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Beauty Spot: Careers in the fashion and beauty industry

Patricia Mascarenhas takes a peek into the blooming career opportunities in the beauty world.

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If you read beauty magazines religiously, follow trends and love everything about beauty, what's stopping you from starting your career in your favourite industry? No matter what your interests or strengths, there are plenty of paths you can take— hair stylist, colourist, manicurist/pedicurist, aesthetician, barber, makeup artist, spa/ salon owner and so on.

Today, the beauty profession is a member of the ever-expanding, ever-changing, ever-fascinating glamour industry. Not many sectors have such demand for qualified, creative, well-trained graduates. The industry has been growing at annual rate of almost 20 per cent. "A recent report says that the beauty sector will provide about three million jobs by 2015," informs Mohit James, HR director, L'Oréal India Pvt. Ltd. Nalini Naegamvala, director, Nalini of Nalini and Yasmin Salon agrees, "There is still a tremendous skill gap between the few professionals in the hair and beauty industry and the unskilled and unqualified hairdressers and beauticians who practice in and work in this trade," she informs.

If you are innovative and ambitious, there is no limit to your potential. "You can choose to work behind the scenes in a movie, on a play, at a fashion show or, perhaps, your dream is to own your own salon or spa one day, or become an instructor and inspire others to enter into the beauty business," suggests James.

With the right training, you could reach for the stars, because whatever your dream may be, a career in beauty can take you there. Good training is vital for health and safety as well as your own confidence in ability. "I have seen some scary jobs done in the past and have realised that no salon should be given a license to practice without having qualified staff," warns Naegamvala.

However, the training and skills you need depend on what you decide to do and which 'cosmetic' sector you enter. "There are international standards to follow and adhere too to ensure good service. If you want to do hair, pick a good hair academy with a good reputation, same goes for make-up, nail art etc," advices Virginia Holmes, co-owner/co-founder FAT MU Make-Up Academy, further adding that aspirants should ask around for real testimonials and not just go for hype. They should visit the centre / academy, do the research and then pick the one best suited.

Venessa Fernandes, trainer, b: blunt also agrees. "There is a constant demand for professionals, your creative artistic skills and training gives you the potential of changing peoples' lives by making them look good and feel beautiful, possibly for the first time," she says. "Being qualified shows that you value your customer's demand and adds value to yourself as a brand," she adds.

This field offers bright opportunities for an individual to design their own career and start a personal business or work towards financial independence. "If you have acquired skills from a good beauty school you can demand your price. It can be anything from 8,000 to 30,000 per month. You may start your own salon," says Alison Menezes, hair and makeup artist. "A single haircut which takes about an hour could be anything between Rs 200- 3,500 depending on the stylist," says Vineeta Coutinho, hair stylist, Jean-Claude Biguine, adding that, "It's up to you; don't depend on anyone else. Give yourself a raise," she jokes.

Not only do you get to choose your salary, you also skip the whole retirement bit as this career has no shelf life, "As long as your skills are good and you keep learning, you can work well and earn well into your mature years.," concludes Holmes.

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