The U5 Academy of Hair and Aesthetic Arts has a bold ambition: to revolutionize the cosmetics industry in Alberta.
The school was opened in early January by founders Fima and Natasha Prives. The couple are Ukrainian immigrants living in Okotoks, and have practiced hair and cosmetics across the world.
“I’d never reveal my age but I’ve been around the industry for so long,” said Natasha. “I opened my first school in Saskatoon years ago, I learned English and also taught people Ukrainian there.”
Natasha handles cosmetics while her husband Fima specializes in hair.
“We have an Eastern-European, UK, and Saskatchewan influence on our work,” said Natasha. “The interesting thing is the industry is regulated by the government in Saskatchewan, here it is not.
“We’re working with acid, permanent makeup, lasers, blades, and there is no regulation, meaning as a client you have no idea what you’re getting yourself into. Who is doing the work, where they learned from? Maybe they watched YouTube to learn? There is no way of knowing.”
Natasha said the U5 Academy aims to get past this major issue by offering the highest-quality instruction from dedicated teachers, including several staff beyond herself and Fima.
“I don’t see any future where it will be regulated,” said Natasha. “Regulated by health inspectors, yes. But quality of work? The only way of knowing if they are good is hearing from someone else.
“I would ask anyone, would you learn from a doctor who learned from the internet? Of course not. The same is for cosmetics.”
Natasha and Fima believe that by equipping their students and staff with dedicated hands-on training and access to equipment, their customers can be confident in their work.
