Untrained therapists Your opinions please

[joe90]

The recent “trade” show at Manchester has had me thinking over the last couple of days about how easy it is for “untrained” therapists/technicians to obtain “professional” products at these shows and indeed at wholesalers around the country.

For instance, I am aware of some unqualified therapists who maybe waxing/doing acrylic nails etc who can just go and purchase anything they want via either of these avenues without first having to prove they are certified.

Now some companies have got things just right ie Calgel and Biosculpture who DO NOT sell at these shows unless you buy into the training and indeed can’t buy anything at any other time without being trained. I think this is right and proper in order to keep our profession “professional”. I was lucky enough to attend a show overseas this year and I had to prove that I was qualified before I even got a ticket to attend.

I don’t know how this could be done for our shows but I do think that it is about time we had to prove each and every one of our relevant qualifications before being able to purchase ANYTHING.

Should WE as therapists be doing something to keep these charlatans at bay?

What are your thoughts?

 

[SJK]

The recent “trade” show at Manchester has had me thinking over the last couple of days about how easy it is for “untrained” therapists/technicians to obtain “professional” products at these shows and indeed at wholesalers around the country.

For instance, I am aware of some unqualified therapists who maybe waxing/doing acrylic nails etc who can just go and purchase anything they want via either of these avenues without first having to prove they are certified.

Now some companies have got things just right ie Calgel and Biosculpture who DO NOT sell at these shows unless you buy into the training and indeed can’t buy anything at any other time without being trained. I think this is right and proper in order to keep our profession “professional”. I was lucky enough to attend a show overseas this year and I had to prove that I was qualified before I even got a ticket to attend.

I don’t know how this could be done for our shows but I do think that it is about time we had to prove each and every one of our relevant qualifications before being able to purchase ANYTHING.

Should WE as therapists be doing something to keep these charlatans at bay?

What are your thoughts?

I might be completely wrong, and have too much faith, but I wouldn't have thought this was too much of a problem. Do untrained, unqualified people really do this? It's not something I'm aware of, although I know that doesn't mean it doesn't exist.

How would an untrained person know about the trade shows?
How would an untrained person know how to use professional producst? Wouldn't an untrained person stand out really obviously to a professional?
If an untrained person did use professional products, wouldn't they produce a really poor result and so not bother?

I'm just amazed that somebody would both to go down this avenue. Surely if they really wanted to get into the industry, they'd train? Perhaps I'm being naive, and I just have too much faith in people?

 

[missymish]

Not to do with shows but when I opened an account with Capital they wanted to see my qualifications or if I was training they needed a letter from a college. Also when I did open the account as I am only trained in Spray Tanning there are certain products I am not able to buy mainly certain hair products as I am not trained to use the chemicals.

So I think some places do get it right where as others are a bit leniant.

IMO I feel that the shows ultimately they are just bothered about making a sale not saying all trade stalls are like this but in General that is the feeling I get.

 

[joe90]

I might be completely wrong, and have too much faith, but I wouldn't have thought this was too much of a problem. Do untrained, unqualified people really do this? It's not something I'm aware of, although I know that doesn't mean it doesn't exist.

How would an untrained person know about the trade shows?
How would an untrained person know how to use professional producst? Wouldn't an untrained person stand out really obviously to a professional?
If an untrained person did use professional products, wouldn't they produce a really poor result and so not bother?

I'm just amazed that somebody would both to go down this avenue. Surely if they really wanted to get into the industry, they'd train? Perhaps I'm being naive, and I just have too much faith in people?

There may be a nail technician (I have certainly come across a couple) who say won't be trained to do eyelash tinting, but they do!

 

[angelina221]

Not to do with shows but when I opened an account with Capital they wanted to see my qualifications or if I was training they needed a letter from a college. Also when I did open the account as I am only trained in Spray Tanning there are certain products I am not able to buy mainly certain hair products as I am not trained to use the chemicals.

So I think some places do get it right where as others are a bit leniant.

IMO I feel that the shows ultimately they are just bothered about making a sale not saying all trade stalls are like this but in General that is the feeling I get.

That's strange! When i opened an account with Capital, i just gave them my business card! I could have picked that up from any salon. I wasn't asked for any proof of qualifications or anything. I guess it just depends on which branch you go to.

 

[tingle]

It does happen.

When I was doing my nvq in beauty we went to Olympia.

