Hair and beauty therapy
The hair and beauty industry is diverse, covering personal services such as hairdressing, beauty therapy, body care and massage, and professional services such as make-up for film and television. The industry is thriving in the United Kingdom (UK). Its success has led to demands for more and better training and qualifications, with the result that the UK now has a great variety of courses at all levels in a range of specialist areas. Some of the courses are full-time, extending over a year or more; others are part-time, and there are lots of short courses of a few days or weeks. All can be combined with the opportunity to improve your English language skills.
Checklist: why study in the United Kingdom?
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The UK has many well-established – and several world-renowned – colleges, teaching every branch of the hairdressing and beauty industry.
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You can choose to study at either a state-funded college or a private college, and in any part of the country you wish.
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Many courses are specifically designed for students who want to improve their English as well as study beauty therapy or hairdressing.
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All branches of the beauty industry in the UK have professional and/or regulatory bodies, and you will be able to study on a validated course.
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You will be able to find a course at whatever level of study you choose.
1 What can I study? You can take formal qualifications in all branches of the industry, including:
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beauty therapy – training in the provision of a wide range of treatments for the face and body hairdressing and salon management beauty consultancy – usually selling the products of cosmetics houses manicure and pedicure epilation – the permanent removal of unwanted body hair spa therapy and management massage therapy make-up artistry.
Further courses are listed on the Hairdressing and Beauty Industry Authority (HABIA) website – www.habia.org. Hair and beauty therapy
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Many of the formal qualifications in these fields are summarised in the charts below.
Beautician
Courses last between 100 and 350 hours and cover practical subjects and theory such as business organisations, ethics and cosmetic science. Usually include manicure and pedicure.
Examination boards City & Guilds BTEC
NVQ Level 2 Beauty Therapy & NVQ Level 2 Make-up
Edexcel VTCT (Vocational Training Charitable Trust)
Body therapy
VTCT (Short Course) Foundation course in Anatomy and Physiology, Swedish Massage Aromatherapy, Holistic Therapy, Reflexology, Sports Massage, Reiki, Indian Head Massage
Beauty therapy
Examination boards City & Guilds
Therapy Examination Council – Diploma in Physiatrics
Hair and beauty therapy
ITEC Beauty
Specialist Diploma
Specialist Certificate
These courses range from teaching a thorough understanding of anatomy and physiology of the body, with no prerequisite learning asked for, to a comprehensive qualification. Anatomy and physiology is often a prerequisite for body therapy and holistic courses. All the NVQ/SVQ examinations and others allow for career development in specialist beauty therapy skills or related areas such as aromatherapy or reflexology.
ITEC Diploma in Anatomy, Physiology and Massage
ITEC Diploma in Anatomy, Physiology and Massage
ITEC Body Therapy and Electrology Diploma; NVQ Level 3 Spa Therapy
The courses are of different levels, taking between 500 learning hours to two academic years. A beauty therapist qualified at level 3 will have the ability to carry out a comprehensive range of treatments including: facial work, make-up, manicure/pedicure, waxing body treatments, figure analysis, diet and exercise, body electrical treatments and body massage (www.city-and-guilds.co.uk).
NVQ/SVQ Level 3
ITEC – International
ITEC Beautician
ITEC Beauty Specialist Certificate
City & Guilds NVQ Level 3 Beauty Therapy
BTEC Higher National Diploma in Beauty
ITEC Aestheticienne Diploma
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Nail services
This provides a sound background knowledge and practical skills, and is also a foundation for beginners in the industry. Manicure, pedicure, all nail extension systems including silk/fibre wraps, gel, acrylic and sculptured, nail art and airbrushing techniques. The minimum learning time is 50 hours, followed by written and practical examinations.
ITEC Certificate in Manicure and Pedicure
VTCT Certificate – Nail Art Technology
NVQ Levels 2 and 3 Nail Service
VTCT Nail Art
VTCT Nail Technology
Hairdressing – an overview of the industry
Technician
General stylist /hair-dresser
Freelance hairdresser
NVQ/SVQ Level 2
NVQ/SVQ Level 2, but Level 3 preferred
Cutting, perming, colouring
Can work in salon or as a trainer in a manufacturers’ tuition centre.
Lecturer/trainer
Salon owner
NVQ/SVQ Level 3 but Level 4 is preferred
NVQ/SVQ Level 3, plus a Further Education Teachers’ Certificate, and preferably a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE).
