BEAUTY THERAPY COURSE

Beauty is one of the most precious gifts bestowed by the Almighty upon human beings. It is said that Cleopatra used to bathe in rose petals steeped in milk to make her skin softer. However, like an imposing but desolate palace with cracks and cobwebs all over it, beauty may also lost its quintessential appeal unless it’s looked after and maintained with utmost care. Beauty Therapists with their great aesthetic sense and sleight of hands perform that job with neat perfection and finesse. Today, beautycare is a global multi-billion dollar industry that employs millions of people—from scientists and production engineers right up to your neighbourhood pedicurist and mehndiwalla. If you have an eye for beauty, enjoy interacting with people and delight in transforming a plain Jane into a stunning sophisticate, beautycare is a field you could excel in. Although tastes and trends keep changing, the basic job of beautycare professionals remains the same: to help people look their best!

It’s always pleasing to eyes to get a glimpse of a beautiful face. But a career that helps people to enhance their appearance, thereby, giving them confidence to lead their lives with more vigour and vitality, is of Beautician/Cosmetologist. If at the end of the day, you feel gratified at the sight of a face you have brightened, or a look you have accentuated, then this is the profession for you. Beauty Therapy or Cosmetology has emerged as a major occupational avenue with tremendous commercial potential as today, people are becoming more and more fitness freak health and beauty conscious. This is all due to the fashion industry, which has been facing limelight in a much progressive way. Spurred by new scientific developments, techniques, products and media hype, the Indian beauty industry has truly come of age, generating mega revenues.

Aptitude

As a beautician, one has a whole range of specialisations to choose from: beauty therapy, hair styling, make-up, massage, facials, manicure, pedicure, electrolysis, herbal beautycare, etc. There are other closely related jobs like those of a beauty lab assistant, health club instructor, cosmetic sales person, consultant, yoga and naturecure practitioner, etc.

Apart from being trained to provide manicures, pedicures (care of feet, toes and nails) and scalp and facial treatments, cosmetologists even draw make-up and diet charts to suit individual requirements. Hairstylists, besides trimming, colouring, setting and straightening hair, also educate their clients about the latest hair styles and hair treatment techniques. Further, one might also study reflexology (the art of foot massage by providing impact on pressure points), or work as aesthetician whose work consists primarily of body-treatments, extensive massages, facials, etc., to cleanse and beautify skin. Another favourite option is to excel as a manicurist who treats and accentuates the health of nails, offer nail extensions and pedicures. Hairdressing includes hair cutting and styling as well as treatment for the hair and scalp. Hairdressers use various techniques to make hair look healthy and attractive and are required to know about the care and application of various hair styling gels, hair-colours, hair-pieces, wigs and other hair-accessories. They advise clients on suitable hair styles based on one’s personality and need, as well as care and maintenance of hair.

The area that has gained importance with the growth of television industry is the expertise of make-up and hair-styling artistes for the film and television industry and in modelling and advertising.

To succeed in this field, a prospective student must have a keen consciousness and thorough understanding of current trends in fashion, art and technical design. One must also show ability to easily relate to clients and exhibit ready comprehension of their interests and demands. In face, many beauty schools have incorporated communication, sales and work practices in their syllabi.

The job requires you to be on your feet all the day. The beauty parlours operate most extensively during the weekends. Besides, festivals and marriage seasons invite long hours of concentrated effort. The job also entails prolonged exposure to particularly strong chemical in a beauty clinic which may prove hazardous to health. People with sensitive skin or breathing complications would do well to keep away from the toxic chemicals.

Recent trends in the beauty business show increased numbers of specialisations in bridal make-up and the art of mehndi (Picked up really fast abroad, specially the US).

Various cosmetic companies like Amway, Aviance, Avon, Oriflame, etc.,conduct short orientation courses to familiarise women their product line and sales techniques. Attractive commission on sale can fetch you a healthy extra income – without being tied down to a nine-to-five office routine.

