The Hairdressing Profession & Women: Some Myth Bursting
By Nayana Karunaratne
Have you ever thought about what it is like to be a woman Hairdresser in the Beauty business?
Is it as easy & same or difficult & different as for the male stylist?
Except in certain pockets, in India the male hairdresser rules in the salons across the country.
We would have heard a lot of statements said about a hairstylist, & especially women hairstylists. From lack of trust in them to them being unprofessional due to household responsibilities, plus little or no growth opportunities in the beauty industry. We have heard it all, but are these statements true? Is this how the beauty industry functions, especially for women?
We have Nayana Karunaratne, busting these myths for us drawing from her own life and first time ever sharing pearls of wisdom based on her own story of growing as a hairdresser and beauty professional
Read on to find out.
As a women hairstylist,
Myth 01: It’s not for women (not their cup of tea).
It’s always said that women can’t do this, can’t do that. There are a set of things that is assumed that women can never be good at. In the beauty industry, things like – they aren’t creative or can’t handle the busy hours, are unable to catch up with the fast-paced environment, etc are some common complains that have been associated with women. I think Women are well aware that a career as a hairstylist calls for irregular timings, working at weekends, long hours of standing, dealing with different kinds of people, etc., and can very well manage it too.
The kind of environment hairdressing provides like flexibility, choice, safety, growth, etc. All these make it even more suitable for women. I was always curious about the beauty industry. Always been passionate about meeting & interacting with different people. Being a woman, I educated myself well enough about everything related to beauty & hairdressing. While I learned, I also implemented the learnings.
I came up with my ideas when the clients asked for something different, and I gave them suggestions when they asked my opinion. I managed the long hours, interacted with the clients, and learned new things. I never gave up on any of these nor did I find it difficult. Therefore, it’s always been my cup of tea, if not I made sure to make it my cup of tea.
Myth 02: Women do not get enough opportunities.
Well, there are no opportunities served on a platter as they say. But there is no lack of opportunities either. It’s your intention to grab them that matters. The opportunities are very much there, not just for men but anyone who wants to grab them.
Remember, opportunities can be converted into success with dedication, hard work, and by being the best version of yourself, and upgrading yourself regularly.
I did all of these. I gave in my 110 percent at work, to my job, and my clients. It was visible in my work. And this is what got me the opportunities to grow, to move ahead in my workplace & in my career too. While I looked for opportunities, I also enjoyed my work. I made it a point to be active at work & enjoy the process too. Whenever I found any new opportunities, I made sure I prepare myself for them and upgrade my skills to match the opportunities.
Myth 03: Clients don’t trust women hairstylists.
For clients, there is little or no inclination to choose a their hairstylist based on whether they are female or male. The main thing that concerns them is who can work magic on their hair & get them to feel excellent & even better about themselves after their salon session. For them, a smart, well-dressed, pleasant stylist who knows her work well is what concerns them. They are oblivious to gender.
The clients choose the hairstylist’s work rather than gender. I had had clients come to me based on the work they saw of mine on other clients or the word of mouth they heard through their friends or family members. So here the work speaks for your client base, for their wanting to come back to you. I have always paid attention to the need of my clients & gave them a professional service. I don’t ever remember to have been declined by my clients because of my gender. As we have evolved, women are preferred & trusted more on their creativity & comfort level. Clients also appreciate good communication skills, service with genuine care, and attention to detail, which women can give better. In fact, being a woman is more of a bonus, as we are more organized, punctual, and committed.
Myth 04: For a woman, there is no career after marriage.
Marriage is just another phase in your personal life. And has no direct relation to your work-life. It’s all about how you manage. What & how do you accept that. Yes, after marriage, you are with the additional responsibility of managing family, kids, etc., but that has no connection with what you do at the workplace.
Getting your job done is what matters. But that also has to do with how organized I am & how I manage my time. I didn’t let that affect my work. For me, my 10-8 at the salon was my routine, which I didn’t play around with or take lightly.
At that time, I was at work, doing my job with the same enthusiasm & dedication as I did previously. With opportunities like freelancing, roles like salon owner, lecturer, etc, it becomes very suitable for married women as they can work part-time, be self-employed, and manage both their career and home.
I was committed to my work. I had my 1st baby and was on maternity leave. Every day as per my daily routine, I would have completed my work by 8.30 AM. The household task, baby care, everything. And after that I sat on my rocking chair with nothing to do, all bored, already. About 2 months later, after completing my routine task, while I sat down bored, I realized that I can’t sit at home. This is not me, I can’t be at home. I have to get back to work.
It’s up to us women, to remove the guilt factor from mind, the guilt of not being a full-time parent or giving time at home. It’s not true. One, with good time management, can manage the work, family & pay attention to the kid too. I realized I had to work, It’s my passion. So I worked through it, Even today after all responsibilities are done, I still continue to work, it’s for my happiness.
Myth 05: There is no growth. Women are not given higher roles.
It may be rare to see women in high roles, but if you are worth it, who wouldn’t want to appoint you at higher levels in the work profile. I mean, everyone wants to grow & employees’ good work never goes unnoticed. If you add value to work, you are bound to be given higher roles at the workplace.