Many hairdressers combine part-time teaching with running a salon. You would need to attend continuous development courses.
Possible areas of work
Afro-Caribbean hairdressing
HM Prison Service
Men’s hairdressing
Television and films
Hair and beauty therapy
Hospitals, care homes
Armed forces
Cruise liners
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Electrolysis
VTCT or BTEC Electrolysis/Electrical Epilation
Electrolysists working in the United Kingdom are not required to become members of the Institute of Electrolysis, although this may give them professional credibility. To join, you need NVQ Level 3 in Electrical Epilation, BTEC National Diploma with Epilation or BTEC Higher National Diploma with Epilation. You must then take a three-day entrance preparation course and pass a qualifying entrance examination.
BTEC Level 4 Higher National Diploma in Hair, Beauty and Holistics (Beauty Therapy)
Make-up
Vocational Training Charitable Trust
VTCT Electrolysis Diploma course – lasts for a minimum of 300 hours of training, no previous knowledge is required.
These courses are aimed at people who want to follow a career in professional make-up. The VTCT Diploma takes at least 950 learning hours and the ITEC Diploma at least 100 hours. Film and television freelance training trains people already qualified to apply their skills in film and television production.
(VTCT) Diploma in Theatrical and Media Make-up
Film and television freelance training – trains people already qualified in specialists fields.
NVQ Level 3 Beauty Therapy
ITEC Diploma Fashion, Theatre and Media Make-up
Skillset and the British Film Institute run a database of 2,500 short and long courses in subjects including advanced fashion make-up, body art, film, television and theatre, fashion hair and make-up and ageing for film.
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Career-based courses Courses in beauty therapy and related areas are offered at all levels, including National Vocational Qualification (NVQ)/Scottish Vocational Qualification (SVQ), BTEC/Edexcel First Diploma, BTEC/Edexcel National Diploma/Certificate and BTEC/Edexcel Higher National Diploma (HND). For general information on career-based training, refer to Choosing your career-based training course in this series. To search for courses, go to www.educationuk.org.
Degree courses Several colleges are now offering two-year Foundation degree programmes in hair and beauty therapy subjects. Only a few threeyear Bachelor’s degree courses (Hon. BA) are currently available (see below), but it is likely that others will be developed in the future. University/college University of Bedfordshire University of Bedfordshire Birmingham College Birmingham College Blackpool and Fylde College Blackpool and Fylde College Bradford College Bradford College Buckinghamshire New University University of Derby Grimsby Institute of FE and HE Guildford College of FE and HE University of Hertforshire Newcastle College St Helens College Southampton Solent University Southampton Solent University Southampton Solent University Truro College University of Arts London West Thames College York College
Course title Beauty Therapy Specialist Make-up Design Spa Management with Hospitality Spa Management with Hospitality Professional Practice – Beauty Therapy Professional Practice – Hairdressing and Media Advanced Practices in Beauty Therapy Beauty Therapy Management (top up post Fdg) Spa and Therapy Management Beauty and Spa Services Beauty Therapy Beauty Therapy Management Beauty Therapy Management Beauty Therapy and Spa Management Complementary Therapy Fashion Styling (Make Up and Hair Design) Make Up and Hair Design for Music, Film and Photography Media Styling and Promotion (Make Up/Hair Design) Hairdressing and Salon Management Beauty Therapy and Health Studies Specialist Make Up (post 2yr HND) Beauty Therapy Management
Qualification 2-year full-time Foundation Degree 2-year full-time Foundation Degree 3-year full-time BA Hons 2-year full-time Foundation Degree 2-year full-time Foundation Degree 2-year full-time Foundation Degree 2-year full-time Foundation Degree 1-year full-time BA Hons 2-year full-time Foundation Degree 2-year full-time Foundation Degree 2-year full-time Foundation Degree 2-year full-time Foundation Degree 2-year full-time Foundation Degree 2-year full-time Foundation Degree 2-year full-time Foundation Degree 3-year full-time BA Hons 3-year full-time BA Hons 3-year full-time BA Hons 2-year full-time Foundation Degree 2-year full-time Foundation Degree 1-year full-time BA Hons 2-year full-time Foundation Degree
Short courses You can choose from many short courses in most of the areas listed above. They can be as short as one day, but to gain a qualification (such as a recognised certificate in manicure) the shortest course would be between four to seven weeks. Courses that combine disciplines last about three months – a typical combination would be body therapy, including massage, aromatherapy, electrotherapy and epilation. To search for short courses, see www.hotcourses.com.
