Are you currently a salon business owner? Or renting a room somewhere? Looking at new treatments to add to your menu but feeling overwhelmed and at a loose end? Why not try something different and become a tutor! Gain a qualification in teaching, get your courses accredited, and be insured as a teacher. Start teaching the subjects you love, to inspire the next generation of Beauty Therapists.
There are many benefits to becoming a Beauty Tutor, these benefits include: a better work-life balance, improved IT and marketing skills and setting your own schedule. This option is also less physically demanding on the body, if you are a therapist looking to reduce your treatments. There is always a huge demand for these training courses within the beauty industry. You can start your own training business, design your accredited courses and move completely online!
Lash Extensions are still on the of the most popular and lucrative beauty services to be offering right now. While DIY false lashes may have come a long way, there is nothing that can beat a professionally applied set of semi-permanent eyelash extensions for creating the WOW factor to your look. During lockdowns, many turned to stick-on strip lashes but many have learnt to their peril the damage poorly applied lashes can do to your natural lashes. With the festive party season nearly upon us too, there has never been a better time to get into offering eyelash extensions. But how do you get started?
How much will it cost to learn to offer lash extensions?
A lot less than you might think!
We have an accredited & insurable Online Classic Eyelash Extension Course for only ยฃ99, or if you prefer to learn face to face, our 1 Day Classic Eyelash Extension Course is only ยฃ199. You will need to start with Classic Lashes to ensure you master the basics and fundamental skills, isolating a natural lash, picking up a false lash and applying to the natural lashes โ plus lots more, before you can progress to more advanced lash techniques. Starting with Classics lets you try out lashes, see if it is a good fit for you and you can always do further courses from there.
If you know you lash extensions is the career for you, we have packages to save you money allowing you to book your Classics and more advanced training in Russian Volume and Hybrid Lash Extensions all together. Choose from our 2 Day Pick & Mix Package (to combine Classics, Russian Volume or Hybrids) at ยฃ349 or our Complete Lash Technician 3 Day (Classics, Russians & Hybrid Lashes) Package at ยฃ449.
Flexible payment options are available to help spread the cost. Learn more here.
How do I get confident in Lash Extensions?
Completing your training is only the first step. Lashing will take time to master and get your treatment application times down. Initially it make take you around 2-2.5 hours to complete a full set with those first few attempts, but with patience and practice youโll soon get this down to around 45-90 minutes depending on the look being created. Youโll also get used to your products and tools, working with two sets of tweezers at a time sure does take practice! We recommend working on a training head to begin with and then after 2-3 sets on the block, move onto live models. You could ask friends or family, or advertise on social media offering your first sets at cost price. Ensure you have at least student insurance in place while practising, youโll need full therapistโs level (public liability) insurance in place once you begin charging for your treatments. Practice certainly makes perfect!
How much will my eyelash extension kits cost to get started?
We do not tie you in to buying any expensive kits with our courses, our courses teach you the general techniques but are non-brand specific. Once youโre ready to begin practising or even offering your treatments, youโll need products and tools to start lashing. We offer the following optional starter kits all from the ProSpa brand, available to purchase on our website. All are only ยฃ109!
Weโd recommend starting with the Classic Eyelash Extensions kit to get you started with the fundamental skills. The main differences between the kits are the type of tweezers included and the lash curls/lengths/thicknesses depending on the lash look the kit is intended to create. Once you have your Classics kit with the essentials, you may wish to purchase additional lashes and tweezers separately from your preferred supplier to keep your start-up costs lower.
How much can I expect to earn as a lash technician?
How much you earn depends on how what basis you work, how many hours and how much you charge per lash treatment. If you rent a space within a beauty or hair salon for example, your footfall and potential clients may be greater but so will your business costs. Whereas, if you start out working mobile, while you have to factor in your travel and product costs, youโll typically have lower costs and therefore earn more at least initially. You will need to research the competition in your local area to establish your pricing structure and costs for a full set, infill etc. Think about the product brands youโll be using and take care with your kit to avoid unnecessary wastage to keep your margins high.
Consider that you can typically charge ยฃ35-ยฃ100 per lash set once youโve gained a little experience, you can vary quickly earn back the cost of your training and kit within the first 10-15 treatments.
Once youโre confident in classic lashes, it is well worth learning more advanced skills like Russian and Hybrid Lashes so that you can create WOW lashes that really stand out on social media and word of mouth by clients, to promote your work. You can usually charge a much higher rate for advanced lash work such as Hybrid Lashes over a set of standard Classic Lashes. Volume Lashes and advanced lash mapped looks inspired by the celebrities are all the rage and will have your clients staying loyal to you and coming back time and time again for your expert level work.
