Working in a TCM-based salon

We’re fortunate to live in a world where options are aplenty when it comes to jobs. There’s the beauty industry, media agencies, and healthcare sectors, just to name a few. And perhaps a lesser-known career would be one in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), especially when combined with hair care.

You read that right – Lingyan, a consultant at Beijing 101, has a job that dabbles in both scalp care and TCM. She shares more about her 9 years with the company, and the pros and cons of being in this seemingly elusive career.

Starting out as a shampooist at 14 years old

Lingyan’s journey started when she was just a young 14-year-old child. Back in China, she would work part-time in a hair salon. Her daily routine included sweeping the floor and restocking products. Slowly, she learnt more complex tasks like shampooing and cutting hair, which cultivated her growing interest in this trade.

Image credit: Freepik

She moved over to Singapore at 21 years old and continued working as a hairstylist in a neighbourhood salon. In the next few years, she got married and gave birth to her first child. Working as a hairstylist while caring for a baby was difficult – she was constantly exposed to harsh chemicals at work, and however thoroughly she washed her hands, she still felt that it was unsafe to touch her child.

Image for illustrative purposes only.

It was only when she sought treatment for post-partum hair loss, that she was introduced to Beijing 101. She was intrigued by the large use of TCM – in fact, she had wanted to study TCM in the past but the courses would take around 6 years, which weren’t ideal for her.

TCM wasn’t completely foreign to her either, given the commonality of it in China. Her family strongly believed in the benefits of TCM, given that there are almost no side effects to taking the herbs. Some TCM health treatments might take a while to produce results, but they generally help to improve your overall health too.

So, Beijing 101 introduced customised hair treatments to help with her hair loss. Throughout the process, she felt cared for and picked up some TCM-related knowledge too. Out of curiosity, she asked her consultant if they were hiring. Lo and behold, the job opportunity was available. And so, Lingyan began her career with Beijing 101.

From customer to employee at Beijing 101

Despite having prior experience at hair salons, Beijing 101 was strict on the standards their employees had. She started the compulsory training which included proper hair washing techniques and correct hair mask application. There were theory classes too, where she learned about scalp health and the various Beijing 101 products.

The training took about a month to complete during which there were hands-on sessions where she put what she learned into practice on mannequins and even on her colleagues.

She also helps mend the counters when needed. 

You might be wondering, “What’s the career progression like for someone who works at a hair salon?”. Lingyan started as a hair therapist, where she would execute basic tasks such as shampooing and applying treatment for customers.

In her 9 years at Beijing 101, she was promoted to a consultant, and then a supervisor where she helped mentor and guide new employees. She would help out with complicated cases and provide curated solutions for such customers. She’s since accumulated her own database of regulars who trust in her expertise. And fun fact: the hair consultant who served her during her initial visit is now her fellow employee!

Her current day-to-day is pretty jam-packed with activities. She typically sees about 10 customers each day, and most of them are her regulars, so she already has a general treatment for them in mind. She’ll do a scalp and root analysis, then proceed with treatment, and any needed aftercare.

When asked if she enjoys her job, Lingyan answers with an immediate “Yes”. She shares that she can learn new TCM knowledge from the in-house physician, and this translates into her work with her customers. And because every customer’s scalp is different, she actively uses her brain juices to identify the issues and problem-solve.

Goodbye toxic chemicals, hello natural Chinese herbs.

Beyond that, it’s clear that Lingyan finds satisfaction in her job. She stated that it’s fulfilling when she sees customers coming back to her with a healthy scalp, knowing that she’s played a part in bettering their hair journey. Also, she no longer deals with harsh chemicals at work – a major plus point given that she now has 2 little ones to care for.

What it’s like having a career in TCM in Singapore

Whether you’re considering a career in TCM or simply curious, it’s worth understanding various jobs to broaden your general knowledge. Admittedly, it’s easy to misunderstand a career when you’re unfamiliar with it, and the same goes for health treatments.

During my chat with Lingyan, I had the chance to undergo the Meridian Hair Growth Treatment by Beijing 101. Before the treatment, I had assumed that my scalp’s condition was normal given that I didn’t suffer from extremities like dandruff or oily scalp.

But wow, was I wrong. During the pre-treatment scalp scan, it was revealed that my hair follicles were clogged, and my scalp was pretty oily. Lingyan explained that this might’ve been the cause of stress, poor diet, and lack of sleep – all of which I suffered from. She proposed that I do the Meridian Hair Growth Treatment to elevate and revive my jialat scalp.

We started off the treatment with the Scalp Purification Treatment. This hair mask helps to gently cleanse the scalp with gentle ingredients. Adios, oil, dirt, and bacteria.

Next step: a thorough hair wash. Herbal shampoo and conditioner were used, which cleansed my hair without stripping it of its natural oils. And BTW, there was not a whiff of the pungent smell of Chinese herbs that some of us might be concerned about.

The hair-washing process included the comprehensive Meridian Hair Spa Wash and Scalp Massage, which incorporates TCM-based acupressure massage to stimulate hair growth. She also used a customised hair tonic that’s formulated with premium Chinese herbs to nourish my hair follicles.

Following this was the Alpha Beam Laser Light Therapy. Don’t be alarmed by the glowing lights – these help the hair tonic penetrate even deeper, boost scalp health, and restore hair growth. You won’t feel anything during these 10 minutes of light therapy, so just sit back and let the equipment do its thang.

They won’t let you leave the salon with messy hair. Lingyan proceeded to blow-dry and style my tresses while imparting more knowledge on TCM-based hair practices. “The human hair and scalp are linked to the body’s Qi, as well as blood circulation. You can tell a lot about someone’s health through the hair and scalp condition,” she stated.

The before and after of my scalp.
Image adapted from: Beijing 101

We concluded the session with a post-treatment scalp scan and review. The results were drastic; there were little to no clogged hair follicles, and my scalp looked squeaky clean. While healing my scalp health would take a couple of sessions, there was an admirable difference compared to my initial scan.

Suffice to say that the treatment brought about significant improvements in a single session. If you’re intrigued to learn about your hair health, take note – from now till 31st August 2024, you can book a trial Meridian Hair Growth Treatment at just $50 (U.P. $624). You’ll also receive a free Nourishing Shampoo with the treatment.

For those who may be facing hair loss, hair thinning, dandruff, and oily or dry scalp, this treatment is worth a try. Take advantage of this promotion and get to the root of your hair issues.

Find out more about Beijing 101’s treatments

This post was brought to you by Beijing 101.
Photography by Lee Pei Yi.