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Talent Bope
Lifestyle Writer
With just a few taps or clicks on any device, consumers in today’s thriving beauty industry can land in the delightful world of the “Beauty Influencer.”
She is market savvy. In fact, Maude Chiriga touts niche services from her own business. She promotes beauty on the inside and out, guiding her clients via YouTube and other online platforms, meeting fans at pop-ups.
The outward appearance of a person is the first thing that catches the eye. Therefore, being presentable at all times is of considerable importance.
Beauty therapists work with clients to apply face and body treatments, while making them feel comfortable and relaxed to enjoy the experience.
Besides, the therapist gives wellness treatments, including manicure and pedicure, which involve massage, followed by aftercare advice to clients.
Sometimes, they also suggest a balanced diet and nutrition, and a daily exercise regimen to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
The Herald on Saturday Lifestyle caught up with Chiriga, who thrives through online marketing.
After opening a beauty clinic in Gweru with great zeal, within a fortnight the country was placed under Covid-19 lockdown which brought various services to a halt.
After the measures were relaxed, Chiriga resumed her business at her clinic running under the name Moude Beauty Clinic.
The clinic is now well known through the use of various online platforms such YouTube, Instagram and Facebook, which remain the backbone of all the enormous opportunities of Chiriga’s beauty therapy profession.
Chiriga said she thrives due to less competition in Gweru since there are only two clinics operating in the city which she had overtaken in terms of customer services and needs.
She exposes the secrets which helped her business to survive in the face of Covid-19 upheavals.
“In the first week, business was very low and varied with the situation,” said Maude.
“I opened the clinic in December 2020, customers came for a week and we closed due to the lockdown.
“This affected us since we work with direct body contact with people. But I never gave in to such circumstances, I began to utilise the lockdown through advertising my products on all online platforms. When the lockdown was lifted I resumed, but being observant to the Covid-19 guidelines.
“The most important aspect of being a beauty therapist is to build trusting relationships with your clients. You will be in their personal space, so you need to have great interpersonal skills to ensure they feel good.
“Being a beautician is a flexible job as it is not required to work from 9am to 5pm, customers prefer to take appointments on the weekends mostly.”
Maude said beauty therapy gave her a chance to become active in society.
“You get an opportunity to meet a new person from different societies which really helps to grow your business,” she said.
“If your client leaves feeling happier than when they arrived, then you’ve done a great job.
“Your job will rarely get boring as every client is different and there are a host of treatments to offer. This will ensure your days are never the same from one to the next, and you’ll constantly be challenged as you provide long-term and new clients with the desired result they’re looking for.”
Chiriga said the main challenge was that the local community was still yet to know about the products, especially massage.
When they come, they need clarity on the issues, prompting Chiriga to introduce consultations prior to treatment.
She explained the common tasks she performs as a beauty therapist.
“These are some, but a few tasks I do at my beauty clinic, they include assessment — interacting with clients and assessing skin types to prescribe the perfect treatment, facials — skin cleansing, massaging and toning, make-up — application and offering advice as well eyebrows and eyelashes — shaping and colouring,” said Chiriga.
“Also, nail treatments — manicures and pedicures, facial and body hair removal such as waxing, skin treatments — non-surgical skin improvement procedures and spray tanning.”
Chiriga said there were day-to-day business tasks she may be required to perform.
“Apart from the above primary duties, I have to perform other secondary tasks in order to instil confidence among my customers, these roles include reception duties of answering phones and scheduling appointments, ordering and delivering supplies, record keeping such as clients’ medical histories and cleaning, as well as keeping the treatment rooms up to cleanliness standards,” she said.
She said the beauty sector was ever-changing, prompting new and innovative techniques and treatments which needed to be constantly developed.
“Like any career choice, understanding the market place, including the changing demands of the consumer, is important,” said Chiriga.
“Being a beautician means that your clients will trust you to offer a range of services, information which they will expect remains confidential.
“Sometimes you will spend a lot of your time standing and you may also need ‘normal’ colour vision, as colour blindness can affect your ability to apply cosmetics, despite all these you have to soldier on.”
Chiriga said sometimes she would have some regular customers with whom she gets in touch and maintain a healthy relationship.
“City or region does not matter because the services related to beauty will always be in demand,” she said.
“It is a great business and there is a high demand for both the services and the products.
“It is not a tedious job and that way as you’ll get a chance to work a lot on different treatments that totally rely on your specialisation and the customer’s needs.”
Chiriga said like any other business, there were a lot of challenges that she suffered in her journey which she believed that the sky was the limit.
She acquired a diploma in the field from Bulawayo Polytechnic College. She reflected determination in her profession in the face of challenges.
“I will try hard to ensure my clients are satisfied, even amid this pandemic, it’s just a passing phase,” said Chiriga.
“Of course, the curfews are meant to protect us from contracting this deadly disease. This has also lowered my business.
“I’m destined for greater heights, I have big and influential people who come to my clinic, but I cannot mention names. They come from as far as Harare and Bulawayo as well as other cities around the country. I have local people too as my cleints.”
Chiriga bemoaned rentals being charged by property owners which are too high. She was paying rentals even during the lockdown period when her clinic was closed.
“The biggest challenge we faced was paying rentals during the lockdown,” she said.
“But if everything goes well, I can recover that money in a week and the rest is profit.”
Online Reporter