Nicole Harvie always expects the unexpected. As a makeup artist specialising in the twin environments of live and reality-based TV, she knows that on any given day, tension and nerves are potential hurdles that need overcoming. Which is why her job means making sure everybody on screen feels as great as they look.

“I’m the cheermeister!” she laughs. “When I did a stint on the Citytv Morning Show I had to wake up at 3.45am five days a week. No-one feels that good early in the morning. Your responsibility as a makeup artist is to get everyone’s day off to a good start. Pretty them up and cheer them up. How are you today? What have you got planned? People feel great when they get their face on and feel taken care of. I want people who sit in my chair to leave with a little extra energy as well as a bit of colour.” 

Delivering that shot of energy comes naturally to the graduate from Canada’s #1 Makeup School. It’s noticeable the minute you meet her; a combination of warmth, charisma and gentle professionalism that’s led her from Blanche Macdonald to the studios of Shaw, Citytv, Global TV and CTV, and has taken her behind the scenes on some of Canada’s most entertaining lifestyle and reality TV shows, including Take it Outside with Kelly Deck, She’s Crafty, and Urban Suburban for HGTV Canada, Smart Cookies and The Cupcake Girls for the W Network, Crash Test Mommy for the Slice Network, and Million Dollar Neighbourhood for the Oprah Winfrey Network.

“For the most part, these reality-based shows are pretty real to life. I love being on set in the fervour and all the ups and downs. It’s rewarding to see the final result. And it still excites me to see my name roll on the credits.

“I’ve been on camera on Anna and Kristina’s Shopping Bags and Anna and Kristina’s Beauty Call, talking about how to do red lips, concealer and so on. For a number of years I did segments on MTV Canada and Citytv on beauty and fashion. I like being on screen when I know what I’m talking about, and I know what I’m talking about when I talk about makeup.”

That confidence comes from experience. Having worked with some of Canada’s biggest TV stars (“I recently had the opportunity to work with Arlene Dickinson from Dragon’s Den and The Big Decision. I was her personal artist while she was in Vancouver and she was lovely!”) Nicole is equally comfortable on camera or behind the scenes. It’s impressive stuff for a makeup artist who only decided to enter the beauty industry midway through a successful career in marketing.

“Growing up I thought I needed to get a ‘proper job’,” she explains, “but I always wanted to do makeup and wardrobe styling and be in the arts. I have two younger sisters, and I’d always done their hair and makeup. But they sounded like dream jobs you couldn’t make a living at.”

There’s one more unmistakable personality trait you’ll notice in Nicole. Her drive.

“Life is short. If you don’t go after the things you really want, life can pass you by. I decided that I really wanted an artistic career after I’d finished my formal education. I did my research and Blanche Macdonald was obviously the leading school. It still is. It has great people, great history and a proven track record. Going to Makeup School totally exceeded my expectations. It wasn’t like work in any way. I couldn’t wait to go to class. It was a beautiful creative outlet and it was so much fun.”

Nicole took three things from her time at Blanche Macdonald: the techniques of the professional makeup artist, the attitude necessary to succeed and the benefits that sprang from the School’s lengthy list of contacts and opportunities.

“I learnt to be prompt and prepared, to have a great attitude and to put your best foot forward. I volunteered to do a lot of fashion shows whenever I could fit them in. I did the makeup for Fanny Kiefer on Shaw TV on a volunteer basis and I volunteered to do some styling for Susie Wall from etalk and The Province. She had contacted Blanche Macdonald to find someone to help her. We’ve worked together for nine years. We’re dear friends now and I’m forever grateful for her mentorship and support.

“At the time Susie was making guest appearances on the Vicki Gabereau show on CTV. I would help her prepare. I got a chance to meet Rebecca Simmons, the makeup artist at CTV, who needed some help at the time. The rest is history. I ended up working on the Evening News, The Vicki Gabereau Show, Weekend News and loads of promo material. I was lucky enough to work on the Olympic broadcast with CTV at the International Broadcast Centre, making sure all the presenters and athletes were camera-ready.

“It was a privilege to work at CTV. I’ve met a lot of people and had the chance to work with a lot of celebrities. Jon Voight, Angelina Jolie’s dad, was in my chair when he was in Vancouver. So were Michael Bublé, Jann Arden and Elvis Costello.”

