Student Barber Competes at SkillsUSA Competition as CGTC’s First Representative

April 13, 2018


Macon, Ga. – In less than a month, Lyncetta Coleman will be one of many Barbering program students to walk across the stage at graduation, but in March, she was the first program student to test her abilities at the SkillsUSA Georgia barbering competition for Central Georgia Technical College (CGTC).

As one of only two females in her cohort, she said she was thrilled to carry the clippers for both gender and program to compete in the student skills organization’s first barbering events. SkillsUSA is a nation-wide, student vocational organization that hosts several skills competitions for its members each year. Typically, students compete in fields like construction, welding, and electrical systems, but this year the statewide contest added the hairstyling event to the competition.

Although Coleman did not place or medal, she came in first in the CGTC history books.

“Because of the environment I work and practice in each day, I knew I could compete,” Coleman said, who has used what her clients and instructor, Sandra Lane, have told her about her work to motivate her.

“Students who are performing at their best like Lyncetta can use this to compete, build confidence, and take pride in their quality of work,” Lane said. “It is also a platform to get used to a crowd, people who judge your work, and the expectations of the industry.”

There were quite a few expectations and challenges the competition threw her way. Coleman felt nervous to accomplish most of it. Not knowing what to expect, the task demanded she cut down ten inches of hair to a pompadour, and make quick color changes to styles. Neither were easy but Coleman discovered something that put her a little at ease.

“Believe it or not, there were actually three women in the competition,” she said, noting that the balance helped drive her confidence to show her abilities.

Coleman entered the program with no cutting experience. The refinement of what she called her “raw-talent” came from Lane. Lane, a woman with extensive experience in the male-dominated profession, gave her all the advice she needed to hear.

“Skills do not come from gender, they come from the concepts and practice they learn in the program,” Lane said.

Coleman has not learned it all, nor has she finished writing her history, but when she graduates, she will move on to her career, tapered by the College’s program.

For more information on the Barbering program, contact Sandra Lane at slane@centralgatech.edu

Female in barbering jacket stand behind the chair in the lab.

[Photo]: Lyncetta Coleman takes a break from cutting in the CGTC Barbering Lab on the Macon campus. In March, she competed as the program’s first representative in the SkillsUSA Georgia state-wide competitions.