With a current market value worth ยฃ560 million, the skincare industry is as popular now as it has ever been. Gone are the days of the monthly facial and on your way. In recent years clients are demanding more from their skin treatments and their skin therapists. With so much available on the market, hereโs our top tips to stay relevant and stand out against the competition.
Bespoke treatments
Personalisation is the key to building a loyal clientele. Clients have their own individual skin concerns, lifestyles and their own preferences when it comes to their treatment. By completing a comprehensive consultation, you will be equipped with all the information you need to design their experience for them.
Donโt feel pressured to sticking to a concrete routine, your facial routine can be flexible. By focussing on the treatment steps that will benefit the client the most, you will get more of a targeted result. For example, a client that complains of dull, rough skin would benefit most from the exfoliation and masking stages, whereas for a highly sensitised skin you may choose to omit exfoliation altogether.
Combining stages can speed up steps, have a more targeted results and allow you more time elsewhere in the treatment. Talk to your skin care provider on how you can mix up your products! Common combos include power cleansing and masking by adding an exfoliant to a cleanser or mask, massaging over a mask or combining retail serums into moisturisers in the treatment room.
Toolsย
The world is becoming more technological, your treatments can be too! Using machines within your treatments can increase the results you can achieve. Microcurrent, Microdermabrasion, LED and more are favoured with professional therapists worldwide for their easy use and quick results.
Manual tools are also becoming more popular, whether itโs a Guava stone for cleansing or a Derma roller for increasing product efficiency they offer you further ways to customise the clients treatment.
Multisensory experiences
Elevate your treatments by customising your clientโs full sensory experiences. By customising these experiences, the client will not only leave with great skin but an overall sense of relaxation and well-being specifically designed for them. ย Ask your client how they would like to feel after their treatment: relaxed or uplifted there are various ways to target this form them.
Taste: consider what you serve your client prior to their treatment. Herbal teas and fruit waters can be a great place to start. Certain blends such as lavender and chamomiles would suit the client looking for relaxation, whereas citrus fruits are the go-to for invigoration
Smell: Smell and taste go hand in hand, complement the drinks you offer with diffuser smells in the treatment room. Beginning and ending your treatments with some inhalations using essential oils can help transition your client in and out of their treatment.
ย Sight: lighting can be a great way to set the mood for the treatment, some therapists will use changeable mood lamps. Also consider the colour of your treatment space, itโs been proven that colours affect moods. For example blues, purples and greens can stimulate feelings of calm, yellow can increase anxiety and reds can be very stimulating.
Sound: not everyone relaxes to the same music, try asking your client what they prefer to listen to during their treatments, they might just surprise you! Some clients may prefer not to listen to any music at all, they may find it distracts them from completely switching off. Ensure background noises, sounds that we become accustom too such as the squeaky chair, phone ringing or dripping tap are all new for our clients!
Touch: donโt save the relaxation for the massage, increase touch throughout the treatment to relax your client. Begin with some pressure points or shoulder rocks to introduce your touch this can increase the clients comfort in their surroundings.
Imagining a career change? Or perhaps youโre a well-established Beauty Therapist wanting to specialise? Becoming a Nail technician can be a fulfilling career, both in job satisfaction and income. Weโve interviewed Sarah, a professional Nail Technician, to share the highs and lows of running a successful nail business.
Sarah, how did you decide on a career as a Nail Technician?
After having my second child I decided I wanted to have a change of direction in my career. I worked as a horse-riding instructor for 8 years and wanted something more flexible for my family, and more creative for myself.
What do you love most about your job?
I’ve always enjoyed art and I love that I get to use my creativity every day. My favourite thing to do is paint portraits or themed nail art – I love the challenge and the accomplishment of a finished set. Chatting to my clients is also a big bonus!
Have you come across any challenges whilst setting up your business?
Starting out and setting up a business is probably the hardest part. Building up a client base is slow and can be disheartening, especially when you’re putting all your finances and efforts into building your career. However, it’s important to always believe in yourself and focus on perfecting your technique, the client base will follow.
What are your top โgo-toโ products and tools in your treatment room?
My top 3 are:
The Gel Bottle – the colours are out of this world! I always get compliments on the huge range, and their builder gel (BIAB) is incredible
Young Nails – I tried several brands for my acrylic and these are my favourite by far. The liquid and powder is so workable and makes a difficult task easy.
Navy Pro Tools – these are absolute game changers for your nail prep. The quality of the tools is second to none and steps up the standard of finished nail treatments. Prep is such an important part of doing nails so if you’re going to spend money anywhere, spend it on these!!
Any insider tips for someone starting out doing treatments?
Find a good training centre – This gives you a solid foundation to learn the skill and be successful (I 100% recommend The Beauty Academy)
Invest in quality products – there are so many brands out there so do your research. Your services will only be as good as the products you use
Find your niche – there is so much competition out there, you need to find a gap in the market that makes you stand out. It could be a treatment that isn’t offered locally or a skill you’re particularly good at; it could even be something as simple as decor! I’ve had clients choose me because my salon is green and its different!
What aftercare advice do you share for clients to maintain their nails at home?
2 words – cuticle oil! It is so beneficial in keeping skin and nails healthy and helps nail treatments last. I also recommend wearing gloves for DIY and household chores.. your nails are jewels not tools!
What is the future for nail tech treatments?
I’ve only been in the industry for about 1 year, but I’ve already noticed a bit shift in what it means to get your nails done. There is a focus now on nail care and keeping your natural nails healthy which is fantastic, and clients are becoming more aware of what is being put on their nails and if itโs done correctly.
Natural nail overlays are super trendy right now, and I think that will definitely continue.
A huge thank you to Sarah for sharing her experiences and tips with us here at The Beauty Academy.ย
“All of your dreams can come true, if you have the power to pursue themโโ โ Walt Disney.
