Canada · Trade examIs the hairstylist trade Red Seal in Ontario?
Not on red-seal.ca's list. Its Hairstylist page gives Hairstylist as Ontario's trade title, but leaves Ontario off its list of places where the trade is designated Red Seal. Hairstylist is one of Ontario's compulsory trades, so you need a Certificate of Qualification, a provisional one or a registered training agreement to work in it there. Ask Skilled Trades Ontario whether your certifying exam carries the Red Seal before you rely on it.
What's on the Red Seal hairstylist exam?
Hair colour and cutting are the two biggest of eight areas:
| Major work activity | Questions |
|---|---|
| Alters hair colour | 25 |
| Cuts hair | 24 |
| Performs chemical texture services on hair | 17 |
| Styles hair | 16 |
| Performs common occupational skills | 14 |
| Performs hair and scalp care | 11 |
| Performs salon operations | 7 |
| Performs specialized services | 6 |
Knowledge and recall questions make up 10 to 20%, and critical thinking under 10%. The exam page doesn't list a formula sheet.
How to become a Red Seal hairstylist
Finish a hairstylist apprenticeship and write the exam, or apply to your province or territory to challenge it with experience. The exam is built from the Hairstylist occupational standard, which is free on red-seal.ca.
Sources: Red Seal · Skilled Trades Ontario and 1 more. Checked October 2026.
- Red Seal: Hairstylist ↗
- Red Seal: Hairstylist exam information ↗
- Skilled Trades Ontario: Work in the compulsory trades ↗
Rules and fees can change, so check the official site before your test.
Explore
Everything else, in one place
Trades
By province