My journey speaks for itself. From being a student to a hairstylist to being a faculty to running my salon & academy. This is an example of my consistent progress in hierarchy of salon positions as well as growth in the profession. If you are good at your work and have the desire to move ahead, you can easily move to higher roles irrespective of if you are a woman or a man. But I also acknowledge the fact that at times growth is confined to men only, but it’s up to us women not to give up easily and learn to manage progress and growth in our careers and our personal life.
My boss threw in more work at me looking at my work & commitment. He gave me opportunities at the top positions. Not favouring me but fostering me. I was sent to a destination wedding, was given keys to the salon as I came on time, and he let me manage money as I was responsible. So the higher roles automatically come your way once you prove you are capable of them.
He knew I will give no excuse and will do my job well.
Myth 06: Hairdressing is not a respectable career.
The fact is that everybody is on the lookout for the perfect hairstylist. The best hairstylist is not easy to find, and once found, trust me we are grateful for them.
Gone are the days when family & relatives thought this as washing & cutting hair task. But there’s more to it. Hair plays an important role in everyone’s life. Everyone is conscious about their hair, as hair can make or break any look.
In today’s time looking your best all the time, is almost like a necessity. Hairdressing is more than just hair washing & cutting. It’s also trendy haircuts, new hairstyles, hair care, hair treatment options, etc.
My choice of career came as a shock to my Mom, but she supported me. Also, the lady under whom I studied was amongst the top in her field, so it gave confidence to both me & my family. I’ve always been respected at my home & workspace for my work. I admit that hairdressers were not considered very highly during my early years in the profession, but it’s not the same anymore. Women like Nalini & Yasmin, Blossom Kochar, etc., have paved the way for hairdressers & especially women hairdressers. Infact, with an increase in fashion & trends, we are always on our toes with the client’s demands. It takes a lot to become a hairdresser, and the job of cutting hair is not as easy as it looks. Infact, they look up to us to give them a transformational makeover.
Myth 07: It is hard to get a job in Hairdressing.
If you have knowledge of your work and do it well, then there is no difficulty in getting a job. Infact the market is always looking for new people to join in, hunting for new talents.
Yes, there are a few pre-requisite to getting a job. Just as any other job requires formal education. So does Hairdressing. A formal course in Hairdressing is a must-have to begin your career. Also, practical experience and internships are a bonus. As your years of experience keeps growing, so d your job opportunities. With the demand supply ratio being skewed in the favour of demand,of hairstylists & hairdressers are in high demand in the market.
Myth 08: Hairdressing is very hard to learn
Just as you learn for any other profession, it’s the same you do for Hairdressing. There are concepts to be understood, techniques to be learned, and a lot of practice. You must also keep updating yourself from time to time. There is nothing that you can’t learn if you wish to. Therefore with dedication & the right attitude, it’s not that difficult to learn.
I found the right mentors in the beginning & made my base strong. I started with formal training & didn’t stop there. Infact I attended various workshops, courses, etc., to learn more & keep myself updated. If I found anything challenging, I made sure to ask my questions & connect with a senior to get the solution. It is not tough at all if you wish to learn.
But remember, learning is not complex, but commitment is. And it has to be developed. One has to stand for 12 hours, provide customer service, and continuously update the skills. All this requires rigorous commitment. But it’s ultimately very fulfilling, better than a 9-5 job. Therefore, one must have a love for the job, passion & creativity.
Myth 09: Career choices are limited as a hairdresser.
There is a continuous job role in the hairdressing industry. As we become more conscious about how we look & the increasing need to be presentable all the time, it has opened innumerable career choices as a hairdresser. One can choose from a list from salon stylists to salon owners to freelancing & lecturer. For shoots & ads, marriages & functions – there’s a need for a hairstylist. To fulfil the need for new salons in town, there is a need for salon owners. For training & bringing new talent to the industry, there’s a need for trained and dedicated faculty. For salons that need their hairstylists & hairdresser, there is an opportunity.
Now is the right time to join the hairdressing industry; there is a huge demand & the industry is only growing. From stylists to the owner to academy lecturers, options are endless. You can become a color artist or work at a color company. With a marketing degree, you could also work for beauty skincare if you have the knowledge. Always look at the bigger picture. And with this also comes a better salary based on your performance & commitment.
Yes, it’s never been easy for women, but has that stopped us from moving ahead? No, never !
Infact, our society has developed & we have evolved a lot – the restrictions are slowly melting away.
In my 40 years of experience,I feel that more than the society it’s our lack of inner strength that is stopping women to forge ahead. It’s a mix of things – a bit of laziness & guilt, a lack of self-confidence. It’s the household work burden that gets them to give up, the mother’s guilt to be with her child throughout the day. These are the reasons that affect the growth in their career.
There are no dearth of opportunities especially in the Beauty Industry, where women rule the market as a customer as well. So why stay back for career opportunities? Be smart, and understand it’s a privilege for women.
A little about Nayana Karunaratne:
Nayana Karunaratne, Lecturer / Training & Development Professional / Professional Hairstylist / Beautician / Soft Skills Trainer / Company Director / Entrepreneur – is primarily known in Sri Lanka and the Asian region for her immense contribution to the hair and beauty industry. Operating a vastly successful salon chain across Sri Lanka & India, running a Hair & Beauty Academy, and courses in Personality Development are some of her entrepreneurial ventures.
In addition, she is a Director & a Board Member of many Global Hair & Beauty Associations.
Her four decades of experience in the Beauty Industry is a journey nothing less than a roller coaster, with its sweet share of highs & lows, filled with learning & growth.