Never has this quote been truer than in Abbie Strettonโs career journey. Abbie had the courage to overcome her challenges and make the jump into the beauty sector and hasnโt looked back. In the last two years Abbie has grown a successful business and received award nominations for her work.
We first met Abbie back in 2019 when she attended her very first eyelash training course with us. Back then she was on a different path. Having graduated from University, Abbie found herself in a job that she hated and feeling depressed. She knew she wanted a change but was unsure of the path to take. Beauty had always been a passion of hers, she decided to take the leap and hasnโt looked back since.
Now busy with regular clientele, her own website and looking into creating her own lash brand.
A huge well done to you Abbie from all of us at the Beauty Academy. Follow Abbie’s success on Instagram @abbeauty_xo
โโThis course changed my perspective of myself, I had this burst of confidence. I was so intrigued by The Beauty Academy, it looked so professional from the website. I thought this is the training place for me. I’m so glad I made that decision!โโ โ Abbie
If you’d like to share a success story please email us at [email protected]
There has never been a better time to set up a beauty blog with more people online everyday than ever before, whether that is working from home, taking this time to learn or seeking entertainment. The home beauty market is set to be bigger than ever before this year as more people take to pampering themselves while salons are temporarily closed and many are out of their depth in picking beauty products to suit their needs. And so many turn to beauty blogs… Setting up a successful beauty blog, especially if it something you are already passionate about (and so probably already spending considerable hours each week keeping up with the latest treatments, products and trends) can be easier than you think. With determination and commitment, you can even begin to earn money (mostly through advertising), build a reputation or brand online with a large following or start enjoying a steady supply of free products and services to try to win the supplier a review on your blog. We give you the know-how so you can perhaps consider using this time during lockdown to get your own beauty blog started!
Step 1 is to find your niche
What is it that you know most about or are most passionate to learn about. This will certainly help you keep focused over time on getting your blog established and help you really stand out from the crowd so that you are seen to be offering something fresh, new and different from the competition. If you love nails, what specifically do you love? Are you a vegan and want to herald quality vegan nail products? Perhaps you are a make up artist who came to the industry later in life and have expert knowledge of enhancing ladies with mature skin concerns? Whatever it is, narrow it down and stick with it.
Step 2 is to know your audience and brand yourself accordingly.
Think about who might search for and read your blog. Who do you want to appeal to? Keep this in mind when choosing a name for your blog. You want something catchy, easy to spell (for when people search or share your blog), perhaps a play on words but remember that some phrases can have different connotations so make sure you arenโt going to inadvertently offend anyone. Next think about the look and feel of your blog. Are you appealing to a younger audience in which case you might want pink and girly? Or if you are wanting to be sophisticated for a more high end feel, perhaps a cleaner image. This will carry over into the content you write and post about, also the style in which you write โ whether informal, chatty or more informative and using correct terms etc.
Step 3 is decide how to blog
Youโll need to pick a site to host your blog, perhaps wordpress.com or blogger.com โ thinking back to your audience. A personalised domain is important to be taken seriously so look at services like godaddy.com to get your own unique URL that makes sharing your blog easier on social media and adds to your brand image. Think about whether you will be writing articles, short reviews, will you be hosting vlogs (video blogs) or including lots of images in your blog. If using images, think about whether these will be paid for stock images or whether you will create your own photos. If creating photos, take caution not to breach trademark rights for example and think about the quality of the images, do they fit with the brand profile you are trying to create? You donโt want fuzzy or poor staged images, consider the background for vlogs and your appearance also. Youโll need to plan in time (will you blog in the evenings, weekends or around your children for example?) and any monetary commitment such as to hosting services or for photographic equipment or software.
Step 4 is advertising
The key to making money from blogging (if that is your intention, many blog just to raise their personal or brand profile in their industry or just for fun); is to consider advertising. You might sell advertising space on your blog pages yourself or use platforms like Passion Fruit Apps or join affliate marketing networks like Clickbank. There are also affliate programs you can join for companies like eBay or Amazon or use the ads program through search engines like Google AdSense. You may be paid just to include an advert either as a banner or image on you webpage or you might be paid on a pay per click basis or per impression (when ad displayed to users). You might also once you establish a following, be offered gifts from beauty brands to review. Remember paid-for reviews in this way can affect your credibility and where you are linking to linked company websites this can affect your ratings with search engines such as Google who downgrade sites that feature such promotions, link and advertising so weigh up the pros and cons first.
You also need to think about how you promote your blog which may just be word of mouth initially, perhaps by email or on social media with your existing contacts. You might consider paying for advertising through Google Adwords or Bing Ads to help drive traffic to your blog site. Brand Ambassadorship is another option for beauty bloggers, making contacts with relevant beauty brands and endorsing their products on your blog and personally on your social media as you build you brand. Making connnections with beauty influencers can also help build your audience, provided you choose the right people for your target audience. Contact beauty brands directly too and build connections with their PR team, you want to stand out from the crowd and donโt be afraid to use your beauty expertise when talking with such connections so that they can see your true value in this crowded field.
Step 5 is persistence, patience and staying active
Keep blogging regularly but remember, quality over quantity. Make sure each piece your post follows your original brand plan in terms of the audience, image, voice and message. Make sure you are building creditibility as a beauty expert with the right connections. A quality blog once or twice a week is better than sharing poor quality photos or an inconsistence message every day. Build on content and revisit blogs too to keep existing content alive on your site and help your search engine rankings. Use meta tags that are relevant and update your site continuously. Keep up with the industry by following other beauty bloggers so you can predict trends and stay ahead. It will take time to build a solid following but once you achieve that, as long as you keep quality of content high and regular, youโre following will just keep building and ideas for new material may start to find you (with gifted products or big brands following you). Youโll have days where you feel writerโs block and other days where your ideas flow, just keep going and youโll achieve a blog youโll be proud to be the face of.
