Marca College of Hair and Esthetics is a family-run beauty school with locations in Brampton, Mississauga, Toronto and Hamilton, Ont. This hair school offers expert-level education from its in-house education team and brand partners to ensure a seamless transition from school to the workforce, with a graduate employment rate of 83.9 percent.

Marca College offers diploma programs in Hairstyling, Barbering, and Medical Esthetics. The curriculum combines hands-on teaching, demonstrations, and seminars with industry professionals and cutting-edge technology. Students learn through live demonstrations, instructional videos, lectures, and workshops before advancing to the clinical floor to refine their newly learned skills on real spa guests. To make learning more engaging, Marca College uses Pivot Point LAB, an integrated learning environment built specifically for educators and students in the beauty industry. At on-site salons, students get real-life opportunities to engage with salon guests and prepare for a creative profession in hairstyling. Students receive an enrolment kit with five ethically sourced Pivot Point mannequins, shears, clippers, trimmers, and other essentials for the profession.

Founded in 1967, St. Lawrence College offers full-time programs on campuses Kingston, Brockville and Cornwall, Ont., as well as online. The largest campus in Kingston offers programs including arts, business, health care, and skilled trades. St. Lawrence College boasts small class sizes, experiential learning, state-of-the-art facilities, and vibrant student communities, as well as a 93.2 percent graduate employment rate.

St. Lawrence College has modern, expansive facilities in three cities and a solid track record of excellence. It offers an accelerated Hairstyling diploma program, allowing students to complete a two-year diploma in 47 weeks, as well as a Hairstyling diploma program offered over four semesters. Students in the Hairstyling and Esthetician programs gain experiential learning in the college’s fully operational training salons: Dynamic Designs in Kingston and Transitions Training Salon in Brockville, both partnered with industry brand Redken to be official Redken Salons. Students benefit from education sessions led by Redken experts twice a year and have the opportunity to receive Redken Elite Scholarships ($700 each) to help fund their education.

The college’s faculty and staff are highly trained, skilled professionals with years of experience in both the hairstyling and educational fields, and many faculty members are graduates of the Hairstyling program. They continually update their skills to offer students the most current hairstyling trends and techniques to prepare them for this ever-changing industry.

Established in Vancouver in 1978, JCI Institute is a leading fashion, makeup, hairdressing, and esthetics training school. With a 90 percent graduate employment rate, its mission is to offer quality education in a professional and realistic environment that will provide students with the relevant skills and knowledge required to pursue their chosen career. JCI Institute holds a designation certificate by the Private Training Institutions Branch (PTIB) of the Ministry of Advanced Education, Skills & Training and all its certificate and diploma programs are approved by the Registrar. JCI Institute is also an EQA (Education Quality Assurance) member and has received the Seal of Quality as a BC Approved Education Destination of Choice.

JCI Institute has earned an internationally renowned reputation by taking a personalized approach to education, and its small classes ensure students get the attention they need. In the Hair Art Design program, students learn from top professionals and guest instructors who are dialled into industry trends. JCI Institute’s teaching salon, a loft-style space located in Gastown, is run like a top salon, so students learn how to provide clients with a professional salon experience. With local and international connections, program directors and industry liaisons assist students in securing their dream jobs. Through its partnership with hair extension brand Bellami Professional, JCI Institute incorporates the Bellami Professional certification into the Hair Art Design program. The training equips students with the most advanced and effective hair extension techniques and opens doors to additional revenue streams.

Founded in 1960, the Blanche Macdonald Centre in Vancouver is a fully accredited, internationally recognized college for the creative and applied arts. Each year, more than 1,000 students graduate from programs in hairstyling, barbering, makeup, fashion, nails, and esthetics, taught across three campuses with intimate classroom settings. Blanche Macdonald Centre holds a designation certificate with the Private Training Institutions Branch (PTIB) of the Ministry of Post-Secondary Education & Future Skills and is an Education Quality Assurance (EQA) designated institution. Both designations are issued by B.C.’s Ministry of Post-Secondary Education & Future Skills.

