The best beginners nails course for you will depend on your personal needs and aims. If your goal is to work in a salon, the best nail courses for you will be those which offer salon-based training such as NVQs or BTEC national diplomas. These provide hands-on experience with clients and assess practical skills such as filing, shaping, applying polish and buffing.
If you want to work as a mobile technician then the best beginners nails course for you will be those which offer vocational training such as City & Guilds, VTCT or BTEC First qualifications. All of these are recognised qualifications which you will need to get your insurance to give beauty treatments.
Common nail treatments you could learn
Gel nails
Gel nail courses are becoming increasingly popular with beauty therapists all over the world. The gel polish industry is worth millions of pounds and shows no signs of slowing down in the near future. Gel nails can be applied at home or professionally in salons or clinics. This is attractive to people who want to take up the trade but don’t want to commit to a longer-term nail course.
Acrylic nails
Acrylic nails are the most popular form of nails in the industry. The acrylic nail course teaches students how to apply, shape and colour artificial nails, know when to remove them safely and how to deal with potential issues such as fungal infections.
Natural Manicures
Natural nails are the best option for many people and in recent years natural nail courses have become one of the most popular training options.
Manicures and pedicures using only natural products such as oils and serums can be offered in salons or carried out at home to maintain healthy nails.
All in all, it would be good to learn all of the above nail techniques as they are all in high demand.
Different types of nail courses
Nail treatments will always be in demand. Generally, a good foundation for beginners is to start with a manicure/pedicure course.
Lots of nail courses are available, including
- Short courses designed to give you a basic understanding of treatments
- Longer courses aimed at helping you develop your skills and get experience under the guidance of an experienced technician.
Short courses are generally 6-15 hours in length, while long courses can be anything from 60 hours upwards.
Bear in mind, short course providers often require you to have completed a full manicure course before enrolling on a short course.
Online nail courses vs in person learning
There are lots of advantages to taking a beginners nail course from a trusted training provider or college. A good beginner’s nail course will teach you how to do everything properly, ensuring hands are safe and that you are confident in carrying out all types of treatments.
You will also learn about infection control, the basic anatomy of the hands and feet, how to mix products safely together and how to maintain your kit so you can work for longer with better results.
With a beginners course, you will get this knowledge before starting your career as a nail technician so you can be confident carrying out treatments.
Anatomy and Physiology for nail treatments.
Before completing a beginners nail course, it is also recommended to have at least some knowledge of anatomy and physiology because this will allow you to understand why certain treatments are carried out in a certain way
For example, when giving a pedicure, knowing where the bones are beneath your feet will allow you to give a treatment that is not too harsh on the bones.
The best place to start when looking for a nail course is by checking with your local college or training provider how they can help you
Most leading colleges offer short courses, full manicure and pedicure courses, gel nail extension courses and acrylic nail extension courses.
Where to find your beginners nail course
Finding a trusted nail course provider is extremely important as this will ensure that you have a solid foundation in which to build a successful career as a nail technician.
The more training hours you have under your belt, the easier it will be for salon managers to see how much potential have.
For more information about any of our courses please check out our course section, or contact us if you need any further info.
