I have just finished a makeup course at the EC academy. It was very informative , great instructors with different backgrounds in makeup industry. The MAC kit you receive is simply amazing and a good base for your freelancing career . The staff at the Academy including Evelin herself are amazing . So kind and supportive. The place is very clean , very modern , very professional. Overall, I am very happy I went there to feed my passion for makeup. :) read more

Hibo was VERY professional and took her time to cut, color and style my hair. She was amazing at explaining each step carefully. She reassured me with my color choices I wanted that it would look my best. I would DEFINITELY recommend her and see her again!! read more

I had my full face and legs waxed by Kourtnee. I was more than impressed. It is one of the best waxing I have had. She was very professional and did an amazing job. I will definitely be going and back for more waxing by Kourtnee. As an added bonus, you cannot beat the price they charge!! Less than half of what I normally pay and for what I honestly think was a better job than some of the other waxing "specialists" I have gone to. Keep up the amazing work Kourtnee, you have definitely found your calling!!! read more

I was told by admissions I would have a British barber certification. I did not receive this. I spent the unit looking over a barbering booklet given to me with information that was so misspelt and so scrambled it was a challenge to read and fully comprehend (I can attach proof if needed ) and a very brief demonstration on how to do a fade. That concluded our barber training. I left hair school not knowing how to cut men's hair. I was told I would receive ITEC certification upon completion of the ITEC modules and exams (I passed my exams) and I have not been certified even with my compliance (and payment) to complete the program. The teacher to student ratio was extremely terrible. There had been days (especially common on saturdays ) where there would be one instructor in the entire academy for hair , and one instructor for esthetics. Which was very frustrating when you're on the salon floor trying to learn and ask questions , along with the other 100ish students there and you couldn't get that help due to lack of staff members. This was a pretty regular occurrence. Other days our instructor would have to leave our class during our instructional time too help students doing clients on the floor. A couple days during my time at Eveline Charles , we actually didn't have a teacher at all in the morning due to no staff . We would mention to our instructors it wasn't fair that we show up to school and not have anything planned or lined up and we were on our own. No resolution was made. There was an instance when I didn't have a model show up for a men's cut test, so instead of taking the zero, I went into the mall to find someone to come in. I found this elderly man who agreed to come get a cut. Upon walking into the academy, he asked me if there were lots of 'fags' in hair school . I was uncomfortable and wanted to deal with this situation as tactfully as I could and responded ' maybe fruity would be a better word' and changed the subject. This happened in front of the coordinators ooffice and she heard. Later that day I was pulled out of class and into her office and got an in school suspension( I still had to show up but no hours counted). I don't believe this was fair. This suspension has cost me money because every suspension you had, you were charged $20/h for how ever long the suspension was . I didn't break any rules and I do not deserve that penalty fee. In addition to that, any suspension or missed time was to be completed after your contract time. The fee was put in place to cover the cost of having an instructor with you for extra time there During my make up hours after contract time , I was not given any clients on the salon floor , and since my work was completed and everything else was done, me and the rest of my classmates sat in the break room doing nothing with no supervision or education. Instead , if we happened to be caught in the back, they would make us clean the academy . Bathrooms, take bottles to depot off campus, clean in cub boards etc(not basic salon duties). I did not receive any education from instructors or floor time with clients in the extra weeks I had to make up. We were promised make up time for hours missed during the course of my stay at the academy. If an opportunity arose Carmen would send an email out asking who would be interested in extra hours, I replied to every email she sent and got nothing. I even stayed late on days I could to help with hair or cleaning, or the fashion show they put on ; only to find out at the end of the program NONE of those extra hours I put in after 4:30 when school was technically over counted. I was never given a chance too make up hours from my suspension. In saying all that, since I have fees to pay them for my over hours , I have yet to receive my diploma from them after my hefty tuition bill. They refuse to work with me or come to a resolution for my time there. There are some other instances I have been scammed for hours where I show up and those hours didn't count for whatever reason it was . A HUGE MONEY SCAM. A $20,000 tuition and I didn't get diploma !!! Bullies do not go please read more

