The Department of Youth and Women’s Affairs (DYWA) is launching yet another program for local females. This time, the training is in the area of hairstyling — teaching local women how to tame their mane, keep it looking hot and fresh, and maintaining a hairdo that suits their personality and facial features.

From floral arrangements and Women on Wheels (WOW), to elei making, sewing, financial management, and cooking classes, DYWA continues to come up with new ideas on how to keep local women busy by offering training programs aimed at promoting fellowship amongst females from all different walks of life, enhancing their skills, and giving them something they can use to benefit their families and help boost their self esteem.

The hairstyling course is set to begin Monday, Oct. 28 at 9a.m. and is tentatively scheduled to run for six weeks, with two sessions per week.

This, according to DYWA Acting Director Pa’u Roy Ausage, is based on a class of ten people. If the number of participants goes past ten, then the women will be placed in groups that will attend one class per week for 12 weeks.

Registration is now open and free of charge. All interested women can register at the DYWA office on the second floor of the A.P. Lutali Executive Office Building, which is also the venue for the training.

The classes will be conducted by renowned local musician Jonitta Fruean who Pa’u said offered to teach the class as she has a background in hairstyling.

Pa’u made it clear that the training is for hairstyling only, and not hairdressing. He said this class is something he has wanted to offer for so long but he was never able to get a suitable curriculum and in addition, he couldn’t find anyone to teach the class.

Pa’u said he obtained a copy of the hairdressing curriculum from the Australia Poly-Technical College but “it is such a comprehensive course” that culminates with a diploma in hairdressing.

He said he opted not to go that route, because he does not want to train hairdressers who will end up taking business away from other local salon owners— all of whom are women.

He said the hairstyling training program is geared specifically towards women from low income families who cannot afford to go to the salon.

“The idea behind this is for women to have skills to make themselves look good,” Pa’u said, adding that this class is a perfect program for Domestic Violence Month. “Based on surveys taken, one of the reasons why there are cases of domestic violence is because some women decide to neglect themselves.”

Pa’u said some women, once they have kids and their families grow, “let themselves go” and end up not taking time out to make themselves look good.

“When that happens, the husband ends up getting the wandering eye and starts looking at other women,” Pa’u added.

He said the trend of programs being offered by DYWA should be obvious. They are all classes that teach women how to be better wives, mothers, caretakers, homemakers, and financial managers.

Now they can do all that and look good at the same time.

The course will teach the participants basic shampooing, rinsing, and conditioning techniques; offer advice on scalp and hair treatment; hairstyling; and provide principles of hair design - wet hair styling, roller sets, pin curls, blow drying, styling, iron curling, and hair pressing.

“Our local females are expanding their horizons,” Pa’u said, adding that a high number of women are showing interest in the apprenticeship courses (welding, mechanics) currently being held at ASCC.

In response, Pa’u said they will open up the apprenticeship courses for women beginning in January 2014. The current head count for the apprenticeship course is 50 (four of them are women).

More information on DYWA programs can be obtained by calling 633-2835.