Parisian hairdressers continued to develop influential styles during the early 19th century. Wealthy French women would have their favorite hairdressers style their hair from within their own homes, a trend seen in wealthy international communities. Hairdressing was primarily a service affordable only to those wealthy enough to hire professionals or to pay for servants to care for their hair. In the United States, Marie Laveau was one of the most famous hairdressers of the period. Laveau, located in New Orleans, began working as a hairdresser in the early 1820s, maintaining the hair of wealthy women of the city. She was a voodoo practitioner, called the "Voodoo Queen of New Orleans," and she used her connections to wealthy women to support her religious practice. She provided "help" to women who needed it for money, gifts and other favors.[1]
French hairdresser Marcel Grateau developed the "Marcel wave" in the late part of the century. His wave required the use of a special hot hair ironand needed to be done by an experienced hairdresser. Fashionable women asked to have their hair "marceled." During this period, hairdressers began opening salons in cities and towns, led by Martha Matilda Harper, who developed one of the first retail chains of hair salons, the Harper Method.[1]
After reflecting, identify specific concepts, theories, rules or principles that would make this a college learning experience.
A principle that is important in making this a learning experience is that one has to be dedicated in doing his/her work. As stated earlier this line of study and training has to come from the heart in that a student must be committed in performing all jobs pertaining to cosmetology since it is broken down into various fields, cosmetology has some limitations e.eg in the line of those that work in morgues. Some may dislike the work involved and even drop out. This proves to be a learning experience in that one is able to chose his/her line of work at an early stage. During the course, students interpret and learn how to practice various aspects of safety sanitations cleanliness and proper hygiene. This is relevant in gaining college experience. While at the centre I gained leadership, management, teamwork and people skills which are very essential for success in the workplace, training centre or any other relevant field. Other skills are now relevant to the field for example haircutting skills evaluating scalp and hair disorders.
Another rule with this study is that the cosmologists must have the right attitude toward their work. This I learnt during a seminar I attended in Atlanta on 9/25/2000 where we were taught what happens to those with a bad attitude to their clients. Also at this time I attended a hair show in Chicago where I learnt different styles of doing hair. As a student, this skill is the most essential since you deal with real life human beings with feelings as opposed to the mannequins that may be used in class. To add to that point, professionals are responsible for applying problem solving and decision making skills. This is used either in the school, society or workplace. You have to be a team member in order to succeed in this field of work. For example during the training, I got to research valuable information in various cosmetology industries and this created diverse knowledge for me and gave me a firm base for the preparation and setting up of my shop which I in good operation till now. Sales Technique was a class that I took that assisted me in selling skills; these are the work of a salesperson where selling skills are acquired and prove to be relevant since they are used everywhere. Conflicts arise in all workplaces in the society. Conflict resolution is one of the concepts that are very much needed by someone who is pursuing this course in a Beauty college. I also have attended another seminar also held at Atlanta that covered conflict resolution and also demonstrate the methods that are needed and are used to resolve conflicts. Another major principle is that effective communication skills are very essential; throughout school be it from the lowest level of education to the peak, languages are a core thing to have knowledge about. A language like English is used in speech (while dealing with customers), writing, (e.g. writing orders and letters) and therefore learning it is a key thing in the college world.
Concentration and alertness is another core value in being a cosmetology student. Practices like designing wavy curls on hair, nail artistry requires full length attention on the client so that a perfect job is performed. I learnt that I had to very attentive and steady in order to produce top output. I also had a chance to talk to clients and analyze what they like and don’t like about the service that was been administered to them in terms of hair care, manicures, pedicures, and purchasing of cosmetic products. I developed a persistent side where I would make sure I understood my client in every aspect and that contributed to my alertness since I wouldn’t want to have them disappointed in me. The concepts that I covered in class I was quite able to perform them practically since most of my coursework is practical; I had courses like Special Topics in Barbering Technology where I got an opportunity to go to workshops and seminars in Chicago. Here I learnt how to follow instructions which is very effective in team work and management skills in the office. In a unit Shop Management, I learnt techniques for establishing a barber shop which provides skills and concepts of record keeping/book keeping, personnel management where you deal with employees and how to deal with them in the workplace. Supply management is another aspect taught where principles of marketing and supply are practiced and acquired. Public relation is also another major concept I gained which deals with how you relate with people everywhere in the society. Be it people of higher stature than yourself or lower than you learn how to effectively deal with them. Here I get to learn to respect my employees even to this day. I learnt how to share information with my fellow students and those I worked with. Since this is a people-oriented field, I learnt how to work individually with my customers and make them feel good about themselves which is a morale booster even for the workers. Courtesy which is an important virtue in life is also acquired.
I learnt to be a hard worker since cosmetology is a very competitive field. This competition makes workers extra active since they have to produce the best. I have also learnt to be tolerant and patient since most of my work and other cosmetologists is done either while standing up or even kneeling. Therefore this can be very disturbing for someone without the principle of patience. Since my schedule is not usually fixed, I have learnt to involve myself in other life affairs and also decisions like changing of the location of the salon which can be done with ease. It helps in that I can create work schedules of my own thus improving my time-management skills. A creative mind is developed in the cosmetic world where I have increased my thinking in coming up with new designs to serve my customers, this new designs are in terms of hair styles, new manicure and pedicure styles, am thinking of expanding the spa too. Through teaching, I have been able to distribute my knowledge since I left college in 1998 through several forums and seminars where I have shared my knowledge with others.
Cleanliness and personal hygiene is a key principle in cosmetology. This is because cosmetologists must keep every region that they are working on clean and also the equipment has to be thoroughly sanitized and sterilized. You wouldn’t want clients being exposed to germs and bacteria due to an unhygienic beauty salon. This is where I acquired more skills relating to the hygiene and maintenance of a salon. I always made sure that the working areas together with the instruments are in perfect condition. The cosmetologist should also be very well groomed and clean as this makes even the client very free and comfortable while being served.