Beauty subjects combined with English language You can take courses combining all above subjects with English. Many colleges have courses specially designed for this purpose. These usually take between 36 weeks and one year. You can look for English courses that combine other subjects on www.educationuk.org/english or www.englishinbritain.co.uk.
International foundation courses You can combine English language study with a wide variety of subjects, including beauty therapy, on international foundation courses, which are offered at several colleges.
Private beauty training schools There are many private colleges offering training in hairdressing and beauty-related subjects. Some run courses leading to National/Scottish Vocational Qualifications and others teach specialist beauty skills. If you want to gain a recognised qualification, check that the qualification is accredited by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority Hair and beauty therapy
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(England and Wales) or the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA). Further advice is available from the Hairdressing and Beauty Industry Authority (HABIA) (see ‘Where can I find more information?’).
Checklist: choosing the right course Your first decision is whether you want to emerge from your studies with a recognised qualification, or whether the overall experience is as important to you. If the qualification is the more important factor to you, look for a college offering the City & Guilds or BTEC Edexcel Diploma course or one of the other established qualifications. Check that the qualification is accredited by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (England and Wales) or the Scottish Qualifications Agency (SQA). They compile the National Database of Accredited Qualifications which can be searched at: www.accreditedqualifications.org.uk.
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consider whether you want to attend a private college or a state-funded college, which will probably cost less
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go through this list when choosing a training centre that suits you: -
how many students are on the course, and how many staff per student?
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how many students were on the course last year, and how many achieved the right level?
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does the course lead to an approved qualification in your field?
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does the centre have a quality rating from an external organisation?
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do you have to provide your own equipment?
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can you look around the college or training centre, or meet current students and trainers?
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can you enrol at any time, or are there set dates?
2 Entrance Entrance qualifications for the different courses vary widely (some do not ask for any) and it is impossible to generalise. You should check with the course provider. Academic requirements for entry to Foundation degrees and Honours degree programmes may be similar to those for general university entrance, but there are many exceptions and alternatives so individual enquiry is essential.
3 How can I register as a professional? It is not required by law in the UK to register with any trade or professional bodies to practise in most of the areas described here. Electrolysists working in the UK may become members of the Institute of Electrolysis to increase their professional credibility, but registration is not a statutory requirement. However, there may be registration schemes in other countries, and you should check this in advance. You should also check whether specific British qualifications would be valid for registration in those countries.
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4 Next steps Checklist: your next steps
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Decide at which level you want to study – is it purely for interest, or to improve your spoken English at the same time, or for a high-level professional qualification?
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Search for courses on www.educationuk.org.
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For degrees and HNDs, apply though UCAS – for all other courses, apply directly to the institution.
Seek information and advice from the Hairdressing and Beauty Industry Authority (HABIA) or from the examination bodies referred to in the tables above (see ‘What can I study?’).
Don’t forget, if you intend to use your UK qualification to progress in your career at home or in another country, check that it is recognised there.
5 What else do I need to know? The regulations for entry into the UK are constantly changing and it is vital that you check the Home Office Border and Immigration Agency (BIA) website (www.bia.homeoffice.gov.uk) on a regular basis and check locally with your British Mission so you are aware of how UK immigration procedures will affect you. With the introduction of the new Australian-style points-based system you will need to keep even more up to date with the new immigration system changes when applying for a visa or work permit. For information on the points-based system go to: www.bia.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/documents/managingborders/pbsdocs. For advice on working in the UK: www.bia.homeoffice.gov.uk/workingintheuk. For advice about visas: www.bia.homeoffice.gov.uk/studyingintheuk. For practical advice on living in the UK download Studying and living in the UK from: www.educationuk.org/bc_img/body/articles/pdfs/stud_live_uk.pdf.
