What age did you enter the industry and what have you achieved?

[Violet Star]

Hi geeks,

Just been sitting there thinking about how much i have achieved and feel very proud. I'm 17 and Ive qualified in most beauty treatments and nails and running my business at the same time and now a couture trainer I'm just so proud of where i have come. I left school at a very early age and decided to go into the beauty industry at 15, I felt like i wasn't going to get anywhere with no GCSE'S but i have and now hold 8 qualifications in beauty and nails.
Ive done it all by myself all my courses paid for and equipment and products, sorted out all my taxes and advertised myself all the way. And Ive learnt so much along the way, made mistakes and learnt from them and everyday i am still learning and i know that will continue. I really thought i would have been a bum with no GCSE'S but ive proved myself and everyone wrong and so glad ive got something to show for myself.

So what age did you start the industry? And what have you achieved that you are proud of?

:hug:

 

[kylieb]

I am proud of getting where I have and I have done it all myself and raised a child at the same time. Some people are lucky enough to have family fund their courses and equipment but I am not. It's taken me a long time to get all my bits together and it just makes me appreciate it even more xxx

 

[Violet Star]

I am proud of getting where I have and I have done it all myself and raised a child at the same time. Some people are lucky enough to have family fund their courses and equipment but I am not. It's taken me a long time to get all my bits together and it just makes me appreciate it even more xxx

A big well done Hun :hug: You should be proud that is a big achievement!

Like you Ive had to pay for all my courses and equipment but I'm glad i have now as it makes me appreciate it more.
xxx

 

[kylieb]

A big well done Hun :hug: You should be proud that is a big achievement!

Like you Ive had to pay for all my courses and equipment but I'm glad i have now as it makes me appreciate it more.
xxx

You even sold your I phone! You should be very proud of yourself! To get where you have at just 17 is a fab achievement xxx

 

[Violet Star]

You even sold your I phone! You should be very proud of yourself! To get where you have at just 17 is a fab achievement xxx

I know im crazy lol. To be honest i dont miss the phone it drove me nuts by running out of battery all the time and in return i managed to pay for my CND brisa conversion.

Thanks hunni xxx :hug:

 

[cirrusbeauty]

i went to collage straight from school then worked in a salon for around a year to gain some experiance when i was 18 i open my business (in the same week as buying my first house! must of been mad! hehe i think you have no fears when you are young!) i have now had the salon for 6 years in oct and it has gone from strenght to strenght! dont get me wrong it hasnt been easy i have spent many hours sat in the salon just incase a client rings for a appointment and went many months without a wage but now i am starting to reep what i have sown! we are really busy now and i am so pleased i did what i did i cant imagine doing anything else i have so much drive and enthusiasum for the business! i hope to keep driving the business forward and who knows where the next 6 years will take us!

 

[gillian w]

I was 17 when i first started ihbc/city and guilds beauty therapy college.I couldn't take the city and guilds exam because i wasn't 18 when i started the course eventhough we did exactly the same coursework so im only allowed an ihbc.
I havent stopped working and learning since and im now 46.

 

[Violet Star]

I was 17 when i first started ihbc/city and guilds beauty therapy college.I couldn't take the city and guilds exam because i wasn't 18 when i started the course eventhough we did exactly the same coursework so im only allowed an ihbc.
I havent stopped working and learning since and im now 46.

Wow thats a long time!!

 

[***juice***]

I still haven't entered the industry and I'm 22 - I always wanted to but was told that I should focus on "more academic" things as beauty was for girls that didn't have anything else in their heads

After doing my level 2 beauty this year (one month to go, woo!), I can safely say that that is not true - you have to know a ridiculous amount of anatomy, health and safety etc etc. Much more work involved than there was in any of my secretarial qualifications or A levels - and far more practical than my degree! :green:

 

[Violet Star]

God some people have no idea hey! lol

And to be honest yes i probably am a bit of an air head and can be scatty and i dont know the capital of france but i sure know what im doing within my job and IMO thats all that matters

 

[High Hopes]

The capital of France is Paris
There now you know
:hug:

 

[Joanna W]

was told that I should focus on "more academic" things as beauty was for girls that didn't have anything else in their heads

I haven't gone for the Beauty side of things but the Complementary Therapy side, and my Dad is always on at me to get a "proper" job and I can't go round massaging peoples feet as a career as he puts it (umm why not Dad :Grope It does make me giggle, they don't realise what we have to learn to do both sides, we are not complete airheads

Anyway cut a long story short I'm going for an interview tomorrow at the Uni for a degree in Advanced Reflexology, which hopefully can get me into working in the NHS in Palliative Care, (massaging peoples feet, yet he sees no problem with this lol funny man but I do love him to bits), I've studied the last 3 years and I am now 40 yes 40 and they're still trying to tell me what to do, I have enjoyed it immensely.

