Meet Jean Madeline Aveda Institute Instructor, Ms. George!

She teaches cosmetology at our University City campus. Here you'll find her advice for aspiring beauty professionals, what she loves about teaching at Jean Madeline Aveda Institute and beauty tips using her must-have Aveda products.

Introduce yourself.

Hi! My name is Jessica. I am a cosmetology educator and have been with Jean Madeline Aveda Institute for the past year. My teaching experience over the past 8 years has brought beautiful things to my journey that I never knew existed. Some of my greatest achievements are working side by side with lead global artists and being part of hair teams at Fashion Week New York & Philadelphia and Bridal Fashion Week New York. I have been inspired by visionaries around the globe and put my creativity to work as a color educator. My passion remains in education. Being an inspirational mentor for my students and peers continues to ignite my desire to always be open to learning.

What's the most rewarding part about being a JMAI instructor?

The most rewarding part about being a JMAI instructor is the honor to teach at a school with such history and prestige in the beauty industry. Everyone in Philadelphia knows the name Jean Madeline. It is certainly something to be a proud of. Aveda is a company that is close to my heart. I'm so proud to care for the world we live in with a company that takes environmental leadership seriously. I enjoy giving back through our fundraisers and events for Breast Cancer Awareness Month and Earth Month, which helps keeps life in perspective for me that we have so much to be grateful for.

What are your current favorite Aveda products?

I use Aveda's Be Curly Shampoo, Conditioner, Style Prep + Curl Enhancer, Brilliant Retexturing Gel and Dry Remedy Oil.
Here's my favorite combination for my hair. The way you layer the products is equally important to your desired result:

• Shampoo + Condition: Use Be Curly Shampoo and Conditioner with a cool rinse.
• Towel dry with a soft cotton towel or t-shirt, so your cuticle remains sealed to minimize frizz during styling.
• Prep: Add a small amount of Be Curly Style Prep to your hair as your finger detangles to minimize breakage and hair webbing at the root area.
• Styling: Evenly apply a generous amount of Be Curly Enhancer to the hair from roots to ends in small sections. Use your hand to scrunch Brilliant Retexurizing Gel into the ends of the hair.
• Air dry until about 90% dry for maximum curl definition, then diffuse for a voluminous curly style.
• Apply about 6 drops of Dry Remedy Oil to the hair concentrating on the ends for penetrating moisture to keep your curls healthy and shiny for longer lasting curls!

Three fun facts about yourself

1. I love anything chocolate
2. I appreciate the nostalgia from beach and summer vacations
3. I enjoy jazz, soul & funk music

Share some advice for aspiring beauty professionals.

KEEP PUSHING. Never dwell in a complacent place. Whenever you feel like you've mastered something, try a new way. Always challenge yourself. If your dream doesn't scare you it's not big enough. You may be challenged on a haircut or maybe even finger waves, but how you deal with those challenges will translate to how you deal with your first business idea or launching your brand. Never give up and always remember to never lose sight in the beauty of your journey while you are pushing towards your destination.

Have any memorable teaching experiences?

The most rewarding teaching experiences for me happen to extend well past the classroom. What makes me most proud is that every moment of every day is sewing a seed into a student who will one day come back or send me an email so excited to start their own business or have accomplished a huge dream of their working on set of film or theater. These accomplishments drive me. The moments I reflect on how cultivating a student's technical ability to match their drive and passion they have for the industry is so electrifying to see fulfilled.