VTCT Certificate L2 in cosmetic make-up: worth it?

[KyKy]

Hey girls and guys, I'm new. To the forum, to the beauty industry, just new.


I work full time and will be taking one day off work a week to take part in the VTCT Cosmetic Make-up Level 2 course (14 weeks, 3 hours a week, £369 plus £100+ kit/materials) and would like to know if it's worth it?

I'm a complete beginner. The only thing I know how to do is spend too much money on my own haircuts and MAC. Haha.

I plan to take other courses in, perhaps, holistic therapies and waxing/body treatments, and hopefully one day use my home as a salon-type-thing (I believe that's the professional name for them :lol, and I was wondering if these courses really do help when wanting to enter the beauty industry.

If anyone knows, I'd like to know

1. The amount of written work to be done at home.
2. The amount of hands-on make-up practice you get.
3. The amount of fun you have!

Thanks!

KyKy x

 

[Zo Zo]

Hey girls and guys, I'm new. To the forum, to the beauty industry, just new.

Hello KyKy, Welcome :hug:


I work full time and will be taking one day off work a week to take part in the VTCT Cosmetic Make-up Level 2 course (14 weeks, 3 hours a week, £369 plus £100+ kit/materials) and would like to know if it's worth it?

I would have thought this course would run in the evenings, so if you have a daytime job you would probably be able to manage it without any time off... It's really hard to say whether it's worth it or not, as it really depends on the tutor, and to some degree, the others in the group. It also might be worth finding out exactly what is covered... it may cover brow tinting & shaping, lash tinting, application of strip & individual lashes, poss. lash perming, as well as make-up, which would be good. My VTCT in Cosmetc Make Up was combined with Facials, so that we were taught to prep the skin before applying make up. It might be worth checking they are going to cover at least a simple cleanse, tone, moisturise routine.

With regard to the cost... if the tutor is good, then it's worth it. The kit will have lots of goodies in it but you will definitely want to add to it when you're qualified, but it will be enough to get you started. Lots of us have trained on more than one course for each subject. One course is not always enough, it will probably just make you hungry for more education! But you have to start somewhere.

I'm a complete beginner. The only thing I know how to do is spend too much money on my own haircuts and MAC. Haha.

I plan to take other courses in, perhaps, holistic therapies and waxing/body treatments, and hopefully one day use my home as a salon-type-thing (I believe that's the professional name for them :lol, and I was wondering if these courses really do help when wanting to enter the beauty industry.

Home salon, lol. With regard to whether courses really do help, I would say, they're essential. Even if you have a natural aptitude for make up, it's important to be taught correct procedures, contra-indications (i.e. reasons not to carry out, or to adapt a treatment) and hygiene, and above all, you cannot get insurance without a qualification.

If anyone knows, I'd like to know

1. The amount of written work to be done at home.
2. The amount of hands-on make-up practice you get.
3. The amount of fun you have!

I don't remember there being a huge amount of written work EXCEPT you will definitely have to do a couple of modules on health and safety etc. I would say the homework is not onerous for cosmetic make up, well, not when compared with something like body massage where the anatomy and physiology is like a foreign language!

I would imagine you will get hands on practice every week, with the possible exception of the first week.

Fun, that all depends on the tutor and the rest of the class. I doubt it'll be boring. Except you get lots of us middle aged bags on evening courses :lol:

Thanks!

KyKy x

Good luck honey. Let us know what you decide :hug:

 

[KyKy]

Hello KyKy, Welcome :hug:

Awww ^_^ Thankyou!

I would have thought this course would run in the evenings, so if you have a daytime job you would probably be able to manage it without any time off... It's really hard to say whether it's worth it or not, as it really depends on the tutor, and to some degree, the others in the group. It also might be worth finding out exactly what is covered... it may cover brow tinting & shaping, lash tinting, application of strip & individual lashes, poss. lash perming, as well as make-up, which would be good. My VTCT in Cosmetc Make Up was combined with Facials so that we were taught to prep the skin before applying make up. It might be worth checking they are going to cover at least a simple cleanse, tone, moisturise routine.

Yep! it's a 18:00 - 21:00 course, each Tuesday, so I could still work. I'd want half-day though! Prolonged brain usage was never good for me, I always lost concentration and start talking like an alien. I'd end up chatting about how cool eyebrows were and how I want my legs permed. Which I don't. At all. Can you perm leg hair? anyway, I digress...
The course apparently covers...wait, I'll paste it in:

"The course covers theory and practical skills of successful make-up application for light and dark toned skins, eyelash and eyebrow tinting and eyebrow shaping with related anatomy and physiology."

