NORMAL - In a society fascinated with looks, salon-style pampering and age-defying products, Lincoln College administrator Kelly Rosa isn't surprised the field of cosmetology is growing.

"Look around. Everything we see is geared toward staying young," she said. "And when you think about it, everyone's busy. We like to go somewhere and be pampered."

The American Association of Cosmetology Schools estimates nearly 2 million people are active in the profession.

And Lincoln College at Normal's nearly decade-old program is riding that wave, making a name for its expanding Midwest College of Cosmetology.

An Elkhart woman who is one of the students in the school's largest-ever starting class agreed. "This place was highly recommended," said 19-year-old Jamie Smith.

It's gone from nine students in 1998 to an expected 200 this year.

The college's current $400,000 campus renovation project is focused on absorbing the cosmetology school's growth.

Moving the college's student activity center to create a 3,000-square-foot cosmetology annex gives the cosmetology school a total of 10,000 square feet on the Raab Road campus, said Gigi Fansler, Lincoln at Normal's top administrator. Construction should be complete in mid-July, she said.

The cosmetology school also will use some nearby Lincoln College classrooms for theory classes, allowing its building at 755 W. Raab Road to focus more on client services.

The key to the program's success has been matching future professionals' passion for hairstyling and skin care with college-level courses in business and other areas, say administrators.

Expansion of the cosmetology school is just part of Lincoln's plan to use its Normal campus as a springboard for a new mission focusing on adult studies and professional studies, Fansler said.

"We wanted to give cosmetology students the opportunity to live on a campus and have more of a college experience, complete with student activities," said John Hutchinson, Lincoln College president.

"But we're also giving them some room in their schedule to learn small business management skills," he said.

Hutchinson credits part of the school's reputation to bringing in the latest equipment, requiring more clinical hours than many schools do and remaining independent of any particular product line.

"This isn't really a beauty school in the way people used to think of beauty schools, it's more complex," said Rosa, admissions director for the cosmetology school.

"People don't realize how much we have to learn - it's not just cutting hair," said Jen Wells, 22, of East Peoria.

To master facial massage, she studied the skeletal and muscle structure of a face, for example. And to become adept at coloring and perming hair, she had to tackle chemistry, she said.

The cosmetology school has certificates in cosmetology, esthetics, nail technology and instructor training. Students also can earn a small-business management certificate and work toward a cosmetology associate's degree. Some also have opted to earn a bachelor's degree at the Normal campus.

"These students are really ambitious. I'm surprised sometimes how many of them intend to open their own salons," said Fansler, executive vice president for Lincoln College.

One student who may go on to teach is Latoya Browder. Raised in Chicago, she stayed in Normal following time at Illinois State University, where she earned a degree to teach special education.

After a venture into the corporate world, she decided to act on her dream.

"This is my passion," said Browder, 23. "I love doing hair."

The trained educator isn't ruling out becoming a cosmetology instructor. "Who knows?" she said, working on a mannequin head during a basics course.

Cosmetology college

It is open for business as a full-service salon, at 755 W. Raab Road, Normal. All work is done by advanced students under instructor supervision. Hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Tuesday through Thursday; and 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., Friday and Saturday. For more information, call (309) 451-1373.

- Lincoln College operates the college and houses it at Lincoln's Raab Road campus in Normal.

- It was founded in 1998, with nine students.

- Enrollment is expected to top 200 this year.

- It employs 15 instructors and staff on site.

- As part of Lincoln College, the Midwest College of Cosmetology is accredited through the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.

- It's a member of the Illinois Association of Cosmetology Schools, and American Association of Cosmetology Schools

- Nearly 2 million professionals work in more than 300,000 beauty salons, skin care salons and barbershops in the United States.