Each appointment begins with a consultation with the customer, to find out what they want done to their hair and offer potential options. They may suggest a hairstyle compatible with the client’s physical features, or determine the best style from the client’s instructions and preferences.

To complete the appointment, hairdressers advise patrons on how to care for their hair, discuss any problems and recommend appropriate hygiene and styling practices. Before starting on the next customer, they always clean and sanitize their hairdressing equipment.As styles continually change and evolve, hairdressers must also continue to upgrade and learn new skills to keep up with new trends, products and styles. This training may involve travelling to attend conventions and hair shows, or taking short courses at private styling schools

Typical Duties:

• Suggest hair style compatible with client’s physical features or determine style from client’s instructions and preferences

• Cut, trim, taper, curl, wave, perm and style hair

• Apply bleach, tints, dyes or rinses to colour, frost or streak hair

• Analyze hair and scalp condition and provide basic treatment or advice on beauty care treatments for scalp and hair

• Clean and style wigs and hair pieces

• Apply hair extensions

• May shampoo and rinse hair

• May perform receptionist duties and order supplies

• May judge in competitions

• May train or supervise other hairstylists, hairstylist apprentices and helpers.

Sample Job Titles:

• Scalp treatment specialist

• Wig maker

• Aesthetician

• Hairdresser

Companies and Sectors:

• Salons

• Self-employed

• Training schools

• Hair replacement clinics

• Retail environments

• Entertainment industry

HOW TO JOIN THE FIELD:

Some secondary school education is required.

Completion of a two- or three-year hairstyling apprenticeship program or completion of a college or other program in hairstyling combined with on-the-job training is usually required.

Several years of experience may replace formal education and training.

Employers may require applicants to provide a hairstyling demonstration before being hired.

There are various provincial/territorial certification and licensing requirements for hairstylists, ranging from trade certification to licensing by a provincial/territorial association. Interprovincial trade certification (Red Seal) is also available for qualified hairstylists.

INDIGENOUS AND REMOTE CONSIDERATIONS:

Although there is a need for these services in Indigenous and remote communities, many communities do not have salons where such services are available. Someone who wishes to study this may be looking at opening their own business in order to do this work or else relocating to a more urban centre where they could work for a salon.

Available space to open a salon may also be a challenge, although a home based business may be doable, with the stylist travelling to provide services in customers’ homes or offering services in his/her home. *Please note it is important to get all the proper licensing and certifications to run a business, even from your home.

The more holistic approach to beauty has given birth to a new era that has broadened treatment options and created a much stronger connection between beauty, health and wellness.

As the demand for new service soars, so does the need for professionally trained aestheticians. Any resort, cruise ship, tourism location or business that caters to grooming, health and beauty clientele, provides an opportunity.

Today’s trained aestheticians have begun to branch out in such areas as dermatology clinics and Medical Spas where the integration of surgical procedures and aesthetic treatments are uniting, thus allowing estheticians to work along with health professionals to administer pre and postoperative treatments.

Typical Duties:

• Aestheticians give facial and other body treatments using specialized products and techniques.

• Cosmeticians advise customers on the use of make-up and other beauty products and apply make-up to customers; may specialize in applying makeup to models or other individuals for special occasions.

• Electrologists remove unwanted hair permanently from client’s face or body using needle only specialized electrical hair removal equipment, laser and other equipment.

• Manicurists and pedicurists clean, shape and polish fingernails and toenails and provide related treatments.

• Scalp treatment specialists apply medicated lotions to treat scalp conditions and hair loss.

• Tattoo artists apply permanent designs to customer’s skin, using electric needles and chemical dyes; may also apply temporary designs to customer’s skin.

• Hair replacement technicians (non-medical) prepare and apply custom-made hair pieces to customer’s scalp, weave customer’s hair to hair pieces and provide scalp treatments.

Sample Job Titles:

• Makeup artist

• Skin care specialist

• Nail technician

• Medical aesthetics assistant

• Cosmetician

• Electrologist

• Aesthetician

• Manicurist/pedicurist

Companies and Sectors:

• Skin care clinics

• Full-service salons

• Day salons/spas

• Medical spas

• Wellness centres

• Self-employed

HOW TO JOIN THE FIELD:

Completion of high school, college or beauty school programs for cosmeticians, aestheticians, electrologists, manicurists and pedicurists is required or on-the-job training is provided.

Electrologists usually require certification from an electrologist’s educational or training institution.

Membership in a provincial or national electrolysis association may be required.

Completion of a registered dermal therapy program may be required to provide electrology laser and vascular treatments.

Aestheticians usually require certification from an esthetician’s educational or training institution.

Apprenticeship for electrologists, estheticians and nail technicians is available in Manitoba. Trade certification for these occupations is compulsory in that province.

INDIGENOUS AND REMOTE CONSIDERATIONS:

Although these services may be desired in Indigenous and remote communities, many communities do not have salons where such services are available. Someone who wishes to study this may be looking at opening their own business in order to do this work or else relocating to a more urban centre where they could work for a salon.

Available space to open a salon may also be a challenge, although a home-based business may be possible where the aesthetician can either travel to customers or service customers in his/her home.

As in community stores may not carry a wide line of cosmetics, professionals may need to look at shipping products from south.

