Do we have any nail technicians??

[Angela2612]

I'm curious I'm very interested in starting a nail course there is an enrol night at my local college on Monday for a level 2 nail technician ( nail extension systems) I email and asked what qualification it would gain and it would be a qualification in acrylic nail extensions.
Now my question is what other courses do I need to go with this ? As my college only does this course and the other bits are in with the beauty therapy courses. Hope somebody can help me it's so confusing with all the courses out there.
Thanks in advance
Angela

 

[jodie34]

Hiya im a nail tech .. the qualification would probably be an nvq in nail enhanvements .. u should also do level 3 health and safety in this course aswell .. you could do gel or acrylic or both .. i did acrylic and i also did a seperate gel which covers me to do gel polish aswell .. it would also be handy to look for a nail art course once you have done your training ... if your not happy with what yout course offers have alook on google for beauty schools ... nsi .. young nailss .. there is others aswell hope that helps if u need anymore info ask away xx

 

[Angela2612]

Thank you Jodie it's very confusing all the courses on offer lol the collage did say you might have to pay £30 for a health and safety course or it might be included the course itself is £240 plus £101 for the kit I've been trying to find out if this is a good price.
I asked about gel and the tutor said she could show me but there would be no qualification attached so I would have to find somewhere to do that course ?

I will have a look on the sites you mentioned

So have I got it correct if I sit that acrylics course I will need health and safety and then on top of that possibly a gel course and then a nail art course ?

 

[jodie34]

U dont have to do a nail art course but its handy to do for 3d flowers etc plus its an extra charge in top of a full set ..

the same with gel u dont have to do it but its good to offer a couple if treatments ..

there are courses that combine all of it together whereabouts are u and i will ask mt tech friends on fb for courses near you xx

 

[Angela2612]

Thank you that would be lovely I'm in County Durham

 

[Sassysugar]

Hi angela, I'm a nail tech too. I did manicures and pedicures first (vtct level 2) at college which then enabled me to vtct level 2 in nail technology. I did these at Gateshead college a few years ago. I've just been looking to do an acrylic course but not been finding a lot in the area. There is a company called nail harmony and they do gel/acrylic courses and I think their educator is based in Newcastle? I ended up going on and doing more training with a company called CND. They're fab but the closest training centres to Durham is Leeds, Manchester or Edinburgh.

Eta my nail technology only cover gels

 

[Angela2612]

Hiya Hun thank you it's at new college durham, I've just been on nail harmony think I will give them a ring to find out about the conversion courses I have till Monday on weather I want to enrol on this course and I'm very tempted I have scoured the internet for courses and I cannot find one that is as local or as hands on iykwim so I'm hoping if I take the plunge I'm doing the right thing

The tutor said on completion you will be a fully qualified acrylic nail technician to either work in a salon at home or mobile, so what I can gather from that is I will be able to do all nails apart from gels ect so I would have to do a course for that. She did say if there was enough interest that they might do a gel course.

I'm on the fence I really want to do it just there is to many confusing courses out there
I think this might be my best one to go for?

I've been told about CND but like you say it's not very close and also with child are being a problem as much as I'd love to I don't think I'd be able

 

[Sassysugar]

Small world, I studied at New College many years ago when it was at Neville's Cross.

How many weeks is the course? Do you not need to do manicure & pedicures first? That's a really good base to start with and then go onto do gels & acrylics. Or do they cover that on the course too? I find there aren't many courses in the area either. I want to do an acrylic course too but closest was an hour away, which doesn't seem much, but like you, when you have a child it makes it more difficult. A lot are day courses and I just don't think I would learn enough to be confident after 1 day.

Maybe this one is a good one to start with and then you can just keep adding to your training as you go along

 

[Angela2612]

Very small world lol here's a link this one starts in September though it's a 9 week course might be longer not sure depends on the class size I think http://www.newcollegedurham.ac.uk/level-2-nail-technology-nail-extension-systems-c1956/
She said there is no requirements to start and I think they cover manicures in the course but not pedicures it seems like a good starting point to me but i haven't a clue lol it also does the health and safety course as well

From what I can understand you will be qualified to polish and do acrylic extensions it's so mind boggling

 

[Angela2612]

I've enrolled fingers crossed it will be ok lol

 

[Sassysugar]

H&S is good to have. If the course just covers manicures, I would look into pedicures for after this course, it's always good to have, especially with summer coming and people like to get their flip flops on! It will be a case of practice, practice, practice after the course. Keep us posted on how you get on. You're making me want to get on more courses (I love learning) but will have to wait until after baby is here.

On a side note, I know they will probably recommend books to you, but I thoroughly recommend the following especially for when course is finished and you're going it alone as the course really is just a good starting point.

Nail Class by Gigi Rouse
The Complete Nail Technician by Marian Newman
Nail Structure and Product Chemistry by Doug Schoon

Oh and join salongeek feel free to pm me if you ever have any questions, good luck

 

[Angela2612]

Thank you very much Hun, i will look out for those books.
I did join salon geek they all said to go with CND but its to far to travel.
Yes H&S is good to have, I will defiantly look into pedicures once I've done the course there is two places close that do courses one being Carlton institute which is in durham and also nail Harmony in Newcastle so if the college doesn't do any other course I will be looking those two hmmm I'm excited lol

 

[Lanny1981]

I'm a nail tech, and I did my course with next step beauty, it was recommended on direct gov, they do the workshops in all areas of the uk, it was a 5 day intense course, we did manicures the first day and if we didn't pass that on exam day we couldn't pass the rest.

I'm now trained in acrylics, gels, fibreglass and silks. They were all taught on the course.

We then had 8?weeks to precipice at home before going back and taking an all day exam which covered all the types mentioned above x

 

[Angela2612]

Thank you I shall have a look at next step beauty

 

[Angela2612]

Just an update I've finished my course

 

[Sassysugar]

Well done! How did you find it?

 

[Angela2612]

I was quiet surprised how well I picked it all up but I really enjoyed it, I learned a lot I'm going to book up to do the nail harmony gelish course so I can add that as some other services to my list