A little bit of a rant

[taggyboy]

Persianista

The expression on your profile pic must truly reflect how you feel at the mo :lol:

On the back of what you said, I for one have just applied to do an NVQ 2 at my local college at the grand old age of 53

The only thing stopping me from doing this before is the embarrassment of being the oldest bird in the class :o Hey ho, this is the price I pay for a mid-life crisis career change!

I'm usually one for a cause and not afraid to speak up about it but I am guiltily quiet when it comes to the regulation of the hair & beauty industry, due to the fact that the solution probably does lay in a substantial underpinning of knowledge accompanied by a nationally recognised qualification. At least I'll be able to stop feeling like a hypocrite now and stop justifying to myself that short courses and self education is enough.

Wish me luck in September and hopefully I won't get bullied as the odd one out

Kathie x

Excellent and well done. I'm in the same boat myself but just thinking about the NVQ route at the moment. In fact I have been pondering for some time. I'm also 53 this year.

Although I totally agree with the registration process and getting fully qualified, which ever industry we are in, I do feel that NVQ's are not what they used to be, in any industry. For me some elements of the NVQ I do not wish to do, so I would need something more specific.

It has been said on here many times about people entering the industry because they get paid whilst receiving benefits and colleges get paid. Everyone comes out with a qualification whether they have put any real effort into the NVQ or not. Please don't shoot me I do know not everyone should be tarred with the same brush and I'm not aiming my post about anyone specific.

I also know of a trainer for NVQ's and she feels the industry has gone very much down hill. Only a handful of people on these courses are genuinely interested in becoming excellent at what they do.

So in effect is the NVQ enough?
Should there be a new standard set?

 

[Kathie]

Excellent and well done. I'm in the same boat myself but just thinking about the NVQ route at the moment. In fact I have been pondering for some time. I'm also 53 this year.

Thanks for the heart Taggyboy and its comforting to know I'm not the only fully ripened geek to go down the NVQ route.

Although I totally agree with the registration process and getting fully qualified, which ever industry we are in, I do feel that NVQ's are not what they used to be, in any industry. For me some elements of the NVQ I do not wish to do, so I would need something more specific.

I understand how you feel, I've completed an excellent massage course and A&P, so not sure how much benefit I'll get from the NVQ. I've trained with Kim Lawless so not sure that I'll get much out of the waxing module either, I could go on!

Having said this I have decided to be led by long standing experienced geeks, many of them salon owners of many years who feel that NVQ's or equivelant are essential. I guess its a case of we don't know what we don't know!

The other thing that can't be ignored is, as Persianista put it, Coming to a town near you soon........ I believe this is local government benchmarking best practice (as well as making money via licensing lol) and the start of local regulations which will eventually lead to a consistent national regulation. This will then begin to encompass the hair side of things and freelance/mobile.

It has been said on here many times about people entering the industry because they get paid whilst receiving benefits and colleges get paid. Everyone comes out with a qualification whether they have put any real effort into the NVQ or not. Please don't shoot me I do know not everyone should be tarred with the same brush and I'm not aiming my post about anyone specific.

I also know of a trainer for NVQ's and she feels the industry has gone very much down hill. Only a handful of people on these courses are genuinely interested in becoming excellent at what they do.

That suits me fine, the less ambition they have for being excellent, the less competition lol.

So in effect is the NVQ enough?
Should there be a new standard set?

Come on Taggyboy let's do this together:hug:

Kathie x

 

[taggyboy]

I have contacted my council today, they have advised that nothing is in the pipeline but who knows, once one council starts, others usually follow.

They were going to look at Bromley council website.

They did advise that the borough introducing this have had problems with "massage" parlours, (I had to laugh), they didn't say that outright. They felt that this was more a way of filtering those "therapists" out.

My council are updating their systems with regards to Environmental and Licensing, so will watch this space very carefully. They are looking at all avenues regarding mobile, home and salon based.

It can only do good....

 

[Kathie]

It's in operation in Newham borough, the 1st licence was issued in January this year, although the planning and lead up was going on for more than a year prior.

There are quite a few 'massage parlours' in the borough so I wouldn't be surprised to learn this is the reason for Newham adopting the licensing.

It doesn't affect me as yet because I'm mobile.

Kathie x

 

[abbeygrace]

I think that's a great idea as lots of people have recently started advertising on facebook after having no training! As some one who did short courses I do think some of what has been said is unfair (bias i know lol) as some people just do not have the time or money to go college but i understand that you need a lot of practice after a short course as you cannot possibly be perfect and learn everything in one day and I think salon geek has also helped as I have found out things i did not know so thanks
But with determination and practice people who completed short courses can be just as good as those who went college x

 

[elliebee]

I feel compelled to post in defence of those of us who have done short courses in order to gain our qualifications.