You might also want to trial retail products to boost your earnings further and ensure clients maintain their lash results for healthier natural lashes and to avoid contra-actions occurring. Typical retail products include lash serums to help seal the extensions and nourish natural lashes.
Do I need to know how to run a business to be a successful lash technician?
The most important thing firstly is that you are confident and skilled in providing your lash services. The second most important thing is that you actively promote your new business. Social media โ namely Facebook and Instagram are best for this. Set up a business page immediately, but do take time to consider your business name, logo and pricing. You want to project a professional image from the start so also consider your personal presentation. Our Online Starting a Business Course will equip you with useful information and opportunity to plan your brand before launching your business.
Youโll need to register with HMRC once you begin offering your services to paying clients. Make sure you keep accurate records of any money earnt and any money spent (receipts for products, traning etc.) as this will be essential for self-assessment purposes for tax. A basic ledger or excel spreadsheet will suffice initially.
Make sure you are completing client consultation forms and hold complete records of client contact details for future reference. These will need to be kept confidential at all times in a secure locked cabinet or on a password protected device. This is essential to meet insurance obligations and for data protection.
Set up an appointment diary and block out any times you donโt want to work or have other commitments. This will make it much easier to plan your working hours. Plan in at least 1 hour per week for business purposes including creating posts or promotions for social media, maintaining client records and day to day accounts etc. Encourage clients to book their next appointment before they leave their current appointment. Have a clear rescheduling / cancellations policy, perhaps included on your appointment cards for clients to keep. You may want to charge a deposit or cancellation fee (charged when rebooking) to help guarantee your earnings each week and build a regular, profitable client base.
Plan future marketing whether that is seasonal events in your beauty space / salon, discounts or promotions that you promote on social media and think about future proofing your business by adding on further treatments with time, based on client feedback of other services they are currently having elsewhere such as brow lamination and shaping. You always need to keep your business growing and fresh! Take time each appointment to do a before / after photo of your work (with client permission) and encourage clients to engage with this on social media to build your brand profile and help attract new clients.
Growing your own lash extensions business will take time and patience, but with hard work and determination is is a very real possibility to achieve your dreams whether that is financial freedom, a positive work/life balance or just doing a job that you are passionate about!
Running a profitable beauty business can be a rewarding yet daunting task! there are so many things to think about when running your own business. This can be challenging when the majority of your day is focussed on delivering treatments. If you’re struggling to find the time to generate new ideas for boosting income you’ve come to the right place! We’ve collated some of our best advice for therapists to maximise profits.
Increase your client base
Whether you are just starting up or have been going a while there may be opportunities to grow your client base. There’s the obvious promotional platforms such as social media/ local magazines, however many marketing experts agree that the networking is an avenue that can be the most beneficial when targeting new clients. For example, there may be the option to have a mutually beneficial partnership with local businesses in your area that compliment the work you do such as Bridal shops or Hairdressers. A ‘you scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours’ scenario of promoting each others businesses can boost both businesses profits. If you already have a loyal client base, you can also enrol the support of these clients to grow. Offering refer a friend rewards or hosting launch events within the salon whereby clients can bring a friend/family member along. These events work well along side the launch of a new treatment or product where you can offer taster treatments/demonstrations/product trials or spread out at various times of the year to mark events i.e Valentines day/Christmas.
Increase spend per visitย
If you’re serious about increasing your profit then one clear winning strategy is to encourage your client to spend more when they are with you. Use each treatment booking to your advantage to promote the add on services and retail that you offer within the salon. This doesn’t have to be a hard sell as remember your client is there for a reason, they may have come in to get amazing lashes.. their lashes will stay amazing for longer if they use a lash shampoo between infills! If you’re not retailing product in your salon you’re not only limiting your revenue but you may also be disadvantaging your client by not providing them with a full service which includes education and aftercare on how to maintain their treatment at home.
When up-selling services, consider the treatments that compliment each other the most. This could be adding additional massage onto treatments, adding additional LED therapy onto facials or tinting with Lash extension services. Also consider the benefits of courses of treatments, offering incentives can be an easy way to reward clients for booking courses such as by 6 get one free.
Top tips for retailing product:
Only recommend products that you genuinely believe will benefit the client, link these back to their main concerns or objectives. For example you may have a facial client concerned with acne so share why you think a spot treatment would work best for them or a Gel polish client who always has dry cuticles, why would this nail oil help?
Let the client explore the product. Give them the chance to try the product on their skin as most people prefer to try before they buy!
