Hair Styling and Aesthetics

As part of the technical studies department at St. Stephen, the Hairstyling & Aesthetics program offers students many different opportunities to learn about the world of hair, makeup & nail technology. Students accumulate skills in creative braiding, bridal updo’s and vintage hair styles as well as more advanced techniques in colour & highlighting processes. The program covers various aspects of makeup application such as fantasy & celebrity makeup as well as techniques in highlight and contour. Students have the chance to work with makeup artists that come in for various work shops throughout the year. Some of the spa services that are performed throughout the program include facials, spa manicures, and nail art design.

As a way to link the program to the real world, we have “hair days” every Friday where the hair-styling class is run as a salon and open to the school. Students and staff are free to make appointments to come in to have a relaxing scalp treatment, manicure or a haircut as well as other services. Competitions are held within our classes for such skills as creative up do’s as well as vintage pin curls where students could win top prizes such as flat irons, makeup and hair products. Students enjoy these competitions as their skills and hard work is acknowledged.

The hair-styling program is involved in many of the events that happen during the school year. We work closely with Drama and the Arts when planning for the annual school production. Students have the opportunity to use their skills and techniques to volunteer for the hair and makeup department when creating hair and makeup looks for the entire cast. We are also involved in social justice activities such as intentional courtesy week where students do ribbon braiding as a way to raise awareness for anti-bullying. Overall, this program offers students a completely different approach to learning, one that will allow them to build transferable skills and use them beyond their high school career.