By Shelisa Melendez

No longer is Paul Mitchell simply a bottle of shampoo or conditioner sitting in students’ showers, but a world of glamour and opportunity in now in students’ backyard.

On Tuesday, Paul Mitchell The School- Lexington will be hosting its Grand Opening Extravaganza.

After months of anticipation, Paul Mitchell The School will open its doors to the public, free of charge, with guest speakers John Paul DeJoria, CEO of John Paul Mitchell Systems, and Winn Claybaugh, dean and co-founder of Paul Mitchell Schools.

With hundreds of locations spread throughout the country in major cities such as Atlanta, Nashville, Tenn., and San Diego, Paul Mitchell has chosen Lexington as its next location to call home.

The School-Lexington offers many opportunities beyond the field of cosmetology. Students at the Lexington campus can explore their studies as a skin therapist, cosmetologist and professional nail artist.

Residents of Lexington will be able to receive salon-style treatment by highly trained students for a reduced cost, while students gain premium skills by Paul Mitchell instructors.

Since 1980, the goal of John Paul Mitchell Systems was “to found a company for hairdressers — one that would provide tools of success for hair care professionals and educators, their salons and the entire beauty industry,” according to its Web site.

The two friends that created this vision, John Paul DeJoria and Paul Mitchell, set out with only $700 to the company’s name, a post office box and answering machine. The famous black and white Paul Mitchell brand logo is only in black and white because color ink was too expensive to afford, according to its Web site.

John Paul Mitchell Systems now brings in almost $900 million annually from its retail sales.

The company not only earns large amounts of annual revenues, but is a large contributor to charities as well. John Paul Mitchell Systems has donated to charities like the Children’s Miracle Network, Food 4 Africa, Leeza Gibbons Memory Foundation and The Andrew Gomez Dream Foundation, according to its Web site.

Paul Mitchell The School-Lexington is currently enrolling, with the next class beginning May 4.

For more information about the Grand Opening Extravaganza and Paul Mitchell The School-Lexington, call (859) 223-3644.

The grand opening will be Tuesday at 7 p.m. at 3644 Boston Road.