Education Program

Be part of how we develop our craft.

Model call is our way of bringing the next generation of Robert of Philadelphia stylists to chair-side education — under the direct supervision of senior, master, and master-director stylists. The work is full-quality. The trade is your time.

Home · Model Call

What Is a Model Call?

A model call pairs a hair model with one of our associate or emerging stylists for a structured education session. The associate stylist performs the technical work; a senior, master, or master-director stylist runs the session, teaches at the chair, and reviews every step.

Models receive a substantially reduced or complimentary service. In exchange, we use the visit as a teaching session and add the before/after photography to our salon portfolio. It's how every stylist on our floor — including our most tenured — originally trained.

Education Philosophy

Tenure is built one chair at a time.

Robert of Philadelphia has trained stylists since 1980. Our level system — Silver through Master Director — exists because tenure and depth of craft genuinely differ, and we believe guests deserve to know which stylist is operating at which level.

Model call is the bridge. It's how associate and emerging stylists move through the curriculum into the levels above them — not by clocking hours, but by working under supervision on real hair, with real critique, in real time.

Meet our stylists
Safety & Oversight

Senior stylist in the chair the entire time.

The senior stylist running the session does not leave the chair. Every decision — formula, placement, technique — is checked before it's executed.

We do not start a service we are not confident we can complete to our standard. If a service requires more time than scheduled, we extend it. Quality is the threshold; the schedule yields to it, not the other way around.

What Services Qualify

Foundational work, taught under supervision.

Most of the foundational salon vocabulary qualifies. Highly specialized or high-stakes work is reserved for paid appointments with the appropriate specialist.

Qualifying services

  • Foundational haircuts
  • Classic single-process color
  • Foil + balayage highlights
  • Blowouts and styles
  • Smoothing services
  • Conditioning and gloss treatments

Not part of model call

  • Color correction (complex, multi-session work)
  • Extension installation
  • Bridal trials and event styling

Why these are excluded. They require single-stylist accountability, multi-session planning, or event-day timing that isn't compatible with the educational pace.

What to Expect

Plain expectations, set up front.

Time

Plan for a longer chair time.

Sessions run roughly 50% longer than a typical version of the same service to give the senior stylist room to teach. We don't compress quality to stay on schedule.

Direction

Match the curriculum, not the menu.

Model call work follows the lesson being taught that day. We match guests to sessions where there's true alignment between your hair and what's being demonstrated.

Imagery

Before/after is part of the exchange.

We photograph the work for our portfolio, social channels, and continuing education. Identifiable images are only used with explicit written consent — face-optional is always available.

Cadence

Sessions are scheduled in cohorts.

We don't run model calls daily. Sessions are scheduled weekly to monthly depending on the curriculum, so applications are matched to the next aligned session.

How Applications Work

Three steps, one decision.

  1. 1

    Submit your application

    A few questions about your hair and goals, plus a recent photo. Honest is faster — we are looking for fit, not perfection.

  2. 2

    Education lead reviews weekly

    Our education lead matches applications to upcoming sessions. If your hair and goals align with what's being taught, we'll reach out with a proposed window.

  3. 3

    Confirm and arrive

    We confirm the session, the senior stylist running it, and the timing. Plan to be with us roughly 50% longer than a typical visit of the same service.

FAQ

Good to know.

Is this a free or discounted service?

Model call services are offered at a substantially reduced rate or, in some cases, complimentary in exchange for participation in a structured education session and the right to use before/after photography in our salon portfolio. The work itself is a full-quality service — the trade is your time and your willingness to be a model.

Who actually does the service?

An associate or emerging stylist performs the technical work under the direct supervision of a senior, master, or master-director stylist. The senior stylist remains in the chair-side educational role for the entire visit and reviews every step.

What if something goes wrong during the appointment?

Senior oversight means every decision is checked before it's executed. We do not start a service we are not confident we can complete to our standard. If a service requires more time than scheduled, we extend it — we never rush past a quality threshold to stay on time.

Which services qualify?

Most foundational work qualifies — cuts, classic color, foil and balayage highlights, blowouts, smoothing services, and select treatments. Highly specialized services like extensions or correction color are typically not part of model call sessions.

Can I choose my own service?

Model calls match guests to the curriculum being taught that session, not the other way around. We'll review your hair, your goals, and the session topic — if there's alignment, we move forward. If not, we'll suggest a regular appointment with the right specialist.

How long do appointments run?

Plan on roughly 50% longer than a typical version of the same service to allow for the educational pace. We schedule generously so the senior stylist has time to teach, demonstrate, and review.

Will you photograph my hair?

Yes — that's part of the model call exchange. We capture before/after photography for our salon portfolio, social channels, and continuing education. Faces are optional; we only photograph identifiable images with explicit written consent.

How do I apply?

Submit the application form below with a recent photo and a few details about your hair. Our education lead reviews applications weekly and reaches out when there's a session that fits.

Apply

Apply to be a model.

Submit the form and our education lead will reach out when there's a session that fits. We review applications weekly.

Please email a recent photo of your hair to education@ropsalons.com after you submit. We can't review applications without one.