Beauty therapy has always been a successful industry. Worth billions of pounds in the UK, it is no surprise that more students are choosing to study beauty therapy qualifications to kick-start an amazing career.

From offering nail art to facial treatments, there are many ways for women and men to look their best. Anyone completing beauty courses online is opening a whole new career in which they will be in demand.

But why choose beauty therapy? What is it that makes this industry so attractive to therapists?

 

1) Variety

How many times do we hear people moan about their day job? From it being boring to it not being what they want to do, there are many people in the position of not enjoying their job.

If you don’t want to be in this position and don’t want to be doing the same thing over and over again, choosing beauty therapy is the perfect career choice.

With one client, you could create bespoke nail art that sets them apart from everyone else, or you may help a bride to design her make up for the big day, followed by eyebrow shaping and waxing for another client.

The more skills you can offer, the more variety you will have and not just on one given day, but throughout your career.

 

2) People

Beauty therapy and the services you offer are all about the people. Presenting our best selves to the world is a driver for many people and is one of the reasons why the beauty industry has always been booming in the UK.

You may not know it, but you can have a huge impact on someone and their confidence in themselves. For example, the client whose eyebrows you shaped was bullied at school for having a ‘monobrow’. Now, she doesn’t give it a second thought because you create perfectly shaped brows for her.

The male client who comes to have a chest and back wax was so conscious of his body hair, he didn’t participate in sports of any kind for fear of the changing room. Now, he swims, plays football and has no inhibitions about excessive hair.

If you are a people-person, have tact and diplomacy, as well as a natural ability to connect with people, as a beauty therapist, you will be forever popular.

 

3) Employed or self-employed – you choose!

Some students on beauty therapy courses choose to find employment at a beauty salon, spa or clinic. They enjoy being part of a team and may have the opportunity to take part in further training specific to that company.

They may like the security of being employed and prefer the hours of work. It may also be that they don’t have the room or premises to offer their services on a self-employed basis.

Or, you may decide to open your own high-street clinic or spa or offer your services to clients in the comfort of their own home. You could also convert a room in your home to offer your popular beauty therapy services from home.

You won’t need to worry about job or income security either, as with high-quality qualifications and taking part in beauty therapy courses online, the services you offer will be in demand.

 

4) Work schedule

You decide on the schedule of your day – you can work full time or part time, just the morning or just the afternoon. In other words, you choose the lifestyle and the hours you want to work.

 

5) Job security

Look at the beauty industry in the UK, the size and value of it, and you will see what a thriving industry it is.

But the good news is that despite the recent recession and times of austerity, the beauty industry has continued to grow. At times when household budgets are tight, it seems that people are willing to still find the money to have essential beauty treatments.

It is wider than this too. The recent discussion around mental health could also be part of why people seek out beauty treatments and services. The few pounds they spend on an eyebrow shape or having their nails done are part of what they do to look after their well-being, a chance to be pampered and a chance to cut loose from the grind of daily life.

And it is not just private customers either. There will always be TV and film production companies looking therapists and make-up artists for TV, film and commercials.

The demand for beauty therapy services is on the rise with experts suggesting that as an industry, it is set to get bigger and better here in the UK. Is it a career option that attracts you?

Many people assume that after a certain age, gaining new qualifications and skills is beyond them. But, you can ‘teach an old dog new tricks! Our brains are ripe at any age to soak up new information and learn new things. In fact, it could be key to staying young…

Learning a new skill or studying for a new qualification is not just something for the ‘youngsters’. You CAN learn something new at any age but, as a student, what hints and tips do we have to help you through your course?

#1 You need SPACE

First on the list is creating physical space to study. Curled up on a sofa may appeal, as does reading on the bus to work but at some point, you will need study space.

For some courses, such as those teaching a practical skill, you will need this space to be appropriate. In other words, practising nail art on family or friends, or if you’re doing a distance learning beauty therapy course, you could apply your skills on a willing friend. You can’t do these from your sofa!

#2 You need TIME

The next thing to talk about is creating space in your busy life to squeeze in learning. This is essentially about creating time for you, and your dreams and goals:

#3 The ‘Draw and Doodle’ Approach

If you are of a ‘certain age’, your memories of school and college will be of rigid learning in a set pattern, at a desk and done so quietly, listening to whoever was facilitating the lesson. It was controlled and a managed learning environment because it had to be in order for the class teacher to get through the course material.

