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5 Best Beauty Schools in Toronto (2026)

Independently ranked by our review of ratings, reviews and reputation · How we chose

Vespera Quill
By Vespera Quill, Expert in Local Experiences and Cultural Analysis · ✓ Data verified July 2026 · 8 min read

Choosing where to train for a beauty career is a commitment of money and months, and the marketing on every school's site reads the same. Toronto's beauty schools carry 2,197 reviews between the names on this page, and the leader, Marca College Hairdressing and Esthetics, has built 989 of those at a 4.6 rating, the kind of track record that's hard to fake with ad spend alone.

Short answer: The most-reviewed beauty school in Toronto is Marca College of Hairdressing and Esthetics (4.6 stars across nearly 989 Google reviews, the most of any Toronto beauty school), followed by Canadian Beauty School (4.8) and the highest-rated pick, Royal Beauty European School (4.9). Short certificate courses start around $1,400, $3,000, while full hairstyling or esthetics diplomas run into five figures, many of them OSAP-eligible.
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How Toronto's Top Beauty Schools Stack Up

# Business Rating Reviews Best for
1 Marca College Hairdressing and Esthetics 4.6 989 Overall / hair + esthetics diplomas View ›
2 Canadian Beauty School 4.8 405 Online / self-paced study View ›
3 ROYAL BEAUTY EUROPEAN SCHOOL 4.9 352 Permanent makeup & brows View ›
4 International Beauty Institute - Toronto / North York Campus 4.8 284 Aesthetics, makeup & spa therapy View ›
5 Health & Beauty Canadian College 5.0 167 Perfect rating / wide course menu View ›
5 Best Beauty Schools in Toronto (2026)

Our five picks, reviewed

Marca College Hairdressing and Esthetics logo
#1 Overall🕑 Open 5 days/wk

Marca College Hairdressing and Esthetics

4.6989 Google reviews

Marca College of Hairdressing and Esthetics has trained beauty professionals on Danforth Avenue for four decades and bills itself as the only L'Oréal concept school in Canada. It runs full diploma programs in hair styling, barbering and medical esthetics, taught hands-on in a working student salon and spa that is open to the public. The school is OSAP-eligible and offers several scholarships for aspiring and working stylists. Its Danforth campus is the most-reviewed beauty school in Toronto by a wide margin.

What people praise

  • Students work under close instructor supervision, with teachers guiding each service
  • Affordable colour and cuts done by supervised students, with product recommendations
  • Clients report clean, well-blended results they are happy with
  • Welcoming, comfortable chair-side experience from start to finish

Worth knowing

  • Because students are learning, colour and styling appointments can run several hours, plan for extra time
Reputation scorecardrank in Toronto
Rating4.6 / 5
Review volume989 · 98th
Confidencehigh
Recency4 weeks ago
Info completenesssite · phone · hours
✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: Marca tops our list on proven track record: with nearly 1,000 reviews it is the most-reviewed beauty school in Toronto, even though its 4.6 rating is the lowest of our five. For hair, barbering or medical-esthetics diplomas with real salon-floor practice, it is the safe default.

2902 Danforth Ave, Toronto, ON M4C 1M1, Canada

Canadian Beauty School logo
#2🕑 Open 6 days/wk

Canadian Beauty School

4.8405 Google reviews

Canadian Beauty School delivers beauty and body-art courses largely through online study, with assigned tutors and a student portal rather than a single campus floor. Students describe enrolling in programs such as nail technician and fineline tattooing, then working through assessments with their tutor and a supplied kit. A private student community and a responsive student-support team round out the experience. It carries the second-most reviews on our list.

What people praise

  • Kind, knowledgeable tutors who personalize the onboarding
  • Supportive online student community and private groups
  • Thorough, detailed feedback on assessments
  • Fast, helpful responses from student support

Worth knowing

  • One reviewer flagged a strict cancellation window and refund policy, read the enrolment terms before you sign
Reputation scorecardrank in Toronto
Rating4.8 / 5
Review volume405 · 93th
Confidencehigh
Recency8 weeks ago
Info completenesssite · phone · hours
✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: A strong pick if you want to train online at your own pace with real tutor support behind you. Confirm the cancellation and refund terms in writing up front.

