More and more people are seeking to retrain for a new career, and the nail industry offers a wealth of opportunities, whether to work in a salon or to start your own business.
Whether you’re a complete novice or you want to improve your knowledge and skills, there’s a wide range of Nail Technician training courses from which to choose. And due to the recent pandemic, online nail courses are growing in popularity. However, not all nail courses are the same, so it’s worth doing some research and taking your time to find one that’s right for you.
What courses are available?
If you’re planning to provide home or mobile treatments, it’s essential to have insurance, and for this, a qualification is necessary. More than half of all Nail Technicians in the UK are trained to Level 2, and this qualification opens up a wide variety of opportunities for working in the nail industry.
Level 2 Nail Technician courses
A VCTC Level 2 Diploma in Nail Services gives you a substantial grounding in the knowledge and skills you need to optimise your career prospects as a Nail Technician. The majority of salon Nail Technicians have level 2 certification and are qualified to provide a full range of nail treatments, including manicures, pedicures, acrylics, gels and fibreglass nails.
Level 3 Nail Technician courses
You can continue to develop your professional skills with a Level 3 Nail Technician course. As well as teaching you the latest techniques, a level 3 course will prepare you for running your own business and give you an overview of the industry’s regulations and legislation.
Manicure and pedicure courses
If you’re a beginner, a manicure and pedicure course is an excellent place to start. There’s a steady demand for these treatments, and you will acquire a good knowledge of nail anatomy and the theory and practice of caring for nails. The knowledge and skills gained through a manicure and pedicure course are also relevant to other treatments.
Gel & acrylic nail courses
If you’re thinking of starting a home or mobile nail business, you can test the water with relatively inexpensive, short nail courses. Options include acrylic extensions, gel extensions, and fibre or silk repair courses.
Gel and acrylic nails are the most popular with clients, but fibre and silk techniques enable you to repair and strengthen a customer’s nails. You can learn all these skills on one-day courses, and they are an excellent way to get started. Of course, whichever you opt to do first will come down to your personal preferences, but it’s worth bearing in mind that a gel nail course could possibly give you access to a more extensive client base.
People often use the terms gel and Shellac interchangeably, so when you have completed a gel nail course, you could also offer shellac style nails to your clients. Shellac nails are not extension nails but a hybrid of gel and polish. While genuine shellac is available only to certified Nail Technicians, you can purchase a range of very similar products that will allow you to offer this service to your customers.
While fibre and silk nails are not as popular as acrylic or gel, they are a handy skill to add to your repertoire, as you will then be able to repair or reinforce your clients’ broken or damaged nails.
Choosing the right nail course
When selecting a Nail Technician training course, it’s essential to spend some time to research precisely what information each course provides and whether support is provided throughout training and after the course.
To help you choose the right course, here are a few points to look out for:
• Course content
Beginners studying a manicure training course should gain a thorough understanding of the anatomy of the nails, product knowledge and workplace hygiene. Experienced Nail Technicians should also take the opportunity to update their knowledge as brands often update their product information.
• Accreditation
Make sure that the training centre providing the course is accredited by an accrediting body such as ABT, HABIA or The Guild. Accreditation shows that the course is of a satisfactory standard. Research the awarding body, their internal verification procedures and how often they complete external verification visits.
• The relevance of the qualification
Will the qualification be relevant to the career path you are planning? For example, will it enable you to get insurance for a nail business?
• Hands-on training
Does the course include hands-on training, support materials and practical experience?
• Reviews
Checking out the course reviews from former students will help you decide whether it’s the course you need.
Congratulations on deciding to take a Nail Technician course! Following our tips will help you find the perfect course and set you on your way to a new career in this key sector of the beauty industry.