But, with distance learning courses, you set the schedule and timetable and, providing your work through the material completing the assignments as you go, you are more than likely to be successful.

Sit at a desk or table but relax with your learning. ‘Draw and doodle’ method of learning is an interesting concept. Have a pen and paper nearby and, as you read through a piece of text or enjoy the course materials, doodle and/or draw main concepts, keywords, theories and talk or read out loud too.

#4 Stick to your plan

Distance learning IS great – fantastic course materials, helpful tutors who want you to succeed, a subject you find interesting and the feeling of stimulating your brain back into action are all reasons why so many students choose to study this way.

There is a downside in that if discipline is lacking, the end goal is lacking too. As an ‘older’ student you may be more practised at creating a plan or schedule – and sticking to it.

To get where you want or need to be – and the certificate of passing your course in the post – you need to create a plant and stick to it with NO excuses!

#5 Ask for help

You’ve read the course unit more than once, you have researched the concept online, you have read textbook extracts, you have doodled and pondered but you are still unsure…

‘Older’ learners can sometimes find it difficult asking for help. If you assume that by emailing your tutor you will be admitting defeat or showing weakness, think again because all students are where they are today because they asked for help.

 

For any student, distance learning courses can be the key to even more success at work or at home. Qualifications can provide the springboard to a new career too.

And so, with the fertile ground of the older mind, what is really stopping you from studying and learning a new skill?

 

 

A £17 billion industry, employing over a million people and with a projected growth rate of 16% in 2016, the beauty industry in the UK is booming. And jobs in the beauty industry are in high demand.

With a growing number of beauty courses online too, it is no surprise that more people are choosing to join this thriving industry. People seem more willing to spend both time and money looking good. With an increase in non-surgical interventions and treatments, people are learning to look after themselves in a way that up until a few years ago, was unheard of.

It is no longer an industry dominated by female clients either. Men are also realising the benefits of looking groomed and smart, with various treatments being top of their agenda too. Here’s why the beauty industry has always been so popular, and how to land jobs in the beauty industry for the career of your dreams!

Why has the beauty industry always been booming?

No matter their age, people have always found a way to keep themselves looking good. Why has the beautician’s clinic always remained popular – both to go into and to utilise? As of 2022, the beauty industry is worth £27 billion, and it just keeps on growing.

From skin peels to non-surgical, why does the beauty industry continue to thrive? Why has it blossomed and grown as other industries have stuttered and stalled? Many clients see their beautician as an important and essential person in their life. The waxing, the plucking and shaping of nails are seen as part of staying healthy, clean and hygienic.

Here are the main reasons why jobs in the beauty industry remain in such high demand:

a beautician working on a clients nails

Beauty is a Science

Beauty, to some people, is nothing more than surface deep. It is a superficial concern, something that sits on the surface. In times gone by, there were even suggestions that those men and women who paid attention to how they looked were shallow characters.

Likewise, people believed that those who entered the beauty industry with qualifications for various beautician courses did so because their intelligence was lacking. This is an outdated stereotype now, and the industry is thriving as much as it always has done. Jobs in the beauty industry are abundant, but many often require qualifications now. Beauty is a fun, thriving career, with thousands of people taking college and online beauty courses a year.

Appearance is Important

And not just to those who look and admire us, but for the way we feel about ourselves too. But why does the beauty industry boom in spite of a negative or slack economy?

1. Social standing – The link between how we look and social standing is complex, but it centres around human attractiveness and expectation. We have an expectation that people will look attractive, more so when they are in positions of power or standing. We may not think it, but we do expect people to look the part and so for many of us, the personal grooming in which we indulge ourselves is part and parcel of how we want others to see us.

2. Success – Attractiveness is linked to success, or so we like to think. It is more pleasing when someone seems to take care of themselves, this groomed appearance giving off the vibe that someone is organised and cohesive.

3. Relationships – It is a common driving force in our lives to find a mate. It is, after all, what makes the world turn round, and is the reason that we are all here today. We want to come across as attractive and personal grooming, whether that is having your nails done or a man enjoying a hot shave, when we take time to look after ourselves, we can come across as more confident and attractive to the one we want to attract.

