Before the diploma, before the magic, it’s the grind

by MIKE CHAIKEN

CTFashionMag.com

They arrived at 7 a.m. at the Aqua Turf, Plantsville, Conn.

The guests didn’t arrive until 1 p.m.

But, the students of the International Institute of Cosmetology of Wethersfield, Conn. and Plainville, Conn. arrived at the crack of dawn to make sure their hair and makeup creations were perfect. They made sure their models looked perfect. And they made sure that everything on the runway looked perfect by rehearsing again and again.

The mood was intense as the students counted down the hours, minutes, and seconds until they were graduates of the cosmetology program at the afternoon’s commencement exercises.

But before they were graduates, they had to show their skills as professional hair stylists, makeup artists, and as fashion creatives in the IIC’s signature student-focused runway show.

This was what it looked like backstage.

PHOTOS by MIKE CHAIKEN

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