Happy 100th birthday to Joan Thornycroft
Joan Thornycroft, best known for her work with Cidesco and Babtac, turns 100 years old today (March 3).
With a career spanning more than 80 years, Joan Thornycroft has seen the international beauty business develop from a sometimes dangerous practice to a united industry.
Having begun her beauty career in 1934 at large London cosmetic house Rubenstein, Joan went on to work as a therapist and trainer, running her own beauty school in Kent for many years.
She was also a founder member of associations Babtac in 1977 and BISA in 1998, but is perhaps best known for her work on the board of Cidesco, which saw her travel the world to implement international standards for beauty therapy. This series of achievements even led to Thornycroft being awarded an MBE in 2013 for her role in developing the profession.
After joining Cidesco in 1984, Joan's work took her across the Far East, Africa and India. She gradually established treatment standards that were viable on an international level, winning over the local associations and educators in each county one by one.
I was lucky enough to interview Joan for Professional Beauty in 2014 at her home in Kent and she is one of the most knowledgeable people I've interviewed - and one of the funniest. Everyone here at Professional Beauty wishes Joan a happy 100th!
