The Birthday Party Every Little Girl Needs Right Here in NOLA

It rolls around every year, your little girl’s birthday! You might’ve already done the bounce house party; you’ve done the indoor playgrounds; you’re racking your brain to create a fun experience for her and some friends. Well, search no more, because I have found the perfect little girls’ birthday party idea, ever!

Host a Glamour Party at John Jay Beauty College!

If your little girl is anything at all like mine, she jumps at the chance to put on makeup, paint her nails, or style her hair. My daughter watches me get dolled up often whether it’s for work or a social event; and, she is constantly asking if she can partake. When her 6th birthday was approaching, I knew we would need to throw a party that included her girlfriends from school as that was her biggest request – “No boys allowed!” It was easy to consider her interests – all things glam and girly – but, my question was: “How can I host a glamour party with very minimal effort on my end?” John Jay Beauty College provided just that.

Curled, Straightened, & Braided, Oh My!

John Jay Beauty College in Kenner offers little girls the experience of their little lives – to finally walk in Mommy’s shoes. Set in a private room with mirrors lined all around, the girls got to sit in a chair with their own personal hairstylist. Each young party guest chose a fun hairstyle whether it was curled, straightened, or braided, and the Beauty students got to work right away. I did not need to provide any hair products, and obviously, we weren’t letting the girls cut or color their hair. John Jay had everything for the girls. Most chose some fun curls, others were shy and the hair stylists worked their own creative magic. But, once they all got started and the girls watched in the mirrors, the smiles never left their faces.

“G-L-A-M-O-R-O-U-S”

While some were getting their hair done, others were able to get started with makeup. Given a plethora of colorful palettes to choose from, the tiny customers picked out blush and eye shadow. Some even got as fancy as adding glitter and lipstick. Now, I did bring in my own lipstick for girls who wanted some, but the blush and eye shadow palettes were all provided by the school. I did have the option to use specific makeup I brought from home, which the birthday girl did use as that was part of her gift from us – a fun makeup kit. This part of the glam party cracked me up, though, as some of the little girls were bold in their color choices and even begged to apply it themselves. The Beauty school makeup artists had fun coaching the girls with a how-to lesson in makeup application. I’m not sure the lessons stuck, and I can only hope some of these 6yr-olds learn a thing or two by their 16th birthday, but it was absolutely hysterical to watch.

A third and final stop in the glamour room was a nail polish station. An aesthetician student was set up with a rainbow display of OPI nail polish. The girls had the option of getting their nails done, an easy stop as they transitioned between hair and makeup. Most chose multiple colors to don and were so proud to show off.

Cost-Effective and Easy

For just $12.99 per child, John Jay provided everything I needed and more. Most girls got their hair, makeup, and nails done. There were plenty of students available to assist and make this day so fun for my daughter and her friends. The manager even walked around and visited with us often checking on everything and assisting anyone who needed it. I appreciated being able to just watch and take pictures the entire time. I didn’t have to set anything up or bring much with me that I didn’t personally want there. The one thing I did plan on my own was something the girls could do once they were dolled up. Though many did enjoy walking around and watching their friends continue to go through the glamming process, I knew they would need to fill a little bit of time between makeovers and birthday cake. I decorated a large photo booth frame that I purchased from Michael’s and had each girl stand with it as I took a polaroid photo – a glamour shot, if you will.

Once the photo dried off, I placed it on a table with cute frames and stickers so that each girl could decorate this fun memory. This took place in a large space that was connected to the glamour room. This is where I also put the cake, gifts, and some juice boxes. The room could be decorated with some balloons or banners if you wish but isn’t necessary. In addition to the photo frame, I also brought a small bluetooth speaker to play fun music in the glamour room while the hair and makeup took place. Some of the girls enjoyed dancing around while we waited for cake.

Girls just want to have fun!

The entire party took an hour and a half. My daughter as well as her friends did not stop smiling and giggling the entire time! The after shots and fun group photos were proof of that. They felt so grown up and had so much fun watching each other pretend to be big girls for the day. The stylists in training at John Jay Beauty College all smiled and laughed as the little girls just fell in love with the magical glamour transformation that took place. I could not have asked for a better experience for my girly girl on her 6th birthday! If you’re finding yourself out of ideas or wanting a unique birthday experience, I highly recommend this hidden gem right in NOLA’s backyard! It’s fun, easy, inexpensive, and was a dream come true for the birthday girl. Thank you, John Jay, for the best day ever!

For any birthday party inquiries, you can email customer service, which is what I originally did, through their website here or call Janet at the Beauty College at 504-467-2915.

Jennifer Gonzales
Wife to my high school sweetheart, Ross, and mother to 5 children: Trip, Conner, McKenzie, Piper, and Sutton, I am a born and raised Southern Louisiana Lady. I am a graduate of Mt. Carmel Academy, received my Bachelor’s in English with a concentration in Secondary Ed. from LSU followed by my Master’s of Education from UNO, and for the past 15 years, I have been outwitting high school boys as an English teacher at Holy Cross School. When I’m not grading papers, driving to baseball practices, or making grocery runs, I can be found cheering on my LSU Tigers, cutting up with my girlfriends, and attempting DIY projects around the home. I’m all about sippin’ some wine during the sunset while the kiddos play in the yard and the hubby works the grill. I’m living my best mommy life these days and am always happy to share the journey with others!

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