Why do people think very short courses are OK?

[mum]

I haven't been on here for a while but I've just been reading something that has prompted me to start a new thread.

There are always so many threads from people worried about bad press stories, discount salons, other technicians damage to nails, no clients etc etc. The answer always comes back to the level of education and skills.

So, why do people still think that short 3-4 day courses with no previous requirement of manicure qualifications is OK?? So many training centres are all about selling product and getting through as many people as possible. They boast that the course is suitable for insurance! What sort of insurance?? Does anyone read the small print?

Without any previous experience and qualifications it is NOT acceptable to do a 3 day course in artificial nails (in any system let alone more than one) and be able to be set lose on paying clients! With or without any type of insurance. (insurance doesn't cover negligence and how can a 3 day course cover everything needed?)

There is not enough time to cover even a fraction of the background knowledge of H&S, anatomy and physiology, safety at work etc etc. How can there be time to practice complicated application skills and learn from the mistakes and different client requirements.

It really is time that so called professionals in this industry stopped supporting this crazy situation.

Rant over! Those that do it well and responsibly know who they are and really don't need and explanation or apology from me because they will know that everything I've said doesn't apply to them. Those that recognise what I'm saying will be saying "Yes but....."

There is no "Yes but.....". Stop behaving irresponsibly and start providing a good service to a great industry.

 

[sparklybits]

One word FAB thread

 

[Vetty]

No argument from me Mum, words of wisdom that plenty should take note from.

 

[wg19]

No arguments here but just out of curiosity , most of the "big" names offer courses that last 4 days, if that is not sufficient what would you suggest?

 

[Chameleon]

No arguments here but just out of curiosity , most of the "big" names offer courses that last 4 days, if that is not sufficient what would you suggest?

Remember...this is just a foundation....some of these brand companies run one to one,skill building,refreshers...one would not be a qualified nail technician after a couple of days...ultimately you have to ask yourself how much time are YOU going to put into your education of nails...use the company who you are training with to your advantage...that is what they are there for...most reputable companies want this i am sure!

 

[Lellipop]

I totally agree with you on this there are too many people who are now doing a short course and then calling themselves a professional.
I personally think that everyone who comes into doing nails should do a full course that covers atomony plus manicure.

 

[cabinkel]

What I found for myself, personaly, was that I was an experienced manicure/pedicure professional, then did my enhancements training, yet still struggle, lol! Im amazed that people can just do a few days course, then be knocking out nails! I know we all learn differantly, and at various paces, but I am still amazed. I certainly would have little confidence in what I am doing when I dont have the foundations in place first! This isnt just nail courses I mean. I just dont think a 2 day facial course makes you a skincare therapist! Just my opinion:wink2:

 

[essentia]

These courses are rife in the hair and beauty industry which to me further impact a negative image "that anyone can do it". This is a bug bear and actually does not do our industry any good but so many companies jump on the bandwagon as it is easy money. I have no problem with short courses for previously qualified therapists but regulation is required to stop this.

 

[gillian w]

I just don't know what has happened to education in the whole of the beauty industry full stop.There are obviously those that stand out and are exceptions but even some of the colleges teaching nvq for a whole year or vtct for 18 weeks are appalling.

They use inferior products that even the best tech would find difficult to work with and they are more interested in health and safety in the workplace and employment laws than application.It really makes me sad for the industry i love.

I would love to teach in fe but so often hear that those you teach are not that interested in learning properly they just want their bit of paper and i couldn't pass anyone like that and thats not what colleges are after.

I have some very good friends who have taught at the fe college near both of us Mum people who are a credit to their profession,very experienced who have left teaching because of the standards.

 

[kylieb]

I would just like to say that I am glad you have posted this as it is something that really gets my goat up. Not just with nails but everything beauty related!
I have no problem with people coming back into industry after a long period and doing these few day courses as a refresher. As things do change. But for people to think it's ok to do this from scratch is an absolute joke in my opinion. It gives us Therapists that have spent so much time,money and effort, a bad name!
So I can understand your rant, completely!
On the up side these Therapists (if thats what they should be allowed to be called) usually don't end up doing anything with their qualification as they arnt confident enough and lets be serious, who the hell would take them on in a salon? Complete waste of time and money in my opinion!
xxx

 

[cabinkel]

The trouble is aswell, (sorry, Im on a roll now, lol) that some of the treatments that we are asked to carry out, COULD do damage if we are unaware of the contra-indications etc. These things cannot be learnt in a one day course! I think that there is def a place for refresher/skill build/cpd type courses, but it needs to be at a certain entry level. I have even heard that colleges have a "target" to hit in most trades, so people, who clearly are not at a passable standard, can be passed as the colleges targets need to be met! Disgusting!


