I enrolled at college on NVQ Level 1 Beauty Therapy course, i can remember being so nervous on my first day but i saw someone from my year at school so we stuck together. I would say there was around 25-30 students on the course, on the first day we did general team building exercises and 'tell us about yourself' games so we could get to know one another.
Everyone made friends quickly but you could tell that there was some 'bitchy' element that there would be with any just girls atmosphere.
Half way through the course only 15 students were left including me, they either got kicked off the course of dropped out themselves, not that i was complaining the smaller the group the better as me and my friends found.
During Level 1 you study Manicures and Facials, as well as functional skills i don't know weather this applies to every college but we had to do this compulsory to pass the course, which i didn't find too bad and our teacher was super nice :)
We had practical assessments of our manicures and facials on paying public clients and our own clients we could bring in, we had to perform so many of each treatment to a high standard to pass.
Overall my first year was really good, you make friends quick and learn if beauty is for you or not.
I then enrolled on NVQ Level 2 Beauty therapy, lots more new faces so on the first couple of days it was team building exercises and 'get to know' each other. The exact same thing happened in level 2 there was around 30 students at the beginning by the end of the course 17 were left!
During Level 2 you study:
- Manicures
- Pedicures
- Facials
- Eyelash Tinting
- Eyelash Perming
- Eyebrow Tinting
- Eyebrow shaping
- Waxing
- Make-up
I enjoyed level 2 so much more than level 1, i think it was because it was more to do with beauty, not that i didn't enjoy doing functional skills, but that was what i came here to do!
In level 2 we still had functional skills, I.T English and Anatomy and Physiology. You have to learn ALOT of A&P. Every bone in the body, every muscle and what they do etc etc.
With assessments we had members of the public book into the college and we would perform treatments on them for the assessments we needed, we also had to do written assessments and an on-line exam to pass certain sections of the course. For each section say make up, you would have to do a look for day, evening and bridal. Then say waxing you would have to use 3 different types of wax to pass that exact section.
Your first ever client from the public is scary as your used to performing treatments on your friends in class, you get to know what skin type they are, how they like their brows done. So a member of the public becomes daunting, but after that first one it just becomes second nature talking to people you don't know asking them quite private questions on the consultation, i wouldn't worry as your tutor will be there at all times helping you and checking that you are doing things correct. :)
I then enrolled onto Spa And Body Therapies Level 3.Before i could enroll on the course i had to do a 'trade test' this is where the tutor from that level will ask you to perform a treatment on them to see how well you perform and what your attitude to learning is like.
There were 15 students on the course and 15 students at the end, i think going through level 1 and 2 really tests you to see if beauty is something for you.
During Level 3 you study:
- Full Body Massage
- Aromatherapy
- Spray Tanning
- Full body Exfoliation
- Hot Stone Massage
- Reflexology
Level 3 is deffenatley more intense than any of the other levels, the A&P is on another level, people think Beauty Therapists are stupid but if they sat in our lessons i'm sure their mind would be boggled the amount we have to learn!
Our assessments were done again by members of the public booking a treatment and we would use them for our assessments. I do have to admit when your practicing on your friends you know what to expect with a full body massage so you can take the appropriate clothes off and since you have all been together for 3 years you are all quite comfortable with each other, but for the first time massaging a member of the public and telling them that they have to take their clothes off, some of them look at you as if to say WHAT?! and you end up thinking did they not know what to expect when the booked in for a full body massage?!
My advice if you want to enroll on a Beauty course is:
- Be friendly everyone is in the same situation as you and doesn't know anyone.
- If your college offers extra courses, say eyelash extensions, do them they are usually cheaper than doing them after college!
- Get a big bag that can fit a folder in so you don't have to carry it around
- Buy an A&P book or loan from a library
- Try to keep all your work organized, there's nothing worse than looking for an assessment consultation sheet and not being able to find it so you have to do the treatment again.
- What you do to your clients you have to have done to yourself. Id never had my top lip waxed, neither did i want it waxed but had to have it done to see what the pain was like etc.
- Have fun! having loads of treatments and being pampered is the best part so enjoy it!!
I hope i helped someone who is looking to study Beauty Therapy if you have any other questions dont hesitate to ask.
All together my college experience was amazing you come out with the qualifications you want and friends you will have forever. :)
Sophie xoxo
