Delmar welcomes a new barbering/stylist program to the list! Starting this exciting new path of men’s grooming at Delmar College is going to be taught by Alison Confrey. Here is her story!
By: Alison Confrey
Hi! I am Alison, Delmar’s first 1400 hour Barbering/Hairstylist instructor. ‘To barber or not to barber?’ That was the question facing me in 2014 when I was offered a position as a Barber in the Downtown Core. Not a very difficult question you say!
However, I was living just outside Dublin, Ireland at the time so it was a huge one for me! I am Irish through and through and had never considered living outside of Ireland. So, the challenge of moving to a new country was a major decision for me and my family. This also meant leaving behind everything I knew about ladies hairstyling and moving into the world of barbering which was an even scarier decision at the time. In my 25 years as a busy stylist, I also taught apprentices and managed salons. However, barbering to me consisted of older men going to older barbers for their ‘short back and sides, please’!
My family decided to ‘bite the bullet’ and move to Calgary arriving in freezing temperatures we had never seen before! It wasn’t long before I started work and to say that I was nervous is a huge understatement! However, looking back, it was the BEST decision I ever made!
Some of Alison’s work
Wow! I was shocked at how much the men’s grooming industry is booming here. It is so much more than the ‘short sides and back’ I was anticipating! Being in the downtown core, surrounded by oil companies, banks and law offices, has proven to me how much guys are into how they look and how their look is perceived by others. They are completely up-to-date and focused on men’s trends which is incredible! All my fears were ‘quashed’ and it is exciting to work with colleagues who are vibrant, fashion-forward go-getters!
Some of Alison’s work
Being a barber is such a fun, creative and exciting career and I encourage you to get involved! Coupling this with learning new skills like hot shaves and hair tattooing has made me decide to be part of Delmar’s new program. It is so exciting!
Delmar has put together a totally new program combining everything you will need to enter into the wonderful world of barbering including all haircutting (both scissor and clipper), fades, hair tattooing, hot shaves, facial massage, facial hair design and much more!!!! Your major will be in Barbering and you will be able to join any barbershop with confidence in your skills! You will also get a solid grounding in all the techniques required to pass your government licensing exams necessary to become a Licensed Hairstylist.
Delmar’s First Barbering/Stylist class!
We are very excited to begin this new journey which is a HUGE step forward in the industry! Follow our progress through the program!
For more information regarding our program, please contact Shauna at shaunad@delmarcollege.com . We can’t wait to meet you!
DELMARCOLLEGE.COM
No gimmicks just great education
Welcome to our first period Apprenticeship students!
Congratulations to our Makeup 102 graduates!
September Delmar Ambassador, Callie Nuyens, wrote a really great blog post for us. If you missed it click here.
Morgan Calvert wrote another installment of our Diary of a Hair student. Click here to check it out.
Our banner went up and construction is under way at our new campus!
And we featured some amazing student work. Scroll down to see it all.
Hair: Abell / Model: Bryce / Photo: Analog Dog Creative Makeup by Chloe Hair: Emily / Makeup: Martha Hair: Stephanie / Model: Ceanna / Photo: Analog Dog Creative Nails by Silvana Hair: Melanie / Model: Denise / Photo: Analog Dog Creative Hair: Typhani / Photo: Analog Dog Creative Concave Layers by Reagan Hair: Trista / Model: Brandon / Photo: Analog Dog Creative Hair: April / Model: Maddie
Being in school at Delmar college has been a lot of fun the last month, we learned a lot about the chemicals and ingredients that go into hair services and how they work. I personally find this stuff very interesting because I feel like once I have a complete understanding of everything that goes into hair color and lightening I will be able to start creating really amazing things with human hair.
We also just started doing color application and I find this to be really fun and surprisingly relaxing. There were a couple of people in my class that found it to be a little stressful, so if you decide to take a hair program and you are struggling, don’t panic because there are people that found it just as hard as you do that are now doing amazing!
This program is moving along way faster than I thought it would be, I feel like we just started the program and we’re about to start working on the salon floor this following month.
