What 20 years in the hair & beauty industry has taught me and why I chose to open a salon?

  • Hello, I am Rachael Mhawech, the owner of Refresh Hair & Beauty bar.
    This is my first time to ever write a blog so here we go…

Since starting my Beauty Therapy education back in 2004 at a college in Leeds, England, I have travelled the world working and learning skills to benefit my career in the industry that I feel so extremely passionate for.

Just to rewind back to the beginning, I originally qualified in business studies as this was an area I excelled and loved equally but whilst working in the field I felt a strong sense of there was something else I was born to do and while spending my whole salary in the beauty salon trying to relax and feel good, I remember sat thinking ‘what a beautiful job, having the power to make people feel good’.
I went back to college as a mature student at this point to launch into combining my
worlds of beauty and business at the tender age of 19.

Written on the back of our current staff uniform is a quote “the only way to do great
work is to love what you do!” and this quote is what I stand by throughout my beauty career as I believe you need to be blessed with finding the passion for the job 
to truly excel and be the best!

I have never felt throughout my 20 year career in beauty that I am ‘working’ even after doing many a 13 hour shift in my own salon I truly don’t feel it is work to me, with this I am blessed and I believe it is the reason I am still going strong to this day.

Back in 2004 the hair & beauty industry was regarded more of a luxury than a necessity but in this day and age I believe majority of people will at some point in there month visit a salon, if not weekly in certain parts of the world.
Our job is becoming broader and more sought after and although a lot of what we do has to be learnt in an academy there are many self taught talented individuals starting there career out of pure passion for learning to do what they see all over the internet.
As an employer I require more experience and talent along with the right attitude and
growth mindset to bring people into my team as over my years I have experienced some of the most educated people in the field fail due to there lack of passion for what they do.

My main purpose as a beauty therapist and a salon owner is to make women feel good about themselves and when we look good on the outside we feel better on the inside. As a busy mother of 2 gorgeous girls I know how hard it can be to put yourself first but when we do give ourselves back some time we are better mums, wives and friends as that confidence radiates throughout your life.
When your hair is feeling flat, your skin is breaking out or your nails are broken, you don’t feel your best self, but if you take a little time to put right this thing that is taking away your zest for life you will see how it immediately ‘Refreshes’ your day! And when I am sat at the reception of our salon it’s the question I regularly ask our clients as they leave “do you feel refreshed?” and the answer is always “Yes!” for me this is what fuels my love for my job!

This investment in yourself is priceless and very much deserved, which is why I can
confidently say “Me time is not Selfish” and is the very reason I chose to open my second salon in Dubai so I can be part of offering this feeling to our clients in a country that everyone is so busy that they need a little push to remember themselves and live there best version of themselves.