Phew, rant over:green:

 

[mum]

No arguments here but just out of curiosity , most of the "big" names offer courses that last 4 days, if that is not sufficient what would you suggest?

Reasonable question

I did say in my post that 3-4 days with no previous. Then boast about it being enough to get insurance.

4 days as part of on going education is is good! There is time to learn a bit, practise then go back to sort out problems.

It the 3-4 days all together in isolation that I am talking about.

Conversion courses can be any length for an experienced tech. Now that is about selling product but selling it responsibly so the brand is used at it's best!

So far this site is full of techs of the 'responsible persuasion'! Excellent :lol:

Now I wish someone would disagree with me

 

[mum]

Oooooh! I'm on a roll now (sorry guys!)

As has been said here already: it isn't just the nail industry! It is all over. I just concentrate on nails but am aware of the same problems in hair and beauty.

Yes there are targets in colleges (just like all education and truly serious situations that affect the NHS for example)

Your training is only as good as your trainer. I was very fortunate with some fabulous teachers and my own enquiring mind and (I hope) a professional attitude.

Years ago I taught in FE (Gillian, maybe the one you are referring to) and I did my best but it was a struggle with funds and time allocated. I feel I should support FE due to my Habia involvement but I do understand the issues and am continuing to work on them as much as I can. But, like anything, being a specialist taught by specialists (real ones!) can only result in a better quality of professional.

Learn widely as a beginner then narrow it down to be a specialist is my way of thinking. NOT the other way around. e.g learn nails then suddenly be a facialist. Be a beauty therapist then specialise in nails. Or just concentrate on nails and be the best you can and keep learning.

Thanks for you support Geeks both here and in PM's

Someone disagree with me.......put the other point of view!

 

[Gelly]

......being a specialist taught by specialists (real ones!) can only result in a better quality of professional.

AMEN to that!

 

[Bagpuss]

Why do people think very short courses are OK?

The reason I think people believe that short courses are ok is because its one of those Jobs that looks easier than it is.

I think alot of people may start off thinking that a short course is all thats needed and then realise that they need more...that its not so easy and that even with all the training in the world not everyone is going to be any good at it.

Unfortunately I think people do tend to go on price and location before quality and reputation....and then end up having to pay out twice.

I can understand people who make this mistake, being completely new to this they would trawl the internet and be inundated with sites offering what "appears" to be the same thing....so i guess location and price would sway you...untill you knew better.

Most of us have had our nails done before being professional ourselves....how many of us sat and thought..."I could do that"....how many of us thought "surely it wouldn't take long to pick it up if someone just showed me"...?

I think the real love and respect for the industry comes later....at the beginning its just "i wanna do nails"....I don't think they realise the implications to start with....and many do these courses...realise its alot more in depth/harder and give up before the love and respect has had a chance to grow.

 

[mum]

Why do people think very short courses are OK?

The reason I think people believe that short courses are ok is because its one of those Jobs that looks easier than it is.

I think alot of people may start off thinking that a short course is all thats needed and then realise that they need more...that its not so easy and that even with all the training in the world not everyone is going to be any good at it.

Unfortunately I think people do tend to go on price and location before quality and reputation....and then end up having to pay out twice.

I can understand people who make this mistake, being completely new to this they would trawl the internet and be inundated with sites offering what "appears" to be the same thing....so i guess location and price would sway you...untill you knew better.

Most of us have had our nails done before being professional ourselves....how many of us sat and thought..."I could do that"....how many of us thought "surely it wouldn't take long to pick it up if someone just showed me"...?

I think the real love and respect for the industry comes later....at the beginning its just "i wanna do nails"....I don't think they realise the implications to start with....and many do these courses...realise its alot more in depth/harder and give up before the love and respect has had a chance to grow.

