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Lindiwe followed her passion as a somatologist

Somatologist Lindiwe Tshabalala was only 16 years old when she took a keen interest in beauty, often accompanying a relative - a make-up artist - to work.
Somatologist Lindiwe Tshabalala was only 16 years old when she took a keen interest in beauty, often accompanying a relative - a make-up artist - to work.

Lindiwe Tshabalala's career incredibly spans 10 years of experience at age 26. When she was a teenager, she would sacrifice her afternoons to do unpaid work over the years to gain experience.

"I did unpaid internships. My cousin worked as a make-up professional at the SABC, so after school I would go to her workplace and watch and sometimes apply make-up on people.

"I also started asking salons if I could come and learn (tricks of the trade), and they would allow me to perform some treatments. That is how I started," Tshabalala said.

Soon after matric, Tshabalala's mom enrolled her at a beauty school as she recognised her passion.

"I started my studies in 2011, at The International Academy of Health and Skin Care in Sandton. It was [challenging] but I enjoyed it. People think of studying beauty superficially. You (also) need to understand how the human body works and so on.

"It is important that you pass well, and that is why some people found it hard. It was worth it. My mom saved for me so I did not have to face financial constrains of paying for tuition," said Tshabalala.

Tshabalala is now a qualified somatologist working at VXV beauty studio, at Lakeside Mall, Benoni - on the East Rand.

"My best moment is when a client comes in tired and after I have performed a treatment they leave so energetic."

Tshabalala's regime includes working with clients and the hard work behind the scenes.

"I start work at 9am, we usually have a quick 30-minute meeting where we discuss professional and business-related challenges. We also brainstorm solutions and strategies. Shortly after the meeting I call my clients and remind them of their appointments. I do waxing, manicures, facials, pedicures, tinting and body slimming.

"Somatology is beauty therapy, so you deal with people's skin, beauty and overall health. We do analysis on a person's weight, give nutritional advice and we use two machines to address their weight issues. We have the faradic machine that tones the body and the galvanic machines is (utilised) more to break down the cellulite," she said.

Tshabalala travels by taxi from her Parktown, Johannesburg, home to Lakeside Mall daily and said she relaxes through yoga exercises.

During her spare time, the beauty specialist also works for Revlon as one of their glam squad girls, where she does quick makeovers for select clients among other things.

Tshabalala comes from a family of three siblings , but lost her two brothers.

"My brothers passed away in 2004 and 2005. I was in grade 8 and 9.

"It was because of that (the death of her brothers), that I did not want to disappoint my mom and worked harder. I had to have a stable career and be someone in life."

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