ALICE McBLANE      

Professional Profile

I began my professional career at age 6 as a shampoo girl in my father's barber shop, The Ace, on 1st and Seventh Avenue in Calgary, Alberta. At age 6, I was also the shoe shine girl, sitting on a Coke box working hard to see my reflection on the shoes I buffed and waxed.

At age 14, on my own in the world, I was determined to be a hair stylist and overcame many obstacles to achienve success. Through grit and determination, I worked as a waitress while attending hair styling school. Although I was underage, I persisted and was accepted. By age 15, I was studying hairstyling and working evenings in a pizza parlour to make ends meet.

After completing my hairdresssing studies, I worked for a short time at a small shop until recieving an interview with The Bay, where I stayed until age 18, when I opened my first entrepreneurial venture, Hair Affair Plus Salon, one of the largest and most successful salons in Red Deer, Alberta. After relocating to Windsor in 1985, my entrepreneurial spirit called again, and as they say...the rest is history.

Career History

Shampoo Girl/Shoe Shine Girl, The ACE, Calgary, AB - 1956/1957

Waitress, The Granada Inn, Red Deer, AB - 1966/1967

Waitress, at a Pizza Parlour, Red Deer, AB - 1967/1968

Hair Stylist, The Bay, Red Deer, AB - 1968 to 1971

Owner, Hair Affair Plus Salon, AB - 1971 to 1985

Owner, Hair Plus Studio, Windsor, ON - 1987 to Present

(Rene Furterer Technical Advisor and Clinic - May 2000 to Present)

Professional Development

Throughout my career, and in addition to 20 years as a Hairstyling Competition Judge, I have studied with over 20 internatinally respected teachers and industry leaders throughout Canada, the United States and Britain. Following are some of my continuing education courses:

I.A.J.R HAIR ARTS & SCIENCES LTD.
(Canada Judge's Program - Levels 1-5) - 1989 to 1997

JOHN DELLARIA PYRAMETRICS, Boston, MA
Advanced Hair Cutting Techniques - 1979 and 1992

HAIRFORCE ADVANCED ACADEMY
Advanced Haircutting Certificate - 1998

THE HAIR COLOR ACADEMIE
Advanced Haircoloring Certificate - 1986

EURO-SCHOOL WORLDWIDE
International Hair World Meeting, Las Vegas, NY - 1984

COVER GIRL MODELLING AGENCY
Diploma in Adult Advanced Modelling - 1984
Diploma in Adult Introduction to Modelling - 1983

TONI & GUY LONDON ACADEMY, London, England
Advanced Hairdressing Diploma - 1983
Update 2002 and 2005

EST ELLE ACADEMY OF HAIR DESIGN DIPLOMA - 1982

UNIVERSITY OF CALGARY.MONARCH C.O.P.E MANAGEMENT COMPOSIUM WORKSHOPS
Advanced Certificate in Professional Salon Business Management - 1981

LA COUPE HAIR ACADEMY, Montreal, PQ
Advanced Certificate in Professional Salon Business Management - 1981

EZIO SALONS
Diploma of Achievement, Advanced Cutting and Styling Techniques - 1981
Diploma of Achievement, Advanced Hair Coloring Techniques - 1981
Diploma of Achievement, Advanced Permanent Waving Techniques - 1981

DWIGHT MILLER INTERNATIONAL
Advanced Master Diploma in Precision Hairshaping and Design - 1981

PIVOT POINT INTERNATIONAL (ADVANCED SCHOOL OF HAIR DESIGN)
Sculptors Diploma - 1979
Certificate in Hair Design - 1979
Fashion Designing (Color Concepts) - 1979
Certificate of Achievement - Cut/Color/Perm/Style - 1978
Certificate in Permanent Wave Design - 1978
Master Haircutting Certificate - Precision Hairshaping & Design - 1976

JINGLES INTERNATIONAL, London, UK
Advanced Training Diploma - 1979

PETER JOHN ADVANCED GEOMETRIC BLUNT CUTTING CLUB
Certificate of Achievement (Advanced Geometeric Blunt Cutting) - 1977

MARVEL CAIRO DESIGN CENTER
Special Master Diploma in Precision Hairshaping and Design - 1977

VIDAL SASSOON HAIR TRAINING CENTER, San Francisco. CA
Intensive Study in The Sassoon Method - 1977
Update 2004
Graduated from Hair Styling School - 1968

Professional Memberships

NATIONAL CANADIAN HAIRDRESSERS AND COSMETOLOGISTS ASSOCIATION, INC.
Member - 1978 to 1984

National Hair Fashion Committee
Member - 1979 to 1984


  A photo of Alice and her bird Boo Boo























Awards & Recognition

HAIR ARTS & SCIENCES, Toronto, ON

Master Judges Awards
- Lifetime Crystal Award for Specialized and Advanced
  Seminars - June 2001
- Lifetime Crystal Awards of Distinction for Judging Expertise
  in creative hairstyling and haircutting competition
  June 2001
- Excellence in Presentation Award - June 2001
- Gold Medallion Award, Quebec City, PQ - 1993
- Levels 1 through 5 - 1984 to 1997
- Academic Judge - 1979 to 1993
- World Championship Participation Award - 1984

MARTIN PARSONS DESIGN TECHNIQUES
- Advanced Designers Award - 1990
  Update 2000 and 2004

IVOR'S BEAUTY SUPPLIES HAIR STYLING ANNUAL COMPETITION
- 1st Place Award - 1988

ONTARIO GRAND PRIX
- 2nd Place Award - 1988

TORONTO GRAND PRIX
- 5th Place Award - 1989

ADVANCED BEAUTY SUPPLY ANNUAL COMPETITION
- 1st Place Award - 1988

World Championship Participation Award - 1985

THE NATIONAL LIBRARY OF POETRY
- Editor's Choice Award for
  Outstanding Achievement in Poetry
  1998, 2000, 2004, 2006, 2007

JUDGE'S AWARDS 2001

There is no time frame in which to complete, the first level, the silver level, there is an agenda where five compulsory seminars, a minimum of forty performance credits and a written test on the international system of judging is required.

The gold level calls for up-grading all seminars, all category judging at a professional level, general commissionaire performances and contest chairperson seminar.

To qualify for lifetime recognition, continued upgrading is a prerequisite - upgrading seminars, tabulation of scores are required to complete all competition duties.

This award, as well as others, must be earned and is a special gift for dedication, commitment and long-term service given to the industry.

Through this program, Canada now has judges serving with confidence in the world championship, internationally, and on a national level through the schools and college levels.

It is through study, gain of knowledge, perseverance, and continued dedication that serving in this capacity can one fulfil the task before them.

OSCAR AWARDS - 2001

Alice McBlane recieved the oscar award for best hairdresser and nominated the hair stylist who is a cut above the rest.




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