1400 hours, 1 year Full-time Program

LEVEL 1: FUNDAMENTALS

Students begin with a complete immersion in the practical and hands-on aspects of cutting hair. You will develop a solid foundation of skills and knowledge to build upon throughout the program. Cutting, shampooing, draping, wet setting and thermal styling go hand in hand with client relation skills and the science behind the style: trichology, anatomy, bacteriology and sanitation. Through hands-on practice, in-class demonstrations and mannequin work, you’ll gain a “toolkit” of style elements that will allow you to replicate any cut. You’ll also develop the confidence to make the move from the classroom to Q&A, our student salon, where you’ll perform your new skills on real clients in real time.

LEVEL 2: COLOUR THEORY

Learn to harness the vast potential of hue in this hands-on study of colour theory and practical application of colour. Working from virgin and single applications through to double processing, you will learn the colour formulations, placements and creative possibilities of highlights and lowlights. Master the intricacies of bleach and tone, tackle colour corrections, and learn the importance of client consultation in working with this creative chemical medium.

LEVEL 3: CHEMICAL TREATMENTS

Channel your inner scientist in this extensive study of the chemical processes of hair. From perming and thermal straightening to hair reforming and chemical blowouts, you’ll learn to safely formulate chemical reactions for texturing and relaxing your clients’ locks. Develop proper consultation and analysis techniques to determine chemical hair structures, gain professional product knowledge, and learn how to appropriately work with all hair types.

LEVEL 4: EXTENSIONS

Big volume is big business. Add value to your freelance repertoire by learning the theory and practical application of natural and synthetic hair extensions. Learn to cornrow hair for single and full-head braids, apply hair and attach wefts to a single-track row, double track row and full head weave placement. Delving deeper into the art of extensions, we’ll examine different styles of individual strand applications, including fusions, clip-ins, tape-ins and Euro Locks. Our expert instructors will guide you through wig building and custom fitting, and coach you in the importance of client consultation.

LEVEL 5: NATURAL, TEXTURED HAIR

Understand the art and science of working with Afro-textured hair. Identify the essential hair types of textured hair and execute the proper techniques and treatment of shampoo and conditioner specifically for textured hair. Learn the skills of textured hair cutting, textured hair sculpting and working with textured hair chemicals. Study the porosity and density of the hair, curl assessment and curl enhancement.

Practice core cutting for wet or dry hair and styling techniques including finger twists and finger coils, creating dreadlocks and dreads on permed hair, rod setting, hot comb use and double silk press.

This module also includes working with Wigs and Hairpieces. You will be able to provide a variety of wig services to your client, from fitting wigs, shaping and cutting Wigs and Hairpieces. There will also be hands on training relating to Textured Hair relaxing and straightening treatments.

LEVEL 6: HAIR FOR TV & FILM

From the artful disarray of Edward Scissorhands to the double buns of Princess Leia, hair professionals have been making on-screen icons for decades. In this course we will guide you through every aspect of Hair for Television and Film. Starting with set etiquette, you’ll learn how to work with a creative team and navigate the complex world of film unions. We’ll coach you in the trinity of critical production skills: script breakdown, character development and maintaining continuity. Putting theory into practice, you’ll conceive and create a winning on-screen look, which will be captured in a professional photoshoot.

LEVEL 7: PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Here’s where your creativity takes flight. Together we’ll examine the latest hair trends and techniques for runway and fashion editorial, break down on-set etiquette and show you how to coordinate hair with the artistic vision of a creative team – makeup artists, fashion stylists and photographers. Your portfolio will take shape as you develop styles for avant-garde, editorial, bridal, elegant evening, long hair and fantasy looks for a series of professional photo shoots.

LEVEL 8: DESIGN FORUM

Time to show us, and yourself, everything you’ve learned so far. You’ll design blueprint formulations and structures of signature cut and colours, before turning them into reality on live models for a professional photoshoot. Learn how to work with a photographer and understand the basics of lighting. ‘Before’ and ‘After’ photos will be a perfect addition to your growing professional portfolio.

