Perryville Prison Opens Cosmetology School for Women

The Arizona Department of Corrections has opened a cosmetology school at the State Prison Complex in Perryville, giving incarcerated women a chance to gain hands-on training for work after prison. The program is aimed at students with at least 24 months remaining in their sentences, and the department is covering the cost of training to reduce financial barriers.

The facility has a training salon and classroom with 20 styling stations, three hair-washing stations and two manicure stations. Lessons include cosmetology, chemical safety and sanitation, with the goal of preparing students to meet Arizona’s licensing requirements.

Students will complete 1,500 hours of instruction and can take the licensing exam while still incarcerated. The department has hired a licensed instructor and plans to begin with groups of 20, said Kennedy Riley, its deputy chief of workforce development.

Prison trades programs helped build the school’s facilities: the wood shop made the salon stations, while metal workers produced the signage. The training is intended to help women secure employment after release, a challenge that can also affect their ability to find housing and reunite with their children.