NSCC learning exchange boosts skill diversity in hairdressing

A group of students from NSCC and SJPI stand together for a photo during their learning exchange in Barbados.

Cosmetology students and faculty from NSCC's Pictou Campus and Samuel Jackman Prescod Institute of Technology (SJPI) gather for a group photo.
During the learning exchange, students from NSCC and SJPI took advantage of gaining new hands-on skills in the hairdressing field.
NSCC Cosmetology faculty Angela Burns and four Cosmetology students snap a photo at the airport before heading overseas to gain new hairstyling skills.

Category: Community Impact Student Success

Students are learning the art of braiding hair on a mannequin.

SPJI students share tips with NSCC Cosmetology students on various braiding techniques.

There’s no denying that NSCC faculty are passionate about giving their students hands-on experiences whenever they can. For Pictou Campus’ Cosmetology faculty Angela Burns, that means taking a handful of her students overseas to gain new hair styling skills.

In May 2024, Angela, who has been teaching Cosmetology in Hairdressing at NSCC for 14 years, took four students in the Cosmetology program to Barbados for a learning exchange like no other. Through a partnership with Samuel Jackman Prescod Institute of Technology (SJPI), NSCC and SJPI students came together for a week of learning new hairdressing techniques from one another.

Filling gaps

Within the beauty industry and cosmetology education, there’s a lack of services and training available for textured hair. This gap, not exclusive to Nova Scotia, is what Angela is shrinking through both her curriculum and this unique learning opportunity.

Cosmetology students practice hairdressing skills on their classmates.

Throughout the week, both groups of students took turns practicing their hairstyling skills on one another.

“I’m always looking for new ways to enhance our curriculum and deepen students learning. The goal [of the exchange] is to bring together a diverse group of students from both colleges and share an equitable and inclusive hairdressing learning experience,” explains Angela. “It helps close the gap and puts trust in our communities that our Cosmetology program is committed to educating our students so when they graduate and work in the industry, they can provide quality hair services for all textures of hair.”

SJPI, located in Bridgetown, Barbados offers a hairdressing program for a predominately African Caribbean population, largely working with textured hair. At NSCC, students often work on clientele with Caucasian hair and have fewer opportunities to work on textured hair. At more than 3,600 kilometers apart, both college’s curriculums face the same challenges and strive to give their students hands-on experience with all textures of hair, making this exchange valuable for both groups of students.

Students learning from one another

Students practicing hair colouring on mannequins.

Students from both college's working together to share hair colouring skills.

Spring 2024 was the first year for this learning exchange. Throughout the week-long trip, different workshops and presentations were set up to immerse both groups of students in hands-on learning.

Some SJPI grads visited to teach the art of locking dreadlocks and sisterlocks, teaching the procedure, tips, dos and don’ts. SJPI also hosted product knowledge classes and braiding workshops. During the week, Angela hosted various workshops as SJPI students were interested in learning more about hair colouring, blonding and using various techniques like balayage. Together, both groups visited a local hair salon for a workshop hosted by Nairobi Hair, focused on chemical hair relaxers, watching hydroxide relaxers being done, start to finish.

“This was a valuable session because it’s an important and very delicate service. The students learned so much from seeing it firsthand in a real salon setting,” says Angela.

Students practicing braiding skills on a mannequin.

NSCC and SJPI students practicing braiding techniques on a mannequin together.

NSCC students practiced their silk press skills, learned how to install feed in extensions and practiced different types of braiding. SJPI students gained experience applying various methods of hair colouring while working on Caucasian hair, using different hot tools and styling techniques.

“This experience significantly enhanced my readiness to enter the industry,” says Carlee McDonald, an NSCC Cosmetology student entering her second year of the program. “I gained new skills, knowledge and a broader perspective that will allow me to grow in this field and meet the demands of the industry with greater confidence and creativity.”

A continued partnership

“The week was spent focused on sharing knowledge and skills with others,” says Angela. “We’ve created such a strong, meaningful partnership with SJPI and we’re looking forward to future collaborative learning opportunities together.”

“This experience showed me the value of continuous knowledge, especially in this industry. Being immersed in a new culture was both exciting and challenging while enabling me to grow personally and professionally,” says Carlee. “I flew home feeling deeply motivated and inspired to continue broadening my skills and my creative exploration.”