We received this latest question online.

Hi there. I am journeyman licensed hairstylist in Canada for more than 3.5 years . I want to know how I can be a hair educator and how I can provide hair certification to my students . Please guide me for this process so I can pursue a career as a hair educator to guide people with knowledge of hair. Thanks.

T.

Building a Curriculum

There are many steps to becoming a cosmetology instructor in Alberta, Canada. Hairstyling is a government-regulated occupation in Alberta. In other words, a regulatory body exists (Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training) that issues regulation relating to what needs to be included in a cosmetology curriculum.

A good start is to review their website for a detailed curriculum so that you can structure your program around that. As for the ‘meat and potatoes’ of your curriculum, try to find ways to make the theory fun and the practical work challenging.

We offer 2 online courses for aspiring beauty educators to help them develop their courses: THEORY and PRACTICAL.

THEORY is designed to help you construct a robust theoretical framework for your Beauty Program. On the other hand, PRACTICAL teaches you how to design and implement a hands-on experience that promotes skill development for aspiring beauty professionals.

Licensing Bodies

Beauty education businesses such as cosmetology schools require different types of licenses. Firstly, you will need a business license. This is issued municipally. Since you are a hairstylist by trade, you will need an active cosmetology license provided by Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training.

In addition, not all, but most beauty educators require a third license to teach beauty programs. This teaching license is issued provincially and the requirement of it depends on several factors. Our Program Licensing and Recognition course online is a quick way to navigate through the licensing processes and ensure financial wellness for both your institution and students alike. This course in 1-1.5 hours in length and reviews legal requirements, documentation, and procedures involved in offering your students certification as well as government student aid.

Best of luck!

EXECUTIVE SPA GROUP 
Beauty Industry Resource Centre 
(780) 604-2772 
info@executivespagroup.com

What are the steps to starting a waxing business?

Preparation

Be patient as you prepare. Expect the preparation time to take anywhere from couple of months up to a couple of years. This depends on how many daily hours you put in to the research component of starting a business.

Education and training

Training or certification is not mandatory to offer waxing services in Alberta. However, taking a technical course is highly recommended in order to understand the science behind a waxing service. This includes contraindications and infection control- 2 very important topics when working on clients.

Research Tips

You will need to conduct research in many areas:

• Gather research on pricing in your area. The larger your sample size, the more reliable your data will be.
• Look into the distributors in your area and the supplies and brands they carry.
• Compare your options for payment acceptance. Most people pay with some type of card, so offering this method of payment is a must. Check out what different companies have to offer.
• If you are able to have a website from the start, review different online booking companies. Online booking is extremely helpful because it reduces the amount of missed calls. There are free options for online booking and websites.
• If you are renting a commercial space, scope it out for a week. Pay special attention to the cleanliness on a Sunday morning
• Start looking for used equipment. A big purchase for a new waxing business owner is a spa bed. You can save money by purchasing a used bed.

Marketing

Think ahead! Create a one-year marketing plan and stick to the schedule. Your plan should de detailed with topics of discussion, images, videos, places you will advertise, time frames, etc. Find places where you can advertise your business for free, for example, social media sites.

Licensing and Registration

You will have to register your business. You have options when registering your business with Canada Revenue Agency. For example, when you register your business as a sole proprietorship, you and your business are seen as one. On the other hand, when you register your business as a corporation, you and your business are separate entities. Once you have registered your business, you will need to open a GST account.

Where business registration is a federal government concern, business licenses are overseen by the municipal government. In your application you will be asked to list all different services your business will offer. Licenses are renewed annually. This is the time to report any new business activities, for example, teaching beauty industry courses such as waxing. NOTE: Should you go the teaching route in the future, depending on your beauty course details, you may need a training license. This particular license is issued provincially.

Commercial vs Home Business Location

Different types of licenses are issued to home businesses and store fronts.

Start small. Whether you are opening a commercial store front or a home business, start small. Initially you will wear all sorts of hats: service provider, spa assistant, spa receptionist, bookkeeper, marketing specialist, janitor, etc.

Best of luck!

EXECUTIVE SPA GROUP
Alberta Beauty Industry Resources
(780)604-2772
info@executivespagroup.com

Is waxing a profitable business?

Waxing can be a profitable business as long as most conditions required for success are met. These conditions include but are not limited to a high level of technical skill, an in-depth knowledge of health and safety factors, and a steady discipline and time commitment to growing your business.

Speed x Material

For waxing to be a lucrative specialty for a beauty professional, one must train in speed when delivering the service. Waxing is one of the few if not the only esthetics service where the client wants the appointment completed in a timely fashion. It goes without saying, the faster the service, the more clients you can see in one day.

Another way to measure efficiency is by not overusing material. Overuse is a common mistake made by new waxers. For example, spreading too much soft wax on an area may create challenges when pulling the resin strip off your client. So, not only is wax being wasted, the service does not flow as smoothly.

Which is the most lucrative waxing specialty?

Bikini waxing is probably the most lucrative specialty. This is because this relatively small area is valued at a higher price due to the intimate nature. In 2023, the average price of a female Brazilian wax in Edmonton, Alberta was $77. Bikini waxing specialists can deliver this service in a cool 15 minutes. Add a 15% tip to this total and you just made $89 in 15 minutes!

