Teaching beauty
Our image-obsessed age has transformed the idea of basic good grooming - that's keeping hairdos in good shape, a regular facial plus mani and pedi into a wholesale embracing all kinds of body jobs. Consequently, Botox babes are now mainstream. Same for...
Our image-obsessed age has transformed the idea of basic good grooming - that's keeping hairdos in good shape, a regular facial plus mani and pedi into a wholesale embracing all kinds of body jobs. Consequently, Botox babes are now mainstream. Same for those who swear by liposuction and liposculpture. As for the myriad of massage techniques on offer, the most sceptical will eat their words once they get a taste of a pampering session where stress is eased out of aching muscles and cluttered minds.
The beauty industry is definitely big and getting bigger. But how many spare a thought on what it takes to make a career out of beauty which of course throws open the doors of the ideals involved in teaching beauty.
Beauticians immediately conjure images of glam, glam and more glam. Though all it takes is a waxing session to jolt oneself into reality and realise that getting the body beautiful has some ugly and painful moments. And I am not simply thinking of those groaning or wincing moments to look and feel good, but of the ones prodding, pounding, soothing and massaging all types of flesh.
And with these thoughts in mind I caught up with Myriam Rogerson. Her credentials include several years' experience as a mobile and salon/clinic therapist, now a spa manager plus an inspiring life story of how she embarked on her career. For starters hers was a clever Hobson's kind of choice. For married to an RAF officer whose job meant moving house once a year, Myriam could never lay anchor. As she herself admitted: "I knew that the only career I could ever have was one that could easily transcend borders, though of course it also meant regularly losing a hard-earned client base and starting from scratch."
On the plus side she had always been attracted to learning about beauty and well-being. So with motivation, determination... and discipline she juggled between studies and bringing up two boys virtually single-handedly; at a time when studying beauty part-time was unheard of, though she proved that it could be done.
A couple of decades on, Myriam's work experience now also includes freelance teaching beauty therapy, make-up techniques, and massage. She is rightly proud of her seven-year involvement with the Internationalisation programme offered by a group of colleges in Aalst. This Belgian town has made the most of EU funds to promote student exchanges. Having just celebrated its 10th year of taking teaching beauty therapy to new heights, students at Aalst follow a course that nurtures cross-cultural fertilisation.
Myriam takes pains to "sell Malta" as well as come up with new ideas to share. Her artistic streak serves her in good stead especially when delving into stage make-up - one of the loves of her life.
Clearly enjoying imparting her knowledge to young people, she puts a strong emphasis on the need to be professional in approach and behaviour. Is she struck by gender differences?
"I have come across few male beauty therapists but plenty of masseurs," Myriam says, unsurprisingly pointing to an ingrained prejudice. "I encourage male beauty therapists as the truly interested are keen and have incredible in-depth product and treatment knowledge, sometimes even more than my female students. However, they may come up against obstacles when clients show preference to the female gender for treatments."
As we talk about building rapport with clients, it's impossible to resist asking how she teaches tackling horrible and cheeky clients. "I make sure to talk about difficult instances in class. Difficult situations do arise and therapists must be aware that strange clients do exist!! Horrible clients have to be dealt with directly and shown the door. However, there are simple rules which a therapist can follow when dealing with male clients who can seem difficult.
"A simple example is to always leave the treatment room door ajar and ensuring that her colleagues know her schedule. Leaving the door ajar seems a no-no here in Malta. Yet it is the norm for therapists' safety."
Myriam does not mince her words about the need to uphold "our professional ethos and not succumb to being put in difficult situations by employers who care more to gain than the safety and professional manner of the therapist." She also deplores today's trend of offering treatments in the privacy of the client's hotel room because it "leaves the therapist vulnerable to uncomfortable and tense situations and possible abuse". Furthermore, she explains that this vogue is not business savvy. "If people actually come down to the spa they may be tempted to do other treatments, whereas if they stay in their room it will be just the massage and that's that!"
Different diplomas naturally take different time periods to complete and a lot continues to be learnt on the job. When does one feel truly at the peak of his/her career? "It all depends on the goals each individual has regarding their career. One may feel that owning their own salon would be the peak, whereas a nail technician may strive to open her own nailstudio. In my case, I believe that the road to success is always under construction so I strive to achieve success in my momentary objectives but at the same time I keep aiming at the next peak."
It's a sad reality that working in the beauty industry takes it toll on wrists and backs. Does she agree with the much banded 10-year max time span? "Not quite" is her ready reply because she explains how today beauty therapists are highly encouraged to maintain a good posture, follow a routine of specific exercises, and take on a balanced list of bookings. "There are also a number of therapies such as the hot stone massage, where apart from its beneficial effects to the client, the stones are actually used to apply the pressure rather than the wrists."