Away from TV studios Nicole has collaborated on editorial spreads for magazines including Hello Canada, Wedluxe, Fresh, Vancouver Lifestyles and TV Week. As an in-demand freelance artist, Global TV is another channel that have called on her talents.

“I keyed the makeup for ET Canada at the Gemini Awards when they were in Vancouver. I had the chance to work with all of their beautiful personalities including Cheryl Hickey, Kim D'Eon, Rick Campanelli and our very own Erin Cebula! I feel honoured to be chosen to take care of people at the top of their game. I really love my craft and I think that shows.”

Nicole’s now sharing that love across British Columbia as a new "About Face" Beauty Columnist for The Province newspaper.

“I’ve had opportunities over the last ten years to do makeup and style spreads for The Province, and I’ve styled for the lifestyle section too. The Lifestyle Editor contacted me to ask about writing a beauty column. It’s called About Face, and it’s focused on people’s makeup looks, giving them tips and tricks to improve their own application skills. It’s like a beauty boot camp. I’m going back to my beauty junkie roots – getting inspired again by all the new products and technologies. I share a page with Dr Oz, so I’m in good company!”

Nicole’s enthusiasm for her job is impossible to suppress. Put simply, she cares; about the work she’s doing and the people she’s working on. It’s what she was looking for when she was looking for a new career direction and what she’s found as a makeup artist.

“I wanted to have a career around creative people who inspired me. Hopefully I can inspire some people too. When you’re a makeup artist you chat on a really personal level with people. It’s one thing to just love the craft. It’s another thing to love the people you’re doing the craft on. My feeling is you have to be a people lover to work this closely with people. You have to care about how people look when they’re going out on camera.”

Is there a secret to Nicole’s incredible success? She doesn’t think so. She would say that though. That’s all part of the Harvie charm.

“I don’t think there’s a secret,” she smiles. “People know that I love what I do, and people want to be around people who love what they do. That’s the crux of it. Hopefully I’m pretty decent at it now too.”

Ana Luisa Valdes always loved cutting hair. Now she gets to share that passion. As the BC Educator for the globally distributed, environmentally conscious Hair Line Davines, it’s Ana’s job to travel to salons around the Province, teaching professionals advanced cutting, styling and colouring techniques, along with how to best use the brand’s wide range of products. It’s a fabulous position, ideal for a stylist whose gift for making people look and feel great was apparent even before she arrived at Canada’s #1 Hair School.

“I really don’t remember how I started cutting hair,” she laughs, recalling her time growing up in Tampico, Mexico. “I had no training. It was something natural to me. My aunts would get me to cut their hair with the same scissors they used in the garden. My sister-in-law ran a hair salon in Tampico. She saw me doing hair and said that I should help her in the salon.”

When the suggestion came that she should enhance her natural talent with some formal training, Ana Luisa investigated the possibility of a dramatic change of scenery.

“I’d been to Vancouver before, and I’d always liked it. One of my girlfriends from Mexico lived here and said that I should try Blanche Macdonald. I heard it was one of the best schools. And the brochure they sent me looked really interesting.”

With Associate Director Mary Hombrebueno making sure Ana Luisa’s student visa came through with minimal fuss, two months after that brochure arrived in Tampico, Ana Luisa was starting classes in Vancouver. The weather wasn’t the only shock to the system.

“I wasn’t prepared at all,” she admits with a broad smile. “I thought I’d take a one-year hair course and see what happened. I just wanted to learn and have fun.

“Oh my god! It was totally different from what I expected. It was tough. I had to wake up early! If I was late three times I’d have to go back home, so I learnt to be on time.”

Despite the early mornings, Ana Luisa found that her interest in hair was turning into a passion. And with Blanche Macdonald’s training, the skills she’d taught herself back home blossomed.

“I started getting it, and I started getting excited about hair,” she recalls. “I was having so much fun learning about everything, and I wanted to know more. The photo shoots opened a door to show me what I was capable of. I’d never done avant-garde or fantasy styles before. I’d only seen that in magazines. I didn’t think I could do that type of thing myself.”

Ana’s ability and newfound sense of determination were evident before she’d even graduated. Recruited by the award-winning Toni&Guy salon, she quickly blossomed, being named as one of the Top Ten Hairdressing Newcomers in Canada at the Contessa Awards.