Sounds pretty good to me!

With regard to the cost... if the tutor is good, then it's worth it. The kit will have lots of goodies in it but you will definitely want to add to it when you're qualified, but it will be enough to get you started. Lots of us have trained on more than one course for each subject. One course is not always enough, it will probably just make you hungry for more education! But you have to start somewhere.

Hmm, good point about the tutor! It's a pretty well known college, so it should be okay! I mean a qualification is a qualification, (I only have 10 GCSE's, due to lack of care when choosing college courses that ended up nowhere) and I'm 20 years old now and most of my friends are almost out of uni and I'm in a call centre, haha. I need something for my mum to scan into the computer and send in embarrassing emails to family members. "Look what Kyle got, oooh, a certificate!". Anyway...

Funny thing is, and sorry for ranting at half 8 in the morning, but I didn't know what I wanted to do with my life in terms of career. I was stuck in the way of thinking that I needed to go to uni and get an academic degree or I was doomed to a life of near-poverty. Then I was playing around with some shadestick from MAC (the colour is sharkskin - LOVE IT!) and I looked in the mirror and I was like...WOAH. I could do this. I really like this. It's silly because it's been staring me in the face but I didn't think about it because I don't associate studying with enjoyment!

I'm also looking at NVQ level 2 Beauty Therapy, part time, it's an apprenticeship course. There's also a diploma in Beauty therapy.
What's odd is that the NVQ apprenticeship doesn't have any requirements except GCSE's, which I'm all good for, but the Diploma says:

"On successful completion of the course students will be able to apply for work within the beauty industry. Progression can be to NVQ L2 in Beauty Therapy."

I find this so weird. Why would you progress into it when you can just go straight into it?
Hmm, upon further study it seems you don't need GCSE's for the diploma, so I guess people without GCSE's would go into that first then progress. Ignore everything I just said, but I won't delete it because I spent ages typing and copying and pasting. :irked::green:

Maybe you, or someone, could look at them anyway and see which one would be more beneficial to a confident, brain-like-a-sponge, "will do anything and damn well try to be good at it"" type of student?

On the job training or classroom based. :| ahh.

Click for Diploma info.
Click for Apprenticeship info.

I do have a job so I don't know how much I'd be able to work in a salon, though, although my friend's mother works from home so I could be her apprentice I guess. I don't even know how often I'd need to, it says it's "FLEXI-TIME" or something, which is just..not helpful.

AHH TALKING TOO MUCH!

God bless you if you've made it this far. :o


Anyway sorry about that, sure you've had enough now :lol:

Good luck honey. Let us know what you decide

Thankyou! And sorry for all that! :hug:
Don't feel as though you have to address everything I've said.
Or any of it! lol

KyKy xxx

 

[KyKy]

Eek. I knew that was too much for a newbie to post.
Sorry :Kissing:

I really would appreciate any advice, from anyone, as I need to make this decision by tomorrow night

Thanks!

(and sorry for the double post)

 

[Zo Zo]

Not ignoring you babes, just really busy :hug:

Be back later if poss xx

 

[NailedON]

Hi KyKy and Welcome!

Firstly, your post made me smile! You remind me of my son whose the same age as you aaahhh!

I think it's great that you have taken a few years to decide what you really want to do with your life regarding a career.

The diploma sounds good, it means that you can still work and attend the course on a Saturday or in the evening. As for hands on experience you are really lucky having your mum's friend that you could possibly observe and gain valuable confidence and experience along the way.

When you complete the diploma and have the foundations of the beauty industry you could then go on and specialise in make up if that is your real passion. An example is fashion show make up artist, photo shoots etc.

Good luck in your choice of course and I know we all are going to enjoy your posts keeping us informed of what you are up to.

Claire X

 

[Zo Zo]

My advice is to think about what you really want to do because there is going to be a big difference between specialising in make up, and being a beauty therapist and I guess there are pros and cons to both...

If you stick with make up you could really specialise, but if you did beauty you would have more strings to your bow? Does any other aspect of beauty therapy appeal to you? i.e. waxing, manicures, pedicures?

You could start with make up then pick whichever subject you fancy studying next?

 

[KyKy]

NailedON, thanks for the reply! I have a feeling that if I did the diploma, I'd then have to do the NVQ2 also to progress...

My advice is to think about what you really want to do because there is going to be a big difference between specialising in make up, and being a beauty therapist and I guess there are pros and cons to both...

