CAREER AS A BEAUTICIANS

CAREER AS A BEAUTICIANS

INTRODUCTION

In the past 20 years the work of a beautician has acquired much popularity turning it into a multi crore industry. Many beauticians are mid life entrants and it is only now that girls just out of school consider this career an easy and viable option. The growth of beauty culture is quite evidently the result of a demand for professionals who could help usher in the concept of a 'manicured look' among beauty conscious people in society and work places.
Beauty culture includes specialized areas of work such as hair and skin treatments, make up of TV/Film performers, hair cutting and styling, cosmetology etc.

NATURE OF WORK

Beauticians' work in most of the areas described below though some only work as specialists. Beauty therapy: involves giving treatment for the face, hair, skin, and the body. From threadingto facials, massages, skin treatments manicuring and pedicuring" all are included in Beauty therapy. Giving advice on skin care, make up, hair style is essential for a beauty therapist. Beauticians specialize in giving make up for marriages, for TV and Film performers and special occasions. They do manicure and pedicure treatments.
The world of beauty has been greatly influenced by advances in science. In addition to techniques like electrolysis, there are newer developments like permanent make-up, which are used to give a permanent lip-line or eye-line. Aroma therapy which is basically the use of fragrances and essences for beauty treatment is gaining ground. Such specialised services are offered only at a few select centres. Cosmetology is the study of everything related to beauty from daily care to specialised techniques that enhance the appearance.

Beauty advisors

The marketing of cosmetics requires beauticians who can help customers identify the skin/ hair type and give advice on how to treat minor ailments. They give advice on the use of cosmetics, general health/fitness advice, treatment and training is given in yoga/aerobics/health clubs by specialists in fitness and exercise.

Hair stylist/dresser

They specialize in hair care, cutting, styling and setting.


WORK ENVIRONMENT

Beauty therapists and beauticians work in the high street beauty salons, or combined hairdressing and beauty salons. They also work in salons located in health resorts, sports clubs, leisure centres, department stores, cruise ships and hotels. Some self-employed beauty therapists work in their own homes and/or visit clients at home.
The workplace itself is either an open room with small cubicles for private treatments or in small establishments of simply a single room or cubicle Conditions may be rather cramped and hot, particularly in combined beauty and hairdressing salons. For majority of the working day, beauty therapists and beauticians are alone with clients.

PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS

Liking for people, good health, stamina, good humour, helpful nature, friendliness, confident manner, tact, persuasive attitude, courtesy, imagination, systematic approach, cool, dry hands, an attractive well-groomed appearance, some artistic ability, dexterity and an unruffled manner help.

A friendly disposition, meticulous work habits, patience, business acumen physical fitness and good health are assets for becoming a beautician. It is essential for beauty therapists and beauticians to like meeting and working with people. They have to be tactful, sympathetic and should be able to put people at ease. The work usually involves chatting to clients whilst treatment is taking place hence beauty therapists and beauticians need to be able to chat in a natural, friendly way and, perhaps more importantly, to listen sympathetically. Occassionally clients may be awkward and difficult: patience is important in these situations.
Beauty therapists and beauticians must be well groomed, and need to pay meticulous attention to all details of their personal appearance. They should be in good health; this is particularly important for beauty therapists, whose work involves physical manipulation of the body, which can be strenous and tiring. Stamina is also important, as the work usually involves long periods of standing. Beauty therapists need strong and supple hands. Beauty work is not suitable for people with cosmetic allergies.
An interest in science, and some understanding of scientific subjects -particularly human biology - are necessary. Aesthetic sense, manual dexterity and considerable skill is required.

EMPLOYMENT AVENUES

The beauty business is growing in volume at a fast pace. While many beauty specialists start off with a big establishment before branching out, many prefer to start off on their own and build their own clientele. Entrepreneurs would need to put in an initial investment to set up the basic infrastructure and facilities, purchase a few essential electrical instruments and get the formalities sorted out. Since the courses of training for beauticians include salon organization this should not be difficult at all.