Honestly terrible. The "positive reviews" are from people like Judith M who is the director of the college. This place is just a big scam. They charge $$$ for sub par services and then wonder why people complain. I do NOT recommend this so called "salon" to anyone. read more

Do not go to eveline charles they are unorganized and unprofessional. I signed up for a lash course in November - 3 months later they still have not given me my certificate. Anytime I email them they either ignore me or refer me to someone else. I offered to pick up my certificate twice. One time they completely ignored my offer the second time I emailed they still haven't responded. Update: When I emailed the school again one of the employees responses was that My email was ignored about me picking up the certificate from the academy because apparently the certificate was mailed out the day before. I would have liked a response at the very least rather than being left in the dark. As if yet, I have not received the supposed certificate The course itself: My instructor was unreachable as soon as the course ended. We were supposed to receive our manual through email- 3 months later still haven't gotten it. I emailed the instructor a few times and there was no response whatsoever. The course itself was not informative. The instructor just read off a book and that was all. I learned more through youtube then through this course. The course said it would cover these but we did not even brush up on it: -Cost of Service, Marketing, Tips -Troubleshooting -Taping to show how to Layer Lashes -Insurance For the cost and hassle they will give you its not worth it. The academy does not care l read more

I was a bit nervous to get my hair coloured as I have never had a good experience at any salon getting my hair coloured but at $80 i figured if its a flop I didn't break the bank and the academy is convenient to were I live. The student that did my hair did a incredible job.. like 100x better then any professional I'v seen ( and paid professional prices ) it did take a little bit more time then a regular salon as they're still learning and pay a lot of attention to detail and have instructors come by to check on things throughout the process but I couldn't be more happy with how my hair colour turned out and I want to try out some other services they offer in the future. read more

EvelineCharles International Academy - Cosmetology Schools Near Me - Edmonton, Alberta

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I went here for a solid colour today and really enjoyed the service and my hair turned out great. I've gone here off and on for over ten years, and I've always had a good experience. I was there for almost three hours, but I took the day off anyways and always know it's a time investment when you are going to a hair college. They need to be able to take their time as they learn on the job. I like going to students because it's very affordable and everything is checked by the teacher throughout different stages of the service. I got a nice warm chocolate color for Fall and couldn't be happier with it! read more

EvelineCharles International Academy - Cosmetology Schools Near Me - Edmonton, Alberta

So I am not going to bash this place like the other reviews b/c I went in there knowing that all services are provided by students and they are NOT masters at thier craft. That being said one should be selective in the services in which the get for this very fact. If you are one of those people who are super emotional when it comes to your hair don't go here. If you are particular about you eyebrows don't go here. I go to Farhanna @ EC in South Commons for my brows. I have been here both as a model and as a paying customer. I go for waxes, manis and facials. It is an excellent place to get pampered on a budget. The only thing I don't like it that the curtains in the wax room and facial room look like they haven't been washed since the day they were installed. read more

I have gotten my hair cut here a few times, during those lean livin' student years. And they do a fantastic job. In fact I've never had a bad cut from any of the students here. The price is unbeatable. The students are very precise as they are just learning and are eager to please. The instructors check in every now and again too; which is really nice. A cut does take a little longer here then in a "normal" salon, but I've found that this is because the students just wanna get it right..which I really appreciate! read more

Good place to start beauty career. I was debating whether choose EC or other plac but chos Ed because:3 week barbering program with good known barber instructo,2 week Babe extentions program that gives you actual certification,so you are certified extortionist with kit that includes all you need.Not much traffic and free parking.I will graduate in 2,5 months and already feel absolutely confident on the floor with clients. read more

I definitely wouldn't suggest it; while they are students, I booked an appointment and wasn't told it would be their first day on the floor. I wanted a fairly simple cut, but the stylist I was assigned was literally shaking while she cut my hair. I could feel it through her hands; she constantly needed to get help, and it took over an hour to cut my hair short to all once length, making me late for work! It would have been okay, if I had been warned previously that it would be their first day cutting real hair. Instead, it was a surprise and I was in tears the whole time from how nervous she made me. The cut was pretty average, nothing like what I wanted, and I watched as they chopped off six inches of my friend's hair when she only wanted a trim. I really, really wouldn't suggest it. read more