She adds that she deglamourises the job right from the start so as to undo any misconceptions while reminding everybody that all jobs come with their own occupational hazards.
"Personally going a step further does the trick because I put my own mind and spirit into action during the massage attaining a relaxed mental state." She also indulges in the occasional 'me time' by being on the receiving end of a spa treatment.
"Diversity has made my career more exciting. I'm a big believer that all learning enriches heart and soul."
The beauty industry is definitely big and getting bigger. But how many spare a thought on what it takes to make a career out of beauty which of course throws open the doors of the ideals involved in teaching beauty.
Beauticians immediately conjure images of glam, glam and more glam. Though all it takes is a waxing session to jolt oneself into reality and realise that getting the body beautiful has some ugly and painful moments. And I am not simply thinking of those groaning or wincing moments to look and feel good, but of the ones prodding, pounding, soothing and massaging all types of flesh.
And with these thoughts in mind I caught up with Myriam Rogerson. Her credentials include several years' experience as a mobile and salon/clinic therapist, now a spa manager plus an inspiring life story of how she embarked on her career. For starters hers was a clever Hobson's kind of choice. For married to an RAF officer whose job meant moving house once a year, Myriam could never lay anchor. As she herself admitted: "I knew that the only career I could ever have was one that could easily transcend borders, though of course it also meant regularly losing a hard-earned client base and starting from scratch."
On the plus side she had always been attracted to learning about beauty and well-being. So with motivation, determination... and discipline she juggled between studies and bringing up two boys virtually single-handedly; at a time when studying beauty part-time was unheard of, though she proved that it could be done.
A couple of decades on, Myriam's work experience now also includes freelance teaching beauty therapy, make-up techniques, and massage. She is rightly proud of her seven-year involvement with the Internationalisation programme offered by a group of colleges in Aalst. This Belgian town has made the most of EU funds to promote student exchanges. Having just celebrated its 10th year of taking teaching beauty therapy to new heights, students at Aalst follow a course that nurtures cross-cultural fertilisation.
Myriam takes pains to "sell Malta" as well as come up with new ideas to share. Her artistic streak serves her in good stead especially when delving into stage make-up - one of the loves of her life.
Clearly enjoying imparting her knowledge to young people, she puts a strong emphasis on the need to be professional in approach and behaviour. Is she struck by gender differences?
"I have come across few male beauty therapists but plenty of masseurs," Myriam says, unsurprisingly pointing to an ingrained prejudice. "I encourage male beauty therapists as the truly interested are keen and have incredible in-depth product and treatment knowledge, sometimes even more than my female students. However, they may come up against obstacles when clients show preference to the female gender for treatments."
As we talk about building rapport with clients, it's impossible to resist asking how she teaches tackling horrible and cheeky clients. "I make sure to talk about difficult instances in class. Difficult situations do arise and therapists must be aware that strange clients do exist!! Horrible clients have to be dealt with directly and shown the door. However, there are simple rules which a therapist can follow when dealing with male clients who can seem difficult.
"A simple example is to always leave the treatment room door ajar and ensuring that her colleagues know her schedule. Leaving the door ajar seems a no-no here in Malta. Yet it is the norm for therapists' safety."
Myriam does not mince her words about the need to uphold "our professional ethos and not succumb to being put in difficult situations by employers who care more to gain than the safety and professional manner of the therapist." She also deplores today's trend of offering treatments in the privacy of the client's hotel room because it "leaves the therapist vulnerable to uncomfortable and tense situations and possible abuse". Furthermore, she explains that this vogue is not business savvy. "If people actually come down to the spa they may be tempted to do other treatments, whereas if they stay in their room it will be just the massage and that's that!"
Different diplomas naturally take different time periods to complete and a lot continues to be learnt on the job. When does one feel truly at the peak of his/her career? "It all depends on the goals each individual has regarding their career. One may feel that owning their own salon would be the peak, whereas a nail technician may strive to open her own nailstudio. In my case, I believe that the road to success is always under construction so I strive to achieve success in my momentary objectives but at the same time I keep aiming at the next peak."
It's a sad reality that working in the beauty industry takes it toll on wrists and backs. Does she agree with the much banded 10-year max time span? "Not quite" is her ready reply because she explains how today beauty therapists are highly encouraged to maintain a good posture, follow a routine of specific exercises, and take on a balanced list of bookings. "There are also a number of therapies such as the hot stone massage, where apart from its beneficial effects to the client, the stones are actually used to apply the pressure rather than the wrists."
She adds that she deglamourises the job right from the start so as to undo any misconceptions while reminding everybody that all jobs come with their own occupational hazards.
"Personally going a step further does the trick because I put my own mind and spirit into action during the massage attaining a relaxed mental state." She also indulges in the occasional 'me time' by being on the receiving end of a spa treatment.
"Diversity has made my career more exciting. I'm a big believer that all learning enriches heart and soul."