Paluska attended cosmetology school in Iowa, receiving her cosmetology and teachers licenses there before moving back to central Illinois to direct a school in Peoria. The career that has followed made Paluska discard the notion of moving into another profession. “I had no idea when I walked into my field I would have a lifetime love affair with this occupation. I’ve worked hard, but doors seem to open for me every hall I go through,” she said.
In addition to owning her own salon, CP Directions Studio in Morton, and juggling family life with her husband and three children, Paluska travels the globe as a teacher, participating in national and international hair competitions, and also acts as judge and sage for those competitions. “I’ve traveled for 18 years. The amount I taught was closely related to what stage my children were at. When they were younger, they traveled around America with me, but as they grew, this became more difficult. Since they’re all adults now, I’m more road bound. In 2001, I taught 42 weekends. Twice a year I teach at the National Show, which is one week long. I’ve taught at several universities in the U.S., and in February will be one of two artists on a Caribbean cruise. This path is endless,” she said.
She explained art and science play equal parts in hair competitions—but even the best of the best have to follow the rules. “There are international guides one must follow to be a competitor at each level. Generally, a competitor begins at a local level, then moves to a state, national, and then international level. Each country has a team for competition, but only the highest evaluated competitor goes to the internationals.”
Paluska said after she experienced a certain level of achievement, she turned more to judging the competitions. “I must admit judging is much harder than competing. As a judge, you must empty your mind of all set concepts and look with an educated eye at what’s in front of you. Each competitor deserves 110 percent of your knowledge. A lot of classes must be taken, and you must be evaluated each year to be selected as a judge. This became more of a challenge to me.”
The associations Paluska belongs to as a cosmetologist make these competitions possible. “The largest association is the National Cosmetologist Association (NCA), which began in 1920. This organization is the political watchdog and educational and social group for us. The NCA represents the United States, and each state has a branch of the group such as the Illinois Cosmetology Association (ICA), and a local group such as the Peoria Cosmetology Association (PCA). The local PCA is mostly educational, while the state association is both policy-maker and educational, leaving the NCA as the overall directors,” she said.
Paluska has been active in the associations, both locally and nationally. “I was secretary, president, and styles director for the Peoria Cosmetology Association; overall director for the Illinois Cosmetology Association; and a member of the national Design Team for HairAmerica,” she said.
Continuing education is a big part of the hairdressing field, and the professional associations develop stylists as both practitioners and educators. “Within each organization is another branch responsible for teaching the rest. You begin with a few years of experience and then take a test to belong to the Peoria Educational Team. After sharpening your teaching skills and presentation, you can take a harder test to belong to the Illinois Education Team. The next step is the final exam—which is extremely intense—to belong to the HairAmerica Team. While on the HairAmerica team you may upgrade even further—by taking classes and passing tests—to be an international judge. This must be done each year,” she said.
In addition to her judging responsibilities, Paluska still competes in very high level events. She was selected this year as a member of the National Cosmetology Association’s Design Team, representing the U.S. at the international Hair World—the Olympics of hairstyling. “Each country in the free world has a team to represent their country—HairItaly, HairSpain, etc. In the U.S., Design Team members are selected from the pool of all HairAmerica members. The team must be able to project future hair, skin, and nails within the guidelines of consumer sale-ability. Once a look is decided, they work on exactly how to do the cuts. This is the hardest area because you must consider how everyone will interpret the cuts. You’re selected by the directors of each department—ladies, gents, etc.—the National Board approves you, and finally you’re asked if you can accept.”
Her most recent trip was to Las Vegas to teach at the HairWorld 2002, a typically frenetic show. “As a member of the Design Team, we were up at 4 a.m. and teaching new designs we created from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. This is the technical part of hair cutting. It’s easier to design a cut, color, or style than to word it in a way anyone can understand. All of the time and effort we spent on the wording, graphics, and design was repaid in full by the reaction of the hair designers attending the classes, though. The Design Team referred to the Fall/Winter Collections as a design to knock your socks off,” she said.
She got off stage around 8:30 p.m. and returned to the workroom, repacked for the next day, evaluated the recent performance, and finally left the convention center at 10 p.m., only to return five more days. “This all sounds like a very long and hard day, but it was an extremely challenging and rewarding time, and our energy never failed,” she said.
On the last day, after her performances and teaching were finished, she volunteered to help in other areas of the competition. “Toward the end of the day I was asked to lead the Slovakian competition team into the arena. Our last day is exactly like the Olympics, except we announce all of the winners on the last day. The feeling of being in an arena with the world’s best is overwhelming,” Paluska said. “Standing with them and hearing ‘America wins the gold’ is only parallel to hearing the ‘Star Spangled Banner’ and seeing your country’s flag. I still get goose bumps.”
To break into the cosmetology field, Paluska said students must receive a state license by graduating from a cosmetology school or putting in hours as an apprentice. “After graduation, you must then attend so many hours of continuing education and reapply for your license every other year.”
She said today’s cosmetology students have a different experience than when she went through school, and she wants to increase the requirements even more. “So much has changed since I was a basic student. Design never stops changing, but I think they try to teach more art than structure. We were taught structure in rollers and pincurls. Today, line and design are more imperative. My dream is to require students to attain an associate’s degree, and grandfather all existing barbers and cosmetologists. A degree would emphasize business as well as art.”
Paluska said she enjoys having a dual career—salon owner and international judge/teacher—because she gains different experiences from each endeavor. “In the salon, my biggest challenge is to mentally be there for the first client as well as the last, no matter the length of the day. I’m always working outside my comfort zone because I feel that’s more of a challenge. When I’m teaching in different parts of the country, I must be aware of traditions and cultural differences. So a lot of research—unrelated to what I’m teaching—is needed. There again, one must stretch past one’s comfort zone; the upside is that comfort zone continues to grow.”
Last year’s Midwest Trade Show in Chicago—when she was Commissioner of Competition—was a perfect example of the challenges she overcomes and rewards she reaps. “The whole thing was in my lap, and that competition was the last chance to accumulate points for the new HairWorld Team. I met with the contestants and judges prior to the competition to finalize the rules, announced all of the names from the stage, and watched doggedly during the competitions. This was extremely stressful because each contestant desires 110 percent of you. It was a very long three days, but I’ll never forget it,” she said.
Paluska said the people she works with have had the biggest impact on her. “Being on the NCA HairAmerica opened doors to rooms of people. We’re a very creative, high-energy group, so being with them is like a shot of vitamins in the arm. Our ages vary from 20-something to three 95-year-olds on the team. One of the 95-year-olds told me the beauty in life is its experiences, and it’s the experiences that create the character we become. I can’t express the effect this has had on me.”
Not surprisingly, Paluska plans to continue in her dual career. “I love what I do. The challenges are exciting, but the opportunities are limited only by your imagination.” TPW