The next day this girl came in with the most appauling nails I have ever seen on and complained that they hurt.

Her friend had bought a starter kit at the show and then they had played nails for the rest of the evening. The instructions must have been in the kit. She had had no training and was going to do a set on her auntie at some point in the following few days.

There is also the qualified person who gets things for their friends. I have a client whose friend is a qualified hairdresser and they buy all the beauty stuff at capital. Neither of them are trained in beauty but the capital staff have told me that as long as you have a card it doesnt tell them if you are limited to beauty or hairdressing. You can buy what you like.

A lot of the internet sites I have been on do not ask you for copies of your certificates and I remember one person telling me that they had gone to a particular nail site because someone had said they dont check. She was right

Its also pretty easy for me to look at the bottle on the nail techs desk and google the name of their products. Things come up quite quickly

So its not really that hard to keep all this away from untrained people. Maybe I just know devious people LOL

Lisa

 

[joe90]

Am I just being a female Victor Meldrew then? When I think about how much money and effort I have contributed to my training over the years it really riles me! There are those who have put no money and no effort into anything seem to get away scott free performing treatments on unsuspecting clients.

Things need to change imo

 

[karenrose]

I have a capital card and was asked to prove a qualification, I asked if they wanted to see them all but they said no just one will do to prove Im in the trade! But capital also do courses so theres nothing stopping anybody doing a cheap course to get a certificate then getting a card. I think the cheapst would be ear piercing! Or some form of manicure/pedicure course at £100. Then they have acess to everything!
And with Sallys you dont even need a card to shop in there and they have acess to everything from wax to eyelash extensions and nail products!
I dont think there really is alot that can be done to stop it tbh. Unless all the capitals, sallys etc wanted to see proof of every qualification you have and products you are trained to use and then when you go to pay in the shop/online it will come up with an error if you try buy a product you arent trained to use. But even that wont stop people, as someone will always know someone else trained in something they want and get them to buy it instead!
My cousin got a capital and sallys card and she is trained in herbal medicine, of which there is nothing in there that will be of any use to her in her profession!

 

[SJK]

And with Sallys you dont even need a card to shop in there and they have acess to everything from wax to eyelash extensions and nail products!

Would an untrained person be so silly as to attempt something like eyelash tinting and perming? If they do, I wouldn't want to be around to see the hash they make of it and the potential damage they cause!

 

[jacqueline]

No I don't think you are being a female VM, it's a valid concern. Although can't Joe Public just walk into the likes of Sally and buy a lot of things they shouldn't, I know you can in the states, only difference is the pro pricing?

All those things they sell in Argos too are a worry as people play at doing their own nails waxing etc..

On almost every site I have become a professional member of back in the US I have had to send my licence numbers before I could purchase anything incl OPI and Spa Ritual Pro as well as some of the big name suppliers. They have gotten back to me after a couple of days obviously after researching me.

Same with the big shows. I had to apply for a ticket and prove I was a pro and it was sent by post. The tickets came automatically now for the following years but they have all my details on record.

I applied to one site here in UK last week after someone mentioned it on here, yes they wanted details but I could have been an acountant and they would have sent it to me as they accepted what I had submitted and created the account there and them automatically!

I saw dozens of those waxing unit and something else packs being sold at Manchetser and it was mainly students, so I guess the are practicing at home on "volunteers" as I doubt you have to buy your own for college?

 

[samjackjord]

When I was at Manchester, I went armed with all my certificates and copies of insurance and was amazed no one asked to see it!
There were girls discussing how thy would buy some lashes as they had watched it done and would practice on each other
Another lady outside who had been putting extra shopping in her bag (iykwim) was laughing with her daughters about how anyone can buy anything.
I think that if it is a trade show, then it really should only be trade allowed. It says on the website you will need to prove qualifications and students must wear salon wear(not many students did) it is up to the organisers to implement what they say and protect not only the true trade professional but also the companies and the general public
That's me off my soap box now
:hug:

 

[Luscious85]

My experience with trade shows is that they just want maximum people through the door so they can quote big numbers to encourage companies to exhibit there.

I buy quite a lot from Beauty Express and they have never seen my certificates. I also buy from my local Aston & Fincher and they are more strict - trade only and now I've finished at college they've been asking to see my insurance documents. Sally's is probably the most lenient - not sure I totally agree with it being open to public but they must make more money that way.