I think most of the class is pretty nervous about starting on the salon floor but I have a good feeling about everyone in the class doing well on the midterm exams and doing an amazing job on the salon floor.
I believe that as long as we all remember that we’re still learning, and not be too hard on ourselves, the turn out will be amazing!!
Below are some photos of everyone doing their first color application and some pictures of my first spiral perm wrap!
Thank you to everyone who made August such a great month at Delmar College! Here is a recap of what we got up to…
Morgan Calvert wrote a third installment to the Diary of a Hair student blog journal. She has been keeping us up to date on how her class is progressing through the 1400 hour Hair Design program. Click here to read her last entry, and stay tuned, because next week we will be publishing her fourth entry.
Lainnee Simpson was our Delmar Ambassador for the month of August. Click here to read her blog post. Thank you Lainnee for being such a great ambassador of our college!
Sarah Haji completed our Masters of Esthetics diploma. She is the first and we could not be any prouder of her accomplishments. She also represented Delmar at the Skills Alberta competition and went on to become a member of Team Alberta and competed at Skills Canada last spring. Click here to learn more.
We welcomed some guest speakers as well.
Thank you to Jason Olandesca of GLOW M+D Clinics for spending the day with our Clinical Esthetics students. We learned so much about the medical side of the beauty business.
Thank you to Coy of Coy Hair for coming in and educating our hair students on the UNITE hair care line. We loved having you and look forward to seeing you again soon.
Delmar Nail Technology alumni Ria Parsbey wrote a blog post for us about what life was like after graduation and how she has built a successful business. Click here to read her post.
Aaron Knox joined our Makeup Department. Aaron brings a ton of talent to the team and will be teaching our revamped Makeup 103 and 104 programs. Click here to read more about him.
Aaron will also be hosting our Halloween Haunt workshop at the end of September. Call us at (403) 264-8055 for details.
We shared some amazing images from some of our past student photo shoots. Scroll down to check them all out.
Hair Design student Brianna with her model. Photo: Brandon Shaw
Now accepting future barbers. Have you always wanted to specialize in men’s grooming? Delmar College is proud to announce that your dreams can now become your reality. Our 1400 hour, licensed and accredited, Barber & Hairstyling program is ready to launch and become the first of its kind in Alberta. Class starts in October. Limited seats available. Call us at (403) 264-8055 for details. Student aid options available. Click here for more information.
Hi, my name is Lainnee and I am currently in the Hair Design program at Delmar.
I chose Delmar after I had done research on many different hair design schools. I knew I wanted to come to Calgary, even though it was much further for me from home, because of the amazing reviews on this school. I had talked to a couple people who are graduates and they had nothing but great things to say, Delmar just seemed to be a perfect fit.
Working on a bride
Ever since I was young I have been interested in the beauty industry. I am inspired by the way a career can become art and expression, and you can help others feel good about themselves. The past few years I have done makeup for weddings, grads, and events, and have finished my eyelash extension and nail tech course. I had felt that something was missing. This is when I decided it was time to go to hair school. I feel more comfortable in this course than in anything else I have ever done. I have the best support from my family and friends, which made this decision very easy.
A makeup look I did
My advice for future students at Delmar is: Never stop trying and practicing. If this is something you are passionate about doing, just do it and don’t look back, you will not be disappointed.
Some styling work I did on my mannequin in class
After graduating I see myself completing my apprentice hours under an amazing stylist back home. After I complete my government exam I plan to open my own salon in my hometown. The thing I look forward to the most is waking up everyday and going to a job I enjoy and am passionate about.
Working on fingerwaves in class
My favourite part about school so far is learning from teachers who are so passionate about what they are teaching, and who genuinely care about your future in this industry. Many things I have learned so far are difficult and take a lot of practice. I still have a lot to learn but I look forward to continuing to get better and having such great people help me succeed.
–Lainnee
Lainnee Simpson is our August 2017 Delmar Student Ambassador. Every month we select a student who we believe represents Delmar College, and the beauty industry, with the highest regard. We reward them with an amazing prize and feature them in our blog.
