Linda McCarren

Butler Beauty Academy on Main Street is owned by Linda L. McCarren.

Her husband, Mike McCarren, was a third generation family business owner of McCarren Clothing Store, which was on Main Street in downtown Butler for 77 years. Linda McCarren was part owner of the store until she decided to work at Butler Beauty School.

In 2010, she purchased the New Castle, Butler and Kittanning beauty schools as well as Cafe Main on Main Street in Butler.

In 2013, the McCarrens purchased the former Trattoria at 245 S. Main St. in Butler.

They are renovating the building to expand the Butler school to include a modern clinic salon, nail, pedicure and facial rooms.

“The practical classroom where my students work with mannequins with real human hair will be brought down to a street level. The second level will consist of various classrooms, a lounge and a forum area for the students as well as the administrative offices,” McCarren said.

“I am very excited for expansion for the town to finally see what my academy is all about.

“My motto on my website, BeautyAcademies.net, ‘We Change Lives!,’ is the way I look at how we build careers and create jobs for the communities,” she continued.

McCarren had a goal in mind when she purchased the schools and has since changed the names from school to academy, as well as modernized the facilities.

Having had a business on Main Street for decades, McCarren fell in love with the small town environment and has kept all three schools in a central business district.

The academies are known as progressive educational institutions that prepare students to initiate and advance their careers in the beauty field.

Students are required to meet professional criteria and to develop their skills, tact and performance by offering beauty-related services to the public. The academy provides a student salon, which is open to the public and offers a full line of services at affordable prices. The academies also offer birthday, bridal and prom specials.

The hair designing program is structured to enable students to complete their studies in as few as 10 months. Nail artistry, educator/teaching and aesthetician programs are also available.

The aesthetician program allows students to learn more intense facial procedures including massage, masques, waxing and corrective skin care. Also included is the study of different techniques of makeup application including corrective makeup.

“This is the type of alternative education that women and men are looking for to succeed,” McCarren said. “I believe that when our students succeed, our profession succeeds.”

The academies are nationally accredited and financial aid is available.

Students must be high school graduates or have earned a GED. Some students have college degrees, but have decided to change careers. The students are age 18 and older and one 89-year-old woman actually returned to the school to earn her teacher’s license.

This article was submitted by the Butler Beauty Academy.