Review your treatment menu
A lot can be said for less is more, its important to focus on what you do and do it well vs offering too many services. Think about your niche and what makes you different, why should your clients come to you? It’s these unique differences that you should be promoting at every available opportunity. It may also be time to consider your pricing, when was the last time you increased your prices? Complete some market research into your local area to ensure you remain competitive and avoid underselling your skills!
Looking to start your own beauty business this year? Call our team on freephone 0800 999 2277 (option 1) to tailor a beauty training package for your business start-up. Already trained in beauty and need more business know-how? Our Online Starting a Business in Beauty Course is the ideal starting point to plan, market, brand and launch your own beauty business.ย
Research suggests that 35% of people in the UK now run their own side hustle business. Many side businesses start out as hobbies along side your current job, eventually becoming your main source of income! With Beauty services surviving recessions, it makes them the ideal option to kick start something on the side. Becoming a Therapist or Technician is ideal if you’re looking for something to fit around your current life, work and family.
We’ve collated our top tips to support you in making your first steps to starting your side hustle business!
Find your passion
The first thing to consider when starting a side beauty business is what area of beauty interests you. It can be easy to jump in and want to offer all services, the pitfall of this is becoming a ‘jack of all trades’. We would always recommend starting off with the treatments you feel most passionate about, whether it’s Lashes, Nails or Make Up, finding your passion will mean you’ll be excited to put the time and energy into practicing your skills and offer amazing treatments to your new clients!
Training
In order to get started with offering treatments to clients you will need to gain insurance. For insurance providers to cover you, you will need to have relevant qualifications in the treatments you are providing. Our Accredited Online or 1 day Diploma courses are ideal to get started alongside your current job. Online courses allow you to study conveniently, while managing your current commitments. Accessible 24/7 through our online student portal, learn in your own time, at your own pace. Alternatively you may prefer to have a tutor on site to guide you through face to face, making the 1 day Diploma courses the ideal option as they are fast track, available 6 days per week all year round and offered across our 10 training centre locations across the UK. Both online and classroom based training provide an accredited certificate that is recognised to gain insurance to work freelance!
Itโs vital that you do your research when looking at starting your own business, be aware of the health and safety policies you will need to adhere to, these can be found on the gov.org website and ensure you have adequate insurance. We provide our students with details of insurance providers to cover you whilst you study and become qualified. If you need that extra bit of know-how to get your new business off the ground, our Online Starting a Business Course is ideal for you as it covers all the important guidance and rules on getting setup, while allowing you to think about your brand, marketing your business and devising a business plan to make starting your own business quick, profitable and successful.
Sourcing products and equipment
Whilst youโre training you may want to take advantage of student starter kits, these are an ideal way to get started whilst youโre practicing your services on friends and family and can be found on our โstarter kitsโ page on the website. Once qualified you will be eligible to create accounts with local wholesalers to source your equipment. Our courses are not brand specific, meaning your not tied to any expensive product brands and can source your products affordably to maximise your profit as you start-up your business.
In todays modern world the traditional ways of advertising have gone out of the window, with more and more companies relying on word of mouth and visual representations online to ensure their success. Without social media accounts your business is invisible as the majority of clients admit to checking businesses socials out before they book treatments.
Read about ways to promote your new business on social media in our recent blog.
If youโre interested in finding out more about working within the beauty industry and starting your own business, our team are always on-hand to offer guidance and support with choosing the right training courses to get you started, tips on products and kits, feedback on your treatments to build your confidence and more.
Reach out to our team through Live Chat on our website or call us on freephone 0800 999 2277 (option 1) to get started today!
Nail treatments are one of the most profitable services you can offer as a therapist, with year round demand and regular client appointments but whether you’re just starting out as a Nail Technician or you’re wanting to increase the services you offer there is so much variety on the market it can be a confusing landscape to navigate. Keep reading to discover the key pros and cons behind popular nail system on the market to support you with making the best decision for your business. Which Nail system is right for me?
Extensions or Natural Nails?
A question we receive regularly from therapists starting their careers in Nail Technology is should I invest in extensions or focus on the natural nail? The plus side of training in extension systems is that a lot of systems can now be used with and without traditional tips. With many products providing the option of forms to extend the nail or a simple overlay on the clients natural length. Extensions are a profitable treatment if you have the clientele, with treatments ranging between ยฃ25-ยฃ50 a service, they also need regular maintenance so a good option if you’re looking for ways to increase client return footfall.