Blanche Macdonald Centre is recognized worldwide for delivering a beauty and styling curriculum that responds to the needs of the industry. Based in “Hollywood North”, Blanche Macdonald Centre’s Pro Hair program was the first hair program in Canada to integrate essential skills and applications for hair for television and film, e-marketing, and art and technology. Courses are taught by award-winning and highly distinguished educators and industry experts. The beauty and hairdressing school’s collaborative approach to education, paired with a progressive, cutting-edge curriculum, prepares students for a seamless transition from classroom to industry.

Located in Mississauga, Ont. Eikonic Academy offers diploma programs in Hairstyling and Barbering. Eikonic Academy continually refines its hairstyling courses to be “radically relevant”, reflecting today’s hair and colour trends. It strives to inspire future professionals to be well-rounded in technical, interpersonal, and entrepreneurial skills, and challenges them to apply new skills and ways of thinking. The hair school is billed as a “creative playground” – designed as a trendy, high-end salon and barbershop where students immerse themselves in authentic client experiences. Eikonic has a 92.9 percent graduate employment rate.

Eikonic Academy emphasizes quality over quantity with small class sizes taught by instructors who teach students how to think like professionals. The program also adopts a “learner-centred” educational experience. Instructors facilitate learning through hands-on and engaging media such as video, music, live demos, and presentations.

Located in Oshawa, Ont., the Art & Technique Academy of Hairstyling and Esthetics is registered as a private career college under the Private Career Colleges Act. The hairdressing school offers a diploma program in Hairstyling as well as a refresher/upgrade program for licensed and/or certified hairstylists and estheticians.

Since its founding in 1979, Art & Technique has stayed true to its mantra of qualified instructors, advanced modern curriculum, state-of-the-art equipment, hands-on training, and valuable experience. The academy ensures the highest degree of professionalism and post-secondary standards, with a graduate employment rate of 88.9 percent. Graduates have gone on to work in leading salons, as well as a variety of related fields, including film and television.

Located in Halifax, HDC (Hair Design Centre) has more than 40 years of experience in beauty education, including hair, esthetics, makeup, lash, and nail programs. HDC’s large facilities feature training areas, a dedicated classroom, clinic stations and spa zone. HDC provides an innovative, high-energy and supportive training environment for students to cultivate their passion for beauty. The school has a graduate employment rate of 95 percent within 30 days of graduating.

The Hair Design program gives students the opportunity to learn in small groups and practice in HDC’s fully functioning salon with real clients. HDC is part of Strands for Trans, a global network of hair, beauty, and wellness industries and organizations that seek to create and inspire safe and positive experiences for all guests, especially from the trans community. The school is also part of the Salon Resource Group and is connected to more than 20 salons operating under diverse brands, such as The Head Shoppe, Vibe, and Brilliante. A $1,000 scholarship is open to any Hair Design & Design Esthetics student seeking to study at HDC; scholarships are awarded based on submission of a 500-word essay that demonstrates professional ethics, values, and a passion for the cosmetology industry.

Saskatchewan Polytechnic is Saskatchewan’s only polytechnic and the province’s primary institution for post-secondary applied education and research. It has campuses in Saskatoon, Regina, Moose Jaw, and Prince Alberta. Saskatchewan Polytechnic has a 95 percent overall graduate employment rate and 95 percent of employers say they would hire a Sask Polytech grad again.

Saskatchewan Polytechnic is known for its quality hands-on programming and workforce-ready graduates. Its focus on applied learning and relevant curriculum gets students career-ready: In the Hairstyling program, second-year students are responsible for operating and managing the on-campus salon and performing advanced hair stylist skills on real clients. Saskatchewan Polytechnic is also committed to global engagement, which includes providing opportunities for Sask Polytech students to participate in global study abroad opportunities, including a 10-day study abroad program for Hairstyling students in Cardiff Wales (Feb. 2025). The program is hosted by Cardiff and Vale College and offers technical workshops and spa experiences facilitated by instructors in the college’s Hair and Beauty program.

Located in the heart of Ontario’s Niagara Region, Niagara College offers more than 130 innovative programs between its state-of-the art campuses in Welland and Niagara-on-the-Lake. The campuses have recently been renovated as part of a $65-million redevelopment project. Niagara College has an 89.4 percent graduate employment rate and a 90 percent employer satisfaction rate, offering smaller classes in an intimate and friendly environment, as well as hands-on applied learning.

