of weeks there then I had learned in the year at MHA. more

These are the same owners of National beauty school I went to in 1988...I went to MHA..in 2009...still the same scam artist....they were signing loan checks back in 1988...shut down for their scam..same thing is happening at MHA...file for a loan discharge and get rid of the debt...not worth owing to a school you can't complete for lack of teachers..poorly staffed.. more

I see things haven't changed much. Short on supplies, short staffed, paychecks being withheld and bouncing due to lack of funds. Rude Rhodes, know it all Madonna. I was let go because of unfounded rumours. Comical to me now, but sad for students because myself and quite a few other instructors that actually had skill and compassion for students were released. Ironic yes but take heed in these poor reviews because they are all true. The only reason there are two stars instead of none is because the staff has written rebuttle reviews.. RUN!!!!!!!! more

I was interested in becoming an educator for this school since they had an opening through craigslist. I was very excited up until my interview. First thing (and biggest thing) that through me off was the pay. I was told that they've been hit with a new law from the "government" that they couldn't pay their employees?!? Also, that they I would be assured I would get paid, but it might take up to 2 months!!!! What?! Are you kidding?! What place doesn't pay their employees unless of course they are flat out BROKE! It was disguising to me that they would continue to hire with knowing they cannot pay their staff... And at that point I'd just shut the doors. The hiring woman was very nice, but I could tell in her eyes she felt guilty. Second thing I didn't like was the fact I was hired on the spot. No previous experience, a test, or even proof I was even a Cosmetologist. There's the proof that they were so desperate they'd hire just about any one. As far as the school itself goes I know nothing as I declined the job. But looking through these reviews I'm glad I did! If I were you I'd spend the extra 2-3K and go to a place that cares like Paul Mitchell or Aveda. I promise you, you will get the best experience not this sorry excuse of a beauty school. more

I attended this sorry place a few years back, horrible teachers horrible director. Most of the people i went to school with quit. I stuck it out either way they already had my money so a year later I finished got my license and actually learned more working at great clips in 3 months than in one year in this place. They're always changing teachers because of the catty ones who still there! This place should close down; and as someone else mentioned they're taking more money from your loans/grants than the school is worth! Anyone start a class suit let me know! more

I am currently a student at the Inverness campus and over the past 2 years I've been told 8 teachers quit! Due to not being paid! During my second month my teacher quit and the school almost shut down! Now trying to leave and seek a real education and I'm being.told I might not be able to due to owing them $5000.00!!/$5000.00 for what?! Never having supplies or new books? Or having the class work fr two different books?! We have 2 teachers total! They lied and said this was a scholarship type ordeal and now that I wish to leave I owe that? I shouldn't have to pay a dime , especially when the school almost closed its doors! The biggest waste of my time ever ! If the schools so broke they shouldn't offer this "loan" its just a way for them to scam people!! more

A stylist named Erika left my little sis practically in tears. I had to spend all night fixing the mess she made. She cut her hair with a blunt edge, which my sister specifically requested NOT to do. Worst of all, Erika left abruptly stating she had "plans". VERY unprofessional. Erika forgot to charge my sister before the service was performed and then had the audacity to contact us asking for payment after the fact. My fam has gone here for years. Definitely NEVER going back. more

I was a student at the Brandon campus last year and after 9 teachers in a period of 6 months, I went on a leave of absence but they claim I withdrew because they couldn't find my paperwork. Well, do you think the teacher there on that week may have lost it? They don't pay their teachers or provide needed supplies but continue to make money off of federal aid and loans. They are under investigation by the DOE after several of my classmates and I filed complaints. They will fool you into signing up and them not provide your education. I am stuck with loans now for nothing. They are CROOKS! How they can get away with running a school this way is beyond me. Legal action should and will be taken against them. One of the teachers even drew on my hand in front of class and clients, verbally threatened me and taught in spanish which i was told to watch and learn because i did not speak it. They make excuses for EVERYTHING to get out of their accountability. STAY AWAY!!!! more