Acrylics
One of the more traditional methods for nail extensions, Acrylics are still regarded a well loved favourite of Nail technicians. Hard wearing and long lasting they reign supreme in the longevity category, although they loose on the odour front! It’s essential to remove Acrylics correctly, educating clients on the need to revisit the salon for remove is vital for the health of the nails. Acrylics can be used with tips or forms to extend the natural nail. Average cost ยฃ25-ยฃ50 per set depending on the type of finish the client is requesting.
UV Gel Extensions
Many favour the ease of UV Gel Extensions, quick to apply and self levelling, UV Gel extensions are a great alternative to Acrylics if you want durable nails without the odour. Although they’re not as hard wearing as Acrylics you will still get a couple of weeks out of a set of Gels. Again they can be used with tips or forms. Costings are comparable to Acrylics between ยฃ25-ยฃ50 a set.
Other options that have gained a huge following from clients and therapists a like is Builder Gel in a bottle and Polygel systems, you may have seen multiple posts on socials promoting the benefits of these treatments and there is good reason for this.. ย They’re amazing! Easy to use, versatile and offer a natural look with the benefit of lengthening natural nails they are definitely worth the hype.
The advantage of Gel in a bottle over traditional tub based gel products is the speed and ease at which they can be applied to give additional strength to natural nails. They are a soak-off product so much easier to remove than traditional buff off builder gel products. The Average price for a set is ยฃ35.
Poly Gelย is a revolutionary invention in the nail industry for those of you looking for a product with literally no heat spikes, practically odourless and with significantly less dust during removal.ย There are no monomers, no mixing, and no ratios needed! Itโs extremely mouldable and easy to use, great to speed up treatment timings. The average price for Polygel around ยฃ50 a set
Gel Polishย
Due to the longevity and high-gloss finish, this treatment is particularly popular all-year round. A perfect option if you’re starting out and are looking for a system to work on the clients natural nail. Since Gel polish started it’s boom in the industry most salons have turned their backs on traditional nail polish for their manicure and pedicure services and have instead opted for this longer lasting instant drying alternative! Treatments on average are ยฃ25-ยฃ30.
What now?
All that’s left to do now is getting learning! Enrol for our Accredited Online Nail Courses from only ยฃ99 or book a classroom course from only ยฃ199 for live training with our expert tutors.
In this week’s blog we’re sharing our top tips when it comes to promoting your new beauty business on Social media. In todays modern world the traditional ways of advertising have gone out of the window, with more and more companies relying on word of mouth and visual representations online to ensure their success. Without social media accounts your business is invisible as the majority of clients admit to checking businesses socials out before they book treatments.
What are the benefits of social media? Think of social media platforms as your virtual shop window, it represents everything you want your business to be know for. They’re also a great way of staying connected with clients, building relationships and a loyal client base as well as networking with other businesses.
Here are our top tips for promoting your business online.
1. Target your market audience
The social media platform you choose to use should depend on your client demographic. Younger users are choosing platforms TikTok and Snap chat over Instagram and Facebook. Instagram is a very popular choice for millennials and has an incredible 2 billion person user base! Making it a great choice for a new business. Whilst Facebook still maintains a large 25-35 demographic their largest growing demographic is the 65+ group. Something to consider when starting your socials is the best option for connecting with your target audience.
2. Promoting your work
Ensure that your business account is a representation of the work you carry out within the business, this should be separate from any personal accounts. When people search for your business they want to see images of your nails/lashes instead of your dog!
You only have a split second to grab someones attention when scrolling through their socials. You need to make your posts as impactful as possible, whether it be through images of your work or video clips. To get the best images you may want to invest in equipment such a good quality camera, a ring light and for videos a sturdy camera stand for smooth footage.
Before and after images work incredibly well to showcase the work you do, these are found to get more interaction from users.
3. Schedule your posts
It can be busy work starting a business and finding the time to update your accounts may become a challenge. Aim to set some time each week to preschedule and plan your posts for the week to save on any last minute panic posts! Facebook and Instagram are connected through Meta and have useful integrated systems to allow you to schedule posts in advance. There are also companies such as Hootsuite which can do this for you using an app.
Research the times of day that are the best to post on your chosen platform, for example the most used time on instagram is 10am-1pm, with Tuesdays and Wednesdays being the most popular days.
Aim to post once a day and keep your follows engaged by regularly posting stories.
4. Connect with your audience
Make sure to take the time to reply to comments and messages on your accounts. By connecting with your followers your building an online community and loyal client base ready to book their next appointment!
5. Use #hashtags
Hashtags are a way of getting your posts seen by more people so great for growing your following! You can use unto 30 hashtags per post, however posts with excessive amounts of hashtags are seen as spam so avoid using too many! Creating your own hashtag such as #lashesbygrace can allow clients to follow your work directly! Encourage your clients to use your hashtag to gain a momentum.