Most people who follow this forum will know that lashes are "My Thing"

I did some 1 day courses in order to get these qualifications.

Does this make me inferior to someone who has been through a college course? No, I don't think it does. Does it make me superior? No, I don't think that either.

I think every therapist should be judged on their own professionalism and standards that they set in their own salon.

If my local authority insist that I gain a college qualification then, of course I will do this but it won't make me a better therapist or give my clients a better service.

I ABSOLUTELY agree that we need regulation but I think it's unfair that those of us who choose to do specialised courses are often considered to be 2nd class therapists.

I think some sort of independent assessment would be a better option together with an annual check that insurances and qualifications are up to date.

I have built up a very successful business with a loyal following of clients.

I am fully insured and registered for tax and take my business (albeit a small one) very seriously.

#Just saying

 

[laneypants]

Ellibee, absolutely! Of course there should be standards for us all be meeting, and our clients should have access to information to understand the standards they can expect from us. we should all be insured, registered with the tax man etc, however an NVQ isn't going to be the answer for every one of us, particularly those specialising in certain treatments.Every industry has its cowboys sadly but this doesn't always go hand in hand with what certificates they hold.
As I'm sitting thinking and typing I am wondering if perhaps salongeek could have a fact based area for the public to access with standards that should be met of the different services we provide? The things that should be happening and things that should not..also why some therapists will do a treatment differently to another but that it isn't necessarily wrong. Perhaps this is something we could all work together on, you never know it could become the 'go to' place for our clients to be armed with the information we all wish they had!

Sorry all I've probably diverted from the original post..

 

[izzidoll]

I feel compelled to post in defence of those of us who have done short courses in order to gain our qualifications.

Most people who follow this forum will know that lashes are "My Thing"

I did some 1 day courses in order to get these qualifications.

Does this make me inferior to someone who has been through a college course? No, I don't think it does. Does it make me superior? No, I don't think that either.

I think every therapist should be judged on their own professionalism and standards that they set in their own salon.

If my local authority insist that I gain a college qualification then, of course I will do this but it won't make me a better therapist or give my clients a better service.

I ABSOLUTELY agree that we need regulation but I think it's unfair that those of us who choose to do specialised courses are often considered to be 2nd class therapists.

I think some sort of independent assessment would be a better option together with an annual check that insurances and qualifications are up to date.

I have built up a very successful business with a loyal following of clients.

I am fully insured and registered for tax and take my business (albeit a small one) very seriously.

#Just saying

I am sure someone will correct me if I am wrong here, but I didn't think semi permanent eyelashes were covered in College courses, or spray tanning for that matter.
I thought with these treatments you had to go to the product companies to do the training.

I do know of a College lecturer, who is going to do a lash training course paid for by the College to give them an insight to this treatment, but she will not be able to 'teach' this system within the College, although can advise students thereafter on it.

There are so many treatments these days that therapists can carry out, how can 1 College Course teach it all..surely product training with different companies is also required.

 

[Carron]

I think suppliers should also check the person that is setting up accounts have the right qualifications.

The only place that has asked for any of my certificates when ordering was Fake Bake.

Anyone can log onto beauty sites and set up an account and get trade rates without showing any college certificates

 

[tammye1234]

I think suppliers should also check the person that is setting up accounts have the right qualifications.

The only place that has asked for any of my certificates when ordering was Fake Bake.

Anyone can log onto beauty sites and set up an account and get trade rates without showing any college certificates

you are so right,totally agree with that x

 

[bird1977]

I am sure someone will correct me if I am wrong here, but I didn't think semi permanent eyelashes were covered in College courses, or spray tanning for that matter.
I thought with these treatments you had to go to the product companies to do the training.

I do know of a College lecturer, who is going to do a lash training course paid for by the College to give them an insight to this treatment, but she will not be able to 'teach' this system within the College, although can advise students thereafter on it.

There are so many treatments these days that therapists can carry out, how can 1 College Course teach it all..surely product training with different companies is also required.

Hi the college I attended, spray tanning is now part of the lvl 2 beauty syllabus, they also do courses on eye lash ext, which are accredited by BABTAC , they offer a lot of enrichment day courses Shellac, Dashing Diva, eye lash perming, hot stones, bamboo massage, intimate waxing, Minx, lip and eye envy, vajazzles, swarvorski crystals, ear piercing, threading, auricular therapy, they just seem to offer whatever is new to the trade.

I know the tutor that teaches them, writes up the courses with the correct contra-indications, procedure and after care advice then she sends it to BABTAC to get it accredited, there must be some sort of standards as they will not let her get Indian Head Massage accredited, the only way to achieve that qualification is to do the Lvl 3 body & spa course.