Beauty Therapy courses... HELP!! :)

[georgia876]

Hello everyone.
I have just graduated from university and I want to train in Beauty Therapy, with a view to eventually open my own salon. I am finding working out which course to do and at which college or training academy incredibly confusing to work out. There seem to be so many different awarding bodies, and different course lengths, that I cannot work out which ones would be best to consider seriously. The course lengths vary so dramatically that, although obviously the short ones look most appealing from a financial point of view, I cannot work out how they would be as beneficial as the longer ones. I have worked out that I need to do an NVQ level 2 before doing level 3, but all the institutions have different awarding bodies and I don't know which ones are best! I was seriously considering the London College of Beauty Therapy, but then read some very bad reviews and stories from ex pupils so am confused about that.. I have also looked at the London School of Beauty and Make-up, which looks much better, and is for over 18s only which is a plus given the prospective age difference of me and pupils at a course that would be mainly of school leaving age.. It is more expensive though, which isn't a huge problem but I wouldn't want to pay out nearly 5,000 on NVQ2 and 3 if it wasn't absolutely necessary...
Sorry that this is so long. Basically I am asking for any advice about what courses and places would be best to attend, and which awarding bodies are most widely accepted in the workplace. I live in London so local experience would be welcomed, as well as general advice!

Thank you SO much for reading all of this, and for any help you can give me!

x

 

[Violet Star]

Its about finding the right company and recommendations from others and i will give you some below.

Waxing course i would recommend Kim lawless she is the wax queen and the best trainer ever! I done my waxing training with this lady and after the course i felt very confident. here is her website: The Wax Queen

Nail courses i would recommend CND in the UK known as Sweet Squared. They have a wide variety of nail courses which are at the highest of standards i dont think you could find better nail courses here is their website Welcome - Sweet Squared

Spray tanning courses: Theses are mainly on a 121 basis with the tutor. I am a spray tanning trainer for couture professional beauty and i cover the essex area so you can Pm me for information on tanning courses.

Holistic courses: You wont find better than Ann ball she is the best! Home - Guruholistics

hths x

 

[gillian w]

Most place of work will want you to have NVQ level 3 or equivalent.
there is also CIBTAC,ITEC and probably others these tend to be taught in private schools but are widely respected and recognised.You can also do a degree course in beauty management which is level 4.
courses: evening classes part time courses: undergraduate postgraduate courses Try this link to find courses.

After you have found a college the ideal situation is that you have a great tutor teaching it.There are some great ones out there and also some very bad ones.

 

[georgia876]

Thanks so much for your responses. So would I look to do the NVQ and hen supplement that qualification with the individual courses suggested by Violet Star? Or can you just do those courses? I know I would look to do courses such as aromatherapy and reflexology after I had completed my NVQ 3. I also assume that it is best to do an NVQ(or the private qualifications you mentioned)with the most possible contact time, and possibly not bother to fasttrack them too much but take time to do them properly. Just need to work out which college course would be best, as keep reading very mixed reviews of certain schools so if anyone has any idea about the London College of Beauty Therapy, or the London School of Beauty and Make-up in particular I would be very grateful. Thank you so much for all your help! Georgia x

 

[weezie]

I would make a trip to them both and see what you think, maybe have a treatment in each of the student salons to see it from that side of things. I went to the London School of beauty and make-up and have mixed feelings about the course. If Grace still works there and you get her as a teacher it will be a good experience. :hug: When I studied Reflexology and aromatherapy were part of the CIBTAC/CIDESCO course I did. The good thing about a long course is the practice time you get on real life people as they have student salons, about months of the course on and off was spent in the student salon to get the hours to pass.

 

[Violet Star]

Nvq's are not necessary, if you want to achieve nvq then i would suggest to contact your local college.
Or you have the option of diploma with the individual companies i suggested, they are all accredited and recognised. I, myself find private training better than what ive heard from college training.
HTHS X

 

[gillian w]

It really depends on what you want to do.You can just do private courses and some are excellent but they will limit you as to where you can work.
If you just want to work for yourself then they would be ok.
Even Some of the private courses will require you to have a recognised qualification in say anatomy and physiology before you can do their courses.
Look on job websites and in the local papers and you will see that nearly all salons,spas etc will want a nationally recognised qualification like an NVQ and unless they have limited treatments they will want a level 3.They are also internationally recognised so if you want to work abroad you should be able to.
With an NVQ you are not just learning about the pratical side of things which in a lot of ways is its downfall and why so many people have to go on to do extra courses after.There is a lot of theory ie anatomy and physiology,loads on health and safety in the workplace and legislation,business studies,customer service and retail and lots more.
Think of it as your basis to then go on to do everything else you may want to do in the beauty world.It will give you freedom of choice.
Definately do as Weezie has said and pay them a visit.You will be too late for the fe colleges though as they will have finished for summer.

 

[debbie do]

try this web site FANTASTICK !!!!!!!!
Beauty Lounge and Training Academy

 

[GemmaBear]

Before i worked in beauty therapy i actually worked for a college in an exams office and i dealt with over 20 awarding bodies including city and guilds and vtct. For beauty therapy your best option is a city and guilds qualification. (nvq level 2 and then level 3). You dont have to do level 3 but it cover tanning, electrical facials, indian head massage etc. City and Guilds is also (99% SURE) the only awarding body approved by HABIA who regualte standards in beauty training so you cant really go wrong. Most salons in my area will only wmploy city and guilds trained students. Good Luck!!! You wont regret the desision, i came into beauty after being at uni and wish i had skipped uni and started beauty therapy at 16!!!

 

[nixnewcastle]

Basicly if you've got the qualification you've got you should at least do the B-tec which is the higher qualification. It also has business in with it and is more suited to therapists wanting to open their own business. I did the B-tec and i know friends who did the NVQ and they didn't learn half the business side of things that we did. The course i did was 2 years full time but basicly if you do the short courses you dont learn half the things (makes sense really) fast track is not the way especially if your going to be working for yourself and you have your own reputation to withstand. If your going to do it do it properly or your business will suffer. best of luck hun xx

 

[GemmaBear]

I cant believe how much yo might pay for an NVQ, Bedford College is one of the best FE colleges in the country and they charge about 1200 per year for the beauty therapy courses.