Hello Everyone. This month we have been mostly focusing on our timing and getting everything organized for our midterm exams. I honestly haven’t been so nervous about anything in my life like I am for this! We did our mock exam last week and no one passed, but that’s okay because apparently no one ever passes the mock exam. So that makes me feel better!
When you first start school everything is going to seem impossible but now that I’m into my third month I’m starting to feel pretty confident in everything other than finger waves. The whole class struggles with them so if you feel like you will never get the hang of it, that’s totally okay because I feel that way too! But I can see the improvement in mine and everyone else’s finger waves!
This month has been pretty crazy because our regular instructor Erin had to do her other class’s final photo shoot with them on some days so we had a bunch of different instructors filling in for her, and I can honestly say this is the first school I have attended where I liked all the teachers! Everyone here really knows what they are doing and do a great job educating their students!
I have learned so much more in hair school than I thought I was going to learn, but it’s honestly amazing and I’m still extremely happy with my decision to go to Delmar for hair dressing!
I’m sorry for the lack of pictures this time because we haven’t really been working on anything new, but I did get all these pictures of what everyone’s finger waves look like after three months of practicing!
My name is Ria and I’m the owner of Talon Nail Bar. I graduated from the Nail Technician Program at Delmar College in 2015. I was, and still am, completely obsessed with all things beauty and fashion. It was no surprise to anyone that I got into the beauty biz. When I was 16 I became a makeup artist, when I was 18 I entered the fashion industry, at 19 I ran a makeup school, and became a Nail Tech when I was 30. Here’s my guide to surviving the beauty biz and nail industry after graduation.
I always knew that I wanted to be a business owner. But I’ve seen many salon owners and beauty professionals open businesses thinking they can provide great beauty services. But it ain’t that easy and they often end up with really poor businesses– this is why I am choosing to do things a little bit differently.
I opened Talon Nail Bar in November of 2015 and worked as a sub-contractor. Unfortunately, I made my first big business mistake. I worked for a young woman that had no idea how to run a business. She had no business plan, no marketing plan, absolutely nothing. I wasn’t given the opportunity to build any clientele and I quickly wasted 8 months. It was time to move on.
Let me tell ya, there is a huge learning curve when it comes to running a business and providing services at the same time. I learnt that you need to do your research, trust no one, be bold, ask questions and always have your own back.
I was given an amazing opportunity to move Talon Nail Bar to a cooperative beauty boutique in Inglewood. I did my research, asked a lot of questions, and before I knew it my luck had changed. Now that I had found a great location for my business it was time to grow my clientele. This is by far the most exhausting and challenging part of the beauty business. With an industry that is full of competition it’s so important to stay on top of the game. So, how am I doing this? Social media, social media, social media.
Learning and educating yourself about hashtags, posts that keep your audience’s attention, taking amazing pictures of your work and keeping things original. Reposting other people’s work and tagging others is also a fantastic way to draw attention to your posts. Advertising on social media is another great way to gain followers and clientele, it’s also an affordable way to get the word out about your business. But social media fatigue is a real thing and it can become overwhelming, so limit yourself and don’t obsess over it too much!
Okay, so you’ve got an amazing location, you’re getting the word out about your business, clients are walking through the door and now it’s all about staying on top, keeping up with trends, and staying skilled. In the nail industry, this is huge. There are new nail trends almost monthly and while only some of these trends stay around, a lot don’t. But you need to be offering the latest and greatest! This can get expensive so my best advice is to spend money on education instead of always following trends. Take as many courses as you can and learn as much as you can. Knowledge is power. I would also recommend focusing on basic skills and becoming confident with that, as the nail industry can become really overwhelming. I’ve also learnt that beauty professionals love being asked questions and educating others, so ask as many questions as possible and learn from others in your industry. This can also give you an edge on your competition and ultimately give you more confidence.
If I could offer any piece of advice for people fresh out of beauty school it would be to be yourself, stay true to who you are and never let anyone tell you that being you isn’t good enough. Trust me, this will happen. Stay authentic and do things differently. In the end it all comes down to originality.