After five happy years at Toni&Guy, Ana felt the time was right to start seeking new opportunities. The discovery of a new product line and an encounter with her hair hero, three-time British Hairdresser of the Year Angelo Seminara, sent her career in an exciting new direction.

“I’ve been Angelo’s fan forever,” continues Ana. “When he came to Vancouver I was able to go backstage and meet him. Oh my God, I have never been so inspired! He told me that he is inspired by nature. Me too! Then he told me he was going to Mexico to do an exhibition in Frida Kahlo’s house, taking inspiration from her hairpieces and her real dresses. When he said that my jaw dropped. I love Frida Kahlo!

“Angelo is the Artistic Director for Davines, and the more I learnt about the company, the more I thought it was what I was looking for. The quality of the products was the first thing I noticed. The line is almost completely natural and all the packaging is totally recyclable. It’s a hair product line that isn’t bad for you in any sense. I threw out all my products from other companies. Now it’s the only line I’ll use with my clients. I need to believe what I work for and feel it in my heart. If I can’t feel that connection I can’t be passionate about it. And if I’m not passionate about something it just won’t work. I’d love to work with Angelo one day too. Now I’m part of the Davines team, I think that dream will come true.

“It’s also a multicultural company. They have offices in Mexico, Paris, London, Italy and New York. Knowing that they have offices in Mexico is huge for me.”

Ana approached Davines, and the team were immediately struck by her artistry and enthusiasm. Now she’s passing both onto stylists across BC.

“Right now I’m going to salons to teach. I’ll use several products and explain why I’m using them. It’s always fun. It’s inspiring to see people sharing the same passion and the love for what we do. It’s like sharing something that you really love. When you share you keep learning and keep inspiring each other. And there’s more people walking around looking better too!”

Ana still has a hands-on role making people look great. After leaving Toni&Guy she was looking for a salon with a fresh environment and Davines on its shelves. She found Sutro.

“The first day I stepped into Sutro I loved it. Everyone was so friendly and welcoming. I just knew that this was it. We don’t have apprentices here. Instead, we help each other. Someone will always help clean a station or get clients a drink. It took me a while to get used to it, but now I love it. I get a full hour with every client. I don’t leave them the entire time. That way they’re getting my full attention, which creates even more of a bond.

“I’m here five or six days a week. I’m often busy with Davines, but I don’t want to neglect my clients. They’re so important to me. I want them to feel that they can come see me any time. A lot of them followed me here from Toni&Guy. That’s when I realised they’ve become real friends.”

Talk to Ana for even a few minutes and you realise you’re in the presence of a young woman blessed with the power to inspire. For her, hair is more than a job; it’s a way of making the world a more beautiful place. To absolutely no-one’s surprise, sharing that enthusiasm with the next generation of super-stylists comes easy.

“My grandma was a teacher and my sister runs a Montessori school back in Mexico. She wanted me to become a teacher before I became a hairdresser. I told her that it wasn’t happening! I never thought that I’d end up doing hair in Vancouver or be an educator, but she could see it all along!”

Although Ana spends her workdays with clients and experienced stylists, that commitment to inspire is on 24-7. Naturally, she has warm words of advice for anyone taking their first steps in the industry she loves.

“If it’s really your passion, do anything to make it happen!” she insists. “Be friendly. Be positive. If you have to apprentice or clean toilets don’t complain. We’ve all done it. Keep observing the stylists around you and do as much as you can.

“I want to be the Educator for the whole of North America eventually, but I know I’m in the right place now. And I love what I do!”

As Chef d’Atelier at Vancouver fashion label Jason Matlo, Wen-chee Liu takes a hands-on approach with everything her role requires. Which leads to the obvious question, what exactly is a Chef d’Atelier?

“It’s a very fancy name!” laughs Wen-chee. “People think that I cook. I don't! It actually means that I head up the studio. It’s Jason’s name on the label, but we have about six people here all working together. The creative process is very exciting. We all pitch in design ideas, do research, draft patterns and sew. The eventual decision of what we create depends on what looks good, what’s cost effective, and what fits into our customer profile and brand DNA. Everyone that works at Jason Matlo contributes to the design process from conception of design to finished product. And when Jason isn’t in the studio I’m responsible to act on his behalf.”

