Would love to join you

[TweezerHappy]

Hi Everyone. First time poster here.

I currently work in an office for a large company that I have worked for since I was 20. I'm 29 now. I'd say it's quite a good job. I get paid a pretty decent wage which I have gotten used to. When I left school I went to college to do Business Admin. I wanted to do beauty therapy but my parents and older sister talked me into doing business.

Here I am 12 years later wishing I'd gone through with the beauty course. I sit in my job everyday and whilst I am good at it, I have no passion for it. I've always been interested in beauty and nails. I think if I was in this industry I would absolutely love it and I think I would be good at it.

I was wondering if anyone could give me any advice on starting training. I think I'd have to do part time as I'm not sure I could afford to give up my job just yet.

I'm in Glasgow. There are quite a few local colleges that do part time courses. Is college the best route?

There are also a few other companies. The SAKS Academy and The Caledonian Therapy Academy always pop up. Does anyone know much about them? Does anyone know how much SAKS costs? Both do Beauty Therapy NVQ Level 2.

I've seen a few shorter courses. Various 1-4 day courses. Do you think this is enough time for a complete noob like me to learn to correct techniques?

There's a thing on at The Royal Highland Centre in Edinburgh in May. I think it's called Scottish Beauty 2009. The website is Beautyserve.com. Do you think that's worth a visit for someone in my position? I'm thinking it might be a good place to speak to different people and pick their brains. Would they like that though?

WOW, long post. Maybe I should stop now and ask more questions later.

Thanks for reading and for any advice that may be given.

 

[bridget1802]

Hi Everyone. First time poster here.

I currently work in an office for a large company that I have worked for since I was 20. I'm 29 now. I'd say it's quite a good job. I get paid a pretty decent wage which I have gotten used to. When I left school I went to college to do Business Admin. I wanted to do beauty therapy but my parents and older sister talked me into doing business.

Here I am 12 years later wishing I'd gone through with the beauty course. I sit in my job everyday and whilst I am good at it, I have no passion for it. I've always been interested in beauty and nails. I think if I was in this industry I would absolutely love it and I think I would be good at it.

I was wondering if anyone could give me any advice on starting training. I think I'd have to do part time as I'm not sure I could afford to give up my job just yet.

I'm in Glasgow. There are quite a few local colleges that do part time courses. Is college the best route?

There are also a few other companies. The SAKS Academy and The Caledonian Therapy Academy always pop up. Does anyone know much about them? Does anyone know how much SAKS costs? Both do Beauty Therapy NVQ Level 2.

I've seen a few shorter courses. Various 1-4 day courses. Do you think this is enough time for a complete noob like me to learn to correct techniques?

There's a thing on at The Royal Highland Centre in Edinburgh in May. I think it's called Scottish Beauty 2009. The website is Beautyserve.com. Do you think that's worth a visit for someone in my position? I'm thinking it might be a good place to speak to different people and pick their brains. Would they like that though?

WOW, long post. Maybe I should stop now and ask more questions later.

Thanks for reading and for any advice that may be given.

Hi

I am 27 and currently working in an office environment which I have done for about 7 years now, I trained to do nails about 7 years ago and for friends have kept at it, but I am hoping to go to college in Sept and do Beauty Therapy and I have just booked to do a spray tanning course, you will get loads of good advice on her

Vicky x

 

[Aquarius Beauty]

Saks run a fast track course in Beauty Therapy it's 10 weeks for NVQ Level 2 it's about £3500.

They have a website with further details, Saks: the UK's leading hair and beauty franchise group with an award-winning, nationwide network of salons on the high street and in health clubs.
Hope this helps

Lorraine

 

[TweezerHappy]

Saks run a fast track course in Beauty Therapy it's 10 weeks for NVQ Level 2 it's about £3500.

