Life at Hays Academy

What Does It Mean To Be a Student at Hays School of Hair Design?

Music on the floor, guests in the chairs, a competition trophy shelf that keeps needing more shelf. Here's the everyday version.

The competition wall

Seventeen years of “bring it home.”

Small western-Kansas school, national podiums. These are the headline wins, the complete list is below, verbatim, all sixty-plus lines of it.

The complete wall, 2008–2025 (70 lines)
  • 2025 Wella Trend Vision Awards – Editorial Cut Finalist (3) – 1st Place Overall
  • 2025 Wella Trend Vision Awards – Transformation Color Finalist (3) – 1st Place Overall
  • 2025 Wella Trend Vision Awards – Transformation Cut Finalist (2)
  • 2025 Wella Trend Vision Awards – Editorial Color Finalist (5) – 1st Place Overall
  • 2025 Wella Trend Vision Awards – Editorial Style Finalist (2)
  • 2025 Wella Trend Vision Awards – Transformation Style Finalist (4)
  • 2024 Beauty Envision Award – Top 3 Color – 1st Place Overall
  • 2024 Beauty Envision Award – Top 3 Cut
  • 2023 Beauty Envision Award – Top 3 Student Color – 1st Place Overall
  • 2023 Beauty Envision Award – Top 3 Student Nails – 1st Place Overall
  • 2023 Beauty Envision Award – Top 3 Student Color
  • 2023 Beauty Envision Award – Top 3 Student Style
  • 2022 Beauty Envision Award – Top 10 Future Star – 1st Place Overall
  • 2022 Beauty Envision Award – Top 10 Future Star – Top 3 Overall
  • 2022 Beauty Envision Award – Top 10 Future Star – Top 3 Overall
  • 2022 Beauty Envision Award – Top 10 Future Star
  • 2022 Beauty Envision Award – Top 10 Future Star
  • 2022 Beauty Envision Award – Top 10 Future Star
  • 2022 Beauty Envision Award – Top 10 Future Star
  • 2022 Beauty Envision Award – Top 10 Nail Artist
  • 2021 CosmoProf Color the World Competition – 1st Place Overall
  • 2021 Beauty Envision Award – Top 10 Future Star – Top 3 Overall
  • 2021 Beauty Envision Award – Top 10 Future Star – Top 10 Total Transformation
  • 2021 Beauty Envision Award – Top 10 Future Star
  • 2021 Beauty Envision Award – Top 10 Future Star
  • 2021 Beauty Envision Award – Top 10 Future Star
  • 2021 Beauty Envision Award – Top 10 Nail Artist
  • 2020 Beauty Envision Award – FIRST PLACE
  • 2020 Beauty Envision Award – 2 in Top 3
  • 2020 Beauty Envision Award – 5 in Top 10
  • 2019 Top Pick #Wellapickme Challenge
  • 2019 Wella Top Pick Intercoiffure Winner
  • 2019 2 in Top 10 Wella Beauty Envision Awards
  • 2018 Wella NEXGEN Winner
  • 2018 Sassoon Cut, Color and Finish 1st Place
  • 2018 Sassoon Cut, Color and Finish 2nd Place
  • 2018 Sassoon Cut, Color and Finish 3rd Place
  • 2017 Sassoon Cut, Color and Finish 1st Place
  • 2017 Sassoon Cut, Color and Finish 2nd Place
  • 2017 Sassoon Cut, Color and Finish 3rd Place
  • 2017 Nuts and Bolts International Business Student of the Year 2nd Place
  • 2017 Wella National Trend Vision – 2 Finalists
  • 2017 Wella Regional Trend Vision Color Category Regional Champion
  • 2017 Wella Regional Trend Vision 4 Qualifiers
  • 2016 Nuts and Bolts International Business Student of the Year 2nd and 3rd Place
  • 2016 Sassoon Cut, Color and Finish Competition 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Place!
  • 2016 Sassoon Cut, Color and Finish Competition 10 Top Ten Finishers!
  • 2016 North America Wella Trend Vision Champion
  • 2016 Regional Trend Vision Champion – National Qualifier
  • 2016 Wella Regional Trend Vision 4 of Top 7 Qualifiers
  • 2016 Wella Regional Trend Vision Educator of the Year – Danielle Markley
  • 2015 Nuts and Bolts International Business Student of the Year 2nd Place
  • 2015 Wella Regional Trend Vision Champion – National Qualifier
  • 2014 Sassoon Cut, Color and Finish Competition 1st Place
  • 2014 Sassoon Cut, Color and Finish Competition 2nd Place
  • 2014 Sassoon Cut, Color and Finish Competition 3rd Place
  • 2014 Sassoon Cut, Color and Finish Competition 6 Top Ten Finishers
  • 2014 Nuts and Bolts International Business Student of the Year Overall Winner
  • 2013 Sassoon Cut, Color and Finish Competition 1st Place
  • 2013 Sassoon Cut, Color and Finish Competition 2nd Place
  • 2013 Sassoon Cut, Color and Finish Competition 6 Top Ten Finishers
  • 2013 Nuts and Bolts International Business Student of the Year 2 Top Ten Finishers
  • 2013 Hays Chamber of Commerce Business Achievement Award
  • 2012 Kansas Business Women of the Year
  • 2011 Nuts and Bolts International Business Student of the Year 4th Place
  • 2010 Nuts and Bolts International Business Student of the Year Runner Up
  • 2010 Nuts and Bolts “Step Up Stand Out” School of the Year
  • 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008 Best Overall School at the Statewide Competition
  • 2011 Sassoon Cut, Color, and Finish Competition Top Ten
  • 2010 Sassoon Cut, Color, and Finish Competition Top Ten

