Wednesday, June 8, 2011 www.qatar-tribune.com 24 QT WOMEN Facelift to the beauty therapist’s role in Qatar LANI ROSE R DIZON DOHA G ONE are the days when beauty therapists were treated as people who applied make up and paint nails just for a living. With the fashion world undergoing a major makeover in recent times, the job of beauty thera- pists has become lucrative and much sought after. In order to cater to the growing demand of quali- ty beauty professionals in Qatar as well as the region, Qatar Foundation’s Social Development Centre and the UK’s Yorkshire College of Beauty Therapy (YCOB) joined hands in 2009 to set up the Tajmeel Qatar International Beauty Academy (QIBA) that offers internationally renowned beauty therapy courses. Talking to Qatar Tribune, Tajmeel Principal Beverly Crowther said, “With the world changing fast, people are beginning to respect the fashion industry a lot more than they did earlier. We see a massive change in people’s perception of a beauty therapist’s role. The industry has become highly professional with a number of institutions all over the world conducting research and coming up with innovative beauty solutions. However, there are still some regions in the world which need to develop in this regard. In Qatar, Tajmeel is playing an impor- tant role in creating a cadre of good beauty profes- sionals as well as better infrastructure. Later, these professionals will encourage and inspire more youngsters to join the trade.” According to Crowther, formulating legislations for the health and beauty industry will certainly help in raising the profile of beauty therapists in Qatar. “That is our long-term aim, and it will take time. We already have a reputed management team in the UK, and many keep coming to Qatar to share their skills with the local beauticians. Once the reputation of the profession rises, I think the government will bring in legislations in this regard,” she said. According to Crowther, in Europe as well as South Africa and Australia, legislations for the health and beauty industry are in place. “All these countries have framed necessary laws to ensure that beauty therapists must be profession- ally trained and qualified. But there are countries in the world that still don’t have such laws. In Qatar, we aim to ensure that all beauty therapists have professional qualifications. We want to set up a department where the QIBA would help beauty therapists in the country to help upgrade their skills and become a member of the international profes- sional association,” she added. She said that since its launch, Tajmeel has got an amazing response from both local and expatriate students in Doha. “Our make-up course has been lapped by female students. Many renowned spas and salons, both local and international, have shown interest in our courses and professionals. We are in constant touch with them for providing courses that are tailor-made as per their demands. We have groups of girls and their mothers from different schools that just come along for their own person- al interests,” she said. Crowther said that make-up and skin care courses are one of the most popular courses among students at the academy. She said, “There’s a very long history of make-up in the Middle East. It is part of their culture. For exam- ple, the application of the henna art started from this region. The people of this region are interested to learn what the other trends around the world are, like the western trends, which we find interesting.” Currently, Tajmeel offers international diploma programmes and courses certified by the presti- gious International Therapy Examination Council. It also offers QIBA Diploma and QIBA Certificate for short courses and workshops on hairdressing, make-up, and skin care. Professional training fees at the academy range from anything between QR500 up to QR50, 000. The academy also conducts commercial salon days where its students work on the clients and put their training to practical use at minimal fees. “If you want to be a professional, then you need to learn all the underpinning knowledge behind every treatment. People come to us and ask us about problems concerning their skin and their bodies. We tell them how to improve their overall wellness and eradicate those problems that they’re having. But it’s an international training that allows you to do that and to be able to have the confidence and ability to give that advice,” Crowther said. “We even need to learn the anatomy and physi- ology of the body to be able to apply any treat- ment; anything from filing your nail to cleaning your face, to applying the mascara and all these things. You need to know the underpinning knowledge of how to do such things in harmony with the body and structure of the body,” Crowther added. Principal Beverly Crowther said since the launch of Tajmeel Qatar International Beauty Academy (QIBA) in 2009 the institution has got an amazing response from both local and expatriate students in Doha. Currently, Tajmeel offers international diploma programmes and courses certified by the prestigious International Therapy Examination Council. It also offers QIBA Diploma and QIBA Certificate for short courses and workshops on hairdressing, make-up, and skin care. Make-up room. Therapy room. Facelift to the beauty therapist’s role in Qatar Hairstyle room. Beverly Crowther, Tajmeel Principal