Beauty Care

‘Beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder’, a famous Shakespearean phrase discusses about the external and internal beauty of a human being. Who doesn’t want to look beautiful or handsome in other’s eyes? When you talk about external beauty be it your face, skin, hair or even nails- every one, no matter men or women are beauty conscious and want to look perfect. This has led to the flourishing of the field of Cosmetology, generally known as beauty care.

Derived from the Greek word 'kosmetikos', which means 'skilled in adornment', Cosmetology is the study and application of beauty handling. 'Beauty care' that helps people look their best, is a field for those who have an eye for beauty and enjoy interaction with others. With the work environment getting increasingly competitive and professional, and the growing awareness of health and beauty among men and women, the need to appear well-groomed and attractive has assumed greater importance in today's world. This has resulted in the growth of beauty products and beauty treatments, turning beauty care into a fast growing and lucrative career. Broadly Cosmetology includes every thing from beauty therapy to health care. Work in this field involves the knowledge and use of a range of treatments and equipments to enhance the appearance of the face, body and hair. The main task of a beautician is to give an attractive appearance to their clients. In this field, success has no relationship to the age of the practitioner. Although tastes and trends in beauty keep on changing, the basic job of a beautician/ beauty care professionals remain the same. Hairstyling, skin care, cosmetics, manicures / pedicures, and electrology are the specializations or various fields of Cosmetology. This is one field, one can easily get into and be successful. Since the working medium of this field is a live person, it is one of the most rewarding of all art works.

Eligibility

Cosmetologists take care of our beauty professionally. They may be Medical professionals and Non-medical cosmetologists. Even though both of them in the broad sense do the same job basically, they possess completely different qualifications and methods of application. To be a Medical Cosmetologist or Cosmetic Dermatologist one needs to have a Post graduate degree in Dermatology (MD or diploma/DNB) after MBBS, but a Non-Medical Cosmetologist doesn’t need any professional qualifications as such, besides good hands on experience. Those who have a keen interest and inclination in beauty care can enter the field after completing schooling at a minimum age of sixteen years.

Rather than high academic inputs, a beautician requires practical skills, which can be gained not only by professional training, but also with a great deal of hands-on practice. This can be acquired either by working at a good saloon or by enrolling for a course at a reputed beauty school. There are short-term diploma and certificate courses in beauty and hair care available which if taken will be an advantage for budding beauticians in their career growth. The duration of the courses depends upon the specialisation and varies according to the institution. In USA and Europe, Cosmetologists need to be licensed to practice in their field.

Personal skills : The main attribute needed for a beauty professional is a good sense of aesthetics, creative bent of mind and a liking for people of all ages. They should possess good business sense and the ability to express oneself easily. Knowledge of different languages is an asset in this field. Another important factor needed for a beautician is the attitude to keep abreast of all the latest trends introduced into the beauty circuit and the willingness to learn everything. The creativity is a needed skill for this profession. They must be friendly, polite, attractive and confident. Hygiene is a very important thing and the cosmetologists should be in Good health, should not be allergic.