Chef d’Atelier is actually a highly revered French term; the most important position in a design house. The role embodies much more than just designing. A Chef d’Atelier needs to possess many skills and aptitudes: expertise in drafting, draping, garment construction and production. Working with a team, training, insuring proper execution, and managing deadlines are essential. The Chef d’Atelier must have style and a level of taste as the decisions they make contribute to the final look of a collection. It’s Jason Matlo’s name and reputation that’s at stake with every garment that leaves his Gastown Atelier, and the designer puts plenty of responsibility on Wen-chee’s shoulders. 

“She’s my right hand in here,” explains Jason. “She can almost complete my thoughts. We’ve been working together for so many years I don't even have to articulate what I need. She can read my body language and know what I need before I actually ask for it. 

“She has a lot of great attributes. She’s very honest. She knows what she wants and she has incredibly good taste. She’ll let me know when something’s not working, believe me! We’re designing a lot of pieces so it’s good to get that honesty quickly. She has a great eye, and is incredibly fast and detailed. You can always tell which pieces she’s worked on. They don’t look like they’ve been touched by human hands.”

Jason isn’t the only person blown away with Wen-chee’s sewing, creative and organizational skills. They were evident even before she arrived to take the Fashion Design Program at Canada’s #1 Fashion School.

“I’ve always loved sewing,” continues Wen-chee. “My Mom taught me hand sewing when I was young and I’d make little pouches for my Kleenex. I’m glad she taught me, as I still have to do a substantial amount of hand sewing working with Jason. I took Home Economics in high school where we’d do simple projects. I loved the process of it. I’m still fascinated by how you start from a design, then draft a two-dimensional pattern, and turn it into a three-dimensional garment. I would study patterns and sewing instructions growing up. I was intrigued why the patterns curved at a certain point on the body. You can have the most amazing design, but if you don’t have the execution skills, it will only ever be a design on a piece of paper. 

“I did an internship with a local tailor in Grade 12. That’s when I started using a sewing machine regularly. It was at this time that my passion for garment construction and the world of fashion really began.”

After graduating from UBC with a degree in English Literature, Wen-chee’s parents let her know that she had their blessing to follow any career path she chose. She decided on Fashion Design, and immediately found her ideal school at Blanche Macdonald.

“I liked the program. I liked the way the courses were broken down. It was only a one-year program, and very intensive. I really liked the facilities. I already had a foundation in sewing, but pattern drafting with Brenda Swinglehurst was really challenging for me because I’d typically worked with the metric system before that. Brenda is an amazing teacher. I would recommend her to anyone. When we had the Graduation Fashion Show I chose to do eveningwear. I did beading on all my garments and I remember all the nights I spent embellishing them. Seeing them onstage on real models was a great feeling.

“Going to Blanche Macdonald definitely prepared me for this industry. It’s only a one-year program, so everything happened very quickly. You get a real sense of what’s happening at an industry pace. We’re always looking for interns and Blanche Macdonald students have the strongest skills. I went to this year’s Grad Fashion Show and it was amazing!”

Wen-chee had decided that she would make fashion her career, and with the help of Blanche Macdonald Career Director Joy McLean she interned at Gucci in Vancouver, learning about receiving merchandise and organizing stock, while furthering her sewing skills at an alterations shop (“I had to be very fast and very accurate”).

Soon after that Wen-chee took a job posting from Blanche Macdonald. Working as a designer’s intern she had the good fortune to be introduced to Jason. 

“I was very star-struck when we met,” admits Wen-chee. “I couldn’t look at Jason at all! I’d watched the TV show ‘Making it Big’ when I was a student. Jason was one of the contestants doing the fashion challenge and he won the competition. This was years before Project Runway. I found out he had a studio in Yaletown and was looking for help. I sent him an email and that’s how we connected.”

“Wen-chee was interning for another designer at the time and I placed her on a short contract,” explains Jason. “As soon as I saw how good she was I thought, we better offer her a job and put her to work straight away! She just stayed on with us since then.”

Wen-chee has played an integral role in the label’s expansion. When she began, Jason Matlo was only producing a ready-to-wear collection. Since then they’ve added a bridal line, a range of cocktail dresses in their own secondary label, Babe and an ecommerce division.