LEVEL 9: ART & TECHNOLOGY

In today’s digital world it is essential to be able to market yourself online. Blanche Macdonald is the first college in Canada to integrate Art & Technology into an advanced and progressive Hair curriculum. Within our state-of-the-art Mac computer lab you will learn the fundamentals of design applications and create a personal Digital Portfolio. Develop image editing skills and advance into digital production to create a personal business card and build your own professional website.

LEVEL 10: SALON PREP & BUSINESS

Develop the skills and confidence you’ll need in your role as an emerging Hair Professional. We’ll teach you how to compose a great resumé, search for a job, perform a winning interview and network like a pro. Learn about accessing government resources, essential accounting and budgeting practices, retail and merchandising strategies, inventory control, salon operations and marketing essentials. We’ll take you to some of the very best salons in Vancouver to network and examine different professional environments. By the end of the course, you’ll be prepared to build a successful hair business from the ground up.

A selection of Blanche Macdonald Hair graduates and their career placements.

Adam Lee Suki’s
Adriana Vero Emma & Co
Alex Duford Mario Pro Hair Design
AlexaRae Hamilton Atomic
Alex Kraubner Elianes 
Alicia Emperingham Fuzion Tek
Alissa Shalagan Avant Garde
Alissia West Abantu
Alyssa Meek Joie de Vivre
Alyssa Swenson Locks & Lashes Hair & Aesthetics Salon
Amanda McIlmoyl Salon M2
Ana Luisa Valdes Toni & Guy
Andrea Turley Mint Hair Lounge 
Anella Cusano Spa Utopia
Angela Livotte Synergy
Angelica Frangolias Firefly
Angeline Greening MegaHair
Angeline Prasad Toni & Guy
Annalisa Sidonio Aveda 
Annette Rae Image One
Asal Shahin Sets Salon and Spa 
Ashley Budden Whip
Ashley Hathaway Great Clips
Ashley Rowan Karma Hair Lounge
Atefeh Baradaran Bambu
Beth Butchko Holts Salon and Spa
Bonnie Sexsmith-Buker Image 1
Bob Gaba Sonu
Brandi Nevin Hair F/X
Brian Linn Toni & Guy
Britney Hocker Core Salon and Spa 
Brittany Kilburn Urban Hair
Brittany Tims Ask
Caitlin Sylvestri Style Lab
Candice McLean Absolute
Candice Tisseur Eterna Salon and Day Spa
Carmen Elebracht Creations Guy 
Cayla O’Brien Angles
Carolyn Velasco Toni & Guy
Cindy Duerst Zone 4 Hair Salon
Chantelle Hodgson Knock-Outs
Charlotte Gee Rush Salon
Chelsea Bond, Pizazz Salon, Stylist, BC
Chelsea Kapiniak Cutting Café
Chelsey Cardinal Temptations
Cheryl Philpott Strands
Christina Mutch Maude
Christy Mullin Canvas Salon
Coco Manzano Holt Renfrew Salon 
Cora Miller Rock it Out Salon, Stylist, Edmonton AB
Courtney Grunberg Citrus Hair Salon
Crystal Morgan MoHair
Cynthia Griffiths, Mou Jam, Stylist, Surrey BC
Cynthia Prost Holts 
Cynthia Werbik Alchemy Hair Design and Spa
Dani Mitchell Stratosphere
Danielle Dalshaug Munro’s 
Danielle Isaac Chop Shop
Danielle Oushal Canvas Salon
Donald MacPherson Aveda
Destiny Friesen, Accent on Hair, Port Coquitlam BC
Elizabeth Ferrier, Simplistic Hair Studio, Owner/Stylist, Yellowknife NT
Elizabeth Moul The Ridge
Emilie E Klaussen Toni & Guy
Emily Hope On the Fringe Hair Design
Emily Vu On the Fringe Hair Design
