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Beauty Care |
Topics Overview The work Job profile Requirement Growth And money Employment Resources |
Looking your best has never been easy. It requires the perfect hairstyle, exquisite nails, a neatly trimmed beard, or the proper make-up to accent your looks. More and more, it also requires the services of barbers and cosmetologists, a.k.a. beauticians.
As people increasingly demand styles that are better suited to their individual characteristics, they must choose from a vast array of cosmetic products and rely on these professionals to help them make sense of the different options.
Although tastes and fashions change from year to year, the basic task of barbers and cosmetologists has remained the same—helping people look their best.
Cosmetologists, which is the generic name for beauticians, beauty operators, or hair-stylists, provide hair styling services for their customers to help them look attractive. Most of their time is spent styling hair according to their customers' directions and to their customers' hair type and facial features. Knowledge of the latest hair styles and cutting techniques is essential. They shampoo, cut, set, and comb hair. They may also colour or straighten hair and give it a permanent wave.
In addition, most cosmetologists are trained to give manicures, pedicures, and scalp and facial treatments; provide make-up analysis for women; and clean and style wigs and hairpieces.
In addition to their work with customers, barbers and cosmetologists are expected to keep their work area clean and their hairdressing implements sanitised. They may make appointments and keep records of skin care, hair colour and permanent wave formulae used by their regular patrons.
The work of the cosmetologist requires a great deal of standing, stooping, and reaching throughout the workday. Normal or corrected vision and good eye-hand coordination are also required. Exposure to chemicals may cause allergic skin and lung reactions in some individuals.
A growing number also actively sell hair products and other cosmetic supplies.
Barbers and cosmetologists who operate their own salons have managerial duties that include hiring, supervising, and firing workers, as well as keeping records and ordering supplies.
Cosmetologists use tools such as combs, scissors, razors, and clippers to cut hair. They set hair using rollers and clips, setting lotions and gels. Styling hair calls for the use of dryers, combs, brushes, and blow-dryers. They may also use hot combs and curling irons to press and curl hair. Cosmetologists may apply rinses or conditioners after shampooing to treat dry or damaged hair.
Barbers and cosmetologists work in clean, pleasant surroundings with good lighting and ventilation. Good health and stamina are important because these workers are on their feet for most of their shift. Prolonged exposure to some hair and nail chemicals may be hazardous and cause irritation, so special care must be taken.
Most full-time barbers and cosmetologists work regular hours, but longer hours are common during festivals and the wedding season. Work schedules may include evenings and weekends, when beauty and barber shops and salons are busiest. Although weekends and lunch periods are usually very busy, barbers and cosmetologists are able to take breaks during less popular times.
Most beauty salons are willing to take on complete novices and then train them in their own fashion. However, for a senior position, one must have taken formal courses in beauty therapy, make-up, hair dressing and styling and salon management from a reputed beauty school.
For many barbers and cosmetologists, formal training is only the first step in a career that requires years of continuing education. Because hairstyles are constantly changing, barbers and cosmetologists must keep abreast of the latest fashions and beauty techniques. They do this by attending training in salons, at cosmetology schools, or at product shows. These shows offer workshops and demonstrations of the latest techniques and expose cosmetologists to a wide range of products that they can recommend to clients—an important skill as retail sales become a more important part of the salon industry.
Successful barbers or cosmetologists should have an understanding of fashion, art, and technical design. They should enjoy dealing with the public and be willing and able to follow patrons’ instructions.
Communication, image, and attitude also play an important role in career success.
In fact, some cosmetology schools consider people skills to be such an integral part of the job that they require coursework in this area.
Business skills are important for those who plan to operate their own salons, and the ability to be an effective salesperson is becoming vital for nearly all barbers and cosmetologists.
During their first months on the job, new workers are given relatively simple tasks or are assigned the simpler hairstyling patterns. Once they have demonstrated their skills, they are gradually permitted to perform the more complicated tasks such as giving shaves, colouring hair, or applying a permanent. As they continue to work in the field, more training is usually required to learn the techniques used in each salon and to build on the basics learned in cosmetology school.
Advancement usually takes the form of higher earnings as barbers and cosmetologists gain experience and build a steady clientele.
Some barbers and cosmetologists manage large salons or open their own after several years of experience. Others teach in barber or cosmetology schools.
Occasionally cosmetologists become teachers in beauty colleges, sales representatives for cosmetics firms, beauty editors for newspapers or magazines, etc. Other options include opening businesses as beauty or fashion consultants.
To a large degree, advancement is based not only on ability, but on the cosmetologist's willingness to continue training to keep up with changing hair styles and beauty techniques.
Barbers and cosmetologists receive income from a variety of sources. They may receive commissions based on the price of the service or a salary based on number of hours worked. All receive tips and many receive commissions on the products they sell. In addition, some salons pay bonuses to employees who bring in new business.
A number of factors determine the total income for barbers and cosmetologists, including the size and location of the salon, the number of hours worked, customers’ tipping habits, and the competition from other barber shops and salons.
A cosmetologist’s or barber’s initiative and ability to attract and hold regular customers also are key factors in determining their earnings. Earnings for entry-level workers are usually low; however, for those who stay in the profession, earnings can be considerably higher.
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.
Most workers in this profession are employed in beauty salons, barber shops, or department stores, but they are also found in nursing and other residential care homes, drug and cosmetics stores, and photographic, film and television studios.
Nearly every town has a barber shop or beauty salon, but employment in this occupation is concentrated in the most populous cities.
Hairstylists usually work in cities and suburbs, where the greatest demand for their services exists.
Many self-employed barbers and cosmetologists own the salon in which they work, but a growing share of these workers lease the booth or chair where they work from the salon’s owner.
Jobs are most frequently obtained by applying directly to salons or by answering newspaper advertisements. Schools usually assist their graduates in finding jobs.
Options for work are with beauty parlours, self employment, beauty clinics in hotels, resorts, TV, film industry, fitness clinics, photographic studios, modelling agencies, with cosmetic firms as sales consultant, as columnists in magazines and newspapers, etc.
Public and private vocational schools offer daytime or evening classes in barbering and cosmetology. Full-time programmes in barbering and cosmetology usually last 10 to 24 months, but training for manicurists, estheticians, and electrologists requires significantly less time.
An apprenticeship programme can last from 1 to 3 years. Formal training programmes include classroom study, demonstrations, and practical work.
Students study the basic services—haircutting, shaving, facial massaging, and hair and scalp treatments—and, under supervision, practice on customers in school clinics.
Most schools also teach unisex hairstyling and chemical styling. Students attend lectures on the use and care of instruments, sanitation and hygiene, chemistry, basic anatomy and physiology, and recognition of certain skin ailments.
Instruction also is provided in communication, sales, and general business practices. There are advanced courses for experienced barbers and cosmetologists in hairstyling, colouring, and the sale and service of hairpieces. Most schools teach hairstyling of men’s as well as women’s hair.
The training can begin after Class X or XII and the courses are generally of short duration.
Courses and Institutions
They offer 200 hours diploma, 100 hours postgraduate diploma and personal grooming (refresher or crash courses).