Health Fitness Beauty
With the right training there are popular options emerging in health and fitness. A higher participation rate by Indians in sports and exercise and increasing health consciousness is opening up avenues for those who love to combine a career with physical fitness.
Beauticians
In the past three decades 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 interesting 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
Health & Fitness
The sports and fitness industry has four areas - Fitness instructors, sports trainers, recreation and health services managers, health & fitness dietitians. Fitness instructors gaining popularity are yoga trainers, aerobic instructors, fitness therapists in gyms. Therapy centres require managers to schedule individual/group therapy, schedule or customize health & fitness therapy programs and oversee the running of a fitness centres. Dietitians in health centres counsel clients on dietary habits, give advice on calorific value of food stuffs and healthy diets. They monitor each clients calorific intake and weight reduction etc. Yoga and aerobic trainers are specialists who conduct training courses.
Beauticians
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 threading to 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 for advertising, fashion, theatre personalities as well as for special occasions. They are trained to 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.
Cosmetology Cosmetology includes two subdivisions : Chemical and herbal treatment. Cosmetology is a comprehensive study by itself which demands research and experimentation in preparing natural and synthetic-based formulations. Manufacture and sale of products is a profitable option. Hair stylist/dresser Hairstyling, is comparatively new in India. Hairstyling as we know today is mainly a western concept. It is different from a regular barber's job, Modern hairstyling is all about scientific methods combined with the creativity and imagination of the hairstylist. While cutting hair, the hairstylist has to judge from the face structure of the customer, what style will suit him or her. One should have the ability to make a judgment in a quick and right manner. This involves proper training on the field.
Work Environment
Health centres equipped with fitness gadgets, recreation clubs provide a varied work environment to health & fitness workers.
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
A friendly disposition, meticulous work habits, patience, business acumen, physical fitness and good health are assets for becoming a a professional in this sector. It is essential for fitness therapists and advisors, beauty therapists, 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. Beauty therapists and beauticians need to be able to chat in a natural, friendly way and, perhaps more importantly, to listen sympathetically. Occasionally 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 strenuous 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.
Hairstylists should be creative, should have an eye for details, an open mind-willing to learn, and should have confidence in his or her abilities. However, one cannot be successful if he or she does not have a 'discerning' ability, as the profession demands quick judgment on what a customer requires or what suits him or her the best.
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
Options for work are with recreation clubs, spas, gyms, cruises beauty parlours, in beauty clinics of hotels, resorts, TV, Film industry, in fitness clinics, with cosmetic and fitness gadget firms as sales consultant. Fashion and advertising offer scope to the beautician and the hair stylist. For starters, a make-up artist can earn around Rs 2000-2500 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.
Career opportunities now abound for trained professionals as cosmotologists, beauty managers, trainers,spa specialists, beuty therapists, slimming consultants, image specialists or product consultant.
Earnings
Beauticians and make-up artists with beauty parlours earnings vary with location and clients.
For models /film star 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 range from diplomas and post graduate courses to short duration certificate courses. Education in cosmetology is now professionally structured and deals with changing trends, fashion and technological innovations. The institutions training students in beauty culture impart education in subjects like anatomy, physiology, client care, body language, sales and marketing, health and nutrition, besides knowledge of skin and hair, their characteristics and functions. Beauty is not just about a good face and a perfect figure but encompasses the whole personality of an individual. In India hairstyling is taught as an academic discipline in various polytechnics and also at some academies. Good training is an absolute must to carve a niche. Scientific and systematic training is important as much as it is to practice on live models and on blocks to get a feel of the actual process of hairstyling.
Courses and Institutions
VLCC Institute for Beauty, Health & Nutrition,D-64, Defence Colony, New Delhi-110024
Courses -
-- Diploma in Health and Beauty, Duration - 2 years and 3 month internship
-- Diploma in dietetic, health and nutrition Duration - 1 year and 3 months internship
-- Diploma in beauty culture and hair dressing Duration 1 year/6 months
-- Certificate in advanced hair dressing beauty therapy and beauty culture (3 months each)
Pivot Point India,J-1 Kailash Colony, New Delhi. Pivot Point, Fort Opposite Bombay Store, Mumbai, e-mail : pivotpointindia@ vsnt.net (affiliate of Pivot Point International, Chicago, USA)
Courses -
-- Scientific hair sculpture and design Duration - 5 months
-- Beauty culture
-- Advance beauty treatment
-- Short term courses on hair care, beauty culture, personal grooming, advanced make up.
Pearl Academy of Fashion (in partnership with London College of Fashion UK)
Course
-- Diploma in fashion media make up. Duration - 1 year
Sylvie's Hair and Beauty Academy,F-31, East of Kailash, New Delhi
Course
-- Basic/Advanced course on hair design and beauty make up.Duration - 3 months
Shahnaz Husain’s Woman’s World, International Institute of Beauty,(affiliated to ITEC (UK) M.106, Greater Kailash-I, New Delhi-110048
Offers diploma, PG Diploma and personal grooming (refresher/crash courses) in cosmetic therapy, franchise training etc.
Men’s World International Institute of Cosmetic Therapy and Hair Design for Men,B.23, Greater Kailash-I, New Delhi-110048.
Akbar Peerbhoy Girl’s Polytechnic,Fort, Mumbai - 400001.
Smiles,A-160, Azad Nagar, Vera Desai Road, Andheri West, Mumbai
Course - Make up professional training/Hairdressing
Habib’s Hair Academy, M-3, South Extension II, New Delhi-110049.
Courses - Make up and Hairstyle
Jacques Dessange, Ravissant,50 & 51 Community Centre, New Friends Colony Market, New Delhi
Schnell Hans International School of Beauty, Hairdressing & Cosmetology,111/112, Nicola, Mistry Chambers, Opp Strand, Colaba, Mumbai-400005
E-mail : rbcs@vsnl.com
Spratt Academy of Hair Design,Second Floor, Koshy's Complex, Bridgade Road, Bangalore-560001
Lifestyle Clinic Academy, 259, 2nd Floor, Abhishek Complex, 17th Cross, Sampige Road, Malleswaram.
Akbar Peerbhoy Girls Polytechnic,92, Dr. ND Road, Fort, Mumbai-400001.
Maharani Bagh Polytechnic for Women,New Delhi-110065.
Course in Beauty Therapy
South Delhi Polytechnic for Women,South Extension-I, New Delhi-110049
Course
-- Beauty therapy and hair dressing
Delhi Institute of Management & Services,A-3, Akashdeep, New Delhi.
Courses
-- Beauty therapy and saloon management
Health/Aerobic Instructors
Reebok and Nike have courses for instructors.
YWCA's also run courses in beauty therapy.
Note : Polytechnics/ Vocational training institutes in the country impart short term and long term courses. Private training institutes are very actively providing courses accross the country.
