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Photograph of a client having their hair cut in a salon at The Manchester College.

What Do You Learn in a Hair and Beauty Course?

The make-up and hair industry has seen exponential growth in the past decade, and is expected to grow at a rate of 6.85% each year from 2022 to 2026.

Now is the perfect time to get your foot in the door of the booming industry and figure out which specialist avenue you want to take.

This is a comprehensive guide to helping you choose the right course for the career you want, and explains the course contents of each of the hair and beauty training courses we offer, so you can figure out which one is best suited for you!

Beauty Therapy courses

Level 1 Introduction to Beauty Therapy course

Want to kickstart your career in the beauty industry? Our Level 1 Introduction to Beauty Therapy course will give you the opportunity to learn:

  • Make-up application 
  • Nail art application
  • Basic manicures
  • Pedicure treatments
  • Plaiting and twisting hair
  • Facial treatments 
  • Reception duties 
  • Health and safety practices.

This Level 1 beauty therapist course is the perfect way for you to dive into the fabulous world of beauty therapy. It is the ideal stepping stone for you to develop your skills in beauty therapy, and secure job roles in a salon environment.

Level 2 Beauty Therapy course

Want to take your career to the next level? The Technical Level 2 Beauty Therapy Diploma enhances your knowledge in beauty therapy and refines your skills, so you can be the perfect salon specialist! 

You’ll develop a deeper knowledge and understanding of:

  • Health and safety practices 
  • Client consultation skills
  • Facials
  • Skin type analysis
  • Manicures
  • Pedicures
  • Waxing
  • Eyelash/eyebrow treatments
  • Make-up application
  • Customer service skills
  • Environmental sustainability
  • Commercial skills.

This course will give you access to higher roles in salons, with added responsibility and higher salaries.

Hairdressing courses

Level 2 Hairdressing course

The Level 2 Hairdressing course will give you the skills and knowledge you need to begin your career in hairdressing. You will learn:

  • Client consultations
  • Cut and blow-dry
  • Colour and lighten hair
  • Ladies hair styling
  • Health, safety and hygiene legislation and best practices
  • Set and dress hair
  • Shampoo and conditioning
  • Hair treatments 
  • Straightening and curling
  • Customer service skills.

Level 3 Hairdressing course

Get ready to “brush” up on your hairdressing skills, the Level 3 Hairdressing course will make you a “cut” above the rest. The course refines your skills so you can gain employment at higher positions! You will learn: 

  • Creative cut and styling
  • Creative colouring
  • Refined customer service skills
  • Client consultations.

Optional units will include some of the following:

  • Hair colour correction services
  • Hair extension services
  • Contribute to the planning, implementation and evaluation of promotional activities.

Nail Technology course

Ready to “polish” your skills and nail the art of perfection? The Level 3 Nail Technology course will help you develop a wide range of skills in the colourful world of manicure and pedicure treatments. On this nail course, you will learn:

  • Airbrush designs for nails
  • Enhancing nails using electrical files
  • Application and design of nail art
  • How to display retail stock to promote sales
  • How to promote both products and services to salon clients
  • How to do acrylic and gel nails.

Five optional units will include some of the following:

  • Effective running of a business
  • Spray tanning
  • Working with colleagues in the beauty related industry
  • How to set up and run a new business
  • Salon reception duties and managing a commercial column.

Salon Management Course 

Want to refine your salon skills to secure managerial roles? The Level 4 Salon Management course will give you the following skills and knowledge: 

  • Management of health, safety and security in the salon
  • Quality management of client care in the hair and beauty sector
  • Sales management in the hair and beauty sector
  • Public relations in the hair and beauty sector
  • Salon management.

You will also have the opportunity to undertake two additional units:

  • Research in the hair and beauty sector
  • Human resource management.

Qualified in Level 3 Beauty Therapy? You can choose to take two alternative additional units, which are:

  • Laser and light treatments for hair removal
  • Laser and light treatments for skin rejuvenation.

Barbering courses

Level 2 Barbering course

Want to get your “cut” of the booming barbering industry? Our Level 2 Barbering course is the perfect stepping stone for you to learn all about gent haircuts. This course will give you the following knowledge and skills:

  • Health and safety
  • Client consultations
  • Shampoo and conditioning
  • Basic barbering techniques
  • Face shapes and appropriate hairstyles
  • Dry and finish men's hair
  • Create basic patterns in hair
  • Hair colouring
  • Promote additional services or products to customers.

Level 3 Barbering course

Want to make your mark and leave a "hair-raising" impression. The Level 3 Barbering course will take your skills to the next level and help you unlock higher career opportunities.

You will learn a more advanced level of the skills and knowledge budding barbers learn in the Level 2 programme, including: 

  • Refine your hairdressing consultation services
  • Advanced barbering techniques 
  • Design and create a range of facial hair shapes 
  • Advanced selling techniques to promote additional services or products to clients.

Optional units will include some of the following:

  • Shaving techniques 
  • Complex designs and hair patterns
  • Colour hair using a variety of techniques
  • Perming techniques.

Now that you know the contents of each course, we hope you’ve figured out which course you want to enrol on to reach your dream career. You can be sure that our expert tutors can give you the relevant skills, knowledge and work experience to make you a pro at what you do!

Find out more about our hair, beauty and barbering courses and apply today.