Knowledge of equipment and techniques has to be updated on an ongoing basis. Formulation of specialized beauty products, treatment packages, their manufacture and marketing have become important extensions of the beautician's profession in which some have been noticeably successful.

The profession is open to men and women alike. Although small, the segment of grooming specialists for men is growing very fast.

Good grooming being an essential aspect of an attractive personality, beauty/grooming specialists today constitute a much sought after breed of professionals. Beauticians command very high fees for their specialized professional services and continue to be fully booked up. Smaller towns are today proud of their own beauty salons as well.

Options for work are with beauty parlours in self-employment in beauty clinics of hotels, resorts, TV, Film industry, in fitness clinics, with cosmetic firms as sales consultant. Fashion and advertising offer scope to the beautician and the hair stylist. For starters, a make-up artist can command around Rs 1,500-2,500 for a day's work on an advertising campaign. For a modelling assignment, emoluments would be higher at around Rs 3,500. Top-of-the-line professionals command higher rate.

Earnings

Beauticians and make-up artists with beauty parlours - Rs. 3,000 to Rs 10.000 a month,
For models /filmstar makeup the payment is by the day/hour For TV Films modest Rs. 1500 - 2,500 for a day's work to Rs 7,500 and much more

ENTRY/TRAINING

A Beauticians job requires skill training rather than high academic inputs. The training can begin after Class X or XII and the courses are generally of short duration.

COURSES/INSTITUTIONS

Polytechnics conduct diploma courses in beauty culture and hair dressing for students who have completed plus two or equivalent examinations successfully. These courses vary in duration from six months to two months. The longer duration courses are more comprehensive.

Established beauticians of national and international repute also conduct training programmes which are well recognized in the profession.

Fluency in English is a basic requirement for all these programmes. To succeed, a beautician should be able to speak well. Knowledge of the local language is also helpful. A foreign language is a great help in the bigger establishments attached to luxury hotels. Knowledge of elementary science is an asset.

The courses are divided between theory (anatomy, physiology, hygiene, some chemistry, nature of hair, hair dressing, salon organization, electrical treatment) and the practical work of giving facials, make-up, different types of massage, tinting and bleaching of hair, etc. The best professional training in this field is available in the metropolitan and major cities in the country. After initial training many interested individuals go abroad for further training.




Some Govt./Private Organization giving traning for Beutician Course

Delhi
Shahnaz Husain's Woman's World, International Institute of Beauty
(affiliated to ITEC (UK) M. 106, Greater Kailash-I, New Delhi-110048 Offers 200 hours diploma, 100 hours PG Diploma and personal grooming (refresher/crash courses).

Men's World International Institute of Cosmetic Therapy and Hair Design for Men, B.23, Greater Kailash-I, New Delhi-110048.

Habib’s Hair Academy, M-3, South Extension II, New Delhi-110049.
Courses in Make up and Hairstyle

Maharani Bagh Polytechnic for Women, New Delhi-110065.
Course in Beauty Therapy

South Delhi Polytechnic for Women, South Extension-I, New Delhi-110049
Course in Beauty therapy and hairdressing

Delhi Institute of Management & Services, A-3, Akashdeep, New Delhi.
Courses in Beauty therapy and saloon management

ITI for Women, Curzon Road, New Delhi

Women's Polytechnic, Kashmiri Gate, Delhi

Women's Technical Training Institute, YWCA, Asoka Road, New Delhi


Chandigarh
International Polytechnic for Women, 1860, Sector 34-D, Chandigarh


Mumbai
Akbar Peerbhoy Girl's Polytechnic, Fort, Mumbai - 400001.
Smiles, A-160, Azad Nagar, Vera Desai Road, Andheri West, Mumbai
Course in Make up professional training/Hairdressing

Shehnaz Herbal Women's World International, Sea Bird Building, Bandra, Mumbai 400005

Schnell Hans Beauty School, 111, Mistry Chambers, Colaba, Mumbai 400005


Chennai
Government Polytechnic for Women, Adyar, Chennai