Beauty therapist

Looking for a career where you'll help people look amazing and feel good? As a beauty therapist, you'll boost people's confidence by carrying out special treatments to their face and body.

You'll welcome clients into the beauty salon and chat to them about what they want to achieve. You'll use your expertise to suggest treatments you feel will benefit them. You'll help your client relax and feel pampered.

As a beauty therapist, you could provide a range of treatments. These include:

• facials: you'll cleanse, hydrate, massage and tone people's skin

• makeup artistry: you'll apply makeup and advise clients about the best products for them

• eyebrows: you'll wax or thread, giving your clients' brow definition and shape with the option of tinting

• lashes: either through a lash lift or lash extensions, you'll give your clients enhanced looks for their lashes

• nails: using gel polish, you'll do manicures, pedicures and other nail treatments like extensions or nail art

• waxing: you'll use a range of methods to remove clients' unwanted facial and body hair

• electrotherapy: using this treatment, you'll improve people's body tone and shape

• non-surgical skin improvement: you'll carry out cosmetic procedures that'll help your clients achieve great skin without surgery

• tanning: you could provide a selection of services, such as sunbeds (ultraviolet (UV)) and spray tanning

Some beauty salons offer other treatments such as massage, aromatherapy, hydrotherapy and reflexology. Occasionally you might refer clients to their doctor. For example, you'll do this if you discover someone has a severe skin problem.

Beauty therapists earn a commission on any products that customers buy from them. So, it's a big bonus if you have good sales skills!

Your tasks might include:

• answering the phone and welcoming visitors to the salon

• booking appointments

• carrying out a range of beauty treatments and recommending beauty products to clients

• checking and ordering supplies

• keeping notes of clients’ medical histories and treatment programmes

• using social media to advertise your services and attract new clients

• British Association of Beauty Therapy and Cosmetology (BABTAC) – a membership organisation for aesthetic, beauty, hair and wellbeing therapies

• Hair and Beauty Industry Authority (HABIA) – the standard-setting organisation for the hair and beauty industry