Prospects

Most cosmetologists seek employment in beauty salons, beauty parlours in hotels or resorts, entertainment industry (television and films) and expanding network of studios and modelling agencies. Many start their own beauty clinics after gathering a few years of experience. One may opt for skin care consultancy or work as a sales consultant ina cosmetic firm. While, other work options include the job of a fashion consultant or columnist in various newspapers and magazines. Fitness and exercise is an upcoming area of work, that covers everything from health clubs, gyms, yoga and aerobics. Those with expertise and prerequisite qualifications can start their own enterepreneurial ventures. They can open their own beauty parlours or salons or even fitness centres. To be in beauty business, one should have a good sense of aesthetics and creativity, and a liking for people of all ages. Simply speaking, you must have a friendly manner, an attractive well-groomed appearance, cool dry hands, good health, the ability to stay on your feet for long periods and a sense of hygiene and cleanliness.

The growing interest in feeling fit and looking good has created a growth in opportunities for aestheticians. Since the vast proportions of qualified therapists are women, there is a rapid increase in job opportunities, and it is possible to reach supervisory or management level within two or three years of qualifying. Mobility is an important factor in obtaining employment, largely because the geographical location of salons or health resorts is often crucial to their success.

In these constantly changing times of style and fashion, more and more people are resorting to discover the style most suited to their personality and physical characteristics. With work environment getting increasingly competitive and professional, the need to appear well groomed and attractive has assumed greater importance, not just for women but for men as well. Moreover, the complexities of modern living leaves little time for personal grooming causing more people to turn to professionals for treatments that enhance and maintain their looks. This has resulted in a burgeoning market for beauty products and beauty treatments turning beauty care or cosmetology into a hundred crore industry.

Eligibility

To get a Bachelor Degree in Cosmetic Technology, one needs to be 10+2. Courses undertaken to pursue careers as manicurist (care of hands and fingernails), electrologist and aesthetician are usually of much shorter duration. However, one is required to undertake apprenticeship, which might last for about two to three years. Formal training in beauty therapy, hair-dressing, make-up and salon management makes one eligible for seniority in the industry. Classroom study, practical demonstrations and experiments are considered vital in any cosmetology programme.

Personal qualities include a pleasing and well-groomed personality, gentleness, dexterity, an eye for fashion, readiness to work with your hands, loads of stamina and a strong back (you may have to stand for long hours at a stretch), conversational ease and the knack of making your clients feel special and comfortable. You must create a soothing and relaxing atmosphere while maintaining high standards of efficiency, cleanliness and hygiene – nothing can be more off-putting to a client than a hurried, slap-dash or sloppy job. You should also make it a point that you don’t suffer from an allergic or asthmatic condition (the fumes, dyes and chemicals you’ll inhale and handle could trigger off an attack).

Remuneration

A beautician’s earnings are determined by a number of factors, the most important being the quality of services rendered and the location of the salon.

A beginner can hope to get a minimum salary of Rs. 5,000 to Rs. 7000 a month, while, for the people with sound experience, sky is only the limit. A make-up professional in an advertising campaign may easily demand and get something between Rs. 2,000-3,000 for a day’s work while earnings skyrocket if the work is undertaken as a part of modelling assignment. Basically, work experience and reputation go a long way in determining the level of service-price.

On the whole, one needs to understand that the beauty business is very lucrative industry today. Targetting to make a career in this industry can keep one up-dated with the go of the day. However, the most important point is to realise that there is dignity in every career you choose in which you can excel.

WHERE TO STUDY

* Women’s Polytechnic
Maharani Bagh, New Delhi-110065
* South Delhi Polytechnic for Women
South Extension-1, Newdelhi-110049
* Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University
Rabindranath Tagore Marg, Narpur-440001, Maharashtra
Website: http://www.nagpuruniversity.org/
* National & Regional Vocational Training Institutes for Women
(Ministry of Labour, Government of India)
Centres at : Delhi, Noida, Allahabad, Bangalore, Mumbai, Kolkata, Vadodara, Hissar, Indore, Thiruvananthapuram, Tura
* Pearl Academy of Fashion
A-21/13, Naraina Industrial Area, Phase II, New Delhi-11028
Website: http://www.pearlacademy.com/
* YWCA
Women’s Training Institute, Bangla Saheb Lane, New Delhi
Website: http://www.worldywca.org/
* Shahnaz Hussain’s Woman’s World
International Institute of Beauty, M-106, Greater Kailash-1, New Delhi-110048.
* Akbar Peerbhoy
Girl’s Polytechnic Fort, Mumbai-400001, Maharashtra