Newbie wants to get into the beauty industry!

[gembly]

Hey all
I'm really really interested in getting into beauty and want to start a beauty therapy qualification to get me started. I used to work in an alternative health and beauty clinic which is how I got into holistic therapy.
Thing is, I cant afford to do a full time college course 'cos I have a mortgage and bills to pay and would need to keep working so have been looking into the possibility of distance learning - so can study between jobs and house-wifely things.
Does anybody have any suggestions? Are home learning courses any good and can you get a job at the end of it all with the qualification?

Confused and clueless! Help apprciated from all you pro's of the industry <3
Gemma

 

[Ruthlm]

hiya, welcome to the addictive world of salon geek lol, have you considered evening classes at your local college? or maybe taking short courses that teach you one skill at a time, maybe apply or an ILA ( indipendant learning account ) you can get £200 to help towards a course?? If you go onto the beauty guild website there is a search facility that lets you see what courses are guild accredited, as some chancers are not, and the certificate you end up with is useless, as you can't get insurance, hope that's helped x ruth

 

[persianista]

Most colleges run evening and weekend courses. Home distance learning would not get you a salon job I wouln't have thought.

 

[bronzebrunette]

maybe apply or an ILA ( indipendant learning account ) you can get £200 to help towards a course??

ILA is only available in Scotland now not England.

 

[Susie H]

The problem with the distance learning is that there is no practical course work, I looked into a few, I want to expand what I know and all of them quote a resonable price and all of them charge extra for the practical classes. Sorry hun but would you let me wax your eye brows if I'd only read how to do it?
So your choices are like mine, you can either do evening classes at your local collage, mine doesn't offer what I want, or you can go to someone like NSI and do their short courses one at a time, now that's my choice.
I did my foundation nail training with CND and then after a few months I did a few single nail training days picking the trainers I liked and concentrated on what I wanted. I picked CND because they give a cetificate of achievment not attendance and it's recognised by all the insurance companies. Then I did my spray tan training with ToniLee again because of her rep and insurance recognision and I've taken Kim Lawless The Wax Queen, for my wax guru, again recognised and accredited. I intend to do a make up course next, I think that will probebly be with NSI, I'll have to do the skin foundation course first but I think it's better to understand what's going on beneath the makeup rather then just how to put it on. All of these cost more then collage, my first course I saved and sold stuff I didn't want any more and for the others I've used the money I've earned in the beauty world to finance the next course. Be warned though, it's totally addictive:lol:

 

[***juice***]

I can't imagine that distance learning would give you the practical skills you need.

Could you not approach your local college about eveing or short courses?

 

[sarahc]

what about a fast track nvq / vtct ?
these offer 2 - 3 day intensive course with lots of home work (practicals) and assessments in between

www.lond-est.co.uk / com

 

[gembly]

Thank you sooooo much ladies for all your help and suggestions - the next intensive course at my local college doesnt start again until September, so have a bit of a wait, but looks like the best and most comprehensive option, just hope that when it comes to it I can fit it all in around working.
xxxx