You could study for a college qualification in beauty therapy. This may help if you apply for jobs as a trainee in a salon or spa.

Entry requirements

Entry requirements for these courses vary.

You can apply to do a Beauty Therapist Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship, or Advanced Beauty Therapist Level 3 Apprenticeship.

These typically take between 15 and 18 months to complete as a mix of workplace learning and off-the-job study.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

• some GCSEs, usually including English and maths, or equivalent, for an intermediate apprenticeship
• 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship

You could start out as a beauty therapy assistant in a salon or spa. You could then study for a qualification while you're working.

You'll need:

• customer service skills to put clients at ease
• sensitivity and understanding towards your clients’ needs
• the ability to work well with your hands for giving treatments
• excellent verbal communication skills to explain treatments
• to be thorough and pay attention to detail
• patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
• the ability to work well with others
• the ability to sell products and services
• to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device

In your day-to-day tasks you may:

• give a facial by cleansing, massaging and toning a client's skin
• do a makeover by applying and advising on make-up
• shape eyebrows and colour eyelashes
• give a manicure, pedicure or other nail treatment like extensions and nail art
• remove unwanted facial and body hair
• do non-surgical skin improvement treatments
• offer ultraviolet (UV) treatments and spray tanning

You could work in a salon, at a health spa, on a cruise ship, in a hotel or from home.

You may need to wear protective clothing.