The Facial and Aesthetics Industry has boomed over the last decade, with net growth expanding year on year. However there are some challenges with this ever expanding industry. With a lack of regulation and standards comes an increase in unregulated training and clinics lacking the essential knowledge, qualifications and insurance to perform effective treatments.
If you are just starting out it can be hard to navigate where to go for the right training essential to gain insurance. Here is our guide for getting started with Aesthetics.
Preย requisites for study
As Aesthetic treatments are advanced treatments that can impact the skin on a molecular level, you will need to have the skills and knowledge to safely deliver these services to your clients. To gain the most from these advanced courses, before undertaking our Aesthetic training courses, we set the minimum pre requirement as:
Do check with your future insurance provider for these treatments prior to booking as the pre requirements for insurance can vary significantly between providers with some being happy to accept simply an accredited diploma in Facial Skincare, whereas others set the minimum standard as VTCT qualifications at Level 2 and/or Level 3, depending on the specific treatments you wish to be insured for.
Where Level 2 and/or 3 is required, we recommend the following qualification courses which allow you to gain knowledge of a range of treatments for a good all-round beauty skill set. These can be booked and studied alongside our Aesthetics courses to fast-track your studies:
Or for those want to specialise purely in skincare and aesthetics, to fast track your career, save you money on training costs (and as accepted by your insurer), we highly recommend simply taking these courses alongside our Aesthetics courses:
There are a variety of treatments available and these are expanding regularly. Here are some examples of current popular treatments.
Dermaplaningย offers deep exfoliation removing dead skin cells, blockages, make up and vellus hair from the upper layer of the surface of the skin using a surgical scalpel to refine skin.
Microneedlingย also known as dermarolling or collagen induction therapy is administered using a dermaroller or automated pen applicator to stimulate collagen growth and repairing of skin.
Skin Peels, often known also as โchemicalโ peels work using natural acids to exfoliate the skin and remove dead skin cells using specialised products applied topically to the skin.
LED Lightย Therapyย works to soothe the skin, boosting natural skin healing following more invasive treatments and is hugely rejuvenating for the skin.ย
Accreditation and Insurance
In order to gain insurance you will be required to present your insurance company with an accredited certificate. Beware of courses out there which only provide a CPD registered certificate as these are not widely accepted for insurance, as many do not involve hands-on practical as part of the course. An accredited certificate proves that you have completed training with a reputable training provider that meets the standards of the industry and demonstrated practical competence as part of the course. It is important to do your research when decided on which courses to undertake. Here at The Beauty Academy, all of our Classroom based courses are accredited by Associated Beauty Therapists (ABT) and are fully insurable.
Marketing your treatments
Now is the time to start promoting the treatments to your clients. Your current Facial clients are the ideal place to start, these treatments will also attract new clients more interested in instant results! Below are a few ways to get started with promoting the new treatments.
Existing Facial clients:
Send out e-blast messages sharing the benefits of the new treatments
Hold a launch event, offer mini treatment tasters and demonstrations, these could be themed around the festive season or โnew year new youโ
Run an introductory offer for your loyal clients
Change your answering phone message to highlight โwhatโs newโ
Link to your retail products as a way of maintaining their skin and increasing retail/treatment sales, i.e. โbook a course of treatments and receive a free mini kitโ
Target potential new clients:
Grow your social media presence, videos tend to receive more interaction than photos. Why not vlog your training journey?
Connect with local businesses, do you have a local bridal shop? Hairdressers? Why not team up to promote each others business, you could throw in a treatment to sweeten the deal!
Take your career further…
Once you are working in the aesthetics industry or offering these treatments within your own beauty business, you may decide you want to take your career further and begin offering courses or teaching aesthetics treatments to other aspiring therapists and aestheticians. You might like to consider the VTCT Level 3 in Education & Training, which is the gold standard sought by insurers and accrediting bodies to allow you to teach or offer training within these courses. This can be studied on a flexible, fast track basis entirely online from home so is ideal for a busy therapist!
Updated 1st November 2024.
Achieving a recognised beauty qualification couldn’t be easier with our Accredited Online courses. Learn at your own pace, in your own time and start your own business! If you’re new to Online Courses this blog will be a useful guide through getting started with your Online Course.
What’s Involved
Our online courses are completed through our industry leading, user friendly Online Student Portal. You receive access to a wealth of high quality learning resources, written by beauty professionals including comprehensive e-manuals and detailed step by step video demonstrations. You can watch the videos as many times as you need. We include fun multiple choice online tests which are great for checking your understanding and can be retaken instantly, as often as you need to pass.
