MODERN EXCLUSIVE: An Interview with Farouk Shami

The Council of Graduate Schools at Seo Kyeong University in Korea presented Farouk Shami, founder of Farouk Systems, Inc, with an honorary Doctorate of Beauty Art in recognition of his achievements and contributions to the development of the worldwide beauty industry.

The programs at Seo Kyeong University offer concentrations in makeup, haircare and skincare, as well as beauty journalism.  The Graduate School of Beauty Arts was created to produce professional beauty artists and beauty art educators. MODERN SALON interviewed Dr. Shami on the importance of education for a successful beauty professional.

MS: You always emphasis education within your brand. What role has education played in your life?

SHAMI: Well, as always said, education is the way to success in any field. With field professionals and professional artists, the more knowledge and education they have, the more successful they become. Whenever you’re in a field you need to learn the most you can about it. Learn, excel and advance.

MS: When you started beauty school, did you envision your future success?

SHAMI: When I started beauty school, I thought it would only be for a few weeks, I never thought it would be fifty years, that’s for sure. Every day it has gotten better and better. Even after 50 years, I’m more in love with the profession than when I started.  Money is the fruit of success, that’s about it, it’s not the objective.

MS: What did receiving this honarary doctorate from Seo Kyeong University mean to you?

SHAMI: It means a lot to me, it means it adds more value to my profession as cosmetologist or hair artist. I am thrilled to find universities like the University of Seo Kyeong that give a bachelor’s degree in the art that is hairdressing or cosmetology. It gave me more confidence in the future of the profession, definitely more confidence in myself and I feel grateful to be able to contribute and keep my word in believing professionals can always advance in the beauty industry.

MS: MODERN SALON was at the opening of CHI Lone Star College – can you give us an update on the school and its students?

SHAMI: We are very proud of the CHI Lone Star School of Cosmetology. It’s a great example of advancing the profession in the United States and in Texas. Our hope is to expand into several hundred more academies.We want the future generation of hair artists to be a CHI graduates. CHI means advancement, innovation and better professionals.

I’ve seen the students that graduate from CHI Academy and they are at the level of people who have been in the profession for five years, they really have excelled. One of our engineers went for a haircut and he had immediate confidence in the hairdresser when she told him that she was a graduate of the CHI Academy. He said he will never change stylists because it was his best hair cut, ever.

MS: Statistically, most licensed cosmetologists do not continue to practice their craft after the first few years – what do you think contributes to this high dropout rate?

SHAMI: Possibly a lack of commitment and lack of education. The new graduates of the CHI Academies nationwide, they are sticking to the profession, they are learning more and getting more motivated about the profession. With our involvement, they know they have a company supporting them on their journey.

MS: Your booDR. FAROUK SHAMI

The Council of Graduate Schools at Seo Kyeong University in Korea presented Farouk Shami, founder of Farouk Systems, Inc, with an honorary Doctorate of Beauty Art in recognition of his achievements and contributions to the development of the worldwide beauty industry.

 

The programs at Seo Kyeong University offer concentrations in makeup, haircare and skincare, as well as beauty journalism.  The Graduate School of Beauty Arts was created to produce professional beauty artists and beauty art educators. MODERN SALON interviewed Dr. Shami on the importance of education for a successful beauty professional.

MS: You always emphasis education within your brand. What role has education played in your life?

SHAMI: Well, as always said, education is the way to success in any field. With field professionals and professional artists, the more knowledge and education they have, the more successful they become. Whenever you’re in a field you need to learn the most you can about it. Learn, excel and advance.

MS: When you started beauty school, did you envision your future success?

SHAMI: When I started beauty school, I thought it would only be for a few weeks, I never thought it would be fifty years, that’s for sure. Every day it has gotten better and better. Even after 50 years, I’m more in love with the profession than when I started.  Money is the fruit of success, that’s about it, it’s not the objective.

MS: What did receiving this honarary doctorate from Seo Kyeong University mean to you?

SHAMI: It means a lot to me, it means it adds more value to my profession as cosmetologist or hair artist. I am thrilled to find universities like the University of Seo Kyeong that give a bachelor’s degree in the art that is hairdressing or cosmetology. It gave me more confidence in the future of the profession, definitely more confidence in myself and I feel grateful to be able to contribute and keep my word in believing professionals can always advance in the beauty industry.

MS: MODERN SALON was at the opening of CHI Lone Star College – can you give us an update on the school and its students?

SHAMI: We are very proud of the CHI Lone Star School of Cosmetology. It’s a great example of advancing the profession in the United States and in Texas. Our hope is to expand into several hundred more academies.We want the future generation of hair artists to be a CHI graduates. CHI means advancement, innovation and better professionals.

I’ve seen the students that graduate from CHI Academy and they are at the level of people who have been in the profession for five years, they really have excelled. One of our engineers went for a haircut and he had immediate confidence in the hairdresser when she told him that she was a graduate of the CHI Academy. He said he will never change stylists because it was his best hair cut, ever.

MS: Statistically, most licensed cosmetologists do not continue to practice their craft after the first few years – what do you think contributes to this high dropout rate?

SHAMI: Possibly a lack of commitment and lack of education. The new graduates of the CHI Academies nationwide, they are sticking to the profession, they are learning more and getting more motivated about the profession. With our involvement, they know they have a company supporting them on their journey.

MS: Your book is being reissued--any idea of the release date?  And what is next for you?

SHAMI:  We don’t know, yet, but we’ll know the release date soon.

As to the future, the sky is the limit…and beyond!  I’m focusing more on research and development, more innovation, expansion in our market and expanding our education worldwide.k is being reissued--any idea of the release date?  And what is next for you?

SHAMI:  We don’t know, yet, but we’ll know the release date soon.

As to the future, the sky is the limit…and beyond!  I’m focusing more on research and development, more innovation, expansion in our market and expanding our education worldwide.