They have a website with further details, Saks: the UK's leading hair and beauty franchise group with an award-winning, nationwide network of salons on the high street and in health clubs.
Hope this helps

Lorraine

£3500. Not as much as I thought. Still a lot but I thought it was a lot more. One of my friends goes to the SAKS acadmeny for hair colour and she thought it was closer to £10,000. Do you know if the part time evening is the same price?

Here's something I don't get. Maybe someone can enlighten me. The SAKS course is 10 weeks full time which is 50 days 10am-5pm. Their part time course is 25 weeks 1 evening per week, 25 evenings I'm guessing 5pm-10pm? Big difference in hours yet you learn the same amount of stuff. I just don't get it.

Do people get jobs having only the NVQ level 2 or would you have to do other courses after that?

Ideally if I could save up the money for course fees and enough to cover not having a salary I'd take a 3 month break from my job and do the SAKS full time course. Go back to work full time and do loads of practice on my friends and family. Then maybe part time job, part time salon or mobile.

 

[TweezerHappy]

Hi

I am 27 and currently working in an office environment which I have done for about 7 years now, I trained to do nails about 7 years ago and for friends have kept at it, but I am hoping to go to college in Sept and do Beauty Therapy and I have just booked to do a spray tanning course, you will get loads of good advice on her

Vicky x

Hi Vicky

Lucky you going to college. Part of me wishes I could just leave my job and go back to college but it I don't think I could go 2-3 years without regular money coming in. Think of all the holidays though.

I was thinking of doing just nails. Would be cheaper and maybe more manageable to train whilst still working. I'm just not sure if nails would be enough for me. I think I'd want to do the whole beauty course.

 

[TweezerHappy]

Hi

I am 27 and currently working in an office environment which I have done for about 7 years now, I trained to do nails about 7 years ago and for friends have kept at it, but I am hoping to go to college in Sept and do Beauty Therapy and I have just booked to do a spray tanning course, you will get loads of good advice on her

Vicky x

Would you experts recommend new people maybe doing as Vicky has done? Learn 1 thing, concentrate on that then add something else, then keep adding until you've got a full list of services?

Say nails to start. The add spray tan. Then once competant at both add say waxing. Wee while after that add facials or massage? Do people do that?

 

[johnkhan]

Hi,
Thanks for your sharing information.

thanks
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[madamgooch]

Are there any small private colleges that run Saturday courses for NVQs? I found one about 20 miles from me - live down South so was able to keep my day job. I had a baby in the middle of the course but still qualified and have just started my own business working from home. I haven't regretted changing careers. Good luck.

 

[ukfaye]

I think it totally depends on how much time and money you have.
And what your aim is for the future. If you are thinking mobile, I would suggest going for nails first then gradually add things that take your fancy, tanning and waxing are really good earners, waxing is my bread and butter. With spray tanning its a very quick course and just needs lots of practice to perfect, so easy to add.
But if you feel you would like to do Salon work I think a full time course would be needed, i may be corrected but nvq 2 can be tricky to get employed with. Im not sure it covers enough Salons prefer level 3.
You may want to contact a coulpe of salons and ask what they would prefer so you know.Hth and hope you get into beauty it's a lovely world to be in.:hug:

 

[TweezerHappy]

Thanks for your replies.

I always thought I'd love to work in a salon, but then I found this
site.* I get the impression there are a lot of self employed people on
here, either at home or mobile.* It has certainly got me thinking.* I'd
love to have a big wad of cash to just throw at training but in reality
that's not going to happen.* Gradually adding would probably be best and
would be like my personal payment plan.

Before I found this site I would never have thought of learning bit by
bit.* I think I'd like nails, tanning, waxing, facials and massage in
that order.* Really got me thinking.

How easy is it to go mobile?* Do you have a lot of kit to carry around?
I'd never have thought of going mobile before but as I say this site has
really got me thinking.* How did you build up your client base?* I was
thinking friends, friends of friends and maybe current work colleagues
to start off with.* Has it just grown from that?* Did you have to do
much marketing/leaflet dropping or has it been a lot of word of mouth?

