If beauty be business...

Beauty is a serious business today and the returns generated by the industry are attracting entrants from all strata of society and educational background.

BEAUTY has been an obsession with the human race from times immemorial. Beauty treatments range from the immortal Cleopatra's hour-long bath in ass's milk to the hot springs of Rome to grandmother's home- made beauty routines. All guaranteed to make your skin softer and glowing, your hair your crowning glory and you the envy of every woman ...

The nips and tucks...

When a certain popular movie star wanted to correct her rather bulbous nose, a cosmetologist came to the rescue. Those wrinkles, laugh lines, bags under the eyes, and double chins and pigmentation can be made to disappear by a professional, but of course for a price. Face-lifts and liposuction are becoming a regular feature of the upwardly mobile men and women in their ``middle age''.

Eligibility

The beauty business requires no special qualifications except interest and inclination for the field. The academic programme (in beauty schools) varies with the institutions with the syllabus including anatomy, physiology, diet and saloon organisation and practical work like giving facials, make-up, massages, hairdressing etc.

Cosmetology includes skin, hair, face and body care and treatment and covers diet and exercise as well. Cosmetologists are professional beauticians who have been scientifically trained to guide people in their beauty routines. In India many professionals usually do their MBBS and then at the MD level go on to specialise in skin care. They further enhance their expertise by doing certificate courses from various accredited beauty colleges in the U.S. and Europe, a few even super specialise exclusively in esthetics (skin care) or hair care, artificial implants, liposuction, and laser surgery. Many even go on to specialise in reconstructive surgery and skin grafting wherein they treat burn victims.

Beauty schools range from the home grown Pivot Point run by Blossom Kochar, Shehnaz Hussain's Women's World International, Habib's Hair Academy to the internationally acclaimed Elizabeth Arden and Nina Ricci.

To study abroad a basic high school graduation is necessary and the apprentice must also clock in a certain amount of hours before she can become a professional. The whole course is structured professionally, akin to a full-fledged graduation program. Beauty technicians, as they are known, are allowed to practice only after obtaining a license, which can be revoked in case of malpractice.

In India there are no accrediting authorities, which certify courses, so the individual has to be very careful and check the antecedents of the organisation offering the course. It is imperative to check the credentials of the owner of the beauty school, the competency of the staff and the success rate of the previous batch of students. The duration of the certificate courses can last from mere weeks to months.

Job scope

After completing the course the student joins as an apprentice in any beauty salon and works her way up to heading that particular division. A hairdresser for example, starts out as a junior in the salon where she acts as the liaison between the customer and the head hairdresser and does the actual styling. Hairdressing also includes treatment of hair and scalp, hair weaving, cutting etc.

A veteran professional in the field can also become a consultant in a number of salons and charge per session or even by the hour. Also involves sales and promotion of beauty products through demonstrations and talks. There is also tremendous opportunity for entrepreneurship in this field where established cosmetologists go on to set up their own salons.

Cosmetologists are also employed by cosmetic companies where they are involved in the various stages of on conceptualisation, formulation, production and testing of the various cosmetic concoctions. Fitness and exercise is the latest beauty fad that covers everything from health clubs, yoga, aerobics, and kickboxing to workout gyms.

The darker side ...

A person has to be very tough to survive in this business. Beauty is a very personal thing and many a time angry customers can not only damage you professionally but also break one's spirit. This is a profession where you cannot afford even the slightest margin for error. In order to succeed in this field one has to be a people person with excellent communication skills and possess the patience of a saint, to deal with the most fastidious of customers and make them go back with a smile on their face.

A professional must carefully consider the personal life of the client, their behavioural patterns, eating habits, lifestyle along with the diagnosis before prescribing any kind of treatment.

Many a plain Jane has been transformed into stunning show stoppers by the magic wielded by cosmetologists. That perfect nose, the pearly teeth, the flawless skin, can indeed belong to a face that launch a thousand products and are the cause of much jealousy and heartburn in others. All thanks to the miraculous art of cosmetology!

MALINI SURYANARAYANAN

malini-s@indiainfo.com