At HABIA, we celebrate the successes of individuals in the hair and beauty industry and share their journeys with you. Meet our latest role model, Katrina Sutherland.
“I am the owner of The Country Spa in Caithness, an award winning business, with an award winning team, although my salon is in the countryside, 10 miles from our nearest town in a very rural location with a tiny population.
I am also UK representative for Repechage, a seaweed-based professional skincare brand, with The Country Spa being recognised as their Scottish Flagship salon.I currently support my staff through training and personal development, support other Repechage salon owners, visit colleges to demonstrate treatments and educate and also continue to offer treatments in the salon myself.
Highlighting the necessity of professionalism within our industry is important to me so I have worked hard through social media, entering and winning awards, to improve visibility which has afforded me a platform to encourage our up-and-coming therapists to regard themselves as experts and conduct themselves as such. Our industry has been disregarded as a worthwhile profession for far too long and I believe, as experts, we need to change that opinion.
I started my beauty therapy journey at Clydebank College, 280 miles from my home in Caithness. It was the nearest college to offer the certificate I wished to achieve. As a young, creative person I always knew I wanted to do something that would make other people feel better about themselves. I wanted variety, excitement, creativity, and fun! I love working with people and seeing people happy, so beauty therapy was a perfect choice for me.
I achieved the CIBTAC diploma and The Royal Institute of Public Health & Hygiene Certificate during my time at Clydebank College. I was also awarded prizes for best Electrolygist and best Body Therapist for that year. That was a real highlight for me and set me up wanting to continue being the best I could be.
Since then, I have learned many different therapies and treatments including: Aromatherapy, Reflexology, Phytotherapy (the practice of using medicines derived from plants or herbs to treat or prevent health conditions), Pregnancy Massage, CBD Massage, On-site Massage, Hot stones massage, Lava Shell massage, Microcurrent Facelift, gel nails and fake tanning.
Some of these treatments I still offer; some were fashionable for a time and lost popularity.
I found my real interest lay in treatments that encouraged better health, so this is the direction I have taken with The Country Spa and the products we use within the spa.
When I left college I went straight to work in a busy Inverness salon, 100 miles away from home. I quickly realised there was a need for a beauty business in Caithness so I moved back home.
After an unsuccessful search for premises, I set up a room in my parent’s house and worked there until I married and moved home. My work was mainly hair removal as clients then were embarrassed to admit they visited a salon. It was considered vain although these clients just wished to feel “normal” without superfluous hair.
During my first year in business, I approached the local college and was offered a position teaching the science of skin to hairdressing students before being allowed to set up a new beauty therapy course. I oversaw the beauty course, teaching and assessing for over 10 years.
Having a young family and a business whilst teaching was too much so I left college and devoted my time to my two children whilst building my business through employing a student part-time. I have trained several apprentices since, who have gone on to run their own successful businesses. In fact, one such therapist is marrying my son in May!
As the business grew, new premises were required so The Country Spa was built in 2007 next to my house in the countryside. My vision was a place where people could visit with friends, relax, and enjoy amazing treatments to nurture and promote health and well-being.
In 2021 I joined Repechage as a representative and also as their Scottish Flagship salon.
My role involves looking after my staff so that they can confidently look after our clients. I also perform treatments on clients, but don’t work as many days in the salon now.
I visit salon owners and colleges to demonstrate treatments and educate therapists on the products and the importance of being professional and regarding themselves as “experts”.
I’m constantly looking at trends, keeping abreast of new ideas, marketing the business, and maintaining great relations within our community. I look for new training opportunities and ways to enhance our offering to clients so that we remain true to our values of helping others.
I love the variety of beauty therapy; no two days are the same. One day we’re in the salon helping a teenager with their skin, next day we’re at a beauty exhibition or an awards ceremony!
Having the opportunity to make a difference to someone’s life is a huge motivator for me. To be part of someone’s transformational journey is such a privilege. It’s a happy job. Even if someone arrives feeling down, they leave feeling lifted. We get the opportunity to enhance lives and empower people to look after their own health through education and support, rather than relying on our overstretched NHS for everything.
It’s never boring or stagnant. Our industry is always evolving, and I love the constant learning.
Winning two awards at this year’s Highland Business Women Awards and being shortlisted as a finalist at Highland Business Awards and Association of Scottish Business Women Awards was an amazing highlight in my career. It proves that beauty therapists can do so much more than we’re often given credit for.
For any young person or adult looking for a rewarding, fulfilling career that will fit in with their values and lifestyle, there is no better choice than a hair or beauty therapy career. With so many different avenues, there’s something for everyone. You can work almost anywhere in the world, from a variety of locations; ships, castles, garden room, at times that will fit in with your circumstances. You can work whilst bringing up a young family or you can embrace adventure and work abroad or whilst travelling.
A career in hair or beauty can lead onto many other work opportunities as it develops many transferable skills.
After over 35 years in the industry I am as passionate and excited about my work as ever. Far from being bored or thinking about retirement as many others my age, I’m looking forward to learning about Oncology Aesthetics as we align ourselves with our purpose at The Country Spa, which is helping others. As a beauty therapist we have so much power to help others.
To those entering the Hair and Beauty sector: Be proud of your profession. Regard yourself as an expert – because that’s what you are. Treat everyone with good intentions and integrity and you will have the most amazing future in a hair or beauty career.”
Katrina Sutherland
