Any beauticians/beauty therapists out there?

[Nikki Sahagin]

Hi all,

 

I presently work as a freelance writer but I wanted to add a few new strings to my bow by branching off into a more practical area. I've always loved 'girly' things such as make-up, tanning and beauty and the effect that, when properly administered, the effects can dramatically improve a woman's confidence and self-esteem. I love the trans-formative effects of an individual woman's beauty rather than the pressure of heavy handed media outlets. Basically I'd love to help women feel beautiful, happy and also pampered.

 

I'd like to work part time as a beautician/beauty therapist (sorry, I am not sure of the difference although I know there is one!) around my writing career.

 

I've looked into a lot of courses. There seem to be many all-encompassing courses that last around 1-2 years (or more in some cases) but I only want to learn certain skills i.e. tanning, facials, laser hair removal and eyebrow waxing. I DON'T want to learn how to massage or perform a Brazilian wax and do nails.

 

Is it possible for me to learn individual courses for the skills I want to learn?

 

PS I'll be based in England.

 

Any advice/tips/opinions would be great. I'm very excited for a change and to learn some new skills :love:

[carhill]

I was married to a lady who made a career of 'beauty' and ran her own business and had been doing it about 15 years when we got married. Here's what I gleaned from my involvement in it:

 

1. Self-employed (own shop), independent contractor (shared space but self-employed) or employee of a shop....decide.

 

2. Determine two things - One, what you enjoy and two what you're good at. This may require in sampling course work in a myriad of beauty disciplines. Depending on how this milieu interacts with the local business dynamics, you may end up and likely will end up with some compromises.

 

3. Licensing - Find out how beauty professionals are licensed. Some disciplines have blanket licenses and others require separate licensing. As example, in our locale, my exW had a general cosmetology and barbering license, which allowed her to do hair, including chemical hair processes, manicuring, facials, face and body waxing, etc. This required about three years of course work and OTJ training.

 

4. Unless choosing to work as an employee, take some business management courses. Beauty may be fun and enjoyable but it's also a business. Business and marketing are important to success.

 

5. Don't skimp on gear. I helped my exW often when shopping for tools of the trade and supplies and good gear and supplies costs good money. Plan on adequate capital for start-up, whether as a contractor/owner or employee.

 

After awhile, through trial and error and experience, you'll likely find a niche that speaks to you and which you are good at. Specializing can narrow market in some ways but specialties command higher prices and one can make more per unit of time and material expended. From my recollection, my exW's work as a restorative colorist brought in the biggest paychecks - essentially repairing the disasters done to hair by other colorists, not just the color but the hair itself. Coloring hair is really popular in California so specializing in that area paid off well. In other areas, different aspects of beauty may bring opportunities for specializing.

 

Lastly, be a bit circumspect about doing freebies for friends. Beauty parties are nice and fun but they don't pay the bills. Everything in moderation. Good luck!