Beauty therapists perform a variety of non-medical face and body treatments to help their clients look and feel better. Through their knowledge of skin biology, cosmetic chemistry and skin physiology, they are able to provide a range of services, including massage therapy, hair and skin removal services, and treatments such as manicures and pedicures. A beauty therapist typically works 37 to 40 hours per week and will earn between £16,000 and £25,000 per year.
To establish a beauty therapist career, you will need the following skills and knowledge:
You can begin your beauty therapist career a number of different ways. You can:
Full details of what is involved in a beauty therapist career and how you can begin your career are available on the government website.
The most obvious route to beginning a beauty therapist career is to gain beauty therapy qualifications through a college course. Colleges have an abundance of beauty therapy courses available, some of the most popular ones being:
These beauty therapy courses are perfect for beginning your beauty therapist career. To enrol to study one of these courses you will most likely need two or more GCSEs at grades 9 to 3 (A* to D) for a Level 2 course, and 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) for a Level 3 course or T Level.
Search for beauty therapy courses local to you.
Beauty therapist apprenticeships are another excellent way to begin your beauty therapist career. A perfect alternative route to college courses, beauty therapist apprenticeships generally take 15 to 18 months to complete. You have the option of completing intermediate or advanced beauty therapist apprenticeships, both of which will place you in an excellent position to begin your beauty therapist career, but the advanced option will strengthen your resume the most.
To enrol onto beauty therapist apprenticeships you will need some prior level of education. You’ll generally need GCSEs, specifically within the subjects of English and maths, for intermediate beauty therapist apprenticeships. For advanced beauty therapist apprenticeships, you will need 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), including English and maths.
Another alternative to completing beauty therapy courses or beauty therapist apprenticeships is to work towards the role. You can do this by beginning your career as a beauty therapy assistance within a salon or a spa, which can lead to studies for beauty therapy qualifications.
A final route to establishing a beauty therapist career is to enrol onto a specialist course that is tun by private training providers. Joining a private beauty school may provide you with the opportunity to gain the beauty therapy qualifications you need to begin your beauty therapist career.
To strengthen your resume and increase the likelihood of beginning your beauty therapist career, you should consider joining a professional register like the Guild of Beauty Therapists. This will give you strong professional recognition. The Guild of Beauty Therapists is a UK trade body for the professional beauty industry. It has over 15,000 members in the UK and shows your clients and colleagues that you are a real professional. This beauty guild also provides accredited training courses across more than 500 venues in the UK.
If you would like to learn more about a beauty therapist career or routes to establishing a career, including beauty therapy qualifications and beauty therapy courses, as well as beauty therapist apprenticeships, take a look at:
Both of these websites provide a wealth of information about becoming a beauty therapist.
The role of a beauty therapist is exciting and diverse. From giving facials to cleanse, massage and tone a client’s skin, to completing full make-overs. From shaping eyebrows and colouring eyelashes, to giving manicures and pedicures. Beauty therapists provide non-surgical treatments, offer ultra-violet treatments and spray tanning and removing unwanted facial and body hair. They work in a variety of settings, including salons, spa’s, hotels, cruise ships, or even from home. Begin your beauty therapist career today and secure your fulfilling career.