Beyond bloggingโฆ
You might find once you start using your existing beauty skills and knowledge to create a blog that you want to take it further, into teaching beauty. With a VTCT Level 3 Award in Education & Training you can teach your own beauty courses, have your courses accredited and begin earning sharing your passion for beauty with others. The VTCT award can be completed entirely online, from home studied at your own pace. Assessment is through coursework and a Skype based online video assessment, no scary exam papers or large group presentations! Payment for the course can be through payment plan to help spread the cost. Whatโs stoppping you? Take the leap to teaching today!
With lockdown restrictions in place, many aspiring beauty therapists are turning to online training courses. And why not? They offer flexible, affordable training that can be completed safely and conveniently from home. But are all beauty courses equal with so many new beauty training companies popping up online? We discuss what you should look out before before you take the leap…
Accreditation
Accreditation simply refers to if the course is recognised and validated by an external awarding or industry recognised body who will check the quality of the training course and provider to ensure they are meeting a good standard of delivery and are suffcient in content to enable the student to succesfully learn the treatment skills and go on to safely practice the treatments in the industry upon completion. Many new beauty training companies popping up claim to be accredited, however they are often registered on with a CPD register service which just validates how many hours the course entails, it doesnโt necessarily ensure any quality of course or standard of delivery. Without the right accreditation you may end up with a certificate that is not recognised by professionals in the beauty industry meaning you may not be able to gain insurance, to buy products from professional sources and therefore you may not end up being able to work with clients and to earn. Rest assured, all courses offered by The Beauty Academy are accredited with recognised beauty industry bodies and accrediting partners. We offer qualifications through VTCT who regularly inspect our training centres and provision to ensure the highest standards are being delivered for our classroom courses. All Classroom Courses and Virtual Academy (Live online training) are accredited by Associated Beauty Therapists (ABT). All of our self-paced Online Courses (delivered through our Online Student Portal) are accredited by International Practioners of Holistic Medicine (IPHM). These means the certificates you achieve will be recognised and valued by those in the industry and allow you to actually earn as a beauty professional.
Insurance
Many training companies are secretive about who their Online courses are insurable with, simply saying โyes with many providersโ but cagey on who. Unfortunately this may then result in your achieving a certificate for a treatment which you then cannot either add to your existing beauty insurance policy or to acquire new insurance to cover, therefore being unable to offer the service. All courses offer by The Beauty Academy are recognised by the industry leading insurers including Balens, ABT, IPHM, Insync & Radius insurance among many others. This means you can absolutely obtain beauty liability insurance to cover you as a professional therapist upon completion of your course(s) to enable you to actually begin working and earning from your treatments and reaping the rewards of your hard work and investment in the courses.
We are open and honest about our courses, what career routes they can lead to and in helping to guide you to the best path for you. If youโre unsure of the best start, weโll always advise you to start with the cheaper option such as our Online Courses which start at ยฃ99 to allow you to try out the training and treatments, make sure it is right before you but potentially upgrading to a larger course package or qualification option such as VTCT awards. We want you to be on the best training option for you, whether that is face to face training or online courses. And what is more, weโre here for you throughout your studies and beyond. Our expert Support Team can answer any questions you may have whether about insurance, products, treatment step by steps and more. We fully support your progress towards an exciting new career in beauty.
We have been offering private beauty training since 1990, weโre the original and we believe the best. We are one of the largest providers of beauty training in the UK with 10 exclusive, permanent training centres across England. We offer payment plans to help spread the cost and all courses can be booked securely over the telephone with an Advisor or through our website 24/7.
We get so many calls from prospective students excited at the idea of jumping into a new career in beauty but totally unsure where to start – which treatments should they learn and which to offer first? Our wonderful team of Course Advisors are all fully qualified, experienced beauty professionals and have experienced the beauty sector first hand whether that was previously through working in salons, running their own beauty businesses or as beauty training professionals so they certainly know a thing or two about what sells to clients, what is in demand right now and how best to get started. Our blog this week focuses on how to decide which beauty treatments to learn, based on what is most in-demand with beauty clients right now…
The beauty market as it stands todayโฆ
Online demand for beauty products has surged in 2020 and Mintel predicts that value sales of beauty/grooming products through online sales will rise 24% to ยฃ1.9 billion in 2020. The beauty sector in general, has been predicted to grow by up to 21.1% up to 2022, thatโs a huge number of beauty products being bought and treatments being delivered every single day and a huge amount of money being earnt by therapists all over the UK. With unprecented times seen in 2020 through the COVID pandemic and sadly some industries failing to bounce back, it is not surprising many people are looking for other career options and perhaps to follow long-held dreams of working in beauty.
Technology has evolved massively within the last 5 years with aesthetics being one of the largest growing sectors and with money being tighter for many, clients are also keen on treatments that give long lasting or multi tasking results allowing them to save time or money in other areas of their beauty regimes such as tinting, lash lifting (in place of extensions), spray tanning and facials like microdermabrasion giving flawless results that help reduce the need for daily make up application.
Lockdown also saw a huge number of clients getting into DIY beauty at home (and seeing some disasters unfortunately) that made them both appreciate the benefits of a professional but the perks of mobile treatments, with many clients still not feeling fully comfortable returning to salons as yet despite Covid-secure measures. This is great news for those starting out, helping to keep overheads down on premises or renting a room, mobile working also allows you to have flexible working hours or maximise your earnings working just part time around other employment.
