Civello salons have long been a fixture of Chicago's high-end hair scene (yes, that's a thing), but their latest expansion project makes them a bit more accessible. Their new Young Talent Salon, which opened January 13, provides a training program for intermediate stylists, as well as a way for clients to achieve the Civello experience for half the price.

“At the Young Talent Salon, guests can expect the signature high-touch Civello service,” says Ray Civello, founder. “The main differences in the experience is that a student will be providing the service, which is overseen by our educators—and of course, the entry level pricing.” A professional blowout is a mere $20, haircuts are $25, and color services start at $40.

All stylists at the Young Talent Salon are licensed graduates of cosmetology schools, and there is a “rigorous application process, a formal interview, and a technical assessment interview” necessary before hiring, according to Civello. Accepted stylists will work on the floor for 40 hours a week until the salon determines that their skill sets have been “perfected.” Once they're ready, the stylists will be placed at one of Chicago's three Civello salons.

An integral part of the young talent's training lies in the art of “vision crafting,” Civello's signature, hard-to-define service. “Students work under internationally renowned educators to master the art of understanding their guest's personality and style,” he says. “Young Talent Salon students are taught to take into account all facets of a client's life—facial features, body language, lifestyle, and personality.”

The best news for clients hungry for that $20 blowout is that the Young Talent Salon is located at one of Civello's existing salons—downstairs at the 621-623 N. State Street location—so Civello's experienced stylists will always be on hand to oversee the whole thing. Sure, everyone's heard horror stories of the discounted services available at cosmetology schools—the facialist who scrubs off too many layers of skin, the manicurist who hacks away at your cuticles without a care in the world—but with students working in a highly controlled, elegant environment, discounted services suddenly feel like something of a luxury.

The Young Talent Salon is open Tuesday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Wednesday through Friday from 1 to 9 p.m.