At the Welland campus, students in the Hairstyling, Hairstyling – Barbering, and Hairstylist Apprenticeship programs practice their skills at the NC Teaching Hair Salon, which is open to the public. Both the Hairstyling and Hairstyling – Barbering programs have a 12-month accelerated delivery that awards a two-year Ontario College Diploma. Graduates are eligible to register with the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development as an apprentice to complete on-the-job, in-salon training.

Located in Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., Sault College aims to provide a transformative life experience through empowering students to think and learn in progressive and innovative ways. Sault College offers diploma, degree, and certificate programs in areas such as business, general arts and science, media and design, and salon and spa services. Eighty-nine percent of graduates are employed within six months of graduating.

Sault College’s Hairstyling program is regulated by the Ministry of Training, College and Universities Standard to comply with 1,500 in-school training hours. Students gain essential career skills in the on-campus salon, specializing in haircutting, barbering techniques, styling, extensions and wigs, salon management, and more. To keep students up to date on the latest trends and techniques, the program hosts guest educators, speakers, and platform artists.

Located in Surrey, B.C., Vancouver Hairdressing Academy offers a condensed six-month Hairdressing program, allowing students to graduate sooner. Its mission is to provide students with the most intensive, professional, and best hairdressing training in the Vancouver area, focusing on the best technical, behavioural, and service skills. Vancouver Hair Academy is accredited with the Private Training Institutions Branch (PTIB).

Vancouver Hairdressing Academy boasts a training system that “has evolved into the fastest and most progressive way to train a new hairstylist anywhere in North America.” At this hair school, students cut hair on the first day, progressing to colouring by the fourth day. The program is intense, fast-paced, fun, and practical, with little emphasis placed on dated techniques that are rarely used today.

Located in Windsor, Ont., St. Clair College offers more than 120 programs in the areas of health sciences, community studies, engineering technology and skilled trades, business and I.T., and more. In addition to its main Windsor campus, the college has a downtown Windsor campus and a campus in nearby Chatham, Ont. St. Clair College has a graduation rate of 88.4 percent, and 88.9 percent of employers of St. Clair College graduates are satisfied with their knowledge and skills.

St. Clair College embraces the very best in a college education – excellence in teaching, applied learning in state-of-the-art labs, and numerous support services to help students succeed. Many of its faculty have worked or operated a business in the field they are teaching. Its small class sizes provide students with the foundational knowledge and a connection to real-world experiences through work-integrated learning and industry partnerships. St. Clair College offers a one-year, fast-tracked Hairstyling Diploma program, which combines clinical and lab experience. Students can also earn credits towards apprenticeship.

Fleming College is an Ontario College of Applied Arts and Technology. Its main campus is in Peterborough, Ont., with others located in Cobourg, Haliburton, Lindsay, and Toronto. The school’s areas of study span arts and design, business, skilled trades, health sciences, and more, with a school-wide graduate employment rate of 87.5 percent. Fleming College’s Hairstyling program is located at the Peterborough campus.

Fleming’s Hairstyling program is taught by award-winning, practicing professionals. Students receive extensive hands-on practice in the newly designed on-campus Academy Salon. The curriculum embodies the pillars of hairstyling: artistic skills, science, and social confidence, with an emphasis on environmentally sustainable products and practices. Students also learn multicultural hairstyling techniques.

Established in 1924, Avola College is a private beauty school in Toronto offering hairstyling and esthetics training. Its focus is not only imparting technical skills, but also on nurturing well-rounded beauty professionals. Avola College aims to ensure students are equipped to meet industry challenges and contribute meaningfully to the beauty community, with a graduate employment rate of 72.7 percent.

Students benefit from a dynamic curriculum that combines theory with hands-on experience in the school’s state-of-the-art facilities. Many of Avola College’s instructors have run their own businesses, have a wide variety of experience in the field, and are respected members in their professional communities.

