I'm 24 and away to start at college in September, after wanting to do Beauty Therapy for years! I left school 17 with Highers, went to college to do Vet nursing (hated it) and worked in hotels, offices and after getting married, having a miscarriage and being made redundant all within 2 months, I re - evaluated everything and decided to finally follow my heart instead of my head

April 2008 aged 38 with 4 kids & very supportive husband...............CND Foundation/Brisa/Spa Mani & Pedi

May 2008 rented room in salon...........

July 2008 Spray Tanning...............

October 2008 Waxing............

March 2009 Own salon....

April 2009 Eye Tint & Perming

Way more than I could have ever imagined in 1 year !

Oh forgot to mention: Blood, Sweat, Tears, Tantrums & Bl&&&&dy Dam Hard Work !

I bought my salon in 2007 aged 40. I had been made redundant from my previous job in May 2007 and saw the salon on the market and put an offer in. Then i thought 'oh my god what have i done'-lol.
I'd never worked in the beauty industry although i'd always had an interest in it. I wasn't qualified in anything so i did a home study course for beauty levels 1,2 and 3 so at least i knew what everything entailed.
I took on staff but was constantly let down so i trained in spray tanning, waxing, eyebrow and lash tints and intimate male waxing.
These are the treatments i felt i was good at and don't fancy doing any hands, feet or facial treatments.
I have a beautician now who has been doing it for 10 years and has her own clients and it works really well.
Wish i had done it years ago!

After being told i had "more potential" than to be a beauty therapist i went to do my a levels, didnt enjoy it at all and quit after 4 months! I then started college in 2004 aged 17, and i could not believe how much work that was involved! After alot of late nights, tears and tantrums i gained my CIBTAC qualification. I then worked for champneys and a salon before being made redundant!
I then decided to go mobile, 4 years later i have two children and am still building my business, i do regular media work and still really enjoy beauty. I am looking forward to starting up my home salon.

I am so proud of my achievements, so many girls on my course no longer do beauty for all sorts of reasons but i am so pleased i have stuck at it

X

When I was 16 I trained to be a hairdresser but didnt like it, so I left hairdressing and worked in factories for around 8 years. I did some GCSE courses in my early 20's and then did a pre uni course when I got made redundant. Completed my degree in 2002, worked in graphic design and then trained to be a teacher in 2004. Worked as a secondary school ICT teacher for few years then became ill had to come out of teaching and I'm still on the sick.

I was at this stage 37 and whilst on sick I did level 2 nails, level 3 reflexology and level 3 anatomy and physiology in 2007/8. Since August 2008 I have done my CND L+P induction, CND SpaManicure, SpaPedicure and skillbuilding. Just done my Brisa Induction and 5 weeks away from completing my Level 3 nails. Doing all this studying has kept me sane whilst been on the sick (that and this site) and as awful as it may seem my illness was the catalyst to make me look at an alternative career cos i do not want to teach full time again, too draining so i looked into what would fit around teaching and I have always had a fascination with this industry.

Of all of my academic achievements my degree and beauty courses mean so much to me. I am passionate about this industry. I thought I was passionate about teaching but not like this. I love it and I cant wait to start working again!! One day I want to teach beauty and nails that would be a dream come true.

anne xx

I started my first day of college to train in beauty when I was 29, and had two children under 2. I had worked in banking from when I first moved back to the uk from Oz, (1995) so it was a complete change! I had always had an interest in the industry, and had completed a massage and acrylic nail qualification while still at the bank. It was the best thing I ever did!
I sometimes found it a struggle with the kids and work, (and the loss of a great salary) but I have never doubted my decision!
I now have a thriving and successful log cabin based salon, and undertake at least two further courses every year. I am most proud that I have managed to build my business, while still being a hand on mum 100%.
I was told once that if you do a job you love, you never do a days work in your life and that is soooo true!

you have done so well at your age you have a right to be proud of what you have achieved, keep going as far as your dreams take you you can do it.i started when i was 26/27 i am now 40 and i have level 2 beauty, level 2 and 3 in hairdressing level 3 media make up 7303 teaching. during this time i have brought up 2 kids youngest was 2 when i started, ran my own business, had bad health and looked after my disabled husband i have had no family help as they all live 300+ miles away, i have scrimped and scraped to pay for all my courses and kits but it has been wroth it as now i am teaching master classes just about to start my cert ed so that i can teach theatrical make up.