The trick is to fill your schedule with clients all day.

How do waxers get clients?

This is where that steady discipline and time commitment to growing your business comes in. Word-of-mouth is the best form of advertising because it always comes from a trusted source, plus, it’s free! However, new waxing businesses cannot rely solely on word-of-mouth advertising. Luckily, there are many free methods of advertising.

The most common free method these days is social media. All waxing businesses should be on as many platforms as possible to reach as many potential clients as possible. Remember, consistency is key in growing a following. In addition, creativity is important when developing ads to reach potential customers. Waxing specialists may face long term challenges when creating social media posts. After all, how much can you say about waxing after five to ten years?!

Do you need a license to wax in Alberta?

While you do not need a license to deliver waxing services in Alberta, industry training is recommended to ensure that you are meeting the Personal Services Regulations and Standards set forth by Alberta Health Services.

EXECUTIVE SPA GROUP
Alberta Beauty Industry Resources
(780)604-2772
info@executivespagroup.com

Has this happened to you?

A prominent spa in Edmonton, Alberta reported an incident involving Environment and Climate Change Canada. According to the spa, they were visited earlier this year by two “Enforcement Officers”. The two officers arrived unannounced and in uniform demanding to do an impromptu inspection of the retail and back bar products being used and sold at the spa. More products were confiscated for “testing” purposes.

What constituted this search?

Months prior, officers from Environment and Climate Change Canada purchased a skincare product online from the spa in question. The product was an exfoliant developed by a manufacturer of a recognized skincare brand often found in medical spas and dermatology clinics throughout Canada.

Unbeknown to the spa, this particular exfoliant violated the Microbeads in Toiletries Regulations put in place in 2018. Plastic microbeads that are greater than or equal to 5mm in size are not permitted in Canada. However, so many years had gone by it did not occur to the spa managers that products available today containing microbleads would still be sold on the market.

The penalties?

Small revenue corporations can face between a $75,000- $4,000,000 fine for a first offence. According to the spa, no warning or effort to contact them was made prior to the unannounced search.

The lesson?

Be aware of all the ingredients in the skincare/beauty products that you retail. Health Canada has an online resource called the Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist. This resource mentions all of the ingredients that are either restricted or prohibited for use in cosmetic products.

In conclusion, don’t rely on the manufacturer. Don’t rely on border patrol. Do your due diligence when purchasing your products, otherwise, you’ll be surprised when uniformed officers show up at your door!

EXECUTIVE SPA GROUP
(780)604-2772
info@executivespagroup.com

Dear executive spa group,

I worked as a Hairstylist in my home country for many years before coming to Canada. I enjoy working with hair and would love to continue to do so in Canada. I moved to Alberta 8 months ago. What are my options for working as a hairstylist in Canada using my previous training and experience from my home country?

Hope to hear back soon!

Lisa X.

Dear Lisa,

Individuals who have trained abroad in hairstyling and would like to work as Hairstylists in Alberta Canada have the following options:

PLA EXAM

Hairstyling is a government-regulated occupation in Alberta. In other words, a regulatory body exists (Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training) that provides options to help you achieve this goal.

One of the options provided are Prior Learning Assessments (PLA). According to Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training, these assessments include testing your level of knowledge and technical skill. To clarify, passing a PLA exam can help you gain entry into an apprenticeship program, or help place you in the appropriate place in your apprenticeship program.

As per Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training, you can attempt a Previous Learning Assessment (PLA) exam if you successfully completed training that covers the same learning objectives as the apprenticeship education program, or if you have a minimum of one year experience in the trade.. 

Keep in mind this option will require you to provide proof of training so be ready to provide certificates/diplomas, or proof of work experience in the trade. Also, there are application and exam fees you must pay.

Steps to obtaining your apprenticeship

Secure a job in a salon. This could be getting hired as a salon technician, receptionist, or retail specialist. Your supervisor should be a Journeyman Hairstylist to train you and confirm your hours worked.

After securing employment, you may apply to be a Registered Apprentice in Alberta. Once you have completed your application and pay the registration fee, you may be issued an Apprenticeship Card and Blue Book (this is the record log in which your worked hours are tracked).

As an Apprentice Hairstylist, you are able to buy product (no chemicals!) from salon distribution centers, and you are legally able to handle the tools of the trade.

Your on-the-job hours are divided into two twelve-month periods. During each period, you are expected to complete 1450 hours (this is 40 weeks based on 35 hours a week).

Technical training is arranged by Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training and is currently offered at DelMar College in Calgary and MC College in Edmonton.

• Your technical training is divided into Period One and Period Two. Both are 10 weeks in length (700 hours total). You may be eligible for financial benefits while in technical training. The average cost of tuition for both periods generally doesn’t exceed $2500. Tool kits would be available for learning purposes only, and it would be your responsibility to invest in your kit for your work experience.

Once your on-the-job training, technical training, and corresponding examinations (theory and technical exams for Period One and Two) are successfully completed, you are eligible to take the theory and technical exam for your Interprovincial Red Seal.

List of References

Tradesecrets 2024, accessed 15 September 2024, <https://tradesecrets.alberta.ca/trades-in-alberta/learn-about-designated-trades>.

EXECUTIVE SPA GROUP