The sectors of beautyโฆ
Beauty can be broken down into reasonably separate treatment sectors:
Massage & holistic therapy
Skincare & aesthetics
Make up artistry
Nail technician services
Lash & brow services
Other general beauty (hair removal, spray tanning etc.)
Most beauty therapists will specialise in one or two of these areas of beauty, possibly offering the odd add-on treatment as demanded by their unique client base so picking the sector which most sparks your passion is the best starting point. Think about treatments you regularly receive already or beauty products that you canโt live without โ bring this passion into your work and share it with others, all while earning a living.
Consider the optionsโฆ
Think about how you want to train โ do you prefer the idea of face to face courses, is that practical for you in terms of travel, childcare, work shifts etc.? We offer courses 6 days a week across 10 centres so there is likely to be training dates that work for you. These courses are fast track, typically delivered in 1 day so ideal for those who work long hours where longer term study may be tricky. Prefer to take more time over your learning, studying online at your own pace? It might be that our accredited online courses or Virtual Academy training is better suited to your needs โ no attendance of the centre is required for these so they are great for those with caring commitments or who live too far from a centre. Our online courses are also budget friendly and accessible, starting at just ยฃ99 each. Classroom courses start from only ยฃ129.
Think about what is popular in your area โ are there already a huge amount of lash technicians operating in your local area? Maybe you live round the corner from 2 or 3 nail bars. Remember there will always be business for a highly trained technician and other businesses simply signify there is demand but take your competition into consideration when deciding which treatments you start out with learning. Also think about your start-up costs in terms of kit and marketing. Online marketing through social media is free beyond your time and often very effective. A website is also a great investment, even just a free website building platform to get you started with an online presence. Youโll also need to think about where youโll work. Do you have a spare room at home or are you going to work mobile in which case youโll need a reliable car? Factor in any considerations like getting agreement from your landlord to work from home if renting or adding on use for work purposes on your car insurance policy.
Start realistically โ book courses to learn one treatment you will specialise in to begin with or consider a package of suitable linked treatments that will allow you to offer popular treatment packages to clients to boost your earnings. Our Multi Buy Course Packages have all been carefully selected as treatments that work well as a business start-up opportunity and save you money on training in the long run also, versus booking each course individually. Remember we offer payment options to help spread the cost, including 0% credit through PayPal Credit on balances over ยฃ99.
Top treatments for 2020/2021:
Multi tasking treatments that deliver long lasting results that help your client cut down on additional product costs or treatments e.g. lash lift and tinting versus eyelash extensions, microdermabrasion and spray tanning to save on daily make up application, brow lamination and tinting over more expensive long-term treatments like microblading.
At home โspaโ pampering such as holistic massage therapies and luxury pedicures. Lots of people have had a difficult year and might not feel safe returning to salons or spas. Many are also put off the idea of gift vouchers at the moment due to lots of businesses folding in these difficult times taking the go-to spa voucher gift for Christmas off the list so now is a great time to advertise in your local area for your mobile holistic treatments to get the bookings rolling in.
Make up and hair up services โ with wedding numbers capped, many are finding their wedding budget stretches slightly further to include a professional make up artist or to have more pre-wedding pampering. Take advantage of this as wedding bookings increase in 2021 and donโt forget to promote these services to ensure you get advance bookings. If make up is your passion, donโt be put off learning these skills because of the current restrictions on gatherings, now is a great time to train so that you are ready to take advantage of pre-bookings for 2021/2022 as the industry will soon bounce back in abundance.
Nail services that promote natural nail care such as gel polish or fibreglass and quick dip powder overlays to help strengthen natural nails, give long lasting colour and cut out the cost of nail extension maintenance. Typically overlay treatments like gel polish can last up to 3 weeks and usually attract a lower cost per service for clients than ongoing nail extension infills, removals and full sets. More clients are also feeling the rewarding benefits of having long, strong nails of their own rather than plastic tips, having got used to nail self-care during lockdown.
Facial skincare and aesthetics are only going to grow in popularity lead by celebrity trends for clear, flawless and minimal make up perfection. Everyone wants to look fresh and youthful and facial skincare is certainly moving with the times. To pursue training in more advanced aesthetics, a VTCT Level 2 and/or 3 in Facial Skincare or Beauty Therapy are usually the pre-requirements and there has never been a better time to start learning to enable you to progress into these advanced skincare careers.
Still unsure what training option is best for you? Feel free to get in touch with our team to discuss our courses further and get answers to any questions you may have that are stopping you from taking the first step towards your new careerโฆ.
The Beauty Academy offer a full range of VTCT Qualifications in all aspects of beauty therapy ranging from single units for those looking to specialise in one professional skill such as Facial Skincare to a full diploma at level 2 or 3 suitable for those looking to gain full time employment in the industry. Our VTCT qualifications are delivered on a ‘blended’ learning basis giving you optimum flexibility with your learning, while still providing full support and expert face to face tuition on a fast track basis.
Much of the study is completed on a distance learning basis, online from home including your theory coursework. Students have access to a wealth of learning resources on our online portal including training videos, manuals and support documents. Attend for 1-5 training days (depending on qualification) to learn your practical skills at one of our 10 conveniently located training centres, across England. Practice your treatments to build a portfolio and then once ready, book your assessments.
Most students complete within 4-6 months, studying on a part time basis at home beyond their initial training days, learning around other commitments. All students have up to 12 months to complete the qualification, should you need to learn at a slower pace.
Full access to our expert in-house Support team by phone or email throughout. We offer the most flexible, fast track way to achieve your VTCT beauty qualification and start your new career, ideal for those who need to learn around their existing work or commitments such as childcare that make attendance of year long face to face courses unsuitable for their needs. Most learners are aged 25 or over, as those looking to either change career or start something new; although their are no age limits.
What are VTCT Qualifications?
