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Maybe you’re a nail novice, or perhaps you’ve been shaping talons for years, but now you’re unsure where your career’s headed. Wherever you are in your nail technology career, we’re here to show you how to progress to the next step so you can boost your job prospects and earnings.
We’ll cover:
How Do I Become Qualified in Nail Technology?
What Can I Do After I Qualify?
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What Does a Nail Tech Do?
[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”5695″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center”][vc_column_text]As a nail tech, you should have a range of nail treatments under your belt. Such as:
- Acrylic – the most popular treatment a nail tech can offer, you can mould acrylic nails to create long dramatic looks or more subtle manicures. They take skill and practice to master, but you can achieve stunning results.
- Gel – gel nails are less invasive than acrylics, so many people opt for them to achieve a natural look. They’re usually a shorter treatment and less expensive than an acrylic set.
- Fibreglass – fibreglass nails are less well known but are quickly becoming a popular treatment. They are applied using fibreglass wraps to create the extension, then shaped and painted to create the final look.
- Nail Art – you should learn plenty of different nail art designs to wow your clients. Brushing up on these skills will help you stand out from other nail techs.
A lot of nail techs also choose to branch out into other areas of beauty, such as brows or lash extensions, as this helps to boost earnings and broaden their skillset.
The potential earnings of a nail tech begin at £12,500 and can peak anywhere up to £25,000 depending on experience, clientele and location. Salary will increase if you choose to become a salon owner or take other career paths such as teaching alongside.
The typical hours of a nail tech are around 38 to 40 hrs a week, and you can expect to work at unsociable times during evenings and weekends. [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]
How Do I Become Qualified in Nail Technology?
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1. Qualifications
The first step to becoming a professional nail tech is to complete a qualification in nail technology. Posh look offers a range of courses for different ages and experience levels so that everyone can get the most out of their training.
Level 1 Introduction to the Hair and Beauty Sector
The Level 1 course is an excellent foundation for 16-18-year-olds who want to kickstart their career in nail technology. The course covers hand care, basic manicure and nail art over 22 weeks.
Students can also dip their toe in other areas of beauty such as makeup artistry and skincare, so they leave with a well-rounded knowledge of the industry.
Consequently, these skills will give students enough knowledge to be able to start work as a beauty salon assistant and get some real experience under their belt.
Level 3 Nail Technology
Our Level 3 Nail Technology qualification is open to all experience levels; however, students must be 19 years or older to enrol.
On this course, we take a more in-depth look at the different areas of nail technology, including:
- Manicure and pedicure
- An introduction to fibreglass and silk enhancements
- Acrylic enhancements
- Gel polish and nail art
- E-file
Also, students learn how to promote stock, be mindful of their health and wellbeing and excel as a salon manager. The combination of practical and social skills that students learn allow them to further their careers in a salon or even start their own.
In just 18 weeks, students leave with a professional qualification and the confidence to promote themselves as an expert in nail technology.
NVQ Nail Services
Our NVQ Nail Services course allows students to take a look into other areas of nail technology and build upon their existing skills. You must be 19 years old and have a previous qualification in acrylic nails to enrol.
Areas that we explore in this course include:
- Fibreglass & silk enhancements – infill /backfill & removal
- Sculpted acrylics
- Sculpted pink & white hard gel & natural overlay gel
- E-file
- Nail art
- Photoshoot nails
Students have the opportunity to learn health and safety, as well as how to engage in promotional activities and events. Upon completion of the course, students will have several qualifications under the belt, which can boost their reputation and quality of work.
2. Gain Experience
Working with clients and practising your skills is a fundamental part of building your career in nail technology. Without experience, it’ll be hard to refine your skills and master all the different techniques you need to know.
You can start in a salon, shadowing and carrying out assistant work to see how other techs engage with clients and complete a full treatment.
On the other hand, if you’re thinking of starting a mobile business, you can practice on family and friends. Offering treatments at a discounted price is also an excellent way to build up your clientele and gain experience.
3. Private Courses
You may be at a point in your career where you have a few qualifications and experience under your belt. This is the perfect time to expand your knowledge and broaden your skills with a Posh Look private course.
Our private courses are one-to-one sessions that can be completed in a matter of days or less, allowing you to fast track your career and work around your busy schedule. Each course includes a free kit and method of assessment that’ll allow you to test your new skills.
We offer four types of private course in regards to nail technology:
- Acrylic 4 Day Foundation – 3 Days and 1 Assessment Day (9.30am – 3.30pm)
- Manicure and Pedicure – 1 day (9.30am – 3.30pm)
- Hard Gel 4 Day Foundation – 3 Days and 1 Assessment day (9.30-12.30pm)
- Gel Polish – 3 hours (9.30-12.30pm)
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What Can I Do After I Qualify?
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1. Start a Mobile Business
Running a mobile business is a great way to get started in the industry and fulfil your freelance dreams. There’s little risk involved as you don’t need to rent premises and your clients’ houses are your office.
All you need to get started is equipment, a car and the determination to make your business a success. You’ll need to think about branding and getting your name out there, so create social media pages to promote your work, talk to clients efficiently and monitor the competition.
2. Open a Salon
Once you have plenty of experience, you may consider opening a salon. It’s an exciting opportunity but one that requires a lot of planning and dedication! You’ll need to think about rent, staffing, branding, and managing your finances.
Read our blog ‘How to Start A Beauty Salon: Posh Nailz 10-Step Guide’ for tips on how to open a successful beauty salon.
3. Learn to Teach
A nail tech’s career doesn’t have to end with giving manicures and pedicures forever. If you fancy switching your daily routine up, teaching may be a viable career path for you!
First off, you’ll need to get some qualifications so you can teach industry accredited courses and make sure that your students are receiving the best education. You need to complete two steps to become a teacher, and with Posh Look you can do both:
- Teaching qualification – we offer this course on a remote basis, and students receive all the information they need to complete the written assignments. Students also have to deliver a 20-minute teaching session to complete the course and receive their certification. Once you have successfully passed your teaching qualification, you will then be able to start adding courses to your belt using our online learn to teach programme.
- Online course – our Learn to Teach 4 Day Acrylic course is a series of comprehensive guides to help you fast track your teaching career with the convenience of learning at home in your own time. The online video course guides you step by step through everything you need to teach the 4 Day Acrylic Nails Course. You must have a teaching qualification to sign up for this course.
Work through these steps, and you’ll be well on your way to building a successful career in nail technology. For more info about any of our courses, head to the training page and find a training centre closest to you!
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