I refer to your article by ICP of August 26 about the unfortunate incident that happened to a client undergoing beauty treatment. However, beauticians are not monsters, as portrayed in the article. The very nature of the profession calls for beauticians to alleviate skin and hair problems, and to impart a sens of well-being to the client through a variety of services, which is being done daily across the island. The beautician is as much a part of the society she treats, and it is a gross fallacy to think that beauticians intend to harm.

Regrettably, the opinions sought in your article are highly one-sided. A fellow beautician has voiced her opinion, but this does not reflect that of the Mauritian beauty industry. To comment aptly, it is contradictory to the code of ethics for any one professional to run down all other professionals in the same field. Speaking of professionalism, or the lack of it, it would be of interest to note that persons engaged in the beauty industry elsewhere collaborate with each other, rather than act as competitors.

It is alleged that training in the field of industry care imparted in Mauritius is inadequate as compared to European standards, and that clients are often cheated. These are unhelpful allegations as all vocational training, be it in beeauty care, jewellery, IT or management come under the purview of the MQA. To allege that training imparted in Mauritius in any field is inadequate must require great competence ! To summarize, any training program should be evaluated on course content and not just duration, as these courses have been approved by the MQA and have been judged adequate. The question of losing clients to dermatologists does not rise as any well trained beautician is aware that certain dermatological conditions go beyond her purview of treatment. Equally, dermatologists are aware that a beautician can adequately perform certain treatments in a salon. Successful collaborations are made between beauticians and medical practitioners elsewhere to achieve a common goal, which is the wellness of the client.

With reference to the opinion of a sole individual that seems to belittle the expertise of many in the cosmetics industry; I would like to clarify that it is a multi-million dollar industry where a lot of research goes into developing cosmectics, be it chemical or plant based. Ayurveda, for instance, is an ancient science that is proving its efficacy till today.

There is an Association of Women Beauty Therapists and Hairdressers which exists to encourage the tenets of good practise. Good training is essential to doing good work. However, it should be remembered that nobody is infallible in his or her profession, and when one selects a doctor, dentist, accountant or any other professional for that matter, one has expectations based upon reputation.

So too should be the case with one’s beautician, good work always stands out and clients should apply the same commonsense in selecting a beautician base upon her reputation, as one would seek the services of any other professional.

<B>Mrs Tulsi-ITTOO-SUMBOO

President AWBTH</B>