Vocational Training Charitable Trust (VTCT) is a specialist awarding and assessment organisation offering vocational and technical qualifications in a range of service sectors. With more than 2,000 approved centres worldwide, VTCT has an ever-expanding list of centres throughout the UK and Ireland, with a growing international presence. VTCT have been providing qualifications since 1962 and in 2016 expanded to take over iTEC adding to its specialist worldwide training offer.
If you are looking to embark upon a new career in beauty therapy or take your existing role in beauty further, VTCT qualifications will set you ahead of the competition and open up a wealth of career opportunities whether that is employed in the salon, spa, nail bar, cruise liner, opening your own salon or working as a beauty trainer in a further education college or for private beauty training provider.
Achieving a prestigious and internationally recognised VTCT Qualifications will demonstrate you have an assessed high standard of competence within your treatment skills; giving both employers, insurers, industry bodies, advanced training providers & potential clients confidence within your abilities as a beauty professional.
Which VTCT Courses are available?
We offer a full range of VTCT awards in Beauty Therapy and also VTCT Level 3 Award in Education & Training for those looking to take their beauty career into a teaching capacity. We offer Level 2 qualifications ideal for complete beginners, along with Level 3 in Nail Technology and Massage Therapy which are advanced awards which can also be started as a complete beginner. We have single unit qualifications in individual treatments such as Facial Skincare for those wanting to specialise in a specific treatment, although we generally recommend the full Level 2 or 3 Diploma courses for those looking to gain an all-rounder set of skills most sought by employers within the beauty sector. Discover our VTCT courses by clicking below or for more guidance on the best course for you, select one of the options below to get in touch. All VTCT qualifications can be booked securely through our website or by calling our team on Freephone 0800 999 2277.
Where could a VTCT Qualification take my career?
The vast majority of our students achieve their VTCT qualification within 4-6 months and upon completion, enter the beauty industry either on an employed basis within a salon or spa, or start their own beauty business. We often have students who travel the world while working in beauty, working aboard cruise liners offering luxurious spa treatments. Many students enter professional competitions and gain recognition within the industry for their high level skills and flair for beauty. Once you have a VTCT Level 2 and/or Level 3 in beauty, you can then go onto learn further beauty treatments to expand your knowledge and boost your opportunities or could even take the VTCT Level 3 Award in Education & Training to begin offering beauty training courses yourself, work for a further education college or as a trainer for a private beauty training company to share your knowledge and inspire a passion for beauty in others. Click below to read the success story of one of our past students. You can see also Reviewsfrom past students to assure you of the quality of our training.
With many of us having experienced more flexible working arrangements during lockdown and the benefits of staying connected online, more of us are feeling confident in taking other aspects of our lives online. Not only does online training allow you to study safely from home without any risks of Coronavirus posed from travel or being present in person, it is also flexible to fit into your life.
There is no travel cost or time to consider, no early morning rushed commutes or needing to pay for additional childcare while you are away from home. There are no physical barriers to overcome as there is no attendance needed. The costs are also reduced for the training provider in offering online training versus overheads for bricks and mortar classroom based training, which translates as more affordable training options for students.
Our courses start from only ยฃ99 and are fully accredited for insurance with ABT, giving you the exact same qualification as those achieved by attending face to face classroom training. All the benefits of classroom learning, without the hassle.
What are Virtual Academy Courses?
The Beauty Academy Virtual Academy courses are fully interactive online training sessions, led by our expert tutors. Ask questions using the chat box facility or a headset to communicate with your tutor. Questions can be answered in real time or saved until the best moment for response, avoiding breaking the tutors flow of thought and minimising disruption for all students. Watch the recording back of the session as often as you need to help the knowledge sink in and refresh your understanding. It also takes away the need to scribe lots of notes during the session, allowing you to sit back, relax and take it all in.
All students receive comprehensive course notes by email to keep and refer back to. Also a short online pre-course learning task is delivered through our Online Portal to cover the essential health and safety knowledge. Study this at your own pace ready for your live online training session.
Beyond your training session you have a chance to put your skills into practice, delivering your treatments on friends/family in your bubble at home or using a nail trainer hand / mannequin training head. Build your confidence and receive individual feedback on these treatments to help you develop competent ability in delivering your treatments. Once completed, you will receive your ABT Accredited diploma ready to gain insurance and begin using your skills to start your own beauty business or add to your existing treatment offering. Work with paying clients from home or mobile. Virtual Academy offers a cost effective, time efficient and enjoyable way to learn!
Some commonly asked questionsโฆ
The tutor will walk you through the treatment techniques and procedure with detailed video demonstrations during the live online training session. You have a recording of the session to watch back allowing you to rewind and fast forward the demonstrations while practising your treatments. You submit your photos of a case study (as a best of 3) for individual feedback and support. When ready you arrange to attend an online support and assessment session where you practice your treatments, watched live by your tutor and receive final feedback to achieve your certificate. We have had a large number of students complete our Virtual Academy courses successfully and return for further courses.
You will achieve a diploma issued by The Beauty Academy and accredited by ABT for insurance and recognition in the beauty industry. It is the same standard you would achieve as if attending a face to face classroom based course. It gives you the same opportunities to get insured and begin earning from home or mobile.
Our Virtual Academy courses are so flexible. We have online training sessions available in the evenings, daytime or weekends to fit into your busy schedule. Practice at home at your own pace to submit your case study and then arrange the online support and assessment session when ready, again available at convenient time slots which you can choose from.
You simply need a device connected to the internet such as mobile phone, pc or tablets like iPad. You donโt need a head set, just the inbuilt speaker and microphone of most devices is fine or if no microphone, you can type freely into the chat box during the live online training session so can fully interact. You can even use earphones if taking part while out and about to make listening in discreet and convenient.
