On leaving school I attended a foundation Hairdressing and Beauty Care Course at Senior College Dunlaoire intending to become a hairdresser. However my real love was the Beauty Care area and I knew fairly quickly this was the career for me.
I applied for a place in the Beauty Therapy course in Senior College. However as I did not have a Science subject in school, I was forewarned I may not get a place. I pleaded my case and explained I was willing to do what it takes to complete the course.
In 1989 I qualified in CIBTAC Beauty & Body Therapy Diploma and in the Summer of 1989 I qualified in CIBTAC Electrolysis.
At that time, getting employment in the Beauty Industry was difficult and many of my peers had travelled to the UK and Europe to work, but I was determined to stay in Ireland.
I completed a 6 months work experience programme to gain expierience in a Beauty Salon in Ranelagh Dublin for no salary. I also sold party plan makeup and gave talks to groups on skincare and makeup.
After the six months I was then taken as manager of the Salon and one year later in December 1990 I took over the salon and opened The Village Beauty Clinic, Ranelagh.
Initially there was only myself doing everything in the Salon. However, it grew quickly and we had 4 beauty therapists employed and were one of the first few Salons in Dublin to use Decleor skin care products.
These were the busiest, most enjoyably hectic years of my life. During my time with the salon I also completed many short advanced courses like, ear piercing, tanning, fibreglass nails, advanced waxing and advanced electrolysis and advanced makeup. It was always important to me to keep updating my skills and techniques.
In 1999 I decided to sell my salon as I was starting a family and wanted more flexible working hours. I established a Mobile Beauty Therapy service, which I still continue to do today. Working in this fashion allowed me the time to pick and choose the hours I wish to work whilst giving me the freedom to spend time with my family.
Running a salon meant I had to re-train therapists coming from college and provide them with a more commercial focus and encourage a passion of the profession and the required standards in beauty therapy. I really enjoyed the teaching and training element of the work and in 2004 I qualified as a teacher/lecturer with a Diploma in teaching adults.
In my most recent venture, I have become a Qualified Infant Massage Instructor.
In 2005 I began working with the Irish Academy of Massage and Beauty Training where I have been given the opportunity to pass on my skills, knowledge and experience to students wishing to pursue a career within the Beauty Industry.
Job satisfaction for me is, watching my students arrive on the first day of a training programme all nervous and apprehensive of what is ahead of them and watching them develop into fully confident and competent professional therapists by the end of the course.
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