370 King St W, Toronto, ON M5V 1J9, Canada

ROYAL BEAUTY EUROPEAN SCHOOL logo
#3🕑 Open 7 days

ROYAL BEAUTY EUROPEAN SCHOOL

4.9352 Google reviews

Royal Beauty European School specializes in permanent-makeup (PMU) and brow training from its North York studio on Sheppard Avenue East. Its courses cover nano strokes, ombré powder brows, microblading, lip blushing, microneedling and laser hair removal, plus advanced work such as scar camouflage and areola reconstruction. Training is hands-on with live models, offered in person and online with payment plans, and graduates describe lifetime mentorship after the course. It holds the highest Google rating on our list.

What people praise

  • Patient, knowledgeable instruction that students single out by name
  • Hands-on practice on real models with detailed, step-by-step technique
  • Warm, welcoming studio that eases first-timer nerves
  • Lifetime mentorship reported after course completion

Worth knowing

  • A PMU and brow specialist rather than a full hair-and-esthetics diploma school
  • Smaller review base than the biggest names on this list
Reputation scorecardrank in Toronto
Rating4.9 / 5
Review volume352 · 88th
Confidencehigh
Recency4 weeks ago
Info completenesssite · phone · hours
✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: The highest-rated school here and the one to pick for permanent makeup and brows. It ranks third only because two schools have logged more reviews, the quality signal itself is elite.

250 Sheppard Ave E Unit 201, North York, ON M2N 6M9, Canada

International Beauty Institute - Toronto / North York Campus logo
#4🕑 Open 5 days/wk

International Beauty Institute - Toronto / North York Campus

4.8284 Google reviews

International Beauty Institute runs a North York campus on Gervais Drive offering diploma programs in aesthetics, make-up and spa therapy. The campus is set up for hands-on training in small classes and sits near major highways and transit, drawing students from North York, Scarborough, Vaughan and across Toronto. Financial aid may be available for eligible programs, and prospective students can book a campus tour before enrolling.

What people praise

  • Patient instructors who explain concepts clearly and check for understanding
  • Small class sizes that leave time for individual questions
  • Teachers who stay after class to help students catch up
  • Supportive, comfortable learning environment

Worth knowing

  • Some Google reviews mention programs beyond beauty at the shared campus, so confirm the specifics of your aesthetics or spa program when you enquire
Reputation scorecardrank in Toronto
Rating4.8 / 5
Review volume284 · 78th
Confidencehigh
Recency4 weeks ago
Info completenesssite · phone · hours
✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: A solid North York option for aesthetics, makeup and spa-therapy diplomas with small, well-supported classes. It ranks fourth on review volume, not on any quality gap, its 4.8 rating is among the best here.

15 Gervais Dr Ste 802, North York, ON M3C 1Y8, Canada

Health & Beauty Canadian College logo
#5🕑 Open 6 days/wk

Health & Beauty Canadian College

5.0167 Google reviews

Health & Beauty Canadian College is a Thornhill career college on Yonge Street offering both beauty and healthcare programs. On the beauty side it runs diplomas and certificates in hairstyling, medical esthetics, barbering, advanced makeup artistry, eyelash extensions, electrolysis and body treatments, with full-time, part-time and online options. Tuition payment plans can be arranged, and the college publishes its student policies and KPI reports. It holds a perfect Google rating across a smaller but growing review base.

