DROPOUTS… In our world of hair, beauty, spa

Having guided several girls and women towards a skill in hair, beauty and spa, Nalini Naegamvala from Nalini of Nalini and Yasmin Salon emphasises on the need for the industry – salon owners and artists – to guide, encourage and create skills and jobs for dropouts who are less advantaged.

About the author: Nalini completed her hairdressing course in London in 1971 and that set off her passion for hair. The 70’s in London was the time for masters such as Vidal Sassoon and Anthony Mosocolo of Toni & Guy. Since then, she dreamt of opening a salon in Mumbai such as the ones Shechad seen and worked at in. Her salon Nalini n Yasmin was the first professional salon in the country, which for her was a huge milestone. They were recognised, appreciated and privileged and had an amazing clientele. Thus her dream of a salon with great hairdressing and client service was realised. Her hairdressing skills were acquired through good education and that is the first sensible step she took way back then. Nalini n Yasmin’s was the first salon in India to impart professional knowledge to students interested in becoming hairstylists.

Dropouts...the big D word which is taboo in our Indian home and society!! A Dropout from school is a terrible label given to kids in our society. Even though the rate of dropouts has lessened in the urban slums and the low income homes, it is still an alarming figure in the smaller cities and rural India. I ask you, is it not possible that some children have less inclination to study or just are slow learners or worse still have had to give up school because the parent cannot afford the fees? That does not mean that the child has no inclination towards some other skill or career, which is probably what he or she will excel at then and earn well and will lead a better quality of life.

I definitely agree that a child should be encouraged to complete his or her education and every effort needs to be made by the parent or school. But if they have no inclination or the circumstances in their home do not permit them to carry on studying, then should we not keep a door open so that the child does not waste away her time and life. I have innumerable stories of girls and women especially the ones who learnt skills in hair, beauty and spa from my salon. They did not finish their schooling, and when given a chance and guidance, rose to work relentlessly and make a success of their lives! These women in turn then succeeded in educating their children thus changing the lives of their next generation.

My salon has guided them towards a skill in hair, beauty and spa, and I have such incredible success stories that I am so certain now that parents should gauge what the child’s inclination is and if she does not finish her studies, she should be guided to take up a skill of her preference. As long as they lead a fruitful, contented life and earn well, our job is indeed complete.

When I was learning hairdressing in London, there were 17-year-olds who were directed to hairdressing and beauty if they dropped out of school or simply had no interest in studying. I then realised that as long as this skill or any desired skill made them job worthy enabling them to lead a fruitful life that they enjoyed, that is what mattered most!

I have led a fulfilled life through hairdressing and am so grateful for that. In my growing up years, hair and beauty were not the preferred careers by parents, but perchance I got into this career and have never regretted it even for a day! I have been fortunate that my daughter Natasha enjoys hairdressing too and loves working in the salon.

India has a large population of young people and our government is encouraging skills, and rightfully so, especially for people who by choice or because of circumstances at home, choose to take up a skill instead of studying.

I have also encouraged married women to learn skills in hair and beauty. They do simple courses learning hair-sets and blow dries, or basic beauty or a massage course. While attending to their chores at home, these women in their spare time go to customers’ homes and earn money. I have seen so many women change their entire family’s lives as now there is an extra income and the wonderful thing is they generally use that income to educate their children hence their forthcoming generations also have a far better quality of life!

I remember reading about Muhammad Yunus, a Nobel prize winner, a social activist, a banker who started the Grameen Bank in Bangladesh, which gave micro credit to women. He realised that women who earn extra money use that amount mainly to better the lives of their children by educating them. He has had a major influence on me and got me interested in bettering the lives of underprivileged girls and women.

A woman who was a dropout and who has worked with me since many years as a spa therapist has managed to educate her three children in good schools. When her husband brought one income home, she could barely manage her rent and the running of the home yet with her added income, her children now have a better future. One is a chef after doing internship at the Taj, her daughter is a hairdresser and her third child work as an air hostess.

Another young mother who did the body spa course and beauty course now goes to ladies homes in her spare time and does a body or head and foot massage or beauty services. However, due to the pandemic, work for her has lessened, and hopefully in time her work will increase too. She has been able to give education and better food to her two small children with the money she earns.

In my 50 years of running a salon there are many, many more stories of dropouts who started working as shampoo girls or just helpers. They now are capable professionals in the hair and beauty industry and are earning well. Some have succeeded in becoming hairstylists and some are salon owners too. They really have done me and my salon proud.

As per a release in July this year, the dropout rate at the secondary school level in India is over 17 per cent, while the dropout rate in upper-primary (VI to VIII) and primary level is 1.8 per cent and 1.5 per cent respectively. The dropout rate is significantly higher among boys in the secondary level, while it is the opposite in the junior classes.

If one can encourage and create skills and jobs for dropouts who are less advantaged, we are directing and encouraging more people, especially women in our country, to lead a life away from poverty.

Please let’s be compassionate and encourage women and girls into our industry as there are so many who due to circumstances have not completed school and yet are looking to make a better lives for themselves!