Some people dream of travelling the world one day. Linn Kappen (18) has a different goal in mind: helping people relax, boosting their self-confidence and, one day, opening her own beauty salon. But before that dream becomes a reality, a world-class adventure awaits her. In September, Linn, a student of the All-round Beauty Therapy course at ROC Nijmegen, will represent Team Netherlands on the global stage at WorldSkills in Shanghai.
The path to achieving this is anything but a relaxing beauty treatment. Practising massage techniques until they become second nature. Training days packed with technique and precision. An ice bath to learn how to cope with stress. And in between, simply doing work placements, working and continuing to dream of running her own salon.
For Linn, this is the most natural thing in the world. She wants to continue developing her skills and master every aspect of her craft down to the last detail. Not only to perform well in Shanghai, but above all because she wants to help people relax, look their best and leave feeling more confident.
And no, her profession really isn’t just about mascara, nails and perfectly shaped eyebrows.
“Many people think that beauticians mainly deal with eyelashes or make-up,” says Linn with a laugh. “But there’s so much more to it than that. You learn all about the skin, health, techniques and how to really put someone at ease.”
The latter is perhaps its greatest strength.
Lynn Kappen with her mentor Nellie van Steenbergen
More than just a treatment
Anyone lying on Linn’s treatment table won’t experience assembly-line treatment. No rushing. No ticking clock. Quite the opposite, in fact.
“I think it’s important that people feel I’m really taking the time for them. Whether someone comes for a massage or a facial, you want them to leave feeling completely relaxed.”
That is exactly why she loves her profession so much. It’s not just about making things look better, but above all about making someone feel better.
“When someone is beaming again after treatment, or experiences fewer symptoms after a massage… that really gives me a boost.”
Linn on stage during the WorldSkills final in the Netherlands
From an open day to the world stage
When she was younger, Linn thought she would become a hairdresser, just like her mother. That was until she discovered the All-round Beautician course during an open day at ROC Nijmegen.
“I knew straight away: this is it.”
Since then, Linn has been making rapid progress in her profession. She is now preparing for WorldSkills, where she will be tested on everything that makes her profession so versatile: massages, facials, waxing, make-up, nails and more.
The preparation is intensive. Together with her coaches and Expert Nellie van Steenbergen, who works as a skills coordinator at ROC Nijmegen, she is working on every detail: from technique and professional knowledge to demeanour, timing and self-confidence. Massage techniques are practised endlessly, her knowledge of anatomy is being refreshed, and even an ice bath was part of the preparation. “We’re really training the whole package,” says Linn. “That’s why I’m heading to Shanghai with ever-increasing confidence.”
Dreams with a business plan
If you ask Linn where she sees herself in five years’ time, she doesn’t need a second to think about it. “My own beauty salon.”
That dream is closer than you might think. Work is already underway at home on the space where her salon is to be located. So it’s not a pipe dream, but a dream with a solid foundation.
For Linn, running a business is about much more than just providing treatments. It means being creative, never stopping learning and developing her own style. She draws inspiration for her salon from everywhere: Pinterest, TikTok and Instagram. Not to blindly copy trends, but to put her own spin on them.
“You want to surprise people with their experience during a treatment. And, of course, that also means presenting your salon well, with the right atmosphere and décor.”
Linn demonstrates what the Arnhem-Nijmegen region has to offer: a new generation of skilled professionals who have mastered their craft and have the courage to be entrepreneurial. It is precisely this combination of craftsmanship, ambition and entrepreneurship that makes the region strong and future-proof.
Linn treating a client in the salon
Just do it
For students who are unsure about studying a course in the beauty industry, Linn has some simple advice.
“Why not pop along to an open day? Or spend a day shadowing someone. The profession is much broader than people realise.”
And perhaps that is precisely why it is such a good fit for WorldSkills. Not just because it is technically strong, but because it demonstrates what craftsmanship is really all about: attentiveness, calmness and the conviction that a treatment is only successful if someone walks out feeling just a little bit happier than when they walked in.
Lifeport Human Capital Agreement
Linn’s story illustrates what the Lifeport Human Capital Agreement stands for. Under this agreement, educational institutions and entrepreneurs work together to produce well-trained professionals ready to meet the challenges of tomorrow. By identifying talent early on, challenging young people and forging close links between education and the business world, a region is created where people can develop and businesses can continue to innovate.
Further information on the Lifeport Human Capital Agreement can be found at: Human Capital Agreement.
