Rooted in Confidence
Jasper Beauty Academy has prepared students for successful careers in cosmetology since 1987.
Words by Anna Duncan Owens | Image by Ryan McGill
Since Helen and Jerrel Davis originally opened the doors in 1987, Jasper Beauty Academy has quietly become one of Walker County’s most trusted institutions for aspiring cosmetologists and anyone seeking confidence, purpose, and a fresh start.
Privately operated and still located in its original building on Northwest 1st Street in Jasper, the school has built a legacy that spans generations. Instructors Deb Hammack and Ashlee Mansell are at the center of that legacy, whose stories mirror the path many of their students are beginning.
“I came with the intention of getting my license,” Deb recalls. “Before I even graduated, I was asked to join the instructor program. That was over 30 years ago, and I never left.” Teaching became more than just a job. “This place is my ministry,” she says. “I’ve asked the Lord if it was time for me to step away, and the answer’s always been no. So here I am, still on my stool at 70.”
Known affectionately as “Nanny,” Deb got the nickname from a former student, her granddaughter. It stuck, and now everyone calls her that—a testament to the warmth and trust she brings to the classroom.
Ashlee Mansell’s path began even earlier. At just 16, she enrolled at Jasper Beauty Academy and quickly discovered a skill and a calling. She became the youngest licensed cosmetology instructor in Alabama and now co-leads the very program that shaped her. “It’s full circle,” Ashlee says. “This school gave me everything. Now I get to give back.”
The 1,500-hour program runs full-time, Tuesday through Saturday, and accepts students year-round. Requirements are straightforward: be at least 16 and have completed the 10th grade. No diploma or GED is required.
What sets Jasper Beauty Academy apart is its affordability—around $4,000 compared to $20,000 at larger schools—and its hands-on, highly supportive environment. Students begin with mannequins but quickly transition to working with real clients in a salon open to the public five days a week.
“We’re a small school,” Ashlee says. “Students get one-on-one training and real salon experience, and we teach them to think like professionals from day one.”
Students create social media pages, run promotions, bring in clients, and keep 100% of their tips. They also develop essential life skills, like cleaning and time management, that help them succeed beyond the classroom.
The Academy stays connected to the community with year-round specials: $5 haircuts for military, police, and firefighters; senior discounts on Tuesdays and Wednesdays; back-to-school cuts each August; and monthly Facebook promotions, including their annual Mother’s Day special.
With over a thousand graduates and counting, Jasper Beauty Academy remains a place where belief is planted, nurtured, and sent out into the world.
“You won’t leave here with debt,” Deb says. “But you’ll leave with confidence, skills, and a community that believes in you.”
And for hundreds of students over the past three decades, that belief has been the beginning of something truly beautiful. 78