Also, home salons.* How easy are they to set up?* Do you have a
dedicated space at home?* How do you feel having strangers into your
home?* Do you feel safe?* The same could be asked of mobile therapists.
Do you feel safe going to strangers houses?* I don't think I'd have the
space for a home salon.* Just asking out of curiosity.
Posted via Mobile Device

 

[clarethebear77]

I fancied a change of career about 8 years ago and came into a little money so I did the CND 5 day training course, Very easy as I only needed afew days off work, and a great place to start, I practised on anyone that passed me by and was very lucky to have built up a client base by word of mouth, I looked into local colleges for evening classes and I trained to wax, make up, tinting lashes/brows, reflexology, there were many courses so I could pick which treatments I wanted to learn, Its very long winded if you want to learn many treatments as I was also working evenings with the nails, So I could only allow 1 night a week, But I got there in the end, I mainly do the acrylic nails now with a little waxing here and there and every now and then I get to practise one of my other treatments, It just depends what my clients and their friends want.

 

[TweezerHappy]

Can anyone else see random stars* in my post above? I'm on my mobile. They just just appeared.
Posted via Mobile Device

 

[bretlee]

Yes, I want to join

thanks
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[ukfaye]

Hi, it takes longer I think to build up mobile as you have no passing trade you have to get your name out there. You can get a listing free on loads of small business websites. Just need to google "free advertising". Get yourself a website and a group on face book. Put up cards in shops, offer special offers to hairdressers if they hand out your cards.
Slowly it will build up, but it does take time and effort.
You do have a bit of kit, couch, fold down table for waxing and a box with your wax heater and stuff in.
Spray tanning is just pop up booth and a bag with machine solution etc in.
But you learn to organise it and take as little as poss.
Low overheads means all the money is yours which i much prefer than doing all the hard work then handing the money over to the Salon owner!!hth.x

 

[TweezerHappy]

I'd just like to thank everyone for all their replies. You've been a great help.

Still not decided if I'd like to do a college course part time and aim for salon or do short courses and learn bit by bit and aim for mobile.

I don't know if I'd have enough drive for mobile to build up a client base. I'd be scared of only having 2-3 appointments a week and not making a living. What do you think of keeping my day job for 3 days a week and trying to book all appointments on another 3 days having 1 full day off?

A part of me thinks that even though I'd enjoy working in a salon I'd end up getting stuck in a rut. I don't even know why I would. I don't know where that's coming from but it's a thought that keeps popping up.

I think being mobile would have a bigger sense of control and freedom.

 

[SILVERSEQUIN]

Hi tweezerhappy,
Like you I always wanted to work in beauty and have been stuck in same job for 19 years ! It wasnt until i was off work with stress 8 years ago that I decided to do something for myself and started going to college in evenings. I knew there was no way I could afford to give up my full time job, and slowly over the years after completing vtct 2 and then 3 have now added a few more short courses to my qualifications, hot stone, advanced waxing, thai etc. Its only now after being on maternity that i hope to still go back to work 2 days and the others work for myself. About to launch on 9 th May to my close friends and have to say am so excited (scared too!),. It has taken me a long time to research training, products etc as i aiming that bit higher than the usual salons so I cant wait.
All i can suggest is do plenty of research and dont over commit yourself because you will get there in the end if you are determined.

Good luck with whatever you do and keep us informed...looking forward to your posts on this forum!

 

[TweezerHappy]

I'm so excited!

I have just signed up for a Saturday Nail Extensions class at Central college in Glasgow. It starts this Saturday and runs for 6 weeks and will be concentrating on gel nails. Looking forward to it.

I've also seen a Make-Up Techniques course at Langside College which starts this Wednesday that I'm also tempted to do. Only thing is it's my niece's 5th birthday this Wednesday which I couldn't miss. I've emailed them asking if it would be alright to miss the first week.

No doubt I'll be over in The Nail Geek quite a lot in the weeks to come.

Thanks for all your advice. :green: