Every beauty therapy training course you attend will be different, but many will follow a similar structure. Here, we will detail the kind of things you can expect and what questions you should be asking.
The Practical Training
Whether it is a beauty, nails or holistic treatment that you are studying, it is still going to be a hands-on treatment. Therefore, you should expect for there to be at least one practical training session and one practical assessment within the course. This will vary depending on the treatment. For example, a waxing course may require you to perform a practical on a number of different areas of the body.
On some training courses you will perform the practical element on each other, which means you should be prepared to have another student perform the treatment on you. Other courses will use models for the practical session, and you should check with the training school whether they will provide the model or if you are required to bring someone with you.
Products
The majority of schools will provide all of the products and equipment that you need to complete the course. However, some brand-specific courses will require you to purchase their starter kit before attending. You should check with your course provider whether the kit is included in the cost of the course or if it is extra.
The Theory
No matter how short the beauty therapy training course, or how simple the treatment seems, it should involve a lot more than just a practical demonstration. For every treatment, you should be taught the relevant anatomy and physiology of the area of the body affected. This can include the skin, muscles, bones and even the lymphatic system. It is important to understand the area of the body you will be treating as you need to know what problems you may encounter, what the client will want resolving and what the outcome is likely to be. Some courses which cover larger areas and systems, such as body massage, may require you to already hold a separate anatomy and physiology (A&P) qualification. This is because the amount of A&P you are required to learn is so large that course providers would rather not dedicate such a substantial amount of their course time to this subject.
Your course should also include various matters of health and safety and hygiene. This is to ensure that your clients are treated safely and correctly. As you and your equipment are in such close contact with your clients, cross-contamination can be a great risk and so you need to know how to avoid this.
The Consultation
You should also be taught how to deal with your clients outside of the treatment. This means thorough training in how to conduct a professional consultation and how to give aftercare advice. These aspects will help to protect both the client and therapist as it will help you to identify any contra-indications to treatment and ensure the client takes proper care of themselves afterwards. It is also an important factor in making sure that the client gets everything they want to out of the treatment and that its effects last as long as possible.
Contra-Indications
Any course should teach you what the contra-indications to treatment are. These are illnesses, conditions and injuries which mean that you either cannot conduct the treatment or need amend it. You should be taught what they are, how to recognise them and how to treat them.
Patch Tests
If the treatment you are studying requires you to perform patch tests then the course should cover this thoroughly. A patch test is a test of your products on a new client 24-48 hours before the treatment. This will help you to identify whether the client is likely to suffer an allergic reaction and prevent you from performing a dangerous treatment. You should be taught how to administer the patch test and how to identify the results.
Class Sizes
The number of students on your course will vary, so check with your course provider what they offer. Some teach classes of up to 30, whilst others offer groups of no more than five, or even one-to-one training. This is likely to affect the cost of the course, and you should make sure you select the learning environment that is best for you.
Pre-Requisites
You should establish with the course provider whether there are any pre-requisites. Some trainers will require you to hold other qualifications before you can attend their course. For example, you may need a basic waxing certificate before you can attend an intimate waxing course.
If you are unsure what any course involves or what will be expected of you then do not be afraid to pick up the phone and speak to someone. Most training schools will be happy to talk you through the details, meaning that you can book a course with complete peace of mind.