How To Become A Nail Technician
How to Become a Nail Technician
With increasing demand for beauty therapists, a career as a nail technician in the fast-moving beauty industry could prove to be both exciting and fulfilling. If you are enterprising, ambitious and enthusiastic, this could be the right career choice for you.
Our sources for this article: National Careers Service
What Does a Nail Technician Do?
A nail technician is a professional beauty specialist responsible for the nail care and appearance of their clients’ fingernails and toenails.
Treatments Offered By Nail Technicians
How Much Does A Nail Technician Earn?
According to the National Careers Service full-time nail technician salary can range between around £12,500 per year as a trainee, up to about £25,000 per year as a more experienced or senior nail specialist.
What Qualifications Do You Need To Become A Nail Technician?
You don’t need specific nail technician qualifications but having them can make you more employable and give you more choice about where you work. You can study nail technology courses at a local college or enrol in online, distance learning courses.
For example, you might opt for a comprehensive course such as a Complete Nail Technician Diploma, which covers practical and theoretical knowledge in five main areas: manicure, gel polish, acrylic, fibreglass and silk extensions. Alternatively, you could choose to specialise in just one of those specific nail services.
What Skills Do You Need To Become A Nail Technician?
Nail technicians can benefit from gaining a wide range of skills outside of the typical treatments they offer to customers.
Conversational skills
Nail technicians deal with all kinds of clients, so people skills are essential. It would help if you felt comfortable talking and listening to people and have excellent customer service skills
Attention to detail
Nail treatments are intricate and delicate, so concentration and attention to detail are critical
Digital skills
You’ll need to work well with your hands and carry out basic admin tasks on a computer or hand-held device
Research skills
If you’re working independently, you’ll need to be able to research the latest trends and styles, as well as nail maintenance techniques
Is It Helpful To Gain Work Experience Before Becoming A Nail Technician?
Gaining work experience is useful in any industry. Work experience gives you an insight into what being a nail technician involves. Try to find work experience before you commit to doing your training so that you’re confident it’s the right career path for you.
Work experience also helps you start developing your skills and building up a portfolio that you can present to prospective clients or employers.
Career Pathways For A Nail Technician
The beauty industry is growing, so as a beauty professional, your skills will always be in demand, and you will have plenty of options as to how you progress your career. For example, you may choose to work full-time or part-time.
Nail technicians may be employed by beauty salons, health spas or nail bars. If you want the opportunity to travel, you could seek employment as a nail technician on a cruise ship. Nail technicians may also run their own business working from home, in their own salon or travelling to clients’ houses to provide nail treatments.
Most employees start with work experience or an entry-level job and progress as they gain experience, add to their portfolio and develop specialist skills and qualifications through undertaking training and courses.
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