Apparel production is a very exacting profession that requires a great deal of creativity. It involves measuring, tracing, cutting, sewing, fitting, adjusting and finishing. These steps are taken according to the specifications provided. Dressmakers can also create their own designs and sketch patterns for garments that are tailor-made for specific clients or sold off the rack in retail stores.

Computers have transformed the clothing design/production industry. Compared to traditional methods, computer-aided design (CAD) is generally quicker and more precise. It makes it easier for designers to create variations of the same pattern. Knowledge of fashion marketing principles helps designers to market their creations.

Typical Duties:

• Designing the look and feel of garments

• Measuring and cutting garments to appropriate size and lengths

• Cutting, sewing and fitting garments to clients and adjusting and tailoring to suit the needs to the purchaser

• Work with computers and CAD to ensure precision and feel or clothing.

• Follow instructions when creating garments.

• Fashion designers design and create clothing and accessories for men, women and children

Sample Job Titles:

• Buyer

• Pattern designer

• Costume designer

Companies and Sectors:

• Manufacturing and service

• Retail stores

• Specialty shops

• Department stores

HOW TO JOIN THE FIELD:

Completion of a college or art school program in theatre design, clothing design or exhibit design is required or A university degree in fine arts or visual arts with specialization in theatre design, clothing design or exhibit design.

Creative ability, as demonstrated by a portfolio of work, is required.

Use of computer-aided design (CAD) software may be required.

INDIGENOUS AND REMOTE CONSIDERATIONS:

Indigenous peoples have historically been master designers and garment creators. In the past, it has been mainly done by women who sew clothing for their families. However, in more recent years many women have been going into business with their fashion lines and selling products to locals and external market.

This is mainly done on a small business scale and most communities do not have factories where large scale manufacturing can take place. Victoria’s Arctic Fashion, Ookpik Designs would be some of the bigger names who are producing on a larger scale.

Cooks prepare and present a wide variety of foods. Cooks duties may include some or all of the following: prepare complete meals or individual dishes and food product, prepare special dietary consideration foods and meals, participate in the scheduling and supervision of kitchen staff, oversee food production operation, maintain operational inventory and record, participate and maintain effective sanitation procedures, may plan menus and determine food quality, quantity and cost, participate in the hiring and training of food production staff. Cooks may specialize in the preparation of ethnic or specialty dishes.

Typical Duties:

• Prepare and cook complete meals or individual dishes and foods

• Prepare and cook special meals for patients as instructed by dietitian or chef

• Schedule and supervise kitchen helpers

• Oversee kitchen operations

• Maintain inventory and records of food, supplies and equipment

• May set up and oversee buffets

• May clean kitchen and work area

• May plan menus, determine size of food portions, estimate food requirements and costs, and monitor and order supplies.

• May hire and train kitchen staff

Sample Job Titles:

• Restaurant server

• Teacher

• Business owner

• Line cook

• Short order cook

Companies and Sectors:

• Restaurants

• Hotels/resorts

• Food service chains

• Catering firms

• Remote campsites

• Institutions

• Eco tourism

• Travel operations

• Food processors

• Self-employed

HOW TO JOIN THE FIELD:

Completion of secondary school is usually required.

Completion of a three-year apprenticeship program for cooks or Completion of college or other program in cooking or Several years of commercial cooking experience are required.

Trade certification is available, but voluntary, in all provinces and territories.

Red Seal endorsement is also available to qualified cooks upon successful completion of the interprovincial Red Seal examination.

INDIGENOUS AND REMOTE CONSIDERATIONS:

In many indigenous and remote communities, commercial kitchens and restaurants may be limited. While there may be a restaurant in town, it may be difficult to get an apprenticeship in this field without relocating to a larger centre. If the community has hotels, mining activity or tourism, there may be opportunities to get jobs with existing companies, however, in the absence of this, developing a home-based catering business may be suitable.

Many Indigenous and remote communities have online Facebook pages where baked goods could be marketed and sold. **Please note it is important to get all the proper licensing and food safety certifications to run a business, even from your home.

A career in baking offers a variety of areas in which to specialize. Bakers are responsible for making breads, bagels, pretzels, cakes, muffins, cookies and pastries as well as chocolate and candy, sugar sculptures and icing. They can prepare many different baked goods or specialize in just one. Depending on their experience and training, they may hire, train and supervise other baking personnel, order and control supplies and stock, and price the various products as well.

Bakers are not only required to follow recipes, but in many instances to also create them. They first prepare the dough or batter by using tools and equipment such as cake rounds, pastry papers, and an assortment of cooking and mixing utensils, and then cook them at precise temperatures for a specific amount of time. They also make icing or frosting for the many desserts that need it, and then apply it with a piping bag in intricate designs.

Typical Duties:

• Prepare dough for pies, bread and rolls and sweet goods, and prepare batters for muffins, cookies, cakes, icings and frostings according to recipes or special customer orders

• Operate machinery

• Bake mixed doughs and batters

• Frost and decorate cakes or other baked goods

• Ensure quality of products meets established standards

• Draw up production schedule to determine type and quantity of goods to produce

• Purchase baking supplies

• May oversee sales and merchandising of baked goods

• May hire, train and supervise baking personnel and kitchen staff.

Sample Job Titles:

• Chef

• Oven operator

• Pastry Chef

• Baker

Companies and Sectors:

• Small retail bakeries

• Restaurants

• Supermarkets

• Catering services

• Wholesale bakeries

• Self-employed