Beautician

Beautician work in Canada: licences, salon prices and what to write

Updated 4 November 2026

A beautician in Canada usually needs a cosmetology licence before working on clients, and one provincial association puts the cost of its licences at about CA$280 to CA$440 with all fees. Pay and hours are agreed for each job, and the price lists in our data are for services rather than wages, so post your request on BlaBlaPrice to compare replies from local salons.

How salon services are priced

Salons publish a price for each service. In Scarborough, a regular haircut starts at CA$18 and a wash, cut and blow dry at CA$28. At a training college salon, a full-head colour and style starts at CA$45 and full-head foil highlights at CA$90. Another salon lists a wash and blow dry from CA$29.99. These figures show the local price level for each treatment, which helps you judge what a salon charges its clients.

Licences and fees to check

Licensing depends on the province. One licensing body lists CA$110 for the exam and CA$80 for certification, with a CA$355 total. Ontario lists hairstylist certification among the licences a salon may need. In Nova Scotia, cosmetology licences and salon permits expire on December 31 each year, so renewals fall due at the end of the year. Calgary requires a business licence for beauty and body services. Ask to see the licence before any treatment starts.

Training costs and the busy season

Many people train at a college. One ten-month cosmetology program has tuition of CA$21,799, while in-person courses in general range from CA$5,000 to CA$15,000, plus CA$500 to CA$2,000 for equipment and kits. Bookings climb in December, before the holidays, and during the summer wedding season from June to August. November is the start of the busy period, so salons often plan their timetables then.

What to write in your request

Name the treatments you need, such as hair, nails, lashes, brows or massage, and the type of venue: salon, spa or studio. Give the schedule, whether the role is full-time or part-time, the pay you can offer or expect, and your education, licence and work experience. Include the city, because licence and business rules differ between Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Calgary and Ottawa.

In the chat, describe what you need in your own words, and add a photo of your portfolio if you have one. BlaBlaPrice's AI asks for missing details, looks through local websites and price lists in Canada, and shows the businesses it found. Registered sellers reply in the chat with their own offers, and your contacts stay hidden until you choose whom to contact. Browse Beauty / fitness / sport or Hairdresser, or read how BlaBlaPrice works.