Prices here are affordable and I was pleased with the job the students did on my manicure and pedicure both times that I was there. They have an excellent variety of color choices! Both the manicure and pedicure also stood the test of time and didn't noticeably chip for almost two weeks. The students are pleasant to talk too the instructors and counter staff seem a bit pushy however in terms of trying to sell you product on your way out and you can tell there is a whole scripted spiel they push on the students to drive up sales. The lady who looked after me during my second visit seemed a little bit embarrassed by it all. Overall though it is a good experience and for the low cost they easily exceed the expectations. read more

I have come here multiple times over the years, for manicures and pedicures. They offer a lot of other services, but I have never tried them. Tanya is correct in saying that the pictures really don't paint an accurate picture of what you'll experience. I think that they are probably the corporate promotional pictures that were taken when the salon was in it's early days. We definitely need more reviewer pics of this place. Sadly, I don't have any, but I'll try to work on that. I think this review will be easiest in a pro/con list. Keep in mind that this is only for mani/pedi services. Pros: - $50 for a Mani/Pedi. Great price. - I have never had any problems with quality. - All of the students that I have had or interacted with were very friendly and never made me feel uncomfortable with awkward chit chat. - I don't know if they still do it, but they used to often have a promotion where if you bought one $50 gift card, you got a second one for free. - Instructors check in quite often to make sure you're happy. My friend has really bad ingrown toenails and an instructor always stops in to show the student how to take care of them properly. Cons: - Making an appointment can be a nightmare. I haven't been able to get in in almost a year because every time I call, they do not have students ready to perform services yet and they can't tell you when they will be ready (because they don't know). - Be prepared to be there for 3 - 4 hours - STOP TRYING TO SELL ME STUFF! They get pretty aggressive with their product recommendations. - Don't expect the relaxing pedicure experience that you would get in a spa. This isn't the place for that. They will offer you a beverage, but their pedicure chairs are actually just long benches that stretch the length of the room and you have to climb up to get to your seat. Overall, if I can ever get an appointment again, I will continue to go. But I suspect that their admission rates have decreased significantly because they never seem to have people on the floor ready for clients. read more

The prices are too high in my opinion, it's students who are doing the services and they charge what some professional spas do. The students who are doing the services don't make any of the profits, no commission or anything which is unacceptable to me considering what they charge. read more