Emma Klasson Marcedus Hair Studio
Emma Lane, Michaud’s Salon & Spa, Stylist, Surrey BC
Enola Medina Mega Hair
Eva Chao Le Spot
Freddy Sim Moods
Gabriela Rojas Sets Salon and Spa
Heather Hall Colour Room
Heather Williams Glass Hair Studio
Hsu-Feng Tsung Mega Hair
James Hou Laelle
Jamie Allison Steiner Transocean
Janine Tellier Redemption Salon
Jason Hatheway, JD’s Barbershop, Stylist, Vancouver BC
Jee-Hyun Woo Aveda
Jeff Sudnicki Rain
Jennifer Ault Genta Bella
Jennifer Louangxay Whip
Jennifer Reid Bryley
Jenny Bell Cappelli Studio
Jessica Basso Glass Hair Studio
Jessica Lee Palmer Pretty Boutique and Salon
Jessica Krumin Firefly
Jessica Packman ARQ Hair Workshop
Jodi Gould Bryley 
John Phung Opus Salon
Jordana Patterson Modas Operandi
Jordon Turner Moods 
Josephine Bannavong Markus J Hair
Julie Ius Stratosphere
Kala Maines Embellished
Kaleesha Glazer Euphoria
Karine Dignard Toni & Guy
Katherine Macdonald The Lounge
Kathleen Sanderson Juice
Katie Maher Vivaci
Katie Paton Acacia
Katrina Danabassis Aura Salon
Katrina Spoor Blunt Salon
Katrina Suderman Europia 
Kelsey Van Bodegom Michauds
Kim Belhumeur, Ultimate Hair Design, Delta BC
Kira Conrad Working in TV & Film 
Kiran Pabla My Style Design
Kristin McKeown Opus
Kristina Bellagente Pacific Hair Replacement
Kristy Werbenuk Vault Salon and Spa
Krystle Blando Style Lab 
Kylee Skoczylas Salon Cordeiro
Kym Werk On the Fringe Hair Design
Kyra Wise On the Fringe Hair Design
Lawrence Hon L’Oreal Lux
Leanna SmithersSalon Owner of Ingle’s
Lina Komiya Splash Studios
Linda Le Canvas Hair & Nail Salon
Lisa Riddell Mirage
Lisa Watson Julien Grenier
Liz Pederson Is
Lourdes Acosta Is 
Meagan Hardie Rain Salon
Megan Irish Crimpers
Megan Parks i.d. Salon
Maggie Andrews Verve Hair
Mahala Boychuk Elysian
Marley Holowach, Beaute Studio, Stylist, Vancouver BC
Matt McNamee Zennkai
Meghan Genereaux Paris Styling Group
Melodie Fallah Space Salon
Michael Van Der Est Firefly
Nadine Maier Chatters
Natasha Eland Zazou
Natasha Melendy Trinity
Natasha Smith Style Lab
Natasha Quewezance Zinc
Nicole Findlay Atomic
Nicole Kerr Pretty Boutique and Salon
Pamela Jacek Kaboom
Patricia Manzano Lure
Rachelle Yates Bent
Rasna Dhami Hairspray
Reay Fen Ho Chu Pure Glow
Reeva Calanza Eva Lasting Hair Design
Robin Helenius ARQ Hair Workshop
Ross Neasloss Jr. Juju Beauty Vancouver Hair Salon 
Sabrina Schoch Headspace Salon
Sade Kehler Style Lab Salon
Samantha Baxter Poppy’s Salon
Saleemah Hassam Opus Salon
Sanya Karmali Eveline Charles
Sara MacDonald Pure Form
Sarah Hennig Hair Benders
Sarah Krook Chatters
Sarah Taylor Barbarella
Sasha Urbanowski Propaganda
Shelby Sheppard Kast
Shelly Overend L’Atelier
Sophie McMullin East Vanity 
Stephanie Abric Rockin Locks
Stephanie Barber Aveda
Sonya-Jean Bruneau Chop Shop
Sue Ho Aveda
Tabitha Brunner Propaganda
Tanya Holm Sets Salon and Spa 
Tara Griffiths Capelli Hair Design
Taryn Day Hennessey
Tonya Heppell Hair Club for Men
Tran Do, Avant Garde Hair Studio, Stylist, Vancouver BC
Tyana Nichole, C-zô Hair Salon, Talent Leader, Vancouver BC
Veronica Chau Hennessey
Zachary Yang Hennessey

Note: Some of these Hairstyling graduates may have changed positions in the interim.