When I was training in Bio my biggest gripe was actually eBay and the fact that qualified nail techs were making a living out of selling gels at extortionate prices to unqualified public people.

Laura x

 

[missymish]

When I was training in Bio my biggest gripe was actually eBay and the fact that qualified nail techs were making a living out of selling gels at extortionate prices to unqualified public people.

I was going to say this there will always be Ebay and you can seem to get anything on there. I have even seen really dangerous face peels on there why someone would want to attempt this at home I dont know. But you would be surprised the amount of people that try to do things at home to save money!

 

[M00min]

I was going to say this there will always be Ebay and you can seem to get anything on there. I have even seen really dangerous face peels on there why someone would want to attempt this at home I dont know. But you would be surprised the amount of people that try to do things at home to save money!

I had a Shellac client the other week who said she was thinking of buying "all the stuff" off Ebay so she could do it herself!!

 

[nails2nails]

I actually think it's a terrible thing that we do all the training and then the beauty companies sell to anyone.
I mean what is the point in training with these guys just for them to sell to anyone off the street!..

There are only a handful of companies that want proof of quailifications...the rest don't give a monkey's..no wonder we have so many offering treatments for a tenner!
As for places like Sally's/Capital...I know of loads of girls doing ear pericing course so they can buy anything....I think it's awful that then they have access to everything..it should be if you train in something you should only be able to buy items related to that.

I'm sure if these companies got there priorities in order, we could all raise our prices and valued must more by the public

x

 

[Exquisite Touch]

prof beauty rang one of my clients 3 times asking if she was attending this year ( she was my model last year for the comps) each time explained she wasnt a therapist or a nail tech she was my model but still kept ringing.

Last year a tech had stopped me who knew me from someone else and had brought her in her words best client along so she could purchase some stock and see what went on..... couldnt believe it.

I didnt go this year due to having my thumb reconstructed on my working hand so was in cast. But to be honest im sick of being mowed down by buggies and push chairs and bric a brac stalls

 

[My Gorgeous Bod]

Would an untrained person be so silly as to attempt something like eyelash tinting and perming?

I was in Boots the chemist the other month nosying about the products and saw that anyone can now buy a low cost kit to tint your own eyelashes and eyebrows. I am not worried it will put me out of business because there will always be people who want it done by someone else, but it did make me realise that that this sort of procedure might not be as "difficult/specialised" as I thought. So I went home and tinted my own eyelashes myself with my own kit and did a great job which surprised me after all the palaver and care I take thinking this is such a specialised activity when anyone can go buy a kit from Boots now.

As to the original poster, I bet there have always been untrained therapists getting hold of products and offering their services and it will continue to happen. I am not sure how they can be clamped down without the bureaucracy stifling us too. I was surprised how easy it was for me to train and to set up in business - and I am meticulous about what I am doing and doing it legally. So maybe at the point of us offering our services there needs to be more regulations but even those can be worked around by people intent on doing what they want.

Caroline

 

[~cHeRiSh~]

Even if suppliers and trade shows insisted on proof of qualification in the area of the products that you intend purchasing, there is always a way round for those who don't want to spend money on training - friends buying for them, ebay etc. It would make it more difficult but I think the determined would find a way somehow.

If a licence was required to legally practice treatments then this could be different as regardless of what the therapist is using, he/she legally would have to be qualified to work.

 

[Northern Nails]

I had a Shellac client the other week who said she was thinking of buying "all the stuff" off Ebay so she could do it herself!!

That's right i get this all the ime with MINX :irked:
Does my head in...i jsut think well get on with it then...

 

[exquisitebeauty]

Am I just being a female Victor Meldrew then? When I think about how much money and effort I have contributed to my training over the years it really riles me! There are those who have put no money and no effort into anything seem to get away scott free performing treatments on unsuspecting clients.

Things need to change imo

i totally agree with you all i opened my salon and had a junior beauty therapist who went to college 3 days a week and she came in one week, said to me the lady who owns the nail & beauty bar over the road she saw in one of the beauty lessons by my junior. i was appaulled to think that this lady has been trading longer than me to only just start going to get her qualifications i was mortified! i don't know how these people can open up a salon and perform treatments without any qualifications. They are endangering peoples bodies. And when things go wrong the clients will tarnish all us qualified decent people who have gone by the rule book. And it will put them off having proper professional treatments.