I would rate this a minus if I could. i am in a month long wait for my final marks. there have been none. I emailed my instructor and was told to be patient. I am a university educated woman and never waited this long for a mark at post secondary and there were only 4 people in y class. I wrote a letter 2 weeks ago and have received Id no response. so i see they check here sol im leaving it here Please find this letter as a formal indicator of the dissatisfaction I feel with the Evelyn Charles Brand and the school in particular. I recently decided after much deliberation that I wish to file a complaint the school. As a long time front line harm reduction worker my family and I decided that it was time for a change. And because Evelyn Charles has such a high profile image in the community it seemed like the obvious choice. I am so disappointed with both the course that was offered, the instructor and the outcome for me and at least one other person in the class. The first night I was a bit concerned at the issue of our kits and our training books...both of which were unavailable to us. Although we had no information and all of us were very new to this the instructor went through 3 chapters and despite telling us that we would never be done early I was at home by 8pm. Thursday came and our packages had arrived and again we did many chapters and I again was home again by 8pm during one of the many demos, a couple of us had asked how long the instructor had been doing nails because she did seem very young. At first she was reluctant to tell us the information citing that she had been told not to tell. This statement alarmed me because it implies there was some knowledge of her experience or lack there of was problematic. She finally admitted she had only been doing nails for a bit over a year and when |I clarified with a friend who happened, by chance, to go to school with Christine I had learned it was about 15 months ago. During the already short 6 weeks of part time classes the setup of the classes became problematic, it was hard to concentrate with people gathering around waiting for time to roll around to go home. Apparently "Annie" would not let them go before 6:30pm which meant that many times they were standing 5 feet away, talking, joking and having a bit of a social break, which is understandable after a long day but if people are working and trying to learn it can be an issue. As well the "demos" were somewhat ineffective as a learning tool most people learn by doing not by watching although watching can help. The instructor should hold these demos in the classroom with the students following along step by step with the instruction coming from a go pro camera on the bigger screen. These are fairly inexpensive changes that could be made easily. The classroom is pretty impressive and it would make the demos more hands on and relative to the short nature of the course. We had asked Christine for and were granted 2 more nights in the classroom one for study group and one class was shaping nails and product information or industry information. Neither of which actually occurred. I would expect an inexperienced instructor such as this one should be backed up by a teacher who was well versed in this material and was ready to teach. Even a senior instructor who could fill in when the instructor is not able to teach. Christine is an awesome person and will be an awesome instructor with time. During the final practical exam Christine needed attend to things happening in the reception area, there was some sort of issue with a customer coming in as well as some workers from the call centre coming out and having a loud discussion. In the end, not one person finished the set in the time frame allotted and many times due to the structure of the exam, waiting for instructor to check work before being allowed to move on to the next step. We lost almost a half an hour when all was said and done. I understand that we need to be able to work in a busy environment but that will come with our own experience. This exam was extremely important to us and it seemed inappropriate at the time. For the theory portion of the test we were informed that it was all multiple choice and then 1 week before the scheduled exam we were told that there was very little multiple choice and it was mainly written. All of us found this distressing as the ways of studying are different for each situation. On exam night we started to write and then about 20 minutes in we found that we had been given the wrong exam and had to restart it again. I could not recover my anxiety enough to do well on the exam. Although my course mates were great and we have remained friends, the class overall was not a good experience. I have since paid additional money to take more training and am hoping that will suffice as I have already began the process of starting my own company and did read more

They do not share necessary information with the students. All my teacher quit and I go completely knew teachers that taught differently and I would loose marks for not doing things there way. I never learned the new teachers way. The admins would not share what was happening spent most of my education in a wear house. I was apart of the fast track program and they never let me take the test. The charge you so much if you miss hours. You cant use the sick hours unless you have a doctors note. You have to provide all your models and fail the test if they don't show up. No re-dos no matter the weather. Yet they force you to go and watch something and expect your models to wait. Eveline herself is very mean and will gossip about students behind The students back. She has said to students they are ugly if the students hair is not curled. She has many Law suits against her that have been on going for years. Do not go to this school! read more

If you're thinking about becoming a student at Eveline Charles Academy -- DON'T! The school is a complete sham. It costs students $17000-$20000 for this school, yet the school cannot afford basic things like hiring cleaners. Teachers make the students clean the school while they're supposed to be learning! The school is trying to scam students out of every penny they can by CHARGING students money for things like missing a class for any reason, if you want to wear a certain clothing item that is not approved by the school you have to pay money or making students buy expensive high fashion magazines that range from $30 to $80 to do an unnecessary project. One of the selling features of the school was that the price of admission includes a trip to Las Vegas for a fashion/makeup event. Which is supposedly a $2000 trip. Yet they booked the cheapest hotel possible, not provided transportation to and from the event or the airport and put 4 students per room! Which means you have to share a bed with another student! How cheap is that? The overall demeanour of most of the teachers is that the students have no rights in this school and cannot argue against whatever ridiculous rule or a fee they come up with. I would never recommend this school to anyone and my classmates wouldn't either. Very disappointed in this school with a big name like Eveline Charles. read more