“I started on a short contact with Jason and never left! I have a motto I live by, which I think is applicable for every field. Make yourself indispensable and you’ll be moved up. Act as if you’re indispensable and you’ll be moved out! I’m willing to put in the time. I missed many nights out and worked countless weekends. I’m prepared to work if it’s needed. I believe in our products, I take pride in what we do and I always try to exceed expectations.

“Every day is different. I love the people I work with, I love the creative process, and I still get excited about the art of garment construction. Whenever I start a new garment I’ll map out a sequence of procedures in my head, and try to think of the most efficient way to achieve the end result. I’m constantly thinking about sewing and a critical path to the finished product.”

Looking at these photos of Wen-chee enjoying fashion events you might think that every day is draped in glamour. The true pleasure, she insists, comes from the satisfaction of a job well done.

“Going to parties and events is one of the perks, but it’s a very small part of what we do. At events we network, build contacts and increase our brand profile. Most of the time we spend working in our studio in jeans and t-shirts covered with bits of thread and paper. Summer is our busiest time – so we miss out on a lot of sunny days. Sometimes I have to work through the weekend, or I get called into work at the last minute because a client wants something on a short deadline. I have to sacrifice a great deal, but Jason is always appreciative and really fun to work with.

“One of our proudest achievements is seeing our clothes hanging in The Room at The Hudson’s Bay Company. The Room is considered one of the most prestigious stock lists in the world. Knowing that I’ve been involved in the process of elevating our brand to this esteemed position within the Canadian fashion industry, feels like the icing on the cake.”

It’s never too late to begin a new career. Julie Brown is proof. She’s one of BC’s most in-demand Bridal Makeup Artists (with a Weddingwire.com Bride’s Choice award to prove it), an IATSE permittee for the film and TV industry, a beauty columnist for Fresh Magazine and an instructor at Canada’s #1 Makeup School, which is exactly where her own makeup journey began.

“I was in my late 30s, working as a flight attendant for Air Canada,” she explains. “I was spending money on makeup like crazy and doing it on friends as a hobby. I was thinking about a career in makeup but felt like I was too old to make a change. I’d thought about going into makeup when I was younger, but I was dissuaded by my parents. It was always something I loved doing. I was fascinated by the transformation process. During my school years I would rip pages out of fashion magazines of makeup, clothes and hairstyles that I loved, and made collages in scrapbooks. I was so surprised when I came to Blanche Macdonald that we were asked to do assignments called photo morgues. That’s what I did when I was younger!

“A friend told me, ‘You’re going to be 38 anyway. Why not be a 38-year-old who’s a professional Makeup Artist?’ I knew Blanche Macdonald’s reputation, so I went on the web site, and saw that I could do the Global Makeup Program Monday through Wednesday or Wednesday through Friday. I could go to school and still fly the other half of the week!”

Arriving at Blanche Macdonald with a determination to carve a new career, Julie was instantly impressed by the instructors she was learning from.

“I loved it! I knew it was going to be career changing, so I treated Makeup School like a job. These wonderful teachers all had industry experience. I knew they had things to teach me and I wasn’t going to waste my time. The quality of the instructors was better than I could have ever expected. When I’m working now I still think, ‘This is a Jon Hennessey technique’ or ‘This is what Jen Powell-Folk told me to do’.”

Julie threw herself into the world of makeup from the beginning, assisting instructors whenever she could, taking retails shifts at Shoppers Drug Mart and seizing every opportunity to work on set for independent productions like The Charlie Da Clown Show, The Dinner Suit and The House, along with TV commercials for brands including Aquafresh and Fisher Price.

“Retail is a great way to hone your skills,” she insists. “Sometimes you’ll want someone to sit in your chair just so you can practice on them. You get access to all the different lines so you learn about products too. I was buying the stuff anyway, so it was good I could do it professionally!

“Being on set was so exciting! Even when I had a newborn baby and had to fly with Air Canada, I’d still volunteer for independent films. Every day I’d be doing different makeups. You might have to do a bullet wound or cuts from glass. When the opportunity to join IATSE arrived, I was able to get in as a permittee.”

A busy career in the movies was on the horizon, but Julie’s business brain had already started searching for new avenues. Once she fully appreciated the creative and financial opportunities in Bridal Makeup, she made a conscious decision to seek out and win clients.

