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 the science behind the style: trichology, anatomy, bacteriology and sanitation. We’ll coach you in client relations and help you develop the stellar service skills that will keep your customers coming back.

Progressing from theory to practice with in-class demonstrations and mannequin work, you’ll develop a “toolkit” of style elements that will allow you to accurately replicate any cut. You’ll learn to work with a range of salon equipment, professional products, tools and materials as you develop the confidence to make the move from classroom to salon. Once you’ve mastered basic cutting techniques, you’ll demonstrate everything you’ve learned on real clients in real time at Q&A, our student salon. Our instructors will support you at every step, always on hand to answer questions, give feedback and help you perform to the best of your ability.

LEVEL 2: COLOUR

Learn to harness the vast potential of hue in this hands-on study of advanced theory and practical application of colour. Working from virgin and single applications through to double processing, we will guide you through colour formulations, placements and zoning. Master the intricacies of bleach and tone, and learn how to create texture with foils and freehand colour.

We’ll coach you in the essential art of client consultation and walk you through classification, problem solving, colour correction and essential safety precautions. Our expert instructors will share their insider tips for enhancing a cut with colour, and mentor you as you perform your own applications. At Q&A you will gain further practical experience and develop your creative talents by practicing your new palette of colour skills on real clients.

LEVEL 3: CHEMICAL TECHNOLOGY

Channel your inner scientist in this extensive study of the chemical processing of hair. From perming and thermal straightening to hair reforming and chemical blowouts, you’ll learn to formulate chemical reactions for texturing and relaxing your clients’ hair. We’ll walk you through the crucial safety measures for using chemical products and show you how to deal with allergic reactions.

Each client is different. So is each head of hair. To become a knowledgeable and adaptable Chemical Technician, you must learn how deal with all of the hair types you’ll encounter in your culturally diverse clientele. 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. Once you’re salon ready, you’ll perform a variety of straightening, perming and wrapping techniques on your clients at Q&A.

LEVEL 4: SALON-READINESS TRAINING

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 out in the field 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.

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 multi-national 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.

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.

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.

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 HAIR FOUNDATIONS

Part-time and Full-time Diploma program, 600 hours
Duration: Six-months (Full-time) or One year (Part-time)

There are two scheduling options to choose from:

• Part-time: Sundays (full day) and Tuesdays (evenings)
• Full-time: Mondays to Wednesdays or Wednesdays to Fridays

For Canadian citizens and Permanent Residents of Canada: the lowest Tuition payment plan option is $8,700 for the entire program length. Canada Student Loan funding is available for those who qualify.

The professional hair kit for the Professional Hair Foundations 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.