4. Well-being –Many experts believe that the continued blossoming of the beauty industry in recent years is linked to the changing attitudes in mental and physical health. Our well being is no longer at the bottom of the list. If we don’t look after ourselves, we falter. Although a deep tissue massage may not ‘solve’ your depression or rid you of anxiety, beauty treatments can go a long way in helping us to look after ourselves, mind, body and soul.

5. Male grooming – Since the advent of mascara by Maybelline in 1913, beauty has been seen as a female industry both in terms of beautician courses and then main customer group. But in recent years, male grooming has exploded. The modern man is no longer prepared to put up with ‘issues’ that he sees as holding him back. From enjoying a designer haircut to body waxing, male grooming is now big business.

And so yes, even when we have little cash to spare, we will always find the money to make sure we look good. But more importantly, we do so for our own personal reasons as much as social pressures.

equipment used for jobs in the beauty industryDrive, passion and qualifications: How to get jobs in the beauty industry

If you are creative, enjoy working with people and are a people-person, the beauty industry is certainly a great choice.

But, qualifications are important when looking for jobs in the beauty industry. Understanding the skin, how it could react to certain products, how to deal with contra-indications, how to put people at ease and so on, are all skills and abilities covered in a wide range of beauty courses online.

Thus, you should match your drive, passion and creativity for hair, nails and make-up with a trusted and respected beauty therapy qualification.

You will need a qualification in every therapy that you offer, especially if you choose to be self-employed. It is a wise move for all beauticians and therapists to have insurance, such as public liability insurance, to cover them in the event that something goes wrong with a treatment. An insurer will rarely offer cover to someone practicing outside of their qualification level.

Areas of beauty industry work

Many beauticians tend to specialise in two or three areas but, this doesn’t mean your options are limited.

Firstly, a basic and good foundation in beauty work is an essential qualification. These courses have a broad base to them, covering all aspects of working in and organising a salon, to making clients feel at ease and comfortable, how the skin reacts to treatments and so on. A sound grasp of the basics also shows future employers that you have the basic building blocks in place.

Once you have completed this you may, like many other students, choose to specialise in other areas.

This means looking for beauty courses online that provide you with an opportunity to specialise. There are many courses, such as;

Expanding areas of the beauty industry

There are many growth areas in the beauty industry. In recent years, the nail art sector has really started to become an industry in its own right.

This may explain why more people are looking to nail art courses or similar to add a specialism to their CV.

There are also new innovations, products and techniques coming to the market place all the time. For example, threading is a relatively new way of hair removal, mainly used on eyebrows and lips.

By remaining current and up-to-date, you will not only open up more employment opportunities, you will also attract a larger base of clients too.

Self-employed or not?

Many people who complete online beauty therapy courses go on to open and run beauty businesses of their own.

There are a number of ways in which you can do this;

Being employed is also an option for many beauty therapists with opportunities in the beauty industry are almost endless.

Employment opportunities

There are several employment opportunities if you are looking for jobs in the beauty industry. Although going freelance is becoming a popular option, here are two of the most common employment premises that beauticians opt to work in:

Thinking outside the box

There are also strands to the beauty industry many of us are unaware of, but they are by no means any less lucrative or enjoyable opportunities.Beauty-Industry(1)

For example, a qualified nail, make-up and hair expert can find employment in all kinds of places;

Qualities needed to land jobs in the beauty industry

Being successful with jobs in the beauty industry require various skills and personal attributes, most of which you can learn or enhance. Here are some qualities it would be beneficial for you to possess when looking for jobs in beauty:

Jobs in the beauty industry that you could try

With the right qualifications and skills, you could excel in the beauty industry. And there are plenty of career paths that you could venture down. Here are some of the most fun and interesting jobs in the beauty industry that you could try:

Training as a beauty therapist

Breaking into jobs in the beauty industry depends on the quality of the qualification you opt for. There are many online beauty courses that provide a firm foundation on which you can build your career.

Learning from home means that you can study at your own pace. It also means that you can fit in expanding your career or start on a new path by studying for a qualification without giving up your current employment.

Is the beauty industry for you? Check out our guide on how to become a beautician for more helpful information.