6 Where can I find more information? The British Council has produced the Education UK portfolio to provide international students with a wide range of information and guidance that will help them find out more about studying a UK course and other important issues, such as applying to study, entry clearance and living in the UK. The portfolio includes: • the Education UK website and a number of country websites containing locally relevant information – www.educationuk.org • The essential guides to education in the UK: Undergraduate and pre-university; Postgraduate and MBA* • Universities, Colleges and Schools Handbook* • Club UK magazine,* also available online at www.educationuk.org/clubuk • Postgraduate UK magazine.* *The publications are available at a selected number of British Council offices for students to use. The Education UK websites are a valuable source of information, with a database of over 450,000 courses and profiles of institutions that contain details of entry requirements and course fees; some offer a virtual tour of their campus.
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British Association of Beauty Therapy and Cosmetology (BABTAC) and Confederation of International Beauty Therapy and Cosmetology (CIBTAC) BABTAC Meteor Court Barnett Way Barnwood Gloucester GL4 3GG Telephone +44 (0)84 5065 9000 Fax +44 (0)84 5065 9001 E-mail enquiries@babtac.com www.babtac.com Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) PO Box 28 Cheltenham Gloucestershire GL52 3LZ Telephone +44 (0)87 0112 2211 Fax +44 (0)12 4254 4961 E-mail enquiries@ucas.ac.uk www.ucas.ac.uk
British Federation of Massage Practitioners 78 Meadow Street Preston Lancashire PR1 1TS Telephone +44 (0)17 7288 1063 Fax +44 (0)17 7288 1063 E-mail jolanta@jolanta.co.uk www.jolanta.co.uk Edexcel One90 High Holborn London WC1V 7BH Telephone +44 (0)12 0477 0696 Fax +44 (0)20 7758 6960 E-mail enquiries@edexcel.org.uk www.edexcel.org.uk
Guild of Professional Beauty Therapists Guild House 3 Charnwood Road
Derby DE1 2GT Telephone +44 (0)13 3222 7690 Fax +44 (0)13 3222 7690 E-mail info@beautyserve.com www.beautyserve.com
Hairdressing and Beauty Industry Authority (HABIA) Oxford House th 6 Avenue, Sky Business Park Robin Hood Airport Doncaster DN9 3DG Telephone +44 (0)84 5230 6080 Fax +44 (0)13 0277 4949 E-mail info@habia.org.uk www.habia.org.uk
Hairdressing Council 30 Sydenham Road Croydon CR0 2EF Telephone +44 (0)20 8760 7010 E-mail registrar@haircouncil.org www.haircouncil.org
Institute of Electrolysis Ltd Telephone +44 (0)87 0128 0477 Fax +44 (0)87 0051 6311 E-mail institute@electrolysis.co.uk www.electrolysis.co.uk Vocational Training Charitable Trust (VTCT) 1st Floor, Eastleigh House Upper Market Street Eastleigh Hampshire SO50 9FD
Federation of Holistic Therapists 18 Shakespeare Business Centre Hathaway Close Eastleigh Hampshire SO50 4SR
Telephone +44 (0)23 8068 4500 E-mail info@vtct.org.uk www.vtct.org.uk
Telephone +44 (0)87 0420 2022 Fax +44 (0) 23 8062 4399 E-mail info@fht.org.uk www.fht.org.uk
Scottish Qualifications Authority Hanover House 24 Douglas Street Glasgow G2 9FD
Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) 83 Piccadilly London W1J 8QA
Telephone +44 (0)14 1242 2214 Fax +44 (0)14 1242 2244 www.sqa.org.uk
Telephone +44 (0)20 7509 5555 Fax +44 (0)20 7509 6666 www.qca.org.uk
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Skillset National Training Organisation Focus Point, 21 Caledonian Road London N1 9GB
City and Guilds 1 Giltspur Street London EC1A 9DD
Telephone +44 (0)20 7713 9800 Email info@skillset.org www.skillset.org
Telephone +44 (0)20 7294 2800 Fax +44 (0)20 7294 2400 E-mail enquiry@city-and-guilds.org www.city-and-guilds.org
Other useful resources British Qualifications 38th ed., Trotman, 2007. ISBN 978 0 74945 075 5 – lists every qualification on offer in the UK. This is arranged by schools, colleges, universities, business schools, learned societies, trade and professional bodies and associations. Note: please note this book may not be available at your local British Council office.
While every effort has been made to ensure that the information given here is correct and up to date, the British Council accepts no legal liability for its accuracy, currency or completeness.
April 2008
Š British Council 2008 The United Kingdom's international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities. A registered charity: 209131 (England and Wales) SC037733 (Scotland).
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