“I saw I could get out there on-line with social media and marketing to create a business for myself. The hours are relatively short compared to TV and film, you get to make someone look absolutely wonderful and happy in a party environment, and it can be lucrative too. It was where I wanted to go.”

She’s been busy ever since. This summer will be the third in a row where every weekend is fully booked. Clients across BC know how good Julie is, which is why she was named the WeddingWire.com Bride’s Choice Winner in the Makeup Artist Category.

“They give out their prizes for a combination of the most reviews and the rating on them. I came top! People were obviously pleased with the work. They liked my attitude and the attitude of the assistants I brought with me.”

Julie’s hectic schedule speaks for the quality of her work. She’s happy to reveal the secrets to her success. In her expert opinion, it’s as much about the approach as it is the application.

“With all areas of makeup, it’s always important have a really good attitude. A Bridal Makeup is collaboration between what the client wants and what I know will look good in photos. It’s the bride’s decision. It’s my job to add my professional expertise.

“People appreciate my flexibility. Even if we need to change location or add someone to the party, I can adapt at the last minute and can make everyone look beautiful and have their makeup last all day. That’s key. It’s one thing to apply a makeup but it needs to last all day and into an evening. Everyone always wants time with the bride, so it’s always a race against the clock. Doing TV and film you learn to be quick, so if one of my assistants is falling behind I’ll step in speed it up. You ride the waves as the day goes by.

“I’d been taught by South Asian Bridal Makeup at School by Farah Hasan. That was an area I wanted to tap into because it gives me more creativity as an artist. As soon as I did some South Asian brides the word of mouth was amazing. I’d do a wedding, a groomsmen or bridesmaid would ask me for my card and boom, I’m in that realm!”

If Julie makes it sound easy, it’s because she’s mastered the relationship between artistry and people skills. That combination led her to be named as an esteemed judge at the Fantasy Makeup Competition at Vancouver’s Asian Expo; and now she’s sharing that expertise in the beauty column she writes for Fresh Magazine and with the students at Blanche Macdonald.

“After graduation I kept in direct contact with Karen Esprez and Jen Powell-Folk and when the time came I was open to teach whatever they would let me go into! Bridal was a natural fit, and so were classes like fundamentals and hair.

“I love seeing student’s skills develop, from the right attitude to the marketing to the artistry; and I love seeing them make the breakthrough when they realise that they can do it. The feedback that I receive from students has been so positive and heartfelt.

“I try to explain that this is where art meets business. Your skill can be amazing, but you have to do the job in the timeframe you have. You need to make clients feel good about themselves; whatever age they might be. If I see standout students with great attitudes and skill sets I’ll get them to assist me when I’m doing weddings.”

It’s only natural that brides from BC and beyond are leaping at the chance to work with Julie. It’s a pleasure for her too.

“When I see the wedding photos or the bride puts her dress on I feel proud of the work I’ve done,” she smiles. “I know that the photos from that day will last forever, and it’s great being a part of that process.” 

There’s a reason Raj Bharti decided to call his Surrey salon EzzCuts.

That’s pronounced ‘easy cuts’ and, as the name suggests, it’s a space where men and women can treat themselves in a fun and informal environment; a salon where Downtown Vancouver styles don’t come with Downtown Vancouver prices.

There’s a gentle irony to the name too. Because getting to a point where Raj could become a successful stylist was far from easy. Although once Raj had decided that Hair was going to be his future career, he was determined to overcome any challenges that came his way.

“I’m from Delhi and my first jobs were in hotel management in Mumbai and Bombay,” explains Raj, who graduated from Canada’s #1 Hair School and is now the Owner and Creative Director at EzzCuts. “Lots of Bollywood stars live there. I would see film stars, TV stars, singers and models, and they all were having pictures taken the whole time. I liked that, and realised that I wanted to work in something creative. I wanted to work with my hands.

“Soon after I came to Canada I decided that I needed to go to Blanche Macdonald. It had everything. There are other schools in Vancouver, but Blanche Macdonald gives you a complete education. They teach you about fashion shows, how to work in media, TV and films. Every hairdresser has dreams, and they’ll teach you to make them possible.”

Raj dream was opening his own salon with his wife Aanchal. Starting Hair School with zero experience and limited English meant turning that aspiration into reality required perseverance and dedication. Luckily, those are two traits Raj has in ample supply.

