Grad Success
Pro Hair Graduate Chelsea Kapiniak Keeps it Cool in Saskatoon
There’s no such thing as too much education. Saskatoon’s Chelsea Kapiniak enjoyed studying at the Blanche Macdonald Centre so much, as soon as she graduated the Makeup Artistry program, she signed up for the Pro Hair program.
That commitment to learning paid off. Now she’s a star at The Cutting Café, one her hometown’s most acclaimed hair and beauty salons, wowing Saskatonians (that’s really what they’re called) with her hair and makeup skills.
So what was Chelsea’s prime motivation through her two years of study at Blanche Macdonald? Long-held career goals? Academic achievement? Apparently, the answer was ‘fun’.
“I’ve spoken to people who studied in makeup and hair colleges in Saskatchewan who couldn’t wait to get out of school,” explains Chelsea. “That’s totally not like how it was for me. I was so sad to leave. I loved every day at Blanche Macdonald. Every day I was in such a good mood.”
That mood began with the Makeup Diploma, where the girl in love with movie glamour became infatuated with the darker side of makeup.
“I loved the special effects and the gory stuff when I was at Blanche Macdonald,” she admits. “I didn’t think I was interested in that before I started.”
She found herself drawn to Blanche Macdonald’s Hair department, especially after hearing reviews from students enjoying their time on the course.
“I always wanted to be a hairdresser,” she admits. “My parents discouraged me from doing it. They didn’t realize that there are so many opportunities in hair. There’s fashion and TV work. I’m hoping to do that in the future. And I’m enjoying working in a salon standing behind the chair now!”
It wasn’t long before she knew she’d found her calling. The professionalism and opportunities that she was being exposed to every day were all part of the appeal.
“I really enjoyed my instructors and, of course, Phil Loiselle, my program director. I liked the positive attitude and atmosphere. They were always encouraging me to be positive and do volunteer work. I loved going out to do fashion shows with my instructors. We did the Fashion, Music and Art Show last year with Jon Paul Holt and Marcy Hodel. We did a fashion show at a bar in Gastown with almost our entire class. I was a model too.
“We were often doing photoshoots for the Fashion Department. I did some student films at Capilano University. It was all really fun.”
The opportunities were plentiful, but Chelsea’s fondest memories of her time at Blanche Macdonald are of the philosophy that continues to form the basis of her success.
“Blanche Macdonald prepared me to go into the outside world of hair styling. It gave me the skills, but also the confidence to do it. A perfect example is when I compare it to what people who went to other schools in Saskatchewan have told me. They did two or three colours in a whole year. At Blanche Macdonald I’d sometimes do two or three colours a day! I had a clientele of people who came and requested me when I was a student. Our instructors encouraged us to keep our clientele and encouraged us to promote ourselves. That helped me build my clientele here.
“If you came to Blanche Macdonald and had a bad attitude they’d tell you. Blanche Macdonald wants all its clients to have the best possible experience. Speaking to grads from other schools it seems to me that they often don’t care about the clients. Who cares if they get a bad service or a bad haircut? It was never like that at Blanche Macdonald. It’s a top of the line salon. There are never going to be any clients that walk out with a bad haircut.”
Chelsea graduated Blanche Macdonald in December 2008. After packing all her warmest clothing she moved back to Saskatoon at the end of January. Within weeks she was working at one of the city’s most prestigious salons. Now The Cutting Café web site proudly boasts that one of its stylists is a graduate from ‘Canada’s number one makeup, fashion and hair academy’.
“Angie, the owner, wasn’t that familiar with Blanche Macdonald, but she was impressed with how much I knew coming out of school and is proud of my skills. She’s given me lots of her clients. Her confidence in me gives me the confidence to move forward.”
The attitude that had been encouraged at Canada’s best hair and makeup school was perfectly suited for life in a high-end salon.
“My Dad had gone to The Cutting Cafe for years,” continues Chelsea. “He loved the atmosphere. Every client is treated like it’s his or her first visit. It’s all about the way we treat people, listening and discussing the options in the consultations. We try to engage with the client on a personal level. It’s more than just getting a haircut. That’s why it worked so well for me. It’s a lot like Blanche Macdonald.
“I like the cutting and the colouring. I like the creativity that gives you and making clients feel good about themselves. We give consultations every single time. It’s important to know what clients like or what they may want to try. People who have had bad experiences with colour are very wary. That changes when they’re in my hands.
“I also do makeup for weddings. So I don’t get behind the cutting chair too much during summer when it’s wedding season.”
The reason why wedding season is confined to Saskatoon’s summer is the climate. Winters are cold in central Saskatchewan. The average temperature during January is minus 20 degrees Celsius, and it’s not uncommon for it to drop to minus 40. Brrrr.
For the hair professional, the extreme climate poses questions on both a technical and emotional level, not least the issue of clients pulling on a warm hat the moment they step outside.
“It happens a lot,” laughs Chelsea. “Especially with men. They say, don’t put any product in my hair. I’m going to put a toque on.
“You do have to think about our location that when it comes to colouring and product choices. There are rural cities around Saskatoon with a lot of copper and chemicals in their water. You have to keep that in mind when you’re colouring hair. Also, the air is so dry here it affects the porosity of the hair. That effects how colour will last. It makes a difference. We learnt about porosity difference and different products and hair types at Blanche Macdonald. We didn’t learn about cold weather hair care specifically, but learning about different hair types prepared me for it.”
Chelsea’s enthusiasm is infectious. It stems from a confidence born at her time at Blanche Macdonald.
“When I first started the program I didn’t have a ton of confidence,” she admits. “I hadn’t done much hair before, but I knew it was something I’d enjoy. I developed my confidence through the program. People don’t come in with the confidence but by the end they’re amazing hair stylists. One guy in my class couldn’t hold a brush or a blow dryer when he started. Now he’s a wicked stylist. Blanche Macdonald prepares you and gives you the confidence you need to succeed.”