When you feel ready, you will practice on friends / family or training hand / head as relevant to the course. You need to provide evidence of 3 case studies which are submitted easily by email and assessed against industry standards to ensure your proficiency with the treatment skills. Individual feedback to help you improve and you simply resubmit as needed until you are at a successful level to achieve. Typically students complete these courses within 2-6 weeks (committing around 2-10 hours per week to study), although you have 12 weeks to access the course resources on the portal should you need to go slower. Students can take up to 12 months to email over their case study evidence for certification, so plenty of time to practice your skills to full confidence.
The Student Portalย
Once you have registered for your course you will receive an email with your link to access the Student Portal. The Student portal can be accessed through desktop, tablet and phones. If you are using a tablet or phone there is an app available to download, simply visit the App Store and search SAP LITMOS. When prompted for a domain enter: thebeautyacademy followed by your log in details.
We recommend your first point of call when you log in is the additional resources tab in your course, here you will find your practical case study materials, including consultation and feedback forms. Save this pdf file to your device or print for use when ready to start practising.
Guidance on Case Studiesย
You will receive a detailed list of required products and equipment as part of your online course resources. Optional, selected kits are available to purchase through our website. Other beauty wholesale companies are available such as Salon Services or websites like Amazon, to allow you to source basic items to get started. Courses are not brand-specific so you can use any brand / supplier you prefer for case studies.
When you have completed your case studies email in to [email protected] and attach your before and after photos along with your client consultation form and feedback form for each treatment required.
Your case studies will be evaluated with your certificate and/or feedback provided by email within no more than 7 working days.
Getting Started Once Qualified
Once you’ve achieved your online course certificate(s), you can purchase public liability (beauty treatment) insurance to begin offering your services to paying clients. We do not provide insurance ourselves but recommend several leading insurers. You can find more about our recommended insurers on our website. You’ll already have your products from completing your case studies.
You’ll need a brand for your business – a solid name and logo. You also need to decide what basis you want to work on – from home, mobile etc. You’ll also need to register for self-assessment if starting your own business with HMRC for tax reasons. You will also need to keep records of any income earnt and any costs (along with receipts). You may want to seek advice from an accountant to get this set up initially. If you’re new to running a business, you may find our Starting a Business in Beauty Courseuseful.
For marketing, you’ll need to set up social media profiles on Instagram, Facebook and even Tiktok to begin promoting your beauty business. You can also get word of mouth promotion by networking with other local businesses (e.g. hairdressers, wedding suppliers etc.) or local organisations (schools, parents groups, charities etc.) to promote your services, perhaps with an open evening offering taster treatments or gift vouchers for raffle prizes. You may want to print some business cards and a price list to share with them. Always remember to take before / after photos of your results to share online and encourage clients to share their lashes or nails on social media tagging you to help gather word of mouth. It will take a little time and patience to build a loyal client base. It is recommended to promote discounted block bookings for a course of treatments or encourage clients to book their next treatment before they leave each appointment. This helps plan future business and get your appointment diary full. Gift vouchers are also a great way to get some initial income flowing, especially around seasonal events like Mother’s Day or Christmas. If you need help with your selling skills, you might like to consider our Sales Skills for Beauty Course.
From client feedback you gauge what future treatments you might like to learn and offer, taking on further Online Courses as required to develop the skills to keep your business going from strength to strength. Typically it takes around 6-24 months to establish a new business. For inspiration, why not take a look at some of our previous students’ success stories.
See a sample of our Online Student Portal & Quality Course Content
The Beauty industry is one of the most competitive out there, finding your niche will help you stand out from the crowd and build loyal client base. When you first start out it one of the biggest challenges can be deciding on the treatments you offer within the treatment room. Itโs easy to get carried away with the excitement and end up offering too much.
The easiest way to find your niche is to focus on the treatments that you love to perform, chances are these are the treatments you will succeed in because youโre passionate about them.
Once youโve chosen your treatments consider what makes your treatments stand out, is it your nail art? Perhaps youโre a master at lash mapping or it could be the extra little touches in your customer service. Dedicate your time perfecting those treatments and marketing your unique selling points!
Who is your target audience?
It would be great to say everyone… however, the most successful businesses know that in order to have repeat custom you need to know the customer you are targeting. This will allow you to market your business in the correct way. For example, did you know the largest growing group on Facebook is grandparents? Consider the type of client you want coming through your door and research the best ways to advise to them. Asking those clients directly via surveys and ask what they look for from their treatments will also allow you to customise your treatments to meet those needs.
