- 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
- knowledge of English language
- to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device
Your day-to-day tasks may include:
- giving a facial by cleansing, massaging and toning a client's skin
- giving a makeover by applying and advising on make-up
- shaping eyebrows and colouring eyelashes
- giving a manicure, pedicure or other nail treatment like extensions and nail art
- removing unwanted facial and body hair
- giving electro-therapy treatments to improve body tone and shape
- giving non-surgical skin improvement treatments
- offering UV (ultraviolet) and spray tanning
You may need to wear protective clothing.
You could work in a salon, at a health spa, on a cruise ship, in a hotel or from home.
With experience you could progress to salon manager.
You could become self-employed and get your own salon, work from home or travel to clients.
You could also move into fashion, theatre or media make-up.
You can find out more about careers in beauty therapy from the Hairdressing and Beauty Industry Authority and the British Association of Beauty Therapy and Cosmetology.
You can also find out more about working in creative careers from Discover Creative Careers.