Housing

Want to live in the dorms?

Fort Hays State University's student-housing office has the details on residence halls, rates and who can apply. If the dorms are part of your plan, start there.

Styling stations ready for the day

Student housing info

Residential Life & Student Housing

Fort Hays State University

Questions parents ask

Come see it live

Evenings worth showing up for.

Monthly

Open house evenings

Tour after hours, meet instructors, bring your people.

Every cohort

Shadow days

Spend a real school day on the floor before you enroll.

Spring & fall

Competition send-offs

The whole school rallies before nationals, it's a thing.

Event cadence shown is illustrative for this preview, book a tour and we'll tell you what's actually coming up.

“Welcome to the family” is a quote, not a slogan.

It's what a student named Lexie wrote after graduating: “They made me feel like one of their own. I can definitely see why they say ‘Welcome to the family’.” The school has been family-owned since 1981 and sister-run since 2003, the culture isn't manufactured, it's inherited.

More voices like hers →

Come feel it in person.

A tour takes 30–45 minutes, the floor, the people, the trophy shelf. Tell us what you're into and we'll text you times.

What are you into?
Which campus is closer?
Where should we text you?

“I have made so many accomplishments in my short time here, and made some lifelong friends along the way.”

Kylie M. · Salina campus

“The owners and instructors truly seem to care about our success in school and afterwards. They help you build habits and character that will last a lifetime.”

Bailey J.

“They made me feel like one of their own. I can definitely see why they say “Welcome to the family”.”

Lexie R.

“I toured at Hays Academy and it was the perfect fit for me. After starting they soon became family.”

Tori D. · Hays campus

“I was nervous. But I quickly felt like part of the family, it was like my second home.”

Kari N. · Hays campus

“The teachers were great and always there when I needed something.”

Paige P. · Salina campus

“Hays Academy is a well-rounded and friendly community… it changed my life for the better.”

Erica Schultz · Hays campus

“Hays Academy of Hair Design is a GREAT place to go to school!”

Sydney Fellhoelter · Hays campus

“As a part of the Hays Academy of Hair Design family I would recommend the school to anyone.”

Evangel Goossen · Salina campus

“The instructors challenged me, supported me, and helped shape me into the stylist I am today. The hands-on training and real client experience truly prepared me for the salon environment.”

Kayla C. · Hays campus

“I’ve learned that it’s never too late to invest in yourself, chase a passion, and start something new.”

Brenda M. · Hays campus

“One of the best schools to prepare you for the salon. Both in technical skill and personal mindset. Such a loving and welcoming staff that really make it exciting to go to school everyday!”

Cali R. · Hays campus

“I came in to school ready to kick butt. When my health hit I felt like giving up. They staff and students gave me the strength and motivation to keep on going and I finished strong with them all by my side!!”

Kenna P. · Hays campus

“Not only are you taught each service procedure in multiple ways but the teachers got your back. They don’t let you fail!”

Crystal D. · Salina campus

“I’ve enjoyed my time here and the staff is super helpful, caring, and loving. They lift you up and guide you in the right direction. Thanks to all of you, I’ve enjoyed my time here and would do it again if I had to.”

Zach D. · Salina campus

“Coming to Hays Academy my eyes were truly opened to what this industry truly is, and the way instructors should be.”

Sabrina O. · Salina campus

“This school has absolutely completely prepared me for my state tests and also prepared me for life as a stylist in a salon.”

Hannah E. · Salina campus

“My time at the school was a rollercoaster. The staff was always understanding. They were there to listen and willing to work with me. I will forever cherish my time at Hays Hair Academy.”

Katie W. · Hays campus

“I appreciate all the hard work the instructors and students put in. I would like to thank the instructors for prepping me for the salon world and the state boards. I would also like to thank them for pushing me and making sure I had everything I needed.”

Carmen C. · Salina campus

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