This is the WORST school I have seen in my hunt for schools! Good going Seminole campus, you really know how to treat your clients! NOT!! I had my nails done and the girl burnt my skin! A bird could have done a better job! Where was the instructor??!! Why aren't these students being supervised??!!! Oh, because she was on her cell texting and having a grand ol time by herself! I wouldn't recommend this school to nobody!! more

Wow! Such a pathetic school! I was thinking about enrolling at Seminole campus but can honestly say now, I wouldn't waste my time nor money. The staff is just plain rude and the "director" who made it clear she was in charge by saying she was director several times is the rudest of all! I'm an adult not a child. These people have no clue how to treat others. if you want to be belittled and spoken to like an idiot then this is the place for you!!! What a joke! more

I am currently a student at MHA, I am very happy to say that I am pleased with choosing the Brandon location to attend classes. MHA has highly qualified teachers who educate and train students on how to create and design the next trend of hair fashion. Thank you to all the MHA staff members and fellow class mates for my awesome experience attending school. I give this school a 4 star rating. more

I had the unfortunate experience of graduating from this school. During my time there I was belittled by staff, treated like a child, and denied needed supplies which I had already paid for. This is a school where the students are the clients not slave labor; and slave labor is how the students are treated. They make money from both ends, clients and students but yet they cannot afford to provide students with the kits or books they are promised at the time of registration. Not to mention the fact that said kits are full of cheap equipment, and the books are old editions that Pivot Point doesn’t even sell anymore! During their “classroom” time students aren’t even allowed to have bottled water with them and must excuse themselves from class to get a drink. Correct me if I am wrong but all the students there are over the age of 18 and adults, so this is the most ridiculous thing I had ever heard of. Even in large college lecture halls and classrooms students can eat and drink as they please. Even kindergarteners are allowed water at their desks. I found the director of the school to be extremely power hungry and always wanted to make it known that she was in charge, that is of course if anything went wrong and then she would throw the main office under the bus, saying it wasn’t her school. The representative from the main office, Mrs. Rhodes, was in the school often and would not even speak to the students. She was rude and acted like she was far superior of anyone there. She would not even return a smile from a student. When people make the comment that “customer service is dead” they are speaking of this school! Do not waste your time visiting or waste your money attending. You will get a far superior education from one of the other schools in Tampa, if you insist on getting your license. Just know even when you do get it you will be making minimum wage for the next few years until you can get established and build a clientele. If you can wait that long making pennies on the dollar go for it. more

A DISASTER! This school is a disgrace. They wont pay their employees, they are understaffed, and the students that are using state and federal money to pay their tuition are getting robbed of their education. This place is a ZOO, what a joke. They have been late on our pay for 3 weeks and now since we complained their solution is to catch everyone up and then LAY US OFF! Thats great, we stay and stick it out with them now they are going to lay us off, real nice. If you are looking for a job or a school do your self a favor and run like the wind to another school. more

I went to manhattan to get my nails done and hair colored. when I walked in two woman stood right in the way talking. neither one said anything to me. I went and stood at the desk...and waited.....and waited......and waited! Finally I walked out. neither of the woman saying a word to me ever....no greet. no goodbye on my way out....nothing! To bad! more

I had been a client of MHA in Seminole, but have recently had some very uncomfortable experiences there. The way the new Director (Madonna) treats the students is very unprofessional and creates a level of tension that I would prefer to do without. I feel sorry for the students as they are doing their best, however the Director acts like she knows it all and the students know nothing. This is very surprising as I'm not sure if she has much experience in doing hair as she does in skin. I've since gone to AIB and it's a much more positive atmosphere. I've called the main campus to voice complaints, but have not gotten a response. Again, I feel very bad for the students and staff that are under the new Director. I won't be returning to Manhattan. more

