A client has her nails manicured, left; and instructor Kayla Opikokew, centre, with a student look after a client having her hair done at the salon, right. (Submitted photos/North West College)

By Angela Brown

Growing program

North West College’s Meadow Lake campus excited to open new Luxe hair salon

Apr 29, 2024 | 12:57 PM

North West College’s campus in Meadow Lake now has a brand new hair salon, called Luxe.

The official grand opening was held Friday at the site at 720-5th Street.

The college is excited to showcase the new learning environment and salon.

Hairstylist Instructor Kayla Opikokew said students are taking clients as part of their Customer Service Practicum.

“It’s awesome,” she said of the new salon. “It’s great being in a new facility on campus.”

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The salon was previously located downtown at the former Cameo Salon. Before that, it shared the cosmetology lab at Carpenter High School.

The new salon at Meadow Lake campus features all new equipment and a large space for the students to use.

“With it being a brand new facility, we can provide better learning opportunities as well as a more comfortable environment for clients,” Opikokew said. “This means the program can focus on being much more inclusive in both teaching as well as the services it provides.”

“We are moving to a two-year diploma program that will also include barbering techniques, like straight-razor shaving,” she added.

Currently, three students are taking the program in Meadow Lake. Plans are to expand the program, to accommodate 10 spots.

“We have some new programming coming next [school] year for the hairstyling program,” Opikokew said. “So, it’s very exciting.”

The opening coincides with the college’s announcement the program will now also be available in a two-year format starting in September 2024, for students who wish to obtain their Red Seal designation to work as a hairstylist journeyman across Canada. Participants can also just take the one-year program.

“If they come for year one, they will be able to do provincial examinations and be classified as a barber in Saskatchewan,” Opikokew said. “If they complete year two, they can receive a Red Seal designation to work as a journeyman hairstylist, as well as [have their provincial barber certification to work in Saskatchewan]. A Red Seal journeyman is your journeyman status to work across Canada.”

Opikokew said she’s excited to see the growth in the program for the future.

The new salon includes new equipment, right from the stylist stations to the shampoo sinks, and all of the features required to run a professional salon.

Opikokew noted it will be particularly helpful having the new salon right on campus to increase access for students.

For anyone looking to have their hair done at the salon, she added that prices are competitive.

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angela.brown@pattisonmedia.com

On X: @battlefordsNOW