Career in Hair
Article by Veenu Singh, published in HT
Horizons, a supplement of mainstream Hindustan Times, National
Edition, January 2004. All Rights Reserved
Proficiency in Geometry, Drawing and English: if you are
assuming an engineer or a mathematician in making, then hang on
– we are talking about the essential qualities to become a
successful hairstylist in today’s world.
Erstwhile it was considered as low paying, low profile escape
route for college dropouts. Today with rising economy and
changing lifestyle in cosmopolitan world, people are more
attentive and aggressive towards their appearances and façade.
Hairstyling profession is providing newer and better career
opportunities for them.
Neither you need to be blessed nor it comes naturally to you
being a Chinese heritage, which is simply a myth. It is an art
that has to be learnt systematically with thorough concentration
and dedication. This profession challenges your creative juices
and gives you an ample freedom to live your artistic dream.
Here are some insights on some major challenges being faced by
the industry and its people-
The Rising Competition
To maintain a direct relationship with the end users and to
extend range of their products, various leading Indian and
International cosmetic and FMCG companies such as HLL (Lakme
Beauty Salon), Marico (Kaya Skin Clinic), Keune, CavinKare,
French based L’Oreal (HFX) and German major Wella have stepped
into salon business to exhilarate the customers with treatment
and experience of global standards. Market analysts must have
seen huge potential doing so to promote not only the brand
awareness but also to contribute significantly to the bottom
line of the business.
I personally feel that there would be a tough fight between
individual expertise and collective corporate strategies.
However it won’t be a cakewalk for corporate players as
individual expertise in this profession still rule the market
across India.
The 1% factor
There are 4 types of salon workers available today such as The
Damagers (below average), Run of the mill (mediocres), The Fair
Group (above average) and finally the Elite professional group.
However there is no statistically significant data available but
it is estimated that the Indian hair and beauty industry is
largely dominated by the damagers (proficiency level up to 50%)
and run of the mill workers (glorified barbers where proficiency
level is in the range of 51-80%) who may not even equipped with
any sort of professional training. They would love to promise to
do anything you want irrespective of your hair texture, scalp,
background and face structure. They may color the hair blonde to
someone with dusky skin color to give that horrible look.
With the emergence of corporate players and some middle rung
professional institutes “the fair group workers” might have
attained the proficiency level in the range of 81-99% and are
holding forte in most of the high-end salons in the country.
Although they might be technically qualified but lack of
effective consultation, communication and customization still
leave scope for further improvement. Another problem with such
people is that “everyone thinks he is fine”.
The different still lies with the remaining 1%. Only a few
salons (which you may count on finger tips) in India are
operating with optimum proficiency and professionalism. Such
salons invest heavily on training and overall development of
their staff to keep an edge of that 1% which distinguishes them
from rest of the world. Client consultation and thorough
product/ craft knowledge remain the key focus areas for such
salons.
The Jumping Jack Factor
Salon workers are highly vulnerable and jump places even for a
minor to no raise at all. This is due to lack of professional
culture and bonding spirit between them and the management.
Job-hopping accelerates their growth prospects, as all beginners
want to become the stylists in no time. As the place does not
grow that fast, people learn and leave or start own shops
quickly. You may count them in “Damagers” or “Mediocres” family.
The Star Factor
Everyone loves to change his or her existing look to match with
some rising star. This may not always work. There is nothing
much that any stylist can change about so quickly, but a new
hairstyle and makeup can certainly accentuate the inner beauty.
The beauty business is not to make the skin fairer or fighting
with chicken-pox dilemma. It is a business to understand and
identity “the better you” within the qualities and attributes
gifted to you by the God to give you a fresh and confident
appearance.
As per Sarra Pond, an international stylist and Co-founder of
Cobella there are five qualities of a good hairstylist -
Be a good stress manager – The profession is fun but requires
good problem solving abilities and stress management. With over
demanding clients, extra efforts in convincing them, handling
multiple clients and maintaining 100% perfection each time and
every attempt may add to your overall stress. To win under such
circumstances, one needs to be a good stress manager.
Flair to meeting and appreciating people - One needs to like
others and to be liked by others to grow in this business. Make
a good rapport with the clients to maintain relationships with
them by optimizing your communication, sense of humor and
quality of empathy. Never try flattering and unnecessarily
passing compliments to the clients as these may go against you
and don’t add to the professional image of the salon.
Value your words - Don’t make commitments you can’t keep. Not
only you will build a firm foundation for success, you will also
find it easier to live with yourself during the day and sleep
well at night.
Be honest and positive – Try to understand the stress and
situation of the salon manager and the owner also. Try not to
waste resources, if possible. Avoid rumours and impulsive
conversations – remain positive to maintain that right ambience
in the salon.
Set goals and achieve them regularly – One should sense the
objective of being in the salon and set realistic targets to
maintain the competitive spirit within you. The only one who can
motivate you is you.
How to Choose Your institute
I was all set to go to do my course either from Toni & Guy or
Vidal Sassoon; both of them are London based institutes. These
institutes have reputation in hair, which is comparable to the
Harvard and the Michigan in management education. Things didn’t
work for me because of my family reasons.
Many advised me that there is lack of quality hairstyling
education in India for people who are really serious to make it
a full-term career; therefore UK was the obvious choice. Basis
my thorough research and credential verifications, I
short-listed a few to optimize whatever resources were available
to me.
After spending several years in the industry, I can suggest that
our country has a few selected people who master this skill and
some of them are courteous enough to disseminate their knowledge
too. However quality education may be very expensive (even
expensive than a full-time MBA Degree from a reputed institute).
One needs to see their budget and means to optimize the same.
One should choose the institute that emphasizes both on
practical and theoretical aspects, where everyone is treated
individually basis his/her grasping capacity. You may see
institutes at the four corners of the city, who are nothing more
than money-spinners. However I suggest that people who are
interested in pursuing their career in hair must not follow a
general trend. An education is not a trend and you need to
understand thoroughly all aspects of the course, faculty
credentials (not the institute brand name only), student:
teacher ratio and post course assistance etc. There are chances
that you may end up becoming a pedicurist after doing a
full-fledged hairstyling course from a famous place.
Course duration
Course duration may be in the range of 1 Year, 6 Months, 3
Months, 1 Week to even a one day, depending upon the course.
Placement & Remuneration
Placement would be the last concern for qualified hair
professionals. Options are always available with leading salons,
deluxe hotels, fashion photographers, event management, big
corporate and beauty product companies, freelancers and
television serials in various capacities such as Shampooist,
Color Technicians, Hairstylists, Film and Theatre Hair
specialists, Managers and Consultants. There are plenty of high
paying opportunities in abroad for such professionals especially
in Middle East countries. This may help you have international
career also. Hair and beauty is a highly exciting career
opportunity. The industry holds promise for talented
professionals. It is certainly not a place of dropouts and
losers anymore. It requires high end, knowledgeable and creative
people who may bring smiles to people faces and lives by
enhancing their looks and appearances. Breaking all myths, I can
confidently say that “A good and professionally trained
hairstylist can expect to earn as much as or even more than a
management graduate from a leading business school”.
Veenu Singh is founder member and creative
director of Elle Passion, a premier salon, spa and academy in
Faridabad (NCR Region).