Beauty Therapist – Job Description
Learn more about becoming a Beauty Therapist in the UK.
Main Duties
A beauty therapist is responsible for providing face and body treatments for their customers. They help to make them feel less stressed and more confident by improving their appearance and giving them relaxing treatments.
The types of treatments offered include hair removal, nail treatments, massage, eyebrow and eyelash shaping and facials. They may also offer skin and beauty advice and specialised treatments such as electrolysis and tanning.
Beauty therapists may work in health and fitness clubs, spas, airports, hotels, cruise ships, hair salons or holiday resorts. Some are self-employed and may provide services in their home or visit clients in their own home.
Some may be required to book appointments and manage telephone calls.
Selling beauty products is often part of the job too.
Expected Salary
A newly qualified therapist should expect to earn between £10,000 and £13,500 but this can often be supplemented with commission on sales of beauty products. Salary will increase with experience, but managers can earn significantly more.
Pros
A very rewarding job where customers should leave treatments feeling more relaxed and beautiful.
Opportunity for promotion to a salon manager or to run own business if self-motivated.
Lots of possible locations to work from salons to cruise ships so working abroad could be possible.
Cons
Physically demanding as the therapist is always standing and needs energy to give treatments.
Has to always be smiling and friendly as well as polite even if they do not feel like it.
Is responsible for making the customer look and feel good and so could feel high pressure.
Qualifications Required
NVQ/SVQ level 3
Some hands on experience is preferred
Qualifications need to be up to date due to the ever changing treatments in the industry
Additional qualifications that will help include:
BTEC Higher National Diploma in Beauty
CIBTAC
CIDESECO
Required Skills
Need to be professional all of the time and respect their customers privacyNeeds to have high standards of personal hygiene and grooming to make customers feel comfortableHas to have good communication skills and able to put clients at easeHas to be a very good listenerNeed to be good at handling a full schedule and standing up all dayGood time management skills so appointments are on timeNeed to keep up with changes in the beauty business and may need to train to improve skills
This seems a popular career choice for females. I know several that are either still in college/uni and are offering their services already, or have just recently finished uni and have set up their own business.