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LLI GOLINE/NORMAN WELLS - Six women in Norman Wells are learning the basics of hairstyling through an evening course offered by Aurora College.

The course is being taught by Irene Theriault, who works at Town Square Hair in Norman Wells. She said the evening course will be a test run for a longer course she is hoping to offer throughout the Sahtu. Her 16-week course will give future hair stylists a firm grounding in the art. Students taking the evening course rely on friends and family members offering up their heads for practice. Students enrolled in the 16-week course will use mannequins to learn advanced techniques.

Aurora College community program co-ordinator Dudley Johnson said he hopes to offer the small business course after the hairdressing course so people in the five Sahtu communities will be able to open their own hairdressing businesses out of their homes.

Student Lori Lennie said she signed up for the course to brush up on her skills. She doesn't see herself cutting hair for a living but would do it on the side for family and friends.

Students in the course are responsible for finding their own "models" to practice on. Most rely on family members.

"It's difficult to get models at first," said Theriault.

However, don't expect to get a free haircut from these six students. They already have their models lined up.

At 14, Kathleen T'seleie is the youngest student in the class. Theriault said that T'seleie is a natural at haircutting who has genuine talent.

T'seleie said she isn't sure what it is about cutting hair she enjoys, but she has always been drawn to it.

Although she had done some styling on her friend's hair, her first guinea pig in the class was classmate Myles Erb. He had no worries about T'seleie slipping up and her faith was justified.

"It turned out better than I expected," she said.