–Ria
Ria Parsbey is the owner of Talon Nail Bar and is a Delmar College alumni. We are proud to showcase the successes (and the challenges) of our graduates. You can see Ria’s work and learn more about her business by checking out her webpage, www.talonnailbar.com
Selena and Sarah, Professional Esthetics students, won first place in our industry scavenger hunt.
And we had a second diary instalment from Hair Design student Morgan Calvert. Click here to read it and stay tuned for her monthly posts as she progresses through our hair program.
Hello again everyone. This is my second diary entry, and hair school is starting to get really interesting.
Me getting to the CosmoProf hair show with one of my classmatesThey really kicked up the work load starting this month, and it’s beginning to get a little challenging, but I know that this is something I really want to do with my life so I’ll never give up! So far in the month of June we have learned all line cuts and we just finished learning all of the layers as well. The next thing we will be learning about is graduation in cutting hair, and I’m really excited about this but also just a smidgeon nervous because I’ve heard from classes that are a couple months ahead of us that that’s when it gets harder!
Me meeting the Wella educatorOne thing I’ve noticed that has improved since I’ve started hair school is my time management. My agenda has become my best friend, because even with going to school 30 hours a week, and working on your days off you need to make time for yourself and still have fun so you don’t get stressed out!
Me and my classmate getting excited about American CrewDelmar also gets tickets for students at discounted rates sometimes, and I highly recommend going to the hair shows. I’ve only been to one so far, but I learned a lot and discovered new colouring techniques! I also met many successful people in the hair industry from all different product lines.
Me meeting the American Crew educatorWe are just now getting into our practical exams. We did our first mock head massage exam, and it actually went really well, I was super nervous and shaking a small amount when my instructor was watching me to make sure I was doing it right but other than that I really enjoyed the experience!
Me practicing color melting with MatrixMonthly tip : Never use your hot tools on high heat!! A girl in my class was using the curling iron on my hair and it was on high heat because her hair and the mannequin hair could handle it, but since my hair had been processed it just melted an entire curl off.
Wow! I am beyond grateful! To start this off I would like to thank all the instructors, most especially my teacher Erin Halisky, staff at Delmar, and all of the students of course, for being helpful and friendly throughout my hair journey. It hasn’t been easy, but Delmar has been good to me. Again, thank you!
Hair and styling by fellow student, Vu. Photography by Brandon Shaw
Big Jump in My Life!
I moved to Calgary in January of 2016. Being a girl that lived in a small city of Yellowknife, NWT moving to a bigger city like Calgary was a big jump for my sister, my partner, and me. I left my family, friends, and a great job to follow my partner. I was very nervous. It was hard to for me to leave, especially since I had made Yellowknife my home.
Yellowknife at the ice road
Determination and Love!
I don’t know where to start. Starting over is hard, especially when looking for jobs. I tried sending out my resume online, and I can say that I really a struggled. With much determination and love from my family and my love, I did not lose courage. Finally, I got a recommendation to work as a receptionist at a nail salon, but the job wasn’t for me. I made a choice to quit due to stress I was getting from working there. I then found another job and it was at a dental office. I am very happy that the owner and the dentists thought highly of me, but at the same time I was very much overwhelmed with the pressure. While working at the Dental Office, I also got accepted at a college for dental assisting. It was really hard for me to juggle school and work. It was taking all of my time. Hence, I made a choice to quit my job.
Way to Delmar!
First day of school at Delmar!
I googled for schools. I initially had a bad experience from a college that I had chosen from a Facebook ad. I did not do my research and did not look for feedback and I ended up feeling disappointed and I paid the consequence. I was really determined to make sure the next school I was going to choose would be different, no matter how far it will be from where I live. I just wanted to find a great school. After my research, I had to choose which course/program I will take. I had the experience of taking Hair and Aesthetics in high school and all I knew was I enjoyed it very much, so I believed it wouldn’t be too hard. Therefore, I decided to find schools for Hair and/or Aesthetics.