If you stick with make up you could really specialise, but if you did beauty you would have more strings to your bow? Does any other aspect of beauty therapy appeal to you? i.e. waxing, manicures, pedicures?

You could start with make up then pick whichever subject you fancy studying next?

I am fascinated with makeup but I can't imagine limiting myself like that. My main goal, as I mentioned, is to open my own salon one day in the far future. It's less about specialising and more about gaining a lot of knowledge and technique in general, if you know what I mean?

I think I'm going to go for the make-up course and the NVQ level 2, and work my way up from there

 

[NailedON]

Glad you've come to a decision. Go with what your gut instinct is telling you. As Zo Zo said start off with make up and then you can do individual units of other areas regarding beauty, once you've got your make up qualification.

Go for it, sounds like you could be owning a chain of salons by the time your 30! X

 

[nailquueen]

Hi,i have done this course,& i learned loads.Go for it,you can also get to talk to all different people in the industry.And they are all glad to help each other.

 

[Ditzy]

Hi Hun and welcome!

I am a gazillion years older than you, but 5 years ago I went to college full time and did the VTCT make up diploma, which consisted of level 2 and 3 qualifications, in various make up skills. I really enjoyed the course, (though I did cry once, when the stress of running a home, 2 kids, and being at college got to me, but now I'm digressing:green, I agree with what's been said, a lot depends on the tutor. We had one that told us what to do, then just sat there chatting, and another who demonstrated everything, then wandered around advising and helping, totally different! How can you not enjoy playing at make up every day with your mates:hug:

One thing I will say, going by what you said, I wouldn't set my heart on specifically make up, as it's quite a cut throat business. There are loads of qualified make up artists, and relatively small amounts of well paid work in the media. It can also be very 'closed door'. One of our tutors had been trying to get her foot in the door for 8 years, and was still working for free which is why she was a tutor, to pay her bills.

Having said that, I have since trained in nail enhancements, and waxing, am currently working full time while attending college 2 evenings per week on a hairdressing nvq2, and am hoping to get on the beauty therapy nvq2 in september (obviously will have to cut down on the work to do that). I am really enjoying being able to do more varied work, and would thoroughly reccommend you do what you said, and get qualified in various things. That way, it doesn't become day in day out, which I do in my day job at the mo.

I think you'll also find that most people on here advocate continued training, you can always refine your skills. You are at the beginning, there will always be more to learn, you meet lovely people at the training/course, and especially on the geekboards, and it's looking to me to be what I want to do when I grow up (and I'm 38 - about time I decided, eh?!:green

Welcome hun, you'll have a whale of a time.

(now you can see who can waffle on:hug

 

[Ditzy]

Just read my post, I meant to say that make up work for tv/films is difficult to get into, if you are good, there will always be brides, prom goers, etc. who will want your skills, and many other occasions/situations which you will be able to earn in.

 

[Lizzie1293]

Hey girls and guys, I'm new. To the forum, to the beauty industry, just new.


I work full time and will be taking one day off work a week to take part in the VTCT Cosmetic Make-up Level 2 course (14 weeks, 3 hours a week, £369 plus £100+ kit/materials) and would like to know if it's worth it?

I'm a complete beginner. The only thing I know how to do is spend too much money on my own haircuts and MAC. Haha.

I plan to take other courses in, perhaps, holistic therapies and waxing/body treatments, and hopefully one day use my home as a salon-type-thing (I believe that's the professional name for them :lol, and I was wondering if these courses really do help when wanting to enter the beauty industry.

If anyone knows, I'd like to know

1. The amount of written work to be done at home.
2. The amount of hands-on make-up practice you get.
3. The amount of fun you have!

Thanks!

KyKy x

Hello, I know this post was originally created in 2008, I'm just wondering how you got on KyKy? I'm not even sure if you still use this account, just thought I'd try and message you on the off chance! I came across your post as I have found myself in a similar situation as you back in 2008. I am currently just finishing my NVQ Level 2 Hairdressing Apprenticeship and am now at a crossroads. I can either continue on to do my NVQ Level 3 Hairdressing Apprenticeship, or I have been looking into doing the same course that you were looking at doing - VTCT Cosmetic Makeup Level 2 and then progressing onto Theatrical Media Makeup VTCT Level 3 Intensive Diploma.

Did you do the VTCT Cosmetic Makeup Level 2 course? If so are you still in the industry now? Any advice? I am not sure which route I want to go down at the moment, I feel more passionate about makeup and creative hairstyling than I do cutting and colouring!

I hope you are well, it would be great to hear back from you,

Lizzie x