Well done to you Violet Star, and I didn't realise u were only 17 lol

Jo x

 

[Violet Star]

Well done to you Violet Star, and I didn't realise u were only 17 lol

Jo x

Thanks hun :hug:

 

[geeg]

I was 35 and was raising 5 children when I started my first nails only salon!

There are many many things I am proud of that I/we (hubby & family & I) have achieved since that time. I am most proud of my family's reputation in the industry for almost 25 years now.

The thing is I am proudest of is that there is not anything I did in our business that I am not proud of.

 

[angelina221]

5 kids and opening up your business!!
Now that's dedication.
It's dedication that makes people succeed-well that and being good at what you do

 

[leannehunter]

I'm 24 and away to start at college in September, after wanting to do Beauty Therapy for years! I left school 17 with Highers, went to college to do Vet nursing (hated it) and worked in hotels, offices and after getting married, having a miscarriage and being made redundant all within 2 months, I re - evaluated everything and decided to finally follow my heart instead of my head

 

[champagne]

April 2008 aged 38 with 4 kids & very supportive husband...............CND Foundation/Brisa/Spa Mani & Pedi

May 2008 rented room in salon...........

July 2008 Spray Tanning...............

October 2008 Waxing............

March 2009 Own salon....

April 2009 Eye Tint & Perming

Way more than I could have ever imagined in 1 year !

Oh forgot to mention: Blood, Sweat, Tears, Tantrums & Bl&&&&dy Dam Hard Work !

 

[angelina221]

I bought my salon in 2007 aged 40. I had been made redundant from my previous job in May 2007 and saw the salon on the market and put an offer in. Then i thought 'oh my god what have i done'-lol.
I'd never worked in the beauty industry although i'd always had an interest in it. I wasn't qualified in anything so i did a home study course for beauty levels 1,2 and 3 so at least i knew what everything entailed.
I took on staff but was constantly let down so i trained in spray tanning, waxing, eyebrow and lash tints and intimate male waxing.
These are the treatments i felt i was good at and don't fancy doing any hands, feet or facial treatments.
I have a beautician now who has been doing it for 10 years and has her own clients and it works really well.
Wish i had done it years ago!

 

[High Hopes]

After being told i had "more potential" than to be a beauty therapist i went to do my a levels, didnt enjoy it at all and quit after 4 months! I then started college in 2004 aged 17, and i could not believe how much work that was involved! After alot of late nights, tears and tantrums i gained my CIBTAC qualification. I then worked for champneys and a salon before being made redundant!
I then decided to go mobile, 4 years later i have two children and am still building my business, i do regular media work and still really enjoy beauty. I am looking forward to starting up my home salon.

I am so proud of my achievements, so many girls on my course no longer do beauty for all sorts of reasons but i am so pleased i have stuck at it

X

 

[Annie23]

When I was 16 I trained to be a hairdresser but didnt like it, so I left hairdressing and worked in factories for around 8 years. I did some GCSE courses in my early 20's and then did a pre uni course when I got made redundant. Completed my degree in 2002, worked in graphic design and then trained to be a teacher in 2004. Worked as a secondary school ICT teacher for few years then became ill had to come out of teaching and I'm still on the sick.

I was at this stage 37 and whilst on sick I did level 2 nails, level 3 reflexology and level 3 anatomy and physiology in 2007/8. Since August 2008 I have done my CND L+P induction, CND SpaManicure, SpaPedicure and skillbuilding. Just done my Brisa Induction and 5 weeks away from completing my Level 3 nails. Doing all this studying has kept me sane whilst been on the sick (that and this site) and as awful as it may seem my illness was the catalyst to make me look at an alternative career cos i do not want to teach full time again, too draining so i looked into what would fit around teaching and I have always had a fascination with this industry.

Of all of my academic achievements my degree and beauty courses mean so much to me. I am passionate about this industry. I thought I was passionate about teaching but not like this. I love it and I cant wait to start working again!! One day I want to teach beauty and nails that would be a dream come true.

anne xx