Have you ever thought of where your hair goes once you leave the salon?

The hairstylist industry produces over 42,000 pounds of excess hair colour and 63,000 pounds of hair each day, releasing potent greenhouse gases when left to sit and decompose. 

Vancouver Island University’s hairstylist program is part of the growing movement within the hairstylist industry, where sustainability is taken seriously as they teach the next generation of stylists.

With several welcoming instructors and plenty of hands-on learning, VIU’s program teaches students much more than just how to work with hair.

VIU’s hairstylist program is partnered with Green Circle Salons, an organization that helps salons of all kinds recover up to 95 percent of salon waste while using a system to track the impact of recycling over time. 

Salons that participate in this program receive an annual impact certificate to encourage and document their hard work and mindfulness. 

According to a study cited by Green Circle Salons, the hairstylist industry in North America discards 110,000 pounds of metal daily—“more than half the weight of a commercial airplane.”

If these statistics shocked you, you’re not alone.

With how much waste the hair industry creates, having environmental conservation programs implemented into standard practices is crucial to keeping the environment clean.

Putting these ideas into routine is where meaningful change begins, and that’s exactly what VIU’s hairstylist program values.

Arden Magtiza, one of the hairstylist instructors at VIU, opens up on what teaching sustainability looks like day-to-day.

Magtiza explains how the program has switched from using single-use mannequin heads to reusable ones with detachable scalps to reduce excess waste. 

Students are asked to purchase a quality toolkit—one that will far outlast the program and can be used in other salons for years to come. 

“We’ve been partnering with Green Circle Salons for approximately 11 years,” Magtiza shares.

“It was an easy decision once we observed what they were doing for the industry and the waste problem. It’s cool to see such a practical and attainable solution to a real challenge.”

Magtiza breaks down the process of recycling salon waste using Green Circle Salons’ system.

“We box items up based on category, and once full, they get picked up and sent to the main facility for processing … Hair is repurposed into very effective oil booms for soaking up oil spills. Foils are repurposed into aluminum products, and unused colour is safely processed and kept out of local water systems, rather than going down the drain.”

Mya Mcfarlen, a student of the VIU Hairstylist Program since 2024, shares how her journey began through Head Start—a program that allows high school students to earn dual credit through post-secondary courses.

Partnering with Green Circle Salons has helped Mcfarlen gain an abundance of knowledge when it comes to sustainability and taking the environment into consideration.

“It made me so much more aware of how much waste is created in a day and how it happens so easily without really thinking about it. Partnering with Green Circle Salons made me proud of my work and proud that I was taking that extra step in being sustainable,” Mcfarlen shares.

Green Circle Salons program changed Mcfarlen’s mindset around sustainability. “The program taught me general mindfulness. It taught me just how much the industry wastes on a daily basis and how to recycle waste properly and the process of it all,” she shares.

VIU’s hairstylist program not only offers hands-on learning, but also lowers pressure on students by using mannequin heads. Once they are ready, students gain real first-hand experience working with clients.

Anyone interested in a service with a student hairstylist can call 250-740-6115 to book an appointment for exactly what they need. This includes cuts, colour, perms, and styling.

Services can cost as low as $10 to $60.

Not only are you getting a service for a very affordable price, but you are also helping and encouraging a student. 

During the service, an instructor is nearby to monitor and provide support for any questions the student might have; this takes the pressure off the students and boosts confidence while making certain you walk away satisfied. 

Once your service is done, you can rest assured knowing that the trace you are leaving behind is being disposed of in a way that helps keep our environment thriving.