“When I started at Blanche Macdonald I was really raw,” he admits “I started at Hair School only three or four months after I’d moved to Canada. I didn’t know how to talk to people and I was always quiet in class. There was a lot of theory, and I didn’t understand a word. When I would come home my wife would help me translate every word from my books. That’s what I did for the first few months. Then I got on the floor, and it was awesome.”

Program Director Phil Loiselle remembers just how tough Raj’s first steps into Hair were, and how his student’s work ethic saw success emerge from the struggle.

“Raj was in my office all the time,” explains Phil. “He was having a tough time with the language. It was so difficult for him, especially with colour, which is so technical. That’s when we started meeting a lot, me breaking everything down as well as I could and explaining what we needed from him in return, and his wife began helping him out with translation. Raj is stubborn enough that he saw it through. He’s a very intelligent man, and once he got past that toughest point it seemed to come a bit easier for him. I could see the sparkle in his eye. After that, he just kept going. Once it clicked he did really well. You could see him progressively getting better. By the time we got to the photo shoots, you could see his imagination kicking in.

“He probably put in more time than anyone else in his class. He was here first thing in the morning and he was the last one to leave. Anybody who puts that time and effort into it has the drive to be successful. He had a plan to open up his own business, and he wasn’t going to let anything stop him. You couldn’t help but like the guy. Everybody loved him!”

“I was fed up because it was so hard for me to understand,” confesses Raj. “Phil told me I had to continue and that everyone was going through the same thing. Once we were actually working with clients in the School Salon language wasn’t a problem. I could always explain what I was doing with sign language!”

Raj understood that to make his salon a reality, he needed experience. Once he met Omar Kanani, Managing Director of the Vancouver branch of Toni&Guy, he knew he had found his next home.

“I met Omar when he visited Blanche Macdonald and right then I decided I wanted to work with him at Toni&Guy. I could tell he respected hard work. He started on the floor and now he’s the boss. He told me that when I finished Hair School I should apply for a job at Toni&Guy. I told him my English wasn’t great and I wouldn’t be good talking to clients. He’s such a nice guy. He told me I could start slowly.

“Once I was there I really pushed myself. I was assisting Omar, continuing my education and always watching how he worked. I was studying how he talked with clients and how he managed a salon.”

Raj learnt well. After six months at Toni&Guy he took the plunge, located and leased a space in the Khalsa Business Centre in Surrey (the biggest Indian Outdoor Mall in North America), and opened the doors of EzzCuts. All of a sudden, Raj’s lone weakness – language – became his strength. He’s been busy ever since.

“In the Indian market I don’t have a language problem,” he laughs. “From growing up in Delhi my mother tongue is Hindi but I know how to speak eight languages. Now I can speak the same language as anyone that sits in my chair, which they love! They feel like they’re at home. I started off with about 20 clients, all people I knew, and grew it from there. Within a year we had around 400 clients.

“With Indian clients if you can speak the language, you’re good. But any hair stylist’s business is all about relationships. You have to understand clients’ lives and their problems. You have to know what’s going on in media and movies. I learn a lot from all of my clients: doctors, lawyers, mortgage brokers. I take that knowledge and share it with other clients.”

Business is thriving for Raj. When clients started asking if EzzCuts could provide esthetics and makeup services, Raj saw the potential, created the facilities and hired the staff to make them possible. Now Aanchal is the second member of the family to take the Pro Hair program at Blanche Macdonald, and the husband and wife team are already planning opening a second EzzCuts location soon after she graduates.

“I want to hire Blanche Macdonald students!” insists Raj. “I’m confident that students come out of there perfect. I want to give graduates that chance!”

Raj arrived at Blanche Macdonald with a dream of starting and running his own business. But he also understands that success goes far deeper than dollars and cents. It’s about making a creative difference in clients’ lives.

“Everybody needs to make money,” he explains, “but you have to want to be a good stylist too. Whenever I have a client in my chair I want to make them look like a star. My schooling is good. My work experience is good. And we use high end products here. I have the confidence and clients can feel that. People like what I’m doing, which makes me feel like I have to get more creative with my next style. I’m always on the Internet looking at hair and celebrities and the latest trends.

“I can tell clients like what I’m doing because they keep bringing their friends and relatives,” he smiles. “That’s when I know I’m doing a good job.”