In August, each of the four young women wrote her name across the neck of her mannequin head, some in a way that resembled a cursive neck tattoo.
Since then, each mane of 100 percent human hair has been combed, clipped, rolled and washed countless times, part of the girls’ three-year effort to become state-licensed cosmetologists through coursework at John McDonogh High School. These four are the last class, the swan song for longtime teacher Deborah Richardson.