As I travel the globe, I realize this world of beauty is the same regardless of where you are. I spent one day working and training the staff of Glow Salon & Spa. Glow is centrally located in the lobby area of Boulevard Palace Hotel (one of Liberia’s five star hotels) in Sinkor. They specialize in custom lace front wigs, nails, skin, body and waxing. They are a full service spa that caters to the Liberian Elite and foreign nationals.

Upon entering this spa, I noticed some similarities to my own spa, such as color selection and polish brands, like Shellac and OPI, great customer service, and uniforms worn by each employee. The team at Glow Salon & Spa has a commitment to excellence, and the owner, Sandra Bertolo, is totally devoted to the success of her employees, unlike many businesses in our region.

I helped train them in the following:

Liquid and powder application

Tip application/proper blending

Proper manicuring i.e. PREP

Sanitation vs Disinfection

Proper cuticle grooming

Proper Shellac/polish application

I trained for three hours and during the following six hours, the ladies had a chance to observe me as I worked. I also noticed that they disinfect the pedicure jets after every guest and use gloves for pedicures. I was very proud, as a Liberian, to be in my homeland and see that even in a country where they have access to so little, the level of sanitation and services are executed so well. As the saying goes, the more things change, the more they stay the same.

One of the things I have learned while training women internationally is that they yearn to learn. I wish I had more days to work alongside those ladies. The difference between employment in Africa and employment in the States is that when you employ one person here in Africa, that person has several people they have to take care of; therefore, it makes for a different kind of commitment. Though it's sad to leave, I am very excited about my next stop on the globe.

Glow Salon and Spa, 13th Street Tubman Blvd, Sinkor, Monrovia, Liberia.