FAQs
WHY SHOULD I CONSIDER THE VHA?
There are a lot of schools out there to learn how to cut and colour hair. In fact, there are probably too many hairdressing schools. The difference is, most schools' agenda is to teach the student to pass an archaic and unnecessary exam, while our agenda is to teach them to be hairdressers.
The course at the Vancouver Hairdressing Academy is designed to teach the student the most important aspects of the job that most schools never touch on, and all salon owners wish they would. How do we know all of this? We live and breathe salon hairdressing every single day.
Our system is condensed into a 6-month program, allowing our students to graduate sooner and for less tuition cost than most hairdressing schools.
And our exclusive relationship with the Michael Levine Salon Group gives our graduates an edge on all other students in Vancouver: We are working with the top editorial stylists in the world. This allows our students training and opportunities no other schools can offer.
HOW COME THE VHA PROGRAM IS ONLY 6 MONTHS WHEN MOST SCHOOLS ARE 10 MONTHS?
What most schools don't want you to know is that the hair industry has been deregulated for many years. We no longer have to prepare students for an irrelevant exam.
Deregulation means we don't waste even a second of the students' time on anything that won't help to push them to be a successful hairstylist.
While most schools are sitting in a classroom discussing skin conditions, we are training our students in hands-on editorial styling. While most schools are showing how to wrap a perm and apply blue rinse, we are training our students to apply perfect foils in 45 minutes.
We're not saying we are better; it is just a completely different experience and concept, one based on a successful career and life in a high-end salon.
IT SOUNDS AMAZING BUT IS THIS LEGAL, AND WILL SALONS RECOGNIZE MY VANCOUVER HAIRDRESSING ACADEMY DIPLOMA?
Rest assured, we absolutely are legal, legitimate and recognized by the government. Check us out with the PTI (formerly PCTIA). We are a fully accredited program with a perfect performance track record.
We have passed the same inspections, exams and criteria every single school must go through and our diploma holds the same weight as every other school. In fact, we like to think it holds a little more, since so few schools are run by and taught by people who ever made it in the hair industry. The VHA is run by one of the most successful salon owners and stylists in Canada and most of the instructors are currently working in high-end salons on clients. The advice and mentorship our students receive is truly outstanding.
Our graduates work at many different salons, including Suki's, Trim, Hype, Hennessey, Moods, Supernova and many other fabulous locations all around Canada, and if you didn't know, our students won Contessa Awards in 2012 and 2014 for Canadian Student/ Apprentice of the Year. Two national awards in our first three years of being open.
WHAT'S IN THE KIT?
Many schools place low quality tools in their students' bags and often the first thing many students do is start replacing things. We disagree with the idea that students should be given poor quality gear, so we've had a distributor put together the best kit possible at the best price. We put top quality tools into your hands from the first day, because if you act like a professional, you will become a professional. Your scissors are very good. You receive 6 mannequin heads. You get almost every brush you could possibly need in your career. Your scissors, flat iron, clippers and blowdryer are all top quality. And because we have real buying power due to the fact that we have 2 large sister salons, your investment gets you outstanding tools that you will be able to use in your career for years and years.
CAN I WRITE THIS PROGRAM OFF OR USE RESPs?
Absolutely yes to both questions. We are registered both provincially with the PCTIA and federally with the Canada Revenue Agency. For RESPs, your banker will find us on the list of federally registered institions, and at the end of your course you will be issued a tax receipt and form allowing you to claim your academy expenses on your next tax return.
HOW OFTEN CAN I EXPECT TO SEE MICHAEL LEVINE ON CAMPUS?
Michael is generally in the academy once a week to meet with students and generally delivers the resume and employment sessions personally. Usually Michael is involved in assisting students with their pre-exam as well, where he offers advice and coaching on where the student can improve their work.
Since much of the cutting in the course is delivered via video instruction, students get Michael's instruction in the most consistant way possible; on video.
WHY DO YOU USE VIDEO INSTRUCTION?
Video instruction is a small but integral part of our system. Please be aware that we offer the smallest class sizes anywhere, because we believe our students deserve and need the most one-on-one guidance possible. With a maximum of 1 teacher to 6 students (compare that to any other school, nobody comes close to this ratio,) our instructors are always there for you.
We've found that the foundation of video based instruction allows for the best, most consistent communication to our students. Constant repetition of the course material has our students learning and remembering our systems quickly and offers much less confusion between instructors, the most common issue in most hairdressing schools.
We've created a culture based on sharing ideas and encouraging professional as well as life development.
We think you will love your VHA experience.