For those that have a passion for makeup and perhaps everything to do with beauty, a career in the beauty industry as a beauty therapist could be very rewarding. This will allow you to progress your interest and hobby into a fulfilling career.
While the basic skills needed to create a career in this industry are thought of as mere hobbies to many people, with the correct training and qualifications, these basic skills could be turned into a long career.
Becoming a professional beauty therapist is no mean feat, however, it takes years of training and work experience in order to be known as a professional. But, if you have the ambition and the right attitude, this shouldn’t be a problem.
As a professional beauty therapist, you will have many career opportunities that you can switch between as you see fit. You could work on film productions, in spas or in the travel industry all over the world.
When you’re just starting out, it can be hard to know exactly where to start and how to turn your hobby into a qualification and then a career. Luckily, we’ve done some research for you and created a simplified guide that will give you all the information you need to become a professional beauty therapist.
Necessary Skills
While many may think they already have the necessary skills to become a professional beauty therapist, the job actually encompasses a lot more than you may think and to a higher level.
To make it as a professional beauty therapist you have to interact with clients for long periods of time. At the end of the day, you are providing a full service and the customer needs to feel respected and enjoy your company while you are beautifying them.
Therefore, you need to have good customer service skills, be able to listen well and for long periods, be respectful, attentive and adaptable. Working on improving these skills will help you become a well-respected professional within the beauty industry and may help to advance your career.
You will also need to have a good range of skills in makeup and beauty techniques. While you are not expected to be at a professional level when you are just starting, you will be expected to understand basic techniques. You should be able to execute a variety of styles, be comfortable using a variety of makeups and be able to offer basic manicure, pedicure and cleansing techniques.
Qualifications
To become an actual professional beauty therapist, you will need to attain a qualification. There are a couple to choose from and you should continue researching them to select the one that is best for you.
The first option is to get an NVQ level 1, 2 or 3. This is the National Vocational Qualification and allows you to gain the qualification while training on the job, allowing you to mix practical learning with classroom-based education.
The BTEC Diploma in Beauty Therapy is a good option and provides a similar course structure to the NVQ. This qualification is valued by employers and further training institutions.
These are the two most common qualifications in the UK, but there are others. Be sure to do your research to find out which one is best for you and your aspirations.
Training
While the above qualifications offer on-the-job training as well as classroom-based learning, there is the option to learn fully in a working situation. These apprenticeships are very common and rivel the above qualifications in terms of valuation.
Search your local area for apprenticeship programs in beauty therapy to see if this would be a good fit for you.
Get the Right Toolkit
Professional beauty therapists often have their own set of tools rather than the salon or institution they work for providing them. To become a professional beauty therapist and advance your career, you will need to build up your toolkit of high-quality products and tools to use on your clients.
For example, the RevitaLash eyelash advanced growth product has been a mainstay amongst beauty therapists for some time, and while it doesn’t come cheap, will enhance your abilities and improve the level of beauty service you can give.
Hopefully, the information provided can get you off to the best possible start on your journey to become a professional beauty therapist. While you may have some basic beauty skills, remember, you will need to put in the work to get them to the level of a professional. You will also need to pay attention to your general customer service skills along the way. Working towards a respected qualification is the best way to enhance your skills while getting the necessary certificate to secure a job as a professional.