I recently went back to Eveline Charles Academy to get my hair colored again... actually it was probably about a month ago now or two. Boy do I procrastinate! Anyways, the hair stylist who looked after me was pretty good; she went to the instructor to double check our game plan to dye my multicolored hair. My hair had patches of different colors in it (brown and dark brown) so they really wanted to make sure they chose the right color that would even out my hair. Well I am happy to say I am no longer patchy. My hair color is pretty even and I think I've found my one place to go to when I need my hair dyed. It's not as expensive as you think! I paid about $45 and what included an extra special thing that I can't remember, but it helps the color stay longer and helps with your hair (less damage?). Anyways, don't be afraid to try out the Academy if you want a new look for the summer. I can't wait to go back! Oh, and they do more then just hair jobs; you can get your nails done or your make up done too. read more

I am a student at EvelineCharles Academy. I like that they teach a wide set of skills that prepare students for real life work in a salon. They offer floor too which are an opportunity where a students can work on actual clients which also helps us know what to expect in a real salon environment. EvelineCharles Academy is the best place for anyone looking to start a career in the beauty industry. read more

The prices are low, but I feel so is the quality. You are dealing with students, not professionals. So if you are going for a manicure or pedicure it might be fine but the facial I had was so-so. The venue is very open and it's great for large groups. My boyfriend paid for my best friend, sister, cousin and I to come get manicures and pedicures here for my 21st birthday and we had a lot of fun. I'm not sure I like the teachers always walking around and talking to the students while they are with clients but I guess thats just the nature of the beast. If you are lusting over a visit to the spa and you are on a budget, this is the place to go. read more

As a student previously at eveline Charles academy i feel really wronged and it still hurts me till this day because I feel like there's no-one to help me or hear me out.i graduated and even got my certificate but got kicked out 5days before my last days of the course end date.They schemed and planned to fausly accuse me of failling when i graduated it doesn't make sense,Carmen was hiding my marks and kaitlyn wasnt even a full time those days but she was the one to kick me out.They are not professionals and they hold grudges with students and shutter students dreams. read more

I totally agree with the other Reviewers and this Academy deserves the highest rating... I've been an Aveda patron before I moved from Calgary and of course, I defaulted to finding an Aveda-trained salon. Since both are in Strathcona and I work downtown, I found during a coffee break the EC Academy at City Centre, Downtown Edmonton. I had a chat with the staff at the front desk and asked about concerns with products (in fact I told them that I use Aveda). After being assured that their products were just as good, then we discussed about who can do my hair color (since I already had the Aveda Academy experience, I know what to ask). I asked for the advanced student and the rate and so I was booked for my appointment. Got the experience and they did not disappoint. The only thing that future clients need to be aware is that EC Academy at this location only accepts appointments until 4pm since they close at 6pm. And you need to give yourself lots of time as this is an Academy, not a regular salon. But the students follow procedures on how to handle clients, so the quality checkpoints are in place, with the Instructor providing the quality checks (and help). Booking for an appointment is highly recommended if you want to get the right student for the right service and the right price, to meet your expectations. Walk-ins not recommended (I tried...) It's worth it...and right on the budget... Now I can go either to EC or AA (Aveda), as from experience, you need to change products every once in a while for them to be effective... read more

I have now been to both the EvelineCharles Academy and Aveda and now feel more comfortable reviewing this place especially if you are debating between the two academy's. 1. Venue: Now the venue for EvelineCharles is very much like a school. There are a multitude of chairs for students while aveda is smaller and feels more like a real salon with a professional ambiance. A clear example of this is that both salons offer you tea or coffee. At aveda they are served in cups...in EvelineCharles they are served in Styrofoam. 2. Quality of Work: Now I cannot judge here because at Aveda I was with a graduate who has been working for 3 years but at EvelineCharles I was with a student of only 11 months so I will only focus on what I thought about the work at EvelineCharles. I had highlights done and I have never had highlights done before so I had virgin hair. I have to say I got exactly what I asked for! She had to get her teachers approval on what she was doing (which I didn't experience at Aveda since she was a graduate) but I felt very comfortable with this. Since I knew the teacher was there every step of the way, I knew that it wasn't likely something would go wrong. She recommend that I would get partial highlights which cost me only $35! I was thrilled by this price which is not much more than a box but you get professional quality products so even if you felt like you could colour your hair yourself for a little less, think of the quality! I have had the highlights for about 2 weeks now and am very satisfied and would definitely go back to get my roots retouched! Overall, I am very happy. Personally, I would go to Aveda to get my hair cut and to get my hair coloured at EvelineCharles because EvelineCharles is definitely CHEAPER than Aveda. OH I almost forgot! One important thing was when I went to EvelineCharles I had to sign a waiver which I did not have to sign at Aveda but it could have been because I wasn't with a student, I am not sure. read more