Premises
Are you looking to rent a salon or buy a premise, perhaps you want to work from home? Each option will have a variety of considerations. Where your business is based will determine the licences and insurance you will need to acquire. You may also consider mobile work, one consideration for this has its own implications for example setting boundaries on how far you are willing to travel.
Costings
The initial outlay for starting a business can soon add up. Will you require a loan to get started? Creating a business plan with a lay out of costings and a plan for paying back loans will help you keep on top of the business finances.
Another consideration for costings is working out your pricelists, the best way to do this is to work out how much it costs you to do the service, from disposables, product usage and what your hourly rate is. ย Most professional product brands will give you an approximant usage of a product to make it easier to work costings out.
Laws and regulations
There are various laws and regulations impacting the beauty industry, itโs important that these laws are adhered to as it may affect your insurance.
The majority of these laws relate to health and safety practices in the workplace, such as storing products and chemicals we use. Recent GDPR laws focus more on how we process our clientโs data.
There are also new laws relating to covid-19 so it is important to regularly review the latest government policies on implementation of regulations.
With our NEW Advanced Aesthetics Courses launching in November, now is the time to get prepared. In this blog weโll cover all of the actions to take for a successful roll out of the new treatments within your business.
But firstly, what are the courses weโre offering?
Dermaplaningย offers deep exfoliation removing dead skin cells, blockages, make up and vellus hair from the upper layer of the surface of the skin using a surgical scalpel to refine skin. (1/2 day training ยฃ349)
Microneedlingย also known as dermarolling or collagen induction therapy is administered using a dermaroller or automated pen applicator to stimulate collagen growth and repairing of skin. (1/2 day training ยฃ349)
Skin Peels, often known also as โchemicalโ peels work using natural acids to exfoliate the skin and remove dead skin cells using specialised products applied topically to the skin. (1/2 day training ยฃ225)
LED Lightย Therapyย works to soothe the skin, boosting natural skin healing following more invasive treatments and is hugely rejuvenating for the skin. (1/2 day training ยฃ199)
We will also be combining the courses into a 2 day training package. This training package combines all of ourย Advanced Aesthetics Coursesย for ยฃ1099.
Get prepared.. Here are our top considerations for getting started with these new treatments!
Prerequisites for study
As the new courses are advanced treatments that can impact the skin on a molecular level, you will need to have the skills and knowledge to safely deliver these services to your clients. We will require all attendees to be experienced in delivering facial skin care at a professional level.
There will be the following prerequisite qualifications needed to attend the courses:
VTCT Level 2 (or equivalent) in Facials
VTCT Level 3 (or equivalent) in Electrical Facials.
Not yet qualified? No need to panic, we have reduced the cost of these courses by ยฃ400 until the 28th October, so now is the time to book and start your journey towards becoming an Advanced Aesthetics practitioner.
Marketing
Now is the time to start promoting the treatments to your clients. Your current Facial clients are the ideal place to start, these treatments will also attract new clients more interested in instant results! Below are a few ways to get started with promoting the new treatments.
Existing Facial clients:
Send out e-blast messages sharing the benefits of the new treatments
Hold a launch event, offer mini treatment tasters and demonstrations, these could be themed around the festive season or โnew year new youโ
Run an introductory offer for your loyal clients
Change your answering phone message to highlight โwhat’s newโ
Link to your retail products as a way of maintaining their skin and increasing retail/treatment sales, i.e. โbook a course of treatments and receive a free miniโs kitโ
Target potential new clients:
Grow your social media presence, videos tend to receive more interaction than photos. Why not vlog your training journey?
Connect with local businesses, do you have a local bridal shop? Hairdressers? Why not team up to promote each others business, you could throw in a treatment to sweeten the deal!
Preparing your and your clientโs skin for the treatments
These advanced treatments will have more of a targeted effect on the skin, treating more progressive skin challenges such as acne, ageing and hyperpigmentation. With this in mind you can start preparing your skin ready for treatments. The healthier the skin is prior to treatment the better the result and faster healing time post treatment.
Hydration is important
Increasing skin hydration with richer moisturisers, adding serums and facial oils into a skin routine and using water/oil based facial masks 2-3 times a week.
Build up the skins tolerance level
We wouldnโt advise going straight into a chemical peel if you have never exfoliated the skin, with this in mind slowly building up your skins tolerance levels to chemical exfoliation will yield the best results. Lactic acid is a great ingredient as it also improves hydration. Avoid exfoliating at home 48hrs before your treatment
Retinol (Vitamin A)
Retinol is a fantastic ingredient for skin conditions and complements these advanced treatments, but avoid using it 48hrs before.
