Hair and Beauty Career Guide: More Than Just a Pretty Face

Beauty therapists give face and body treatments to clients, such as facials, massages, and waxing. Their aim is to make clients look and feel better. Beauty therapist jobs can be in different environments, and you could work in salons or be self-employed and travel to clients’ homes.

There are a few paths to becoming a beauty therapist.

• Get qualified with a Level 3 Diploma in Beauty Therapy. You may be required to complete the Level 2 Diploma first, which qualifies you to be a beauty therapy assistant.

• Private beauty school.

• An apprenticeship, either intermediate or advanced.

• On-the-job training, where you start as an unqualified trainee and work your way up.

With enough experience, you can go on to become a salon or spa manager.

You can also choose self-employment, working from home, setting up a mobile service or traveling to clients’ homes.

Many therapists choose to get trained in make-up and go on to work in fashion, theatre or media as freelancers.

Want to know how to become a hairdresser? Hairdressers cut, colour, and style clients’ hair.

As a hairdresser, you may work in many different environments. The most common is in a salon, working as part of a team of hairdressers.

You could also find yourself working in hospitality and tourism far from home, in hotels and spas, or on a cruise ship that stops at beautiful locations around the world.

Some hairdressers with a helping nature work in care homes, prisons, and army bases. Or perhaps you’ll be on a film set, in theatre productions, or working with television journalists.

The opportunities are varied and exciting, especially if you go on to be a freelancer.

If you’re wondering “what qualifications do I need to become a hairdresser?” that all depends on where you’d like to go with the job.

• Get qualified with a Diploma in Hairdressing. These start at Level 1 and go up to Level 3. It’s possible to combine these with other areas, such as nail technician courses or makeup courses.

• An apprenticeship, which you can complete while training towards your Level 2 or 3 Diploma.

• On-the-job training, where you start off in an entry-level job and learn as you go.

With enough experience, you can go on to become a senior stylist or manage a salon.

If you get further qualifications, you can work in training and assessment, teaching new hairdressers.

Wig making is a popular specialisation, and if you also learn makeup, it’s possible to go into theatre, film, and television. You can also open your own salon if you’ve got an entrepreneurial streak.

Salon managers run the day-to-day operations of a hairdressing salon or barber shop. They can also cut and style clients hair, come up with sales and promotions to drive sales, and manage a team of hairdressers and apprentices.

You’ll need to be qualified in hairdressing with industry experience to back it up. Getting some experience running another related business, such as a spa or beauty salon, can be a help.

You can also complete an advanced apprenticeship and then work your way up in a salon.

Some salon managers choose to expand their business into spa and beauty therapies.

In chain salons, it’s possible to become the area manager and progress into management.

You can also open your own salon with the experience gained at the helm of someone else’s business.

You can also go on to teach and assess hairdressing students at a hairdresser course college or academy.

If you’ve ever wondered how to become a nail technician, we’ve got you covered. You’ll paint, decorate and repair clients’ nails and also create amazing nail art designs.

Progressing in this field usually involves going on to manage a salon or start your own business. Others prefer to move into freelance work and work in the media and fashion industries. 

Freelance nail artists might work with fashion photographers for magazines or advertising or behind the scenes at fashion week. Some others choose to pass their expertise on as teachers and assessors.

Keen to find out how to become a makeup artist? They use cosmetics and skin products to create desired looks for clients. They can work in many different contexts – from bridal makeup for weddings to theatrical makeup for film and television and special effects. Still, others work in salons, makeup counters, or cosmetic company brand representatives.

• Diploma: Most commonly, makeup artists hold a Level 2 or 3 Diploma. These are obtainable through colleges and private providers. Due to the competitive nature of the industry, you should complete Level 3 at least if you have ambitions to move up in the game.

• Portfolio building: While you’re just starting out, it’s essential to build a strong and varied portfolio. You can do this by working with student photographers, filmmakers, and theatre productions for free in exchange for portfolio work. Even as you move up in the industry, it may sometimes be necessary to do free work for portfolio-building purposes.

In the end, while your training is a basic requirement, it’s your portfolio and your reputation that get you the job.

If you’re exceptional at what you do and you’re strategic about your work, you could end up as a Chief Makeup Artist or a Makeup Designer. Careers in makeup can go in many different directions so make sure to investigate the options available.

If you’re great with people and you’ve got a creative flair, a career in hair and beauty could be perfect for you. It’s a great choice for those with a strong drive, and a desire for an adventurous life out of the ordinary. With many pathways and options to combine specialisations, a varied and exciting beauty industry career awaits. So what are you waiting for?