You will need basic products and tools to practice your skills following the online teaching session. You can purchase these from any beauty supplier or take a look at our selection of starter kits to get going more quickly.
We have Interest Free Credit available on all courses over ยฃ99 (which includes all Virtual Academy Courses and packages). Save money by booking a Multi Buy Package or book your courses individually as you prefer. Multi Buy Packages are carefully selected combinations of courses which allow you to save money versus individual course fees and have the best beauty business start-up training package. Book securely through our website or by calling Freephone 0800 999 2277.
How do I enrol?
Like the sound of our Virtual Academy Courses and want to get started? Click below to explore and book your Virtual Academy Course (or take advantage of the savings offered by our Multi Buy Packages). Or if you have further questions and need more advice, get in touch with our team on one of the options below.
Absolutely, yes! You can definitely achieve an accredited beauty qualification through only online training. Our courses are accredited by IPHM and recognised for insurance internationally giving you the best chance of success in a beauty career wherever you live and work. As our courses are completed entirely online, there are no distance barriers to overcome. Online training options give you full flexibility of studying anywhere in the world, even the comfort of home. They also allow you to study at your own pace, whether that is fast track or more slowly to fit around other commitments.
We get asked this question all the time as so many are dubious about trying something new for them, but once they discover the benefits of online training they go from course to course expanding their learning with complete confidence. Our courses are written by experienced beauty industry professionals in an easy to follow style. From high quality training videos to detailed step by steps in course manuals. You also have full access to our expert in-house Support Team for any questions along the way.
Online courses with The Beauty Academy allow you to achieve a recognised, accredited beauty qualification that enables you to get insured and start your new beauty career.
Need more reassurance? Read some recent student reviewsโฆ
At The Beauty Academy we offer two options for Online Study, both provide an accredited certificate on completion;
Online Courses completed through our Student Portal. You receive access to a wealth of high quality learning resources, written by beauty professionals including comprehensive manuals and detailed video demonstrations. You take multiple choice online tests throughout the course which are great for checking your understanding and learning as you progress through the course. These can be taken as often as needed until you achieve a pass. You also submit a small number of case studies to us by email which are 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 (allowing usually around 2-10 hours per week to study), although you have 8 weeks should you need to go slower. Achieve an IPHM accredited certificate, courses start at only ยฃ99!
Virtual Academy Courses are completed through live, tutor led training sessions delivered online through Zoom. Initially you complete some basic health and safety theory through our Online Student Portal. You then โattendโ your online teaching session which typically lasts 60-90 minutes. A recording of the session is emailed to you which can be watched back as often as you need. You submit your one best case study of a recommended 3 minimum for feedback. Once a suitable standard of treatment skill is achieved, you โattendโ a short online session where a tutor observes you complete some basic treatment skills to ascertain your confidence and given final feedback. Once completed, you achieve an ABT accredited certificate, courses start at only ยฃ149!
Online Courses
Great for those who like self-paced, independent learning.
Full support from our team throughout by phone or email.
Flexible to work around you, study as many or as few hours each week as prefer – complete within 2-8 weeks.
Studied entirely through Online Student Portal.
Watch videos, read manuals, do quick tests and submit case studies.
No assessment days or formal exams required.
Study on mobile, iPad or pc, when on the go or from home.
Accredited by IPHM, suitable for insurance in the UK, Ireland and overseas.
Virtual Academy Courses
Great for those who prefer to learn with tutor interaction.
Ask questions & get additional support during the online session.
Full support from our team throughout by phone or email.
Live online sessions available daytime, evenings & weekends.
Recording of session to watch back as often as you need + e-manual to keep.
Join Zoom session, practice treatments, join Zoom assessment, achieve qualification!
No attendance of the training centre required, all done online.
Complete sessions on mobile, iPad or pc – no fancy tech required.
Accredited by ABT, suitable for insurance in the UK & when temporarily abroad.
Our courses are accredited for insurance purposes. Courses accredited by IPHM are accepted by their recommended insurers for work in the UK, Ireland, Wales, Scotland, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, parts of the USA, & most of Europe. ABT offer insurance for therapists primarily working in the UK and temporarily overseas (except USA/Canada). This means upon completion of your online course(s) you can successfully begin working either from home or mobile offering your treatments and begin earning, once insured.
The requirements of individual salons / employers / local council licensing will vary. Generally speaking most students entering the beauty industry will do so to be able to start their own business working from home or mobile as this is often the most lucrative way to work in the industry with uncapped earning potential. Online courses may enable you to gain work in a salon either employed or more likely on a self-employed basis as the certificate is accredited, however for those such as college leavers looking to qualify to gain full time salon employment, you may wish to consider more formal options of training such as VTCT Qualifications.
How do I sign up?
Click below to explore the training options, whether Online Courses or Virtual Academy Courses. We offer Multi Buy Packages which are carefully selected course combinations, put together to give you the best business start-up opportunity with treatments that sell to clients well as a package. These allow you to save money booking courses individually and get you started quickly on the path to your new beauty career! Book securely through our website when ready. Alternatively, if you canโt see what youโre looking for or donโt know where to start; why not give our friendly team a call on Freephone 0800 999 2277 and they can chat you through any queries and point you in the right direction!
Nail technicians look after, shape and decorate their clients’ finger and toe nails. Youโll use a variety of techniques to provide manicures, pedicures and/or nail extensions. You may be working directly for a salon, or be self-employed. Youโll need good communication skills as youโll be dealing with a range of clients. If youโre working as a self-employed nail technician, youโll need good business skills too.
Client Satisfaction.
Most nail technicians value pleasing their customers above all else.
Meeting New People
Whether itโs new clients, co-workers or other nail technicians at tradeshows; nail technicians appreciate the opportunity to meet and make new friends.