Absolutely agree!

How many beginners have there been who have had their nails done for years and then think "I can do that! And I'm practically trained cos I've been watching" ???!!

It's a shame for those beginners that 'professionals' in the industry capitalise on this and sell them what they want rather than what they need. Those responsible professionals who do a good job tell them right from the beginning.

My main point is that if 'professionals' stopped offering this quick fix then the industry would be on the right road.

I also wish insurers would be a bit more scrupulous too and not just bring in the short term premiums. So many 'short course beginners' drop out because they don't get enough clients to earn a living and wonder why. Who benefits? Short course providers who have sold the products and taken the training fees. Plus the insurers who take the short tern fees but enough of them to make it worth it!

I know there are plenty of Geeks on here who go down this route. Where are they? Strangely silent it seems!

 

[sledge]

I don't think it's the people that think very short courses are OK that are to blame.
I agree with what you have said but would like to point out the following, most from personal experience...
When you are not in the industry and you try and research (mainly on internet) for suitable courses, you are inundated with all sorts of courses by beauty academies/schools/colleges or what ever they want to call themselves - all claiming to be the best with testimonals of past students claiming to be successful. From a newbies point of view, how can you tell the difference of one to another? You then narrow it down to convenience/time/place/price...for me I went with one that was convenient datewise and location to fit around my family. At the time I didn't understand that I couldn't learn in x amount of time but thought all courses were similar in content. And granted, my course wasn't brilliant, I was on a 5-day consecutive course to cover manicure, pedicure, L&P, gel and nail art...was never taught to soak off, infills/rebalance - you get the picture. But credit to them, they did say not to go and work on the public straight away and to get loads of practise in first. (And I'm still practising!)
Now my point is...this course that I went for was acredited/approved by the top two insurance providers so how was I to know better? so I quote:

"It really is time that so called professionals in this industry stopped supporting this crazy situation."

So you see, I don't think one can blame the innocent entering into the industry but the industry insurance providers/regulators (if any) backing these so called beauty schools. If a beauty school/nail academy have these well known bodies supporting them, why would you think any different.

Another reason why someone new entering the industry cannot be blamed for not going with the reputable nail companies such as CND, EZFlow, NSI to name a few, is the believe that these companies were only interested in selling their own products whereas the 'acredited/approved' independent schools/academies were impartial.

So, as with any industry, you will always get the ones that think it's going to be easy, only to then realise they can't rise to the challenge and quit. And you will get the ones, like myself, find that they did not learn much initially and will persevere and pursue with further courses until they succeed.

Oops, sorry, I seem to have written a biography, but I just wanted to express it from my personal experience. xx:hug:

 

[allieXayrshire]

100% agree sledge! i also done a similar course to yourself as after researching the internet the company i chose seemed great value had a very good reputation and were the most suitable for location and time. i was advised to go with NSI but chose the other company as to me, a newbie at the time, they seemed better.
To my expense i found out that the course that seemed more suitable and better value for money turned out to be neither and in the end i went and did further training with NSI which was brilliant and within the first 5 mins of it i wished I had done my training ther in the 1st place. Its only looking back that i know thats it is impossible to learn how to do a professional set of nails after only a few days but at the time the company made it out that it was. I now know that there is always ways to improve and more to learn and this is what i love about nails and i will continue to train but from experience know cheap short courses are not the way to go. xx

 

[persianista]

I said all this in a thread the other day and got blasted for it!

 

[Annebet]

Hi Mum Totally agree but surely it isn't the trainee's faults, it is the fault of the company's as they are gaining money by lying when we all know it takes a lot longer than 5 days to learn all say a nail course advertising mani, pedi, acrylic , gel , fibre glass and silk to become professional in 5 days even with now these fast track hair and waxing courses ect ect, and surely the insurance company's who then go on to back these fast track courses are also at fault. To be honest anyone who believes these adverts have to be a bit daft to believe it anyway. but I suppose they are not thinking about nail diseases the anatomy of the hand the products they are using ect ect they are just thinking they are going to make a lot of money being a professional lol wait well they try I have spent more in training and still spending on bettering my skills. It's ashame really but who is out there to stop them from advertising this rubbish.