Same as me Anne, still on sick too, hope you're feeling much better x

I was 18 when I went to beauty college FT in 1983 and qualified a year later like Gillian gaining IHBC and C&G. I then did a further 2 years beauty training. I have worked in salons, department stores, a gym, mobile. I also did some work for a photographer doing up models. I later trained in hairdressing and did that for many years but I still loved beauty. I still did beauty PT and did business courses and eventually gained a degree. I am now working from my home studio at age 44. I cannot ever see myself giving it up it has been a large part of my life in one form or another. I still feel there is lots to do maybe teach later on but I am enjoying shaping my business for now.

I hope youre feeling better soon too

it is great therapy though learning, gives your some focus and direction to your what would otherwise be a boring and mundane day. This site helps me too as its a great way to communicate with like minded individuals sometimes I should be studying when I'm geeking hehe

anne xx

i am 18 in 2 hours (!!!!) and started with hair in 2007,

left school with all my standard grades, didnt study for any but home ec (my favourite ), did not bad, started college hairdressing, didnt like it, my friend wanted to do nails...i said i'd do it too to get out the house one night a week!, absolutely love it, hate hairdressing now, although did my second year for the qualifications, jsut passed all my assessments today...wualifed as a nail tech in march, just started working in a busy nail bar in glasgow city centre part time, with a view to go full time after college ends..

and im about to book my cnd conversion soon too!

im very proud of what i've done, i didnt think i'd end up loving nails so much, and wouldnt have even thought about it if it wasnt for my friend! and my pre course research on here!

I started in the nail industry at the ripe old age of 38, after doing various different jobs, started out as a veterinary nurse and after having my kids a hotel receptionist. I am 41 now and many a time, I wish I had started sooner in nails, but yet again, my life experiences and dealing with the general public have stood me in good stead with dealing with my clients.

I started doing a basic nail foundation course in l&p, gel and fibreglass and silk, then realised that there was more to the industry, so went on and trained further with another nail company before then converting to CND. I haven't looked back, I have achieved my masters in l&p and hope to go on and get my skill level up enough to do my masters in gel too.

I have also done waxing with the lovely Kim and am loving that too, if someone had told me a year ago that I would be waxing, I'd have told them to behave.

In fact, I sometimes cannot believe how much I have achieved and how proud I am of what I have done. I hope that doesn't sound too pompous, it is just how I feel!

I officially entered the 'Nail Industry' in 1991. I was 22!!! Since inception I have been involved with one brand only - Creative Nail Design (thanks Mum). I won't bore you with the in between stuff... I have literally done everything from receptionist insalon to doing nails to running education, to running PR in distribution.

Now I do all of that and more, but my proudest moment was when we got the call from the States to say we had been chosen as the CND Distributors for the UK.

That was 2 years ago and I still LOVE LOVE LOVE going into work everyday and doing what I do best... helping our customers.

I commend everyone who has had the balls to put it on the line and do what you really love no matter your age, circumstances or odds. That is exactly what Sam and I did in 2007 - against all odds - and we won - and it stills feels good everyday!!!

Reading these replys have made me laugh,smile,sigh and gasp...all brill stories

I on the other hand am a bit of a dark horse...i quietly work away,and then come along and SNATCH when the opportunity comes along...life is all about decisions,and it is up to us to take them...omg i am now gonna sing my way from frank sinatra

Anyway,i have done everything,you name it i did it,from bar work to dancing in clubs,to cabin crew,and hustling men...then i did nursing,and then 8 years ago i qualified in beauty,nails and natural therapies at college.....i had a loving grandma who put me back on the straight road again....and now there is nothing else i love doing....all i know is that i must have been a hand maiden to Cleopatra in a former life....and it feels so right to do what i now have a passion for...and i am only 39!

I went to college at 16 for a 3 year hair /beauty combined course. worked in some amazing salons in town then opened my first salon 10 years ago. I'm now 40, have 14 people work for me in my 2 salons. My careers teacher at school also told me it was dead end and boring work! I still love it and earn far more than the teacher!!!
You can be a winner at whatever job you choose to do x