What people praise

  • Experienced, patient instructors students name in their reviews
  • Practical, hands-on training that builds real skills
  • Supportive and welcoming, with newcomers to Canada noting the help
  • Wide menu of beauty and healthcare programs under one roof

Worth knowing

  • The smallest review base of our five, so the perfect rating rests on fewer voices
Reputation scorecardrank in Toronto
Rating5 / 5
Review volume167 · 68th
Confidencemoderate
Recency8 weeks ago
Info completenesssite · phone · hours
✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: The only school here with a perfect 5.0, earned across 167 reviews. We rank it fifth on proven volume and confidence, not quality, if a flawless track record and a broad course menu matter most, it is an easy shortlist add.

8403 Yonge St Unit 5, Thornhill, ON L3T 6R2, Canada

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How we score the schools

Every number on this page is computed from public Google data on the date shown, not from opinion or payment. Rating is the school’s live Google star average. Review volume is how many students have rated it, ranked against other Toronto beauty schools. Confidence weighs the rating by that volume, so a 4.6 from nearly a thousand people carries more weight than a 5.0 from a dozen. Recency reflects how recently students are still leaving reviews. No school can pay to change these numbers.

How much does beauty school cost in Toronto? (2026)

What you pay depends on the credential, a single-technique certificate costs a fraction of a full multi-month diploma. Program length (hours), whether it is OSAP-eligible, and in-person versus online delivery move the price most. Here are current 2026 CAD ranges:

JobTypical price
Short certificate course (nails, lashes, makeup)$1,000, $3,000
PMU / microblading brow certification$1,590, $2,850
Eyebrows + lips PMU bundle$2,750, $4,450
Laser hair removal training certification$1,420, $1,850
Hairstyling diploma program$12,000, $18,000
Medical esthetics diploma program$8,000, $15,000

Ranges compiled July 2026 from Royal Beauty European School’s published course pricing and published Ontario private-career-college hairstyling and esthetics program tuition. Diploma tuition varies widely by program hours and OSAP eligibility, so confirm current fees and financing directly with each school.

Serving Toronto and the northern GTA

The schools above train students across Toronto and the northern GTA, from Danforth Avenue and King West downtown to North York, Thornhill and Scarborough, with several campuses near major transit and highways. Searching for a beauty school near me? Each listing below shows a live phone number and directions so you can book a tour at the closest campus.

What to ask before you enrol in a beauty school

  • Is the program registered with Ontario’s Ministry of Colleges and Universities, and is it OSAP-eligible?
  • What credential do I graduate with, a diploma, a certificate, or an industry certification?
  • How many hours are hands-on with real clients or models versus classroom theory?
  • What is the full tuition, and what do the kit and materials fees cover?
  • What is the cancellation and refund policy if I need to withdraw?
  • What help do you offer with certification exams or job placement after graduation?

Frequently asked questions

How did you choose these beauty schools?

We started from every beauty school in Toronto with a public Google presence, then ranked by rating, review volume, consistency and recency. See How we score the schools above.

Are these rankings paid?

No. Rankings come from the public Google data in the scorecard. A school can pay to be a Featured Partner, which adds a badge and top placement, but that never changes another school’s score or position on the underlying data.

How often is this updated?

The data carries a verified date (July 2026 on this page). We refresh listings periodically so ratings and review counts stay current.

Can I study beauty online in Toronto?

Yes. Canadian Beauty School delivers most courses online with tutor support, and Health & Beauty Canadian College offers online options too. Hands-on techniques such as cutting, PMU and lash work still need practical hours, so check how each program handles the in-person component.

Do I need a licence or certificate to work in beauty in Ontario?

It depends on the service. Hairstyling is a certified Ontario trade with a defined apprenticeship and diploma path, while many esthetics, makeup and PMU services are offered on the strength of a course certificate plus local health requirements. Confirm the current rules for your service with the school and your municipality before you enrol.

The bottom line

Marca is the safe default for hair, barbering or esthetics diplomas on sheer proven track record, while Royal Beauty (permanent makeup) and Health & Beauty (a perfect 5.0) lead on rating for their niches. Tour the campus and confirm tuition, OSAP eligibility and the refund policy in writing before you enrol.

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