SPF
Ensure you have at least an SPF30 for everyday use following your treatment. Physical (sometimes referred to as mineral) SPF products are more tolerated by exposed skins following treatment.
Avoid using sunbeds and tanning before and after your treatments
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We hope you are as excited as we are to welcome you on these courses!
Becoming an educator with the VTCT Level 3 award in Education and Training
What is the VTCT Level 3 Award in Education and Training?
The VTCT Level 3 award in Education and Training is an internationally recognised teaching qualification recognised by sectors providing further education training. It is the minimum qualification required to teach the subjects that you are qualified in.
What are my career options with the qualification?
When you achieve the VTCT award in Education and Teaching you will be able to teach in the subjects that you are qualified in. Career options include working as a lecturer within a private or further education college, becoming a freelance teacher or working for yourself, providing your own training.
Are there any prerequisites for the course?
There are no prerequisites for the course. The course is open to all students wanting to embark on a career in teaching further education. The qualification is not specific to the Beauty industry, we welcome students from all sectors and industries.
What is covered in the course?
The course is designed as a foundation course into further education teaching. It covers the generic teaching skills required to be an effective teacher through the following units:
Understanding roles, responsibilities and relationships in education and training
Understanding and using inclusive teaching and learning approaches in education and training
Understanding assessment in education and training
How is the course delivered?
This is a distance learning course offering you the flexibility to work around your current commitments. ย most students complete their course within 12-16 weeks.
You will be assessed via written assignments and two micro teaching sessions with the assessment team.
Your micro teach sessions will be completed via skype.
During the course you will access to our experienced support team at Head Office.
How do I book?
Once you are ready to book you can call one of our experienced course advisors on 0800 999 2277 and book over the phone with a debit or credit card, our offices are open Monday to Friday 9.00 โ 5.30pm.
Alternatively you can book through our website new.thebeautyacademy.org/.
With manicure and pedicure services being staple treatments within our salons and spas, it can be easy to fall into robot mode. Going through the motions, client after client, file paint repeat! Are you looking for ways to change it up? Here are our top 3 ways to increase the client experience, increase bookings and client retention.
Luxury additions to the treatment
Luxury additions can be added to your standard manicure or pedicure treatments for an additional fee. These additions can help the health of the skin and nails as well as increase client relaxation and stress relief.
Paraffin wax– a natural moisturiser, paraffin wax leaves the skin smooth and supple. It can be used in conjunction with other hand/food masks to increase skin hydration. When applied the warming wax increases circulation, making it an ideal addition for client that suffer with cold hands and feet!
ย Heated mitts/booties- increase penetration of skin nourishing masks leading to softer smoother skin and nails.
Additional massage- an additional massage can escalation the clients experience and their desire to want to return. The time it takes for the paraffin wax or heated mitts/booties provides the ideal time to offer a neck and shoulder or scalp massage.ย Reflexology can elevate your pedicure services to a new level. If youโre trained in reflexology, why not start integrating elements of your practice into your pedicure treatments for an extra treat!
Elevating the client experience
In addition to the previous tools, itโs also important to reflect on the overall client experience can elevate their treatment to new luxury heights!ย These experiences can start the moment the client walks through the door, consider the smells they are experience. Essential oil diffusers are a great way to set the tone of a treatment and can be changed regularly. Also consider drinks on offer, is it time to change up the menu?
Adding essential oils, crystals or petals to your manicure/pedicure bowl can increase the luxurious feel to the treatment.
Lighting is also an important consideration, although needed for certain stages of the treatment there maybe times where dimming the lights can increase their relaxation.
โfreebiesโ creating packages between retail and services can increase client retention and retail sales. Examples may include a free nail oil or polish mini with a luxury manicure service.
Themed treatments
Themed treatments work well when linked to special events or holidays, running them for a shorter period of time makes them more exclusive and desirable for clients, leading to increased treatment bookings and sales. When creating a theme consistency is key, layering links to the theme throughout.
Example of a themed manicure/pedicure treatment:
Indulgent chocolate manicure/pedicure
A chocolate related arrival treat of chocolates, biscuits or sweets.
Swap out usual products (scrubs, mask and moisturisers) for chocolate scented products.
Adding a couple of drops of orange essential oil to products, diffusers and water can add to their sensory experience. Orange compliments chocolate scents.
An addition of chocolate paraffin wax will increase the luxury of the service.
Finish with a hot chocolate with all the trimmings while their nails are drying.