Hair I did for a special occassion
I never liked school. I had problems not being able to understand, and I am that girl who is too shy to ask for help. But with the help of Shauna De Freitas (Program Administrator for Hairstyling at Delmar) I did it. She helped me and my sister, who is also taking the program with me, to get us started. From payment plans to student loans to giving us a school tour, she helped us every step of the way. From there on, I knew it was a great school. First thing I noticed was all the students are happy, and all their smiling face had sold me on this school, and I thought to myself, “this is it!”.
My class on our first day
Why did I choose the Hair Industry?
Me, helping my friend with a wedding gig
I have a friend who is a make-up artist and I always love helping her doing her gig for makeup and hair. I also volunteer my time to do hair for fun photo shoots with friends just to build a portfolio. I never really thought of it as a career, since I enjoy it so much. I just love the feeling I get from making someone feel even more beautiful by just doing their hair and makeup. I think every women deserves to be pampered. Especially for mother’s out there who work so hard with many jobs and have families to cook and clean for on a daily basis.
Photo shoot fun with my friends and model who is a newscaster in YellowknifeMy mom got her hair and make up done for a Christmas party
My mom is my main reason. She raised 5 kids and I have watched her work so hard, working 2 to 3 jobs, to give her kids a better life. One day I want to own a business for hair and beauty where she can come at anytime to get pampered. Or I can come over to her place and do it for her. I want to pay her back for all her hard work. I am very blessed to have many strong women in my life from my grandma, my aunt, my sisters and friends. They are who have helped to make me who I am, and I am fully grateful for their support. I am also very lucky to have a supportive partner who gives me motivation and wisdom.
With my family at my nephew’s first birthday
My experience at Delmar!
My experience at Delmar College was quite a challenge. It’s not as easy as what people think. It takes a lot of determination, challenges, patience, and you have to really work hard. I struggle in theory being English is my third language. Some words I couldn’t understand, and I know I am not the only student. I challenge myself to be better everyday. Sometimes with projects I already plan ahead and get it started, so I don’t have to stress myself out. I also try to avoid thinking negative when I fail at something.
Chinook mall class trip for our costumer service survey for school
I do have a great support at school too. I have my instructor Erin, who is always willing to help, and I really appreciate she makes time to stay at school to tutor her students. My friend Melanie, who always tries to stay positive with me. My class, and even students at Delmar just being friendly at school helps too. I have made some good friends who are already graduated. The instructors are a lot of fun and they make the day go by fast not even realizing you’re done for the day. The client’s I have met on the salon floor are also my favourite. I am always happy when I see new faces, and getting to know a little bit about them, but what I love the most is how I can make their day, just by doing their hair and giving them a great service like they deserve.
Calgary’s Miss Teen Pageant 2016Cosmoprof show with Wella models and my friend Melanie
Getting involved with school is great. When there is a hair show, I am there! I have volunteered some of my time to be a model for some of the earlier graduate’s. I have gotten a haircut, hair colour, hair styling. I also have volunteered to do makeup for the Calgary Miss Teen pageant last year, and I participated in the 80’s look inspired competition, which I actually won! I didn’t think the things I do would get noticed, but they do, and I am really grateful and realize that nothing is impossible.
Winning the 80’s throwback challenge and accepting my prize from Delmar’s Director of Hair, Tara ByrneMy submission for the 80’s throwback challenge
My plans when I graduate!
My plan when I graduate is to visit my family and friends in Yellowknife for a couple of weeks. Then find a job in the hair industry, hand out all my resume’s to great hair salon’s and work my 1400 hours to learn more about hair, and then challenge the government exam. I want to work in a salon where there is great teamwork, and with great management who are team leaders.
My brother with his happy final results after getting his hair colour done by meMy brother visited from Yellowknife and booked with me for hair colour
I want to learn more about the hair industry and the way how business works. I want to go back to school and enhance my knowledge in Aesthetics. In a couple of years my dream is to own a salon and beauty business where women can be pampered from head to toe, and work with my own great team someday! I had a pleasure of meeting a client who once told me, “you are never too old to chase your dream”.
“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world”
