how to become an aesthetician

As aesthetics treatment grow more popular in the UK, this industry is now valued at billions of pounds. There are more career prospects than ever for those looking to practice as a non-medical aesthetician.

Why Become a Non-medical Aesthetician?

The aesthetics industry is growing faster than any other element of beauty (nails, hair and massage therapy). Studies have attributed this growth to an increased interest in health and self-care. Many younger customers are also focusing on preventing signs of ageing earlier, some starting in their teens! Clients are also becoming more aware of advanced aesthetic treatments through social media marketing and looking to get them done near them! Simply, people want to look and feel their best and are willing to pay more to do so.

There has never been a better time to study the face and skin to become an aesthetician.

Throughout this blog, we will help you figure out the steps needed to become a qualified non-medical aesthetician regardless of your previous experience.

How to Become a Non-medical Aesthetician?

For those looking to become a non-medical aesthetics practitioner, you will need to have a Level 2, Level 3 and Advanced Level 4 Beauty qualification. We worked out a journey plan that will allow you to reach your goal as quickly as possible. We're talking about being fully qualified in under 6 months!

Students should also consider looking for employment such as beauty assistant and receptionist jobs while studying. Having employment training will not only increase their employment chance once their studies have finished. We encourage students to gain experience working in a salon to understand how they are managed and build their customer service skills.

Level 2 Facial and Skin Care course:

(You can skip this step if you already have your Level 2)

The first stop on the journey to becoming a non-medical aesthetician is to learn the basics, the foundation of future knowledge. The VTCT Level 2 Facial and Skin Care course offers exactly that. Previously students would have had to learn everything about beauty – nails, brows, waxing, and massages – before progressing on to their aesthetics career. As the years have gone past, Ray Cochrane found the student demands to focus on skincare.

A Level 2 Facial and Skin Care course introduces learners to the theory of the skin, skin analysis, and Anatomy and Physiology. After those bases are covered, students will move on to studying facial and skincare treatments. Healthy and Safety salon management and client communication is learned to ensure students can successfully oversee a salon.

At this stage, students are qualified to practice as a junior facialist or can move on to the next step to become an aesthetician.

Level 3 Facial Electrotherapy course:

The Level 3 Qualification develops students' skills in providing facials using electrical equipment to improve the appearance of the face and neck. The training provided will prepare students to prepare and practice with facial electrical equipment.

Students on the course will learn to work with various facial electricals to provide the following facials:

Microcurrent Facials

Microcurrent facials work by stimulating the facial muscles using low-voltage electricity. In turn, the results promise increased facial definition, instant results and quicker collagen generation. A microcurrent facial is essentially a non-surgical facelift making it a popular choice for clients.

Faradic Facials

Faradic facials similarly exercise the facial muscles by sending currents on and off quickly to encourage contractions. These contractions will firm the client's facial muscles, promote glowy skin and cell regeneration.

Vacuum Suction Facials

Light suction is applied to the skin's surface, working from the neck upwards to lift the underlying lymphatic vessels. The suction device follows the direction of the lymph flow to support Lymphatic fluid drainage from within the skin. Client's that have this treatment will benefit from reduced puffiness, improved complexion and

Students will also learn how to use other electrical facial machines. Learners may not use all the various machines in the future, but the experience will help them adapt to other facial electricals. These machines form the basis of machines' used by CACI, Gunoit and more reputable salon brands.

Where Level 2 covers the basics, Level 3 advances their knowledge and fully qualifies them to become facialist. At this stage, learners can work in a salon, spa or even retail facial industry. Alternatively, they can continue their non-medical aesthetician journey and complete their Level 4 advanced qualification.

Level 4 Certificate in Laser Hair Removal, Chemical Peels and Skin Needling

The final step to becoming a non-medical aesthetician is completing an advanced level 4 qualification! It doesn't have to be a Level 4 skin needling certificate. There is a range of advanced aesthetics qualifications taught by Ray Cochrane: the Level 4 Skin Peeling or Level 4 Laser & IPL . However, the level 4 skin needling certificate is used in this blog to demonstrate how to qualify as a non-medical aesthetician.

To enrol on the level 4 Skin Needling course, students MUST have completed their level 2 and 3. Of course, that's why it's the last step! Alternatively, if you already have medical training you can start on a level 4 immediately.

On the Skin Needling course, students learn all the safety issues relevant to skin needling treatments. The anatomy and physiology learnt on the Level 2 and 3 will be revised and expanded on, to accommodate level 4 practices. Once they have grasped these, they will move on to practical training. Learning how to correctly administer skin needling on clients to reveal brighter and more youthful skin. To perfectly perform skin needling treatments, learners will master their client consultation skills. Client consultations help aestheticians understand their clients' skin better – explain their treatments, possible reactions and carry out patch testing.

Studying a Level 4 Qualification in a professional establishment is key as students will be handling risky chemicals or equipment when practising. As an aesthetician, practitioners have a duty to their clients to treat them as safely and correctly as possible.

Once learners have completed their Level 4 Training, they are officially fully qualified, non-medical aestheticians. Ready to go out into the world and bless their clients with healthy skin.

Become a non-medical aesthetician 1

Why Choose Ray Cochrane to Study Non-medical Aesthetics?

As one of the best aesthetics academies in the UK, students come from around the world to study with us. We have trained many non-medical aestheticians over the years who are now successfully running their own clinics.

Our courses take students from the basics and work them carefully on to the more complicated topics. The method ensures that students understand every element of their course and not fall behind, increasing their pass rate.

Behind this course structure are our expert aesthetics tutors who have worked hard using their experience to curate the course to pass on their knowledge. All with over 10 years of experience within the beauty and aesthetics industry, they are the best of the best. When completing such an advanced qualification, having good tutors will make it just that bit easier.

To find out more about completing your journey to becoming a qualified non-medical Aesthetician, get in touch with us. Our lines are open from 9 am – 5 pm on 020 7486 6291.