INTERNATIONAL Women’s Day Special…

Veteran beautician Veda Rai highlights perseverance, skill development and the importance of patience and self-belief in sustaining success in the beauty industry.

Be strong, be fearless, be beautiful, is the phrase that succinctly conveys the qualities a woman should possess in life. There ain’t any woman who doesn’t want to look beautiful, let alone appear strong and fearless.

To cater to such women, there are many such beauty parlours / salons, run by women, aka beauticians, in this city, who have carved a niche of their own, braving odds that came in their way and have come this far.

Vedavathi Rai, better known as Veda Rai, has been a beautician for 33 years, which shows her zeal and perseverance in building her career. As the Founder Secretary of the Mysore Beautician Welfare Association, she served for 20 years and is now serving as its President for the past five years.

On the occasion of International Women’s Day, Star of Mysore spoke to Veda Rai, where she recalled the past, delved into the present and shared her plans for the beauty industry. Excerpts:

By B. Sreekantswamy

Star of Mysore (SOM): Can you recall the emergence of beauty parlours in Mysuru? What are the circumstances that compelled you to take up this particular profession, which has brought you this far?

Veda Rai: A BA graduate, I was a teacher first and had worked in a few schools. As I was thinking of starting my own venture, I was attracted towards this profession. Those were the days, when the beauty parlour industry was so naive, the beauticians were more into doing basics like make-up, hair styling, unwanted hair removal, etc.

Considering the social taboo that existed earlier, when cutting hair was itself considered inauspicious, it was difficult to attract customers, especially women. During Ashada, we were fully out of business. Over a period, things gradually changed. Women, including those from rural areas, had a change in stance. Most importantly, they realised that beauty boosts one’s confidence.  

SOM: Do girls from North-Eastern States continue to work in large numbers in parlours?

Veda: Yes, they do. They are preferred as they are hardworking. Hailing from outside the State, they either stay in rented homes or in paying guest accommodations. Their diet is also simple: Rice or noodles. They work all through the year, for longer hours and go on a vacation once a year.

SOM: Is the number of beauticians increasing or decreasing, given the challenges involved in the trade, from investment to sustainability, adapting to newer methods and competition to stay afloat?

Veda:  It’s a mixed situation, as some new parlours are being opened and the existing parlours are also shutting down. The reason is the craving for instant success and failure in business perspectives, without any acumen to maintain a fine balance between revenue and expenditure.

To stay afloat, one should invest more in their skills, rather than splurging on swanky interiors. The most important thing for any business to succeed is patience. One should focus more on quality products and should never cheat customers.

SOM: Compared to early days and now…

Veda: Unlike earlier days, when beauticians were equipped with basic qualities, nowadays it is highly technical. They should possess skills like why, what and how of the job. For example, they should be well versed with the application of creams, their effect, usage of machines, temperature, etc. Hence, attending seminars on a regular basis to keep abreast of relevant changes is essential.

SOM: Does the increasing access to social media have anything to do with the growing trend of adapting to beauty tips?

Veda: Yes, of course. We were once handing customers catalogues to choose hairstyles. Now, with mobile phones coming in handy, we show the customers how to make a choice. Some come with their preferred choices of hairstyles downloaded on their phones.

SOM: Beauty parlours are considered a small-scale industry. How is the support of Government schemes?

Veda: The Government support is good, especially the MUDRA (Micro Units Development & Refinance Agency Ltd.) scheme of the Central Government, but it’s a lengthy process.

SOM: What is your message to those women outside who are still afraid to take up challenges?

Veda: If you really fit the bill, then you should work hard. As said earlier, patience counts and God will bless only those who work hard. You should believe in yourself like, ‘got it and will do it’. The success is guaranteed.

SOM: Nowadays, even men are working in parlours or salons, rather hi-tech parlours…

Veda: The unisex parlours are the new additions and are doing well, too. Sometimes, we too receive enquiries.

SOM: Do you take up short-term courses to hone your skills, suiting the current trend?

Veda: I still attend seminars regularly to keep myself updated. Ayurveda is the in-thing, with many preferring herbal facial, pedicure and many others.

SOM: As the President of Mysore Beautician Welfare Association, what plans do you have for the good of your members?

Veda: The thrust is on educating the members about new trends to stay updated. As we firmly believe in ‘quality over quantity’, we have 300 members in the Association against 2,000 to 2,500 parlours in the district.

We impart training on how to improve business and hone competitive skills. I always advise aspiring women to at least pursue a one-year Diploma in a beautician course. If one is qualified enough, there is no question of looking back. Apart from honing theoretical skills, practical knowledge also counts.

SOM: Your family support?

Veda: I humbly recall my late husband, B. Narasimha Rai, a Mechanical Engineer, who worked for Birla’s Polyfibers in the Gulf, without whose unwavering support, I couldn’t have tasted success in my career. So also my son, daughter, daughter-in-law, son-in-law and my granddaughter.