News Article

Many college programs are described as being cutting edge, but for the Hairstyling program at College of the North Atlantic (CNA) the description is quite literal.
 
Offered at three campuses across Newfoundland and Labrador (Baie Verte, Bay St. George and Gander), this Red Seal, accredited program gives its students extensive training in basic and advanced hairstyling techniques, as well as exposure to up and coming trends in the industry.
 
“You have to have a good foundation in the basics to build upon,” said Martha Wall, Hairstylist instructor at the Bay St. George campus, “from there, it’s ever continuous learning.”
 
Wall’s students are able to keep up with the ever-changing hair trends through in-class instruction and practice, doing online research, reviewing literature, participating in field trips and attending hair shows and competitions.
 
“We try to attend at least two shows a year, and they can be anywhere within Atlantic Canada,” said Wall, who takes students to both large and small venue shows to add variety.
 
This year, some of the top trends in women’s hairstyles are the inverted bob, disconnection and asymmetrical, says Wall. When it comes to colour, the most popular techniques seem to be dimensional, ombre, and fashion colours. Sounds technical!
 
Every year students are encouraged to display their talents by participating in the Newfoundland and Labrador Skills Canada Competition. It’s another venue for students to observe and learn from the various techniques, styles and talents of others. Over the years many CNA students have placed at the Skills Canada competition. Wall, herself, won the student All Newfoundland Cutting Competition in 1992 and the senior competition in 1993.
 
“We have a couple of girls who may compete in October of this year,” she said.
 
Due to the program’s continuous intake model, some students who are continuing their studies in September have already acquired the skills needed to compete and potentially place in the competition, Wall explains.
 
Wall says she also likes to take her students on field trips to various salons across Newfoundland to expose them to the uniqueness of each business, whether it’s in the layout of the salon or how the business is operated. In addition, students are introduced to some of the provincial hairstyling product distributors. These field trips can give the students many important job-related connections which may be useful in the future, says Wall.
 
All of this exposure gives the students a vast pool of knowledge and experience from which to draw from. This makes a stylist more desirable to a potential client.
 
After receiving a good foundation in the basics of hairstyling, in addition to learning about and practicing top style trends, CNA students are definitely in demand.
 
“Of the nine most recent graduates, seven are currently working in the field,” boasted Wall. “That’s about an 80 per cent success rate. That’s amazing!”
 
But before heading out into the working world Wall’s students hone their skills in an on-campus, professionally-run hair salon at the Martin Gallant building in Stephenville Crossing. Appointments can be made during the school year, just like any other salon. Students can provide a variety of services, from a shampoo and style to the latest up-to-date cuts and colours.
 
Students looking to take their hairstyling skills to the next level after completion of the 38-week program can work towards achieving their Red Seal in the trade. After graduation, they must work approximately 3,000 hours as an apprentice and then return to the classroom to complete a seven week advanced block before writing the journeyperson exam. After that, the opportunities are endless, says Wall.
 
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Media Contact:
Glenda McCarthy
Public Relations Specialist
College of the North Atlantic
709.643.6408
glenda.mccarthy@cna.nl.ca