Never has homework been so much fun.

Last September Vatterott College opened its doors to a new esthetic program and an eager flock of locals looking for inexpensive ways to pamper themselves.

Esthetics involves receiving sense impressions and deals primarily with skin care, waxing body treatments and makeup application. The services Vatterott offers include specialty masks, chemical peels, aroma salt glows, seaweed body wraps, facial waxing and eyebrow and eyelash tinting. The most popular service is the facial, offered in 30, 60 and 90- minute increments.

Melissa Parker, esthetic instructor at Vatterott, became interested in esthetics while staying home to raise her children.

“I wanted to be a teacher and I got interested in esthetics,” Parker said. “I enrolled at Class Act and fell in love.”

All of the treatments are performed by Vatterott students and, as an incentive to potential esthetic guinea pigs, all of the service prices are less than in a professional spa. The prices range from $4 for facial waxing to $20 for a 90-minute facial and specialty mask or chemical peel. A 30-minute facial is offered for $10.

The esthetic services offer more than just relaxation value.

Receiving certain treatments regularly can provide real physical health benefits.

“It’s more than just beauty, it’s really about taking care of your skin,” said Krisy Whitely, Vatterott esthetic student from Joplin. “A facial once a week can really make a difference and result in healthier skin.”

Meegan Brown, senior English major, has used Vatterott’s esthetic services from the program’s start and thinks it is a viable weekly option because of the reduced cost.

“It’s an inexpensive way to pamper yourself on a student’s budget,” Brown said. “It’s fabulous, go spoil yourself.”

Ten students ranging in age from 22 to 49-year-olds are currently enrolled in Vatterott’s program that attracts 10 to 12 clients a week.

“Some people have standing appointments for every Tuesday night,” Parker said.

The students are required by law to have 60 hours of practice to work on paying customers, but Parker requires at least 100 hours of practice from her students to work on the clinic floor. Often the students log these hours by practicing on each other.

Parker said the students enjoy the clinical hours as much as the clients receiving the treatments.

“They [the students] think it’s kind of a therapy time,” Parker said. “Esthetics is really about healing other people and yourself. They [the students] need to know what it feels like to be pampered, to pamper.”

The program uses the same high-quality products as some of the other area spas and has access to the newest technology in the field. Three-and-a-half weeks ago Vatterott acquired a Rejuvalight light therapy machine that uses light energy to stimulate the skin’s elastin to reduce wrinkles and cellulite.

“As far as I know it is the only machine of its kind in the area,” Parker said. “NASA uses the same technology to promote healing in cuts for astronauts.”

Parker reinforces that clients won’t get all of the perks of a professional spa, but will receive excellent treatment and will leave pampered.

“If you’re on a budget, you still deserve to be pampered,” she said.