Founded in 1986, The Canadian Beauty Academy is a beauty school in Winnipeg that offers diploma programs in Hairstyling Esthetics, Nail Care Technology, and Skin Care Technology, as well as certificate programs, bridging programs, and exam prep courses. The Canadian Beauty Academy is registered under the Private Vocational Institutions Act, Winnipeg Advanced Education and is a member of both the Winnipeg Association of Career Colleges and the National Association of Career Colleges.

The Canadian Beauty Academy believes that an education in the beauty industry is the key to unlocking a career full of creativity and potential. Its mission is to help students reach their full artistic potential through a program that teaches both cutting-edge techniques and successful business and marketing strategies. Its comprehensive Hairstyling program goes beyond preparing students for the government exam – it also teaches innovation in hair colour and techniques, business strategies, and guest services. With a Redken-infused curriculum, students will be well-equipped to succeed in the industry. There’s also multiple start dates to give students flexibility in their education, life, and work schedules.

Founded in 1965, Vancouver Community College (VCC) offers academic, cultural, and social environments that inspire relevant real-world training. The college’s on-campus facilities – including a salon and sap, gourmet restaurants, and an auto shop – allow students to hone their skills and training while providing high-quality, lower-cost services to the downtown and East Vancouver communities. VCC prides itself on inspiring a new generation of students to discover their passions, gain essential skills, and learn what it takes to succeed in a competitive workforce. Its Hairstylist program has a graduate employment rate of 89 percent.

VCC offers Hairstylist, Esthetics and Spa Therapy, and Nail Technology certificate programs. In the Hairstyling program, students serve real clients at the state-of-the-art VCC Salon & Spa. They gain full theoretical knowledge and practical training in hair design, as well as overall salon management. VCC also offers a Hairstylist apprenticeship program, allowing students to work and learn at the same time.

With four campuses in Winnipeg, Manitoba Institute of Trades and Technology (MITT) offers more than 30 certificate, diploma, and post-graduate programs that give students the skills they need at any stage of their careers. MITT emphasizes its strong industry partnerships, expert instructors, and hands-on learning designed to take students directly from classroom to career. It has a graduate employment rate of 90 percent.

In MITT’s hairstyling diploma program, students explore in-demand skills in detail, such as women’s and men’s haircuts, barbering, colour, and chemical texture services. Apprenticeship Manitoba Level 1 accreditation means students who successfully complete the program and accreditation requirements receive credit toward their apprenticeship path. Additionally, participation in MITT’s Bridging to Work workshops – which focus on employability skills, resume development, interview skills, and effective transition to work – ensures graduates enter the workforce with the essential skills today’s employers demand.

Founded in 1967, Georgian College is a College of Applied Arts and Technology with more than 13,500 full-time students. Its main campus is in Barrie, with six other campuses located throughout central Ontario. The college has a school-wide graduate employment rate of 90.3 percent. Georgian is the first and only Canadian college designated a changemaker college by Ashoka U for its role as a leader in social innovation and changemaking in higher education.

Georgian’s Hairstyling program covers all the skills required to work as a hairstylist in a condensed three-semester format. Students complete the diploma in one year through progressive levels of theory and practical techniques. Students gain hands-on experience working on real clients in Georgian’s full-service, student-run Hair Studio. The program also has small class sizes, giving students one-on-one learning in mentor-style relationships with instructors. Georgian College also offers a Hairstyling Techniques – Apprenticeship program. It typically takes two years to complete and consists of 3,020 hours of on-the-job training/work experience and 480 hours of in-school training.

Lakeland College serves more than 8,000 full-time and part-time students across its campuses in Lloydminster and Vermilion, Alberta. This public college offers more than 50 programs, including degrees, diplomas, certificates, and university transfer options. Its award-winning programs are designed to ease students’ transition into the workforce or further study at the university level. Notably, 91 percent of Lakeland graduates are employed and 99 percent of employers said they are likely to hire a Lakeland grad in the future.

Lakeland College was founded on the belief that students learn best through action and hand-on learning. With modern facilities, labs, and industry environments, both campuses provide opportunities for students to learn, lead, and manage effectively. In the Hairstyling program, the classroom is the salon, allowing students to cultivate their creativity and people skills, while working with real clients, managing the salon, and using professional products.