From Where I Stand: “The income from my beauty salon income was a lifesaver during our family's toughest times”

Though Marwa’s beauty salon didn't survive its first year due to a combination of challenges, including lack of experience and financial strain, she remained passionate about the beauty industry. And fueled by her unrelenting spirit, Marwa decided to get back up and try again. This time, armed with the skills and knowledge gained from the beauty care training offered by UN Women.

“Unlike other girls, playing dress-up and experimenting with hairdos and makeup wasn't just childhood fun for me. It was a deep love, a little hint of what I wanted to do when I grew up. Every new hairstyle or makeup trend I tried sparked joy in me and fueled my dream of one day owning my very own beauty salon.

Right out of college and with the responsibility of caring for my husband and two daughters, I was still buzzing with excitement. I rented a little shop and turned it into my dream beauty salon – chairs sparkling, blow dryers whirring, and shelves stocked with every product I could find. However, to my disappointment, passion and watching endless beauty tutorials weren't enough to support my business. My inexperience showed quickly as I couldn't keep up with clients’ needs, and soon enough all my capital was drying up. After a year of struggling, I decided to shut down my shop and put my dream on hold.

A wave of despair came over me as I felt myself failing in my passion. But amidst this disappointment, a glimmer of opportunity emerged as I learned of UN Women’s beauty care training. I found a renewed spark of determination as I knew this would be my opportunity to gain the practical experience I needed.

This intensive training was a turning point for me as it exposed the significant gaps in my knowledge. I discovered that beauty care is not just about the latest trends or mastering a hairdo; it is a complex science that demands rigorous studying to become a professional. The month-long training course, led by an industry expert at his own local salon, provided me with hands-on experience and insightful guidance that helped sharpen my skills and refine my techniques.

The training delved deep into the art of skincare and makeup. I am now able to differentiate between different skin types, understanding how to care for them differently and the correct products to use. I also studied different face shapes, allowing me to choose makeup styles that perfectly complement each client's unique features.

Hair care become another area of mastery. I realized many mistakes I used to make previously. My hair styling techniques evolved from a trial-and-error process to creating flawless and different hairstyles by using specific hand movements and tools to achieve a perfect finish every time.

The training extended beyond technical expertise, emphasizing the importance of professionalism and exceptional customer service. I learned the importance of maintaining appropriate physical distance to ensure the client’s comfort and personal space, without compromising my work. The training also comprehensively covered expected standards for personal hygiene, resulting in a positive image for both us and the salon.

Empowered by the training, I decided to dust off the equipment I had in store and turned a spare room in my mother’s apartment into a makeshift salon. Every day I would practice my newfound skills diligently on family, friends, and neighbors to become a true professional. Word quickly spread, and soon I had new clients coming through the door, bringing with them hope of reviving my dream. I would even sometimes be requested by name to travel to my husband’s family in Aswan to take care of their beauty needs.

Thankfully, the new income from my beauty salon was a lifesaver during our family's toughest times, following an unexpected health setback that left my husband unable to work. My business supported me in providing my family’s needs, until my husband managed to get back on his feet. It was a tough time, and I can't help but feel immense gratitude and pride for being able to provide for my family when they needed it most.

I believe that being a beauty stylist is one of the best jobs in the world because you are in the business of making people happy. Watching the joy and confidence radiate from a woman after a successful makeover fuels my passion. Empowered by my recent training, I am currently saving to reopen my own salon. This time, armed with refined skills and a deeper understanding of the business, I am confident that my beauty salon will thrive into great success.

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Marwa is one of the participants of the technical trainings organized under “Women’s Economic Empowerment in Egypt” programme, which aims to economically empower women through access to capacity development and decent employment opportunities. To achieve this goal, the programme provided technical trainings for women entrepreneurs and job seekers on different professions, such as mobile repair, handmade leather products, accessories making, catering, fashion designs (sewing), and beauty care.

This programme is implemented by UN Women Egypt in partnership with the National Council for Women, the Ministry of International Cooperation, and the Ministry of Labour, with the generous support of the Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA). The training that Marwa attended was provided by Qodra for Development and Technological Solutions for Education.

Marwa’s story shows the impact of this project’s efforts in supporting women business entrepreneurs and job seekers by providing capacity building trainings. This directly contributes to the achievement of  SDG 5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls and SDG 8: Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all.