With billions of dollars being pumped into the hair industry every year, highly trained hair professionals are in constant demand across a vast spectrum of opportunities and experiences. Career possibilities are endless. Companies range from multinational conglomerates to independent local startups. Products can have the most advanced chemical components or be distilled down to the purest natural botanicals. Styles and trends can be customized to every consumer type and need, from the functional to the fantastic.

Our outstanding Career Services Team is connected to all areas of the hair industry, from luxury retail brands and high end salons to TV and Film departments and leading talent agencies. They will work tirelessly to connect you with employment, internship and volunteer opportunities that complement your unique skills, talents and professional goals – even after you graduate.

Our instructors are more than teachers. They will become your mentors, generously entrusting their wisdom and sharing their experience to help you in advancing your career. Often they become professional advocates who can open doors to exciting opportunities and introduce you to important contacts in the field.

Our Work Experience program, built right into the curriculum, connects you with our vast network of local salons, giving you a head start in a professional salon while you’re still in school. We’ve had countless graduates snapped up into their first position as a direct result of these internships.

As the pro hair universe propels endlessly forward, now is the time to discover how you fit in. Whether you dream of being a creative colour coiffeur, a stylist for fashion runway, a product educator or a salon owner, there’s a place for you in this ever-growing industry. Our Career Services Team will help you develop your network, boost your confidence, and prepare you to catapult into your career. We can’t wait to see the heights you’ll reach.

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES

Open your very own signature space as a Salon Owner, igniting your passion for hair with an entrepreneurial spark.

Whether it’s a boutique barbershop, a global chain or a high end luxury enterprise, lead a team hair professionals as a Salon Manager or Salon Coordinator.

Mix hues to create rainbows of possibility to realize your clients’ chroma dreams as a Colourist.

Make hair your life and freelance your lifestyle: be your own boss, work exciting events and hop from one career possibility to another as a Freelance Hair Professional.

Create onscreen hair magic and join a dynamic, exciting industry as a TV & Film Department Head.

Channel your inner chemist and mix compounds to perm, relax, texture and straighten as a Chemical Treatment Technician.

Take a business vision from concept to creation as a Salon Developer.

Weave and weft synthetic or natural hair into fantastic or functional creations as a Wig Maker.

Relish the buzz of backstage or the rush or the runway as you work on the cutting edge as a Hair Professional for Editorial and Fashion.

Boost volume and confidence as an Extensions Specialist.

Preach about the products you love and educate fellow hair enthusiasts as a Brand Educator, Product Representative or Retail Advisor.

Experience diverse environments, meet new clients, and never have the same day twice as a Chair Rental Stylist.

Use hot air to create fierce looks and flowing locks as a Blowdry Bar Stylist.

Be coiffeur to the stars and cultivate red carpet radiance as a Celebrity Hair Stylist.

Engage audiences in new creative concepts, techniques, tools or products onstage as a Platform Artist: part educator, part salesperson and part rockstar.

Create bridal bliss in elegant updos, sumptuous waves and luxurious curls as a Bridal Hair Specialist.

Travel the world while performing eye-catching cuts and colours at every port as a Cruiseship Stylist.

1. CAREER PLACEMENT

From exclusive internships to onsite employment fairs and industry partnerships, your success is our business. That’s why we have a dedicated Careers Team focused 24/7 on career placement. Their vast network of industry contacts, top employers, powerhouse brands and exclusive agencies know that Blanche Macdonald is the first port of call for anyone seeking Hair talent. Our Career Directors offer their lifelong support and one-on-one attention to help you find employment and opportunities – whether it’s the day you start, the day you graduate, or anytime from now to forever.

