Trichology in the United Arab Emirates
Current International Student: Natalie Scott
“Because I’m studying from outside the UK, the online sessions are particularly helpful, and it’s also important to me that I can contact someone when I’ve got a question or want advice. And I’ve always found that Keith is there to help. He’s amazingly easy to talk to, keeps me on track and carefully breaks down any problem I have and makes it easier to understand.”
10 years ago Natalie Scott was offered a dream job in Dubai. Did she take it? You bet she did! Natalie had trained with Rush in London and was already an experienced stylist and assessor. But, then single, she didn’t hesitate at the opportunity to further her career in a new, dynamic and exotic location.
Fast forward to today and Natalie, now married with 3 kids and a full-time salon job, is fulfilling a long-held ambition to learn more about trichology: “It’s a subject I’ve wanted to explore for years,” she says.
In Dubai especially, with its extreme climate and multi-cultural mix, Natalie’s seeing many different kinds of hair issues. And now she’s doing something about it: “I found the TrichoCare Education Level 4 Certificate almost by accident, when I was researching something else, and I thought ‘Right, it’s a sign, this time I’m really going to fulfil my trichology passion!’”
“From behind the chair I’ve seen so many of my clients with hair and scalp issues, and I’ve never been able to advise them myself with any confidence, which was so frustrating.”
Natalie Scott, January 2022
Natalie spoke to Susan Ringsell at TrichoCare Education, learned more about the Course and signed up straight away: “I’d always assumed that I’d need some kind of medical background or training in order to study trichology, and when Susan told me that wasn’t the case, I didn’t hesitate!”
Now, a few months into the Course, she certainly has no regrets: “I’m actually enjoying it. It’s really interesting. Some of the early biology content was challenging – I could just about remember studying some of it in school! But once you realise how important the basics are and how everything is connected, you can really commit to learning in more depth.”
Natalie says she’s getting great support from TrichoCare’s tutors, especially Course Director Keith Barker-Jones: “Because I’m studying from outside the UK, the online sessions are particularly helpful, and it’s also important to me that I can contact someone when I’ve got a question or want advice. And I’ve always found that Keith is there to help. He’s amazingly easy to talk to, keeps me on track and carefully breaks down any problem I have and makes it easier to understand.”
Natalie’s ambition is to have her own trichology consultancy and practice. And she’s in no doubt that studying trichology should be an essential part of hairdresser training:
“I think everyone should do it. It should be part of the NVQ curriculum. You broaden your knowledge and understanding of the hair and scalp, you learn new skills and, above all, you can be confident in giving expert advice to clients once you’re qualified.”