Dear Student.... We take pride in our students and the education they receive. We have been in business 52 years and have an open door policy for any and all student needs. In our business structure we have students first speak with the directors of each location or their instructors. We believe this helps with resolving students needs immediately while you are there at the location. As far as our Seminole location our director is fully supported by MHA and has done a wonderful job in guiding that school for the last 12 years. When enrolling in school we do have certain rules and regulations we need to follow, at times directors and teachers must help guide students when they are off track from their education. This also is imperative when it comes to student attendance and following the regulations and policies that each student agrees to before you starts school. These policies have guided us in the last 52 years and become a staple of why we stand out in the community. As far as regulations for what a license entails please refer to State Board of Cosmetology, as your statement is incorrect. If you would like to go over any concerns, if you are still attending. Please feel free to contact us at 813-258-0505, I would welcome the opportunity to sit down and go over your needs. . It's very hard to address and validate concerns when we do not have a contact person to help with their needs. more

I am currently a student at Seminole campus. Is one of the newest campuses but I don't recommend it for nothing. When I enrolled, I was promised 2 kits. One I basic (-200 hrs) and he other (+200). I received my first one on time and the second one 4 months after what I was promised and my books after that!!! How can you learn If you don't have the supplies to work with? The instructors are good but treated unfairly by the current Director (Madonna) who doesn't know nothing about hair but loves to tell others what to do without knowledge if the topic. The lack of new students in other programs makes the Cosmetologist students to perform this services that we are not supposed to do by law. For example a Spa Facial Deluxe which includes extractions and massages from neck down. By law, we can easily loose our license for doing such services. The Director knows it but ignores it and tell the instructors that we have to do it. If you walked to the Admissions Rep w/o talking to the Director you can get in trouble. At this moment, were learning from the books w/o having a demo or anyone with experience to show us how to do haircuts. The campus has become a little Communist place where only the dictator (Director) has a right to say anything if you ask me I will say NO don bother because you will pay a $14,700 tuition for one kit and basic haircuts. You've been warned!!!!! more

If you are not getting what was promised, and you are on financial aid, please contact: Inspector General's Hotline Office of Inspector General U.S. Department of Education 400 Maryland Avenue, SW Washington, DC 20202-1500 You can fill out a COMPLAINT FORM online. You go to http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/oig/hotline.html?src=rt and click "Click Here to Submit a Complaint." You have English & Spanish. Talking on a blog is fine but if you want action, you have to go to the source. more

I give this school NO rate , after reading these other reviews.. I couldn't agree more. I visited a campus that was newer than the other campuses, And I thought I was going to walk in recieving a great salon experience.. but I walked out with the opposite . The students were well taught , and very respectful to my needs and concerns for my hair, and nails. But Dear MHA, get your act together before you dec ide to open a school. Cause first off, very low on products, the bathrooms had no paper towels .. I'm paying YOU for my service, don't you think you could give me a towel for my wet hands? And when I went to get a drink out of the coke machine , I couldn't get what I wanted to satisfy my thirst, cause only the dollar items were workable. which, okay .. i'm good with water. But still, thats not very professional. While I was waiting on my color to process, I over heard a few teachers conversations, If your trying to run a business.. try hiring teachers who aren't going to talk crap about their students and clients. And while your at it,I over heard another conversation that caught my eye.. I don't think a teacher running her mouth badly about a student to another student is very professional. That poor student didn't know what to say back to her teacher. She prolly was friends with the girl she was bad mouthing. My husbands been in the bussiness industry for quite awhile, and never in my life have I seen something like this. All I'm going to say is, After my experience in that salon, I'm pretty sure I wouldn't want any of my children blowing their money on something worthless to theere education. But "koodo's" to the receptionist, very well groomed & very polite. more

I've been a student there for months with no books. No kit. .not even the basic tools needed to even be in school ..then when I come in wearing black jeans they have a heart attack when I don't even have books to study with. The campus is filthy most of the time. The owners treat the poor teachers there like crap ..I brought my mom to school with me to getg my hair done and all we could hear were students complaining about their cheap kits from china and how they've been getting ripped off since they enrolled...This place is the worst school I've ever been to. more