Financial Rewards
As a nail technician, we are told you get out of your job what you put into it. If you are dedicated and hardworking, this will show in your earnings.
Flexible Schedule
How many clients you want to service in a given day is ultimately up to you.
Challenging Work
No matter how experienced a nail technician you are, every day brings new challenges.
Personal Satisfaction
For many people, job fulfilment is one of the most important reasons for sticking to their career.
Continuing Education
Nail technicians have the opportunity to learn more and more skills and techniques every day.
Creativity
When it comes to nails, you can really exercise your artistic ability and let your imagination run wild.
Competing
A lot of nail technicians say competing is one of the best extra-curricular activities of doing nails and seeing what your competition is, in the area you live in.
Just Doing Nails
The bottom line for most professionals is that they simply love doing nails.
Interested in training to be a Nail Technician? Not sure where to start? We have classroom and distance learning (online) options covering all aspects of nail services. Why not take a look at some of our many Classroom Based Nail Courses or Home Study Nail Courses. You can Chat LIVE with our Advisors as you browse to help you find the right course for you. Or why not give our friendly Advisors a call on Freephone 0800 999 2277? All courses are ACCREDITEDand FULLY INSURABLE allowing you to begin earning offering your treatments upon completion!
Updated 30th October 2024
The key to business start-up success is careful planning. Considering the direction you want your business to take, the scale and the target market. Setting realistic goals with realistic timescales is vital to ensure you stay on track but also stay motivated. It can be challenging starting a new beauty business but also incredibly rewarding when you see the return on your investment in terms of a regular client base building, your treatment results gaining word of mouth or indeed just making a profit! We give you the lowdown on how to get up and running for success…
Have a business plan
Set yourself clear SMART goals. These are specific, measurable, achievable and time bound. So think about where you want your business to be and to take you in say 6 months, a year, 2 years and 5 years. Be realistic and take baby steps. Nothing is more demotivating than setting a goal impossible to achieve. Small, measurable goals are what you need so that with every milestone achieved, whether that is your first regular client, first client referral, tenth client booked etc. you have positive steps towards those bigger, long term goals.
You also need to do the maths and have a fixed budget for starting your own business to cover the cost of insurance, tools and products, business cards / price lists, transport costs such as if you need a bigger car, interest on any business related loans, rent and bills if having a salon space etc. and then also if this is going to be your only source of income, work out how much you need to earn each day/week so you can keep track of your income versus outgoings. Initially you may need to have a buffer and expect it may take a month or more to start breaking even and into profit as you build up your client base.
Have a brand
Think about your branding. What is your company name and logo? Is it obvious what you do from that to stand you apart from others? Is it catchy and memorable? If youโll be using it online as part of a website address, on social media etc., and your clients will be searching for your business online; it must be easy to spell and not similar to existing company names or website addresses. Think about how you will present yourself โ will you wear a beauty tunic and if so, will this have your logo on it?
Get your brand online as soon as possible so a basic website will do to start. Platforms such as wix.com offer free or low cost hosted websites, ideal for web beginners. Social media is also vital โ set up a Facebook, Instagram and Tiktok profile for your business so you can showcase what you do, start building a following and start reaching out to your existing contacts to provide them an easy way to share what you do with their contacts too.
Youโll also want to register your business on Google Business listings so you appear on Google Maps, great when clients are searching the local area for your services (or indeed discover you accidentally when planning a journey). This will only work for those with premises or working from home, so is more tricky for those working mobile.
Have realistic expectations
If you are working your beauty business alongside another job, be realistic as to how much time you can give to the business and let it build gradually rather than trying to do too much, too soon and burning yourself out. You donโt want to lose love for what you do so make sure you still take time for yourself. If youโre going to go full time on your business, be realistic about how long it may take to build a large enough, regular client base to provide you with a solid monthly income. Donโt be disheartened if it takes some months to build up, just keep active in promoting what you do locally and with your contacts. Encourage clients to recommend you through word of mouth and speak with other related local businesses such as hairdressers, florists etc. to help build up clients and contacts. Build a steady projection of income too by always getting your clients booked in for their next appointment, before theyโve even finished their current one. This allows you to manage your appointment diary, always give a sense of urgency to them booking in and that youโre already getting booked up! You never want to give the impression youโre always free, create the sense youโre in demand!
If things are slower than hoped to start, stay proactive and think about what you could do to boost business such as a launch event hosted in a local hair salon or coffee store where you do mini treatments, pampering evening in connection with a local charity or school, advertising in local press, handing out price lists at the school drop off etc. And donโt underestimate the importance of social media and your website to help business find you. Plan marketing strategy so promotions you run throughout the year, retail products you could sell to boost sales, treatment packages for wedding or holiday season etc. The key is stay busy but stay positive. Most beauty businesses take around 6-9 months to become well established but once you are, your earning potential is uncapped so itโs definitely worth investing the time and effort.
Cover the legalities
Make sure you have beauty insurance in place and that it ideally covers your beauty kit. We recommend Balens, Radius, Insync or ABT for insurance. You can purchase a policy directly from your preferred insurer.
Check your car insurance policy will cover you for business related mileage and also any car contents in the event of damage or loss/theft. Make sure you are working safely and hygienically at all times. Think about waste disposal and if you need to apply for yellow bins or commercial waste collection.
If you are working from a room in your home, check your home insurance and mortgage / rental agreement permits this. If you are converting part of your home into permanent salon premises, you may wish to consult with your local council regarding planning restrictions, change of use and if business rates would be applicable. When inviting clients into your home, check if you need insurance in the event of accident/injury unrelated to treatments. You may also wish to take a first aid course and have a first aid kit and fire extinguisher or blanket on site for emergencies.