My sister and I have attended this school last year and we are going back again this January. I think their part time programs are great! They have plenty of schedules and days to choose from which worked great with our jobs. The first class I took was their makeup program and I learned so much. The instructors were great and the lady who toured me around and took care of my paperwork was super helpful! The program was affordable and that's why we are taking the gel nail course next month. The prices for the services are awesome too! I've gotten my hair colored and touched up here. We have also done the mani/pedi. Parking can be costly if you are driving in since it is at the City Center mall, but we've always taken the LRT since it goes right to the mall. If you are looking for cheap but quality services, this is the place to go! We've referred our friends and family here too. Oh, and the students are warm and friendly too. read more

They get zero stars. I was givin a gift card for my 50th from my amazing sisters so I was so looking forward in getting pampered and polished. But it ended up the worst spa experince ever. I basically paid $174.00 To have my toe nails polished what a rip off. They didn't even use a paddle to remove any dead skin, or do a exfoliation but they did charge me $15 to have my old polish removed. You know the saying you get what you pay for WEL NOT AT EVELINE CHARLES what a rip off. read more

I find the photos posted on here so funny. I've been a guest at the academy for many years now, cheap and I've never had a terrible experience (not that any have been very good) but I have noticed it never looks like the photos make it look. I've had a number of services and each time I see a new issue, the place is down right run down. The place is quite filthy. Pedicure sinks that don't work, facial beds that have fallen down (or apart? Who knows?) while I've been on it, electricity outlets that don't work for stylist students and just recently I had a makeup application and she couldn't find a decent chair for me to sit on cause every stool was ripped to pieces. I get its a school, I'm getting a cheap service but I'm sure the amount of tuition each student pays and the money they make off every student taking a client they could do a little fixing up of the place. read more

The prices are great but the time commitment and cost of down town parking (average $15-$20/parkade) and lack of it are a definite downside. I have been here a number of times for cut, colour, mani, pedi, and wax. For the most part I believe I received good value for money. It has a very nice, bright modern décor. You feel as if you are in a high class salon. If you are having your hair coloured - make absolute sure you know what you want and communicate that before going. If you are ok with spending between 3-5 hours for one service (hair cut or colour). No problem. It is unlikely that they can ever give a colour and a cut in the same appointment - which is a shame. They say it would take too long. I have tried their skin care line and hair care products. Despite the claims of being miraculous - really I find them to be really expensive ($25 conditioner, $30 for a root booster etc.) and hyped and no better than anything else out there. I will not buy them again. Despite a few goofs ie, one time they lost my appointment, another my skin was burned above an eye brow wax application, the students and instructors do try hard. I will probably keep coming as I have yet to find a place with affordable prices. read more

If you are thinking of attending this school I highly recommend you consider a different one. For the hairstyling program you will pay upwards to $17000-$20000 and the money you put into it is not worth what you receive. When my class started we paid for courses we did not receive because they decided to take them out of the curriculum and did not refund us the money for them. They also changed our extensions course from a 1 week certified course to a 1 day course where you don't even get certified in the end. If you have any reason for missing and you have to stay over your graduation date (even if your deathly ill with doctors notes or someone in your family passes) they charge $20 an hour to make those days up, and will not let you make the days up before your graduation date. Favouritism is a HUGE problem. Most (not all) of the teachers treat you like garbage if they don't "like" you and treat everyone like pre school children. 98% of the students I've talked to feel the exact same way which says something huge about the school. read more