Stylist and Hair Extensions Specialist Jess Taylor always knew that Hair School was in her future.
“Ever since I was young, I was the friend getting asked, ‘Can you curl my hair? Can you do my makeup?’ And I was always into Beauty. I was always a girly girl. I love shopping. I love makeup, I love curly hair. I got into hair extensions myself when I was still in high school. So I was naturally drawn to it.”
Still, she wasn’t sure which direction to take after high school and oscillated between beauty and university. Initially, she chose the latter and quickly learned it wasn’t the right fit.
“Right out of high school, I attended University. It wasn’t my learning style at all. I can’t just sit at a desk all day and I hate math!”
Seeking a fresh start, Jess moved from Kamloops to Vancouver and secured a stable job with BC Ferries, where she would work for four years. Despite the steady pay and union benefits, she couldn’t stop thinking about Hair School.
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“The supportive environment at Blanche inspired me to push my boundaries and explore new aspects of the craft, including colour work and extensions, which have become key components of my career.”
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“I just kept on talking about Hair School and I couldn’t stop. And then I used my first paid vacation time to go away to London, England. I got some clarity from that trip and came back feeling like I needed to do what I really love doing.
Driven by the Professional Hairstyling Program’s reputation and a surprise connection, Jess decided to study at Blanche Macdonald Centre.
“Blanche is recognized as one of the best Hairstylist Schools in Canada. I had interviews at hair cutting schools near me, one of which was Aveda, but I felt quite pushed by the person interviewing me. Then I had another meeting at Blanche and did a tour with Admissions Director Susan Shipley, who happened to be an old family friend. I hadn’t seen her since I was a baby, but she recognized me immediately! It felt like it was meant to be. I felt really comfortable and knew right away that I wanted to go to Blanche.”
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“Many newer hairstylists struggle with imposter syndrome. But it's important to stop and appreciate how far you've come. It’s only been five years since I graduated and I see myself getting more successful.”
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The stars aligned when BC Ferries agreed to let her work around her full-time class schedule.
“They usually don’t accommodate schooling if it isn’t specific to the job. So I was pretty lucky! That’s when I started the full-time Pro Hair program. And right as I graduated, I quit BC Ferries and went into hair full-time. It was great.”
Impressed by the comprehensive scope of the program, Jess was excited to start her journey.
“I liked how detailed the curriculum was. The focus on practical experience was a standout feature. We were provided numerous opportunities to work with real clients, real editorial photoshoots, which gave me invaluable insights into client relations, communication, and time management—essential skills for thriving in the industry. Additionally, the school’s connections to the broader beauty community helped me establish a strong professional network, opening doors to exciting opportunities upon graduation.”
When it came time to learning the powerful art of hair colouring, Jess discovered her happy place.
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“I was really excited when we got into colour because that’s where I started to see the most impactful transformations. I would get my colour done and always loved feeling transformed myself. That’s what initially drew me to doing hair in the first place; I want to give people the same feeling.”
“At Blanche, there was everything that you could possibly learn and there were so many options. There’s TV, film, editorial… if you love doing colour they go through so much information about colour and cutting. We got hair extension training. I really liked that it was a nice full year of learning. I got a lot out of it.”
“The supportive and creative environment inspired me to continuously push my boundaries and explore new aspects of the craft, including color work and extensions, which have become key components of my career.”
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“Blanche is recognized as one of the best Hair Schools in Canada. It felt like it was meant to be. I felt really comfortable and knew right away that I wanted to go to Blanche.”
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During Jess’s time in the Professional Hair Program, two instructors, Sashi Seth and Renata Tebcz, left long-lasting impressions on her career.
“The instructors were not only highly skilled professionals with years of industry experience but also passionate mentors who truly cared about our success. Their hands-on approach and personalized guidance helped me refine my skills and build confidence in my work.”
“Sashi was a big standout for me. Although she is no longer an instructor, I still keep in touch with her, which is really nice. She’s always been supportive of me and a lot of her former students.”
“Renata Tebacz was great. I remember her being in the student Salon with us. She was always so detail-oriented and really helped us perfect what we were doing. She paid close attention to the service we were giving clients.”
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“Since I've started working at Beau, I feel like everything's falling into place. The team environment is great and the salon’s culture is amazing. They're so easy to work with and my clientele is growing.”
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Since graduation, Jess has worked at The Dye Lot, Zen Den Hair, Planet Hair, and now as a Styling and Extensions Specialist at Beau Salon. Here, she has found more than just a workplace—she’s discovered a family. It also doesn’t hurt that five of her colleagues (Freddy Sim, Patrick Uy, Lara Dillman, and Melfinna Tjugito) also graduated from Blanche’s Hair School.
“Beau is amazing. I feel like it’s a team that I want to stick with forever. When you get out of Hair School it can take time to figure out where you’re meant to be and what people you’re meant to be with. When Armineh and Thom opened Beau, I reached out to them because we’d worked together before. I started right away and as soon as I did, I felt like I was home.”
The salon’s culture emphasizes continuous learning, allowing Jess to expand her expertise regularly.
“Since I’ve started working at Beau, I feel like everything’s falling into place. The team environment is great and the salon’s culture is amazing. They’re so easy to work with and my clientele is growing. Another thing I love is that every Tuesday, Beau does educational classes where we have an opportunity to upgrade our skills. So if there’s anything that I want to learn, if I want to go further into cutting or styling or hair extension training, they offer so much education.”
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“The Pro Hair Program provided numerous opportunities to work with real clients, real editorial photoshoots, which gave me invaluable insights into the industry. The school’s connections to the broader beauty community opened doors to exciting opportunities upon graduation.”
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Within five years, Jess has already achieved a great deal but feels there’s still so much more to come.
“Sometimes I don’t always appreciate how far I’ve come. I’m always focused on how I could be doing better. A lot of newer hairstylists struggle with imposter syndrome. Even friends who are fellow Blanche hair program grads, who are working in the industry, feel this way sometimes. I think we’ve all grown a lot more confident now. It’s important to actually stop and take a look at how far you’ve come. Because when I look back, I’m proud. It’s only been five years since I graduated and I see myself getting more successful.”
