L’Oréal Professionnel Is Opening A New School In Paris

While hairdressing is a major industry in France, it’s still taken a loss of over 10,000 jobs in the past decade. According to WWD, L’Oréal Professionnel plans to curb this by launching a new school, Real Campus by L’Oréal, debuting in January. It will accept 150 students annually for a three year program where you can earn a bachelor’s degree in hairdressing and entrepreneurship—the first of its kind.

According to a study by Roland Berger commissioned by L’Oréal in March, hairdressing is the second largest trade skill in France after bakeries. 90 percent of the France’s 85,000 salons are independently owned and generate 6 billion euros annually. Salons are on the rise with new openings, but at a slower pace since 2014.

“Digital has completely changed the world of hairdressing,” says Nathalie Roos, President of L’Oréal Professionnel’s Professional Products Division. “To go into a salon, it has to be worth it… Salons today need to be super specialized.” The purpose behind the school is to educate future stylists on how to create unique experiences for their clients based on the growing demand for new and unique experiences. According to Nathalie, the school is called Real Campus, because of its focus on today’s reality and how it’s ever evolving.

The school will be located on Rue Didot in Paris’ 14th arrondissement. The ideal candidates are young adults in hairdressing, students with a general or vocational baccalaureate or anyone looking to start a new trade. The latter can start a month long intensive program, prior to the entrance exam.

L’Oréal plans to educate 10,000 hairstylists in the next 10 years, including technical proficiency, entrepreneurship, digital and through exchange programs with schools abroad.