If you are renting a room in a salon or even your own premises, you may need to consider any additional insurance for the business premises such as employee or third party insurance to protect visitors and clients at your premises in the event of an accident/injury. If employing other therapists, take legal advice in regards to contracts and qualifications / insurance they must hold. Some local authorities require special treatments licensing in some areas for salons so this must be checked out before committing to premises. If you are working alongside another job, check your employment contract to make sure there are no clauses against this.
Finally donโt forget your safety. Make sure if you are working mobile that someone knows where you are at all times and check in with someone when arriving and leaving a clientโs home having given an indication of how long you will be there so that you always remain safe. Finally donโt forget to register with HMRC for tax purposes if working self-employed. You will usually need to submit an annual self assessment to declare your earnings and to correctly pay tax and NI contributions so make sure you register in a timely manner online and keep adequate records of your income and outgoings in relation to your business.
There is a lot to consider when running your own business but with careful planning, you can ensure you are always one step ahead with no surprises. Having written down goals that you can regularly review against is great for staying on track with progress and also helping stay motivated. Donโt forget it is important to keep learning as a beauty therapist so that you can stay ahead of the competition and offer something new to delight your regular clientele. There are huge rewards to running your own business including flexibility to work around your children or other dependents, pride of owning your own business, opportunity to have uncapped earnings and the chance to earn doing something you are truly passionate about.
Want to learn more about starting your own beauty business? Need more help to break your planning down? Our Online Starting a Business in Beauty Course is for you! Completed entirely online through our Student Portal which can be accessed from mobile devices 24/7, study at your own pace and receive support from our expert team throughout. Click below to find out moreโฆ
When looking to start a new career in the beauty industry, it can be so easy to fall into the trap of thinking you MUST train in every single treatment on the market from the get-go. But the cost of this and also just knowing how then to launch your business without any particular unique selling features or areas of specialism can be really difficult when coming to an industry with a lot of competition already. Our blog highlights why it can actually be great to start small, focusing on particular treatments, building your brand and then moving on to other treatments as your client base actually wants, rather than what you think they will want…
Our offers this month are all about helping you to focus on learning a particular set of beauty skills so that you have a ready to launch business. Whether that is focusing on being a lash and brow artist, make up artist also offering lash treatments, a nail technician or a beauty therapist offering the Big 4 (facials, waxing, manicures and pedicures). This is because we know the industry well and we know what works.
Be a Specialist in your Chosen Field
While having a diverse range of beauty skills from the off is great for those looking to gain employment in a salon (where they will be expecting you to be able to offer treatment to every client that may walk through the door); when starting your own business this is not always feasible and rarely necessary. Most beauty start-ups will focus on a niche within beauty so that they can be offering treatments that are their passion, work to their best natural talents but also ensure they are 6specialists in what they have to offer through having day to day, in-depth knowledge and practice of offering those treatments. It also allows you to focus on learning all you can within the industry around those specific treatments, whether that is through taking advanced courses or reading up on industry expert blogs and publications.
More Affordable and Profitable
It also makes starting your own business much more affordable. You can focus on booking onto the best training courses within the treatments you want to learn and then commit remaining funds to getting started with insurance, kits, products and tools as you need to start building your client base. If you try to learn everything, it can be very costly both in training and kit requirements meaning you may not then be able to afford the best products or tools to work with once you start working with clients which can make your treatments less attractive versus competitorsโ. It also puts a huge pressure on you in the first year to have to make too much money to reclaim your costs and before you get to enjoythe boost of being in a profit.
Your Business is Focused
Starting with treatments you know are popular in your area, which you enjoy offering and you know you have knowledge of (whether from having previous treatments yourself or through beauty magazines you read for example); really is the best way to getting your business started on the best foot forward. It allows you to focus your marketing whether that is a website, Facebook business page or adverts in local press to really shout about what you do. You can have a very clear branding message too on your price list and business card, rather than being confused by trying to offer too many services too soon. The greatest advantage is that you start with a popular service, start establishing clients and from there you can ask your target market what else they like receiving and would like you to offer so you can be sure to enrol for further courses that allow you to capitalise on this. Once you get working in the industry you can see what you enjoy too. So many therapists have fallen into doing treatments they donโt really enjoy, simply because they feel they must, to justify training within them. Start with what inspires and excites you and you canโt go far wrong in building a business and a career you truly love.
Be More Competitive
By training in specific treatments to begin with, you can keep your costs down which allows you to launch with very competitive prices versus your local competition. Once you have experience under your belt, you can raise your prices to become a premium service but having that initial competitive edge really does help to springboard you into a thriving business very quickly. Also focusing your treatment offer allows you to put together lucrative packages (both for you and your clients e.g. offering a brow service alongside lashes to frame those windows to the soul; or indeed waxing alongside pedicures to help with those fluffy toes!). Having a specialist business within beauty also allows you to have less kit lying around unused, taking up your precious workspace and minimising the amount of kit you have to take around with you if working mobile.
You Can Always Diversify Later
Remember by taking a couple of specific courses or indeed a package which focuses on a niche of the beauty industry, you are in no way limiting yourself. You can always take additional courses, whether further 1 day fast track, accredited courses or indeed our flexible, online, recognised learning courses. You could even upgrade to an internationally recognised qualification such as the VTCT awards in order to gain employment in a salon or spa, once you have gained experience or should a further opportunity arise beyond self-employment. You might even go on to training to teach beyond a VTCT award, so there really are huge options ahead.
All you have to do is take the first step, decide which 1-3 treatments you love the most and give us a call on Freephone 0800 999 2277 to arrange booking onto the best training course option for you. Itโs no obligation and our course advisors are all fully qualified beauty therapists with vast experience of the industry, so can certainly point you in the right direction.