2. GRADUATE SUCCESS

They’re winning Contessa Awards and opening their own successful salons. They’re jetsetting from blockbuster film and TV sets to exclusive industry events, becoming brand educators and platform artists, and pioneering freelance businesses. They’re our grads, and they’re leading lights of the Pro Hair world. Our graduates consistently rise to the top of the Hair business, bringing their artistry to every corner of the industry, garnering international recognition and making us proud. We want you to reach these same heights. So we have lovingly crafted Programs that will train you for the industry, coach you in professionalism, and prepare you for a successful career in Pro Hair once you graduate.  

3. COMPREHENSIVE TRAINING

It is our mission to make you the most well-rounded, versatile Hair Professional you can be, with endless opportunities at your fingertips. We are the first and only Hair School in North America to offer training for Hair for TV and Film, and with our privileged position in Hollywood North, you can step straight from the classroom onto the set. Our Program is informed and shaped by the needs of the Hair Industry, and we continually update our progressive curriculum to offer you the most up-to-date and thorough technical training – which is why we also feature levels in Barbering and Makeup Artistry. Our Pro Hair Grads are the complete package because our Program is the most comprehensive hair training available.

4. REAL SALON EXPERIENCE AT Q&A with the industry’s best products

Our cutting edge program takes you into the real world of Pro Hair, giving you hands-on practical experience and exposing you to a variety of professional environments. In our state-of-the-art Student Salon, Q&A, you’ll meet clients face to face, perform cuts and colour in real time, and develop a loyal clientele. Over months of intensive training and countless hours on the salon floor, you will practice and perfect your technical skills in styling, cuts, colour and chemical treatments while developing the client care skills and professionalism that will give you an incredible head start in the industry. You’ll have extensive product knowledge and practical experience with some of the Hair industry’s most prestigious brands: Bumble and Bumble, Oribe, Joico, Kevin Murphy etc.

5. HANDS ON TRAINING WITH INDUSTRY EXPERTS

Throughout your program you’ll be trained and mentored by a team of Industry experts and caring instructors. Fresh from award-winning salons, editorial photoshoots, film and television sets, and the boardrooms of global brands, they bring their international experience and expertise directly to the classroom – and straight to you. Our faculty and Directors have spent their lives in the industry, and have a vast network of connections at their fingertips. This connectedness allows them to invite exclusive guest speakers into the classroom for intimate conversations, skills building workshops, inspiring seminars and specialized training. You’ll hear the stories that have made hair industry superstars, get first-hand advice on facing challenges and building your career, and gain access to insider knowledge that will set you up for success.

PROFESSIONAL HAIRSTYLING

Full-time Diploma program (1400 hours)

Duration: One year

Two years with Co-op Work Experience option available for International students.

There are two scheduling options to choose from:

• Wednesdays to Saturdays
• Sundays to Wednesdays

For Canadian citizens and Permanent Residents of Canada: the lowest Tuition payment plan option is $17,500 for the entire program length. Canada Student Loan funding is available for those who qualify.

The Professional hair kit for the Professional Hairstyling Diploma Program (exclusive of tuition) is $3,450 + GST/PST.

Following your program acceptance, the following fee payments totaling $950 (exclusive of tuition) are required on the day of enrollment:

1. An assessment fee of $150
2. A non-refundable registration fee of $250
3. An administrative fee of $550

Tuition Grants may be available for specific programs and start dates. Please ask your Admissions Advisor about any available Tuition Grants.

Class sizes are very limited. Early registration is required to guarantee a seat in a class.

To learn more about our various payment plan options and upcoming start dates, please fill out our info-request form or connect with your Admissions Advisor.

Making an Application is simple and easy. This is our way of getting to know you. Please fill out the Application form and then an Admissions Director will arrange a time to connect with you. This is a wonderful way for us to share information and insights about the program, the industry, career development, job opportunities, potential tuition grants and financial aid options. And this is our time to learn about you, what your career goals are, what you would like to achieve with your career training, what questions and concerns we can help you with. There is no enrollment deposit made until you have been formally accepted into the program. Please submit your Application here.