Spotlight on… Hair and Beauty Department
Are you creative, adaptable, and a people person with a knack for listening to others? Then you might have what it takes to cut it in the hair and beauty industry.
Whether you see yourself as the next Charlotte Tilbury or Chris Appleton, it will take more than just being able to use a pair of scissors or a make-up brush to have a successful career.
If you’re considering retraining as a hair stylist, beauty therapist or make-up artist, or have already established yourself and want to learn the latest techniques to advance your career, RNN Group’s hair and beauty department can support you to brush up on your skills to stay booked and blessed.
What is a career in hair and beauty?
The hair and beauty industry is thriving, estimated to be worth around £6bn in the UK, with over 60,000 businesses and a growing workforce.
Around 60 percent of the hair and beauty workforce are self-employed. It offers a flexible lifestyle that means you can fit your clients in around your family or other commitments. It also offers great job satisfaction and job security – the quest for beauty never ends.
But it’s also very competitive, with hair stylists, beauty therapists and make-up artists needing to stand out to attract and retain clients.
As well as being creative and staying ahead of hair and beauty trends, you need to be emotionally intelligent. It’s your job to make other people feel great inside and out. You want your clients to leave feeling like a million dollars – even if they only came in for an eyebrow wax or a dry trim.
Being able to multitask is also a big power play in the hair and beauty industry. A mechanic or a chef probably never speaks to their customers; they’re able to just concentrate on the task ahead, such as fixing the car or cooking the meal.
Whereas in the hair and beauty industry, the job is multi-faceted. You’re creating the product or delivering the service in front of the customer, all while holding a conversation, providing customer service, and supporting your colleagues – usually with a back-to-back diary.
So, where could I work?
If you go down the hairdressing route, you could work in an independent or chain hair salon, be a mobile stylist, or open your own salon. You could choose to specialise in male hair, Afro-Caribbean hair, bridal hair and updos, or further develop your knowledge in hair science and trichology for hair loss solutions. With time and experience you could progress into salon management or move into a consultancy, sales or educator role within the hair industry.
For those interested in beauty therapy, you could work in a salon, hotel or spa. You could also be a self-employed beauty therapist working from home, your own salon, or on a mobile-basis travelling to other people’s homes. You could choose to specialise as a nail technician, brow or lash artist, or advanced aesthetician. With time and experience you could become a spa or salon manager, or move into product sales or education.
If you’re considering a career as a make-up artist, you could work as a freelance artist offering special occasion or bridal make-up, or be employed on an in-store counter for a make-up brand, offering both retail sales and make-up appointments. You could also work in theatrical hair and make-up for TV, film, or fashion. We have had students who have gone on to set up their own face painting businesses, and another recently worked in the make-up department for ITV’s Gladiators.
What hair and beauty courses can I study at RNN Group?
We have three pathways you can take: hairdressing, beauty therapy, or media hair and make-up.
Whichever option you choose, you won’t just learn the practical skills required. You’ll learn anatomy for carrying out treatments, understand the science of hair, skin and body, and the chemistry of products used for safe application. Our courses also cover things like health and safety, client care, and employability skills.
All students also undertake a week’s placement on the salon reception to gain practical experience of using the phone and electronic systems to take bookings and payments.
Hair
Our hairdressing and barbering courses are offered at two of our campuses: Rotherham and North Notts.
We offer apprenticeships, as well as part-time adults’ courses in the evenings for those wanting to retrain or upskill.
The hairdressing and barbering courses cover fundamental skills such as cutting, colouring, blow drying and styling techniques. You may also train in areas like facial shaving, advanced hair treatments, colour correction, and hair extension services.
You’ll learn how to find and develop your own style as a hairdresser by experimenting with creative cuts and colours.
Beauty
Our beauty courses range from level 1 to level 4. These are offered at two of our campuses: Rotherham and North Notts.
We also offer part-time courses for adults at all three campuses, Rotherham, Dearne Valley and North Notts.
Our beauty students train in range of techniques including manicures and nails, eye treatment, facials, waxing, massage and facials.
Due to demand from our students, we have also introduced a new range of level 4 courses in advanced beauty treatments at our Rotherham campus.
These are aimed at beauty therapists who already have a level 3 qualification and want to diversify their offerings with non-surgical treatments. These courses include IPL laser hair removal and skin rejuvenation, microblading, skin peels, and dermaplaning.
Media Make-up
One specialist part of the department is the media hair and make-up courses we offer at both Rotherham and North Notts campuses. We also run a foundation degree and BA Honours top-up year in theatrical make-up at University Centre Rotherham.
Our students learn the basics of being a make-up artist right up to creating a full look using prosthetics, airbrushing and postiche. You’ll explore different eras and styles of makeu-p, including editorial and fashion, so that you can become adaptable if you choose to work in make-up departments for TV and film.
Unlike hair and beauty, the media make-up students’ timetable isn’t just Monday to Friday. They go out on location working in theatres, for school productions, or casualty simulations with the NHS. Students also get the chance to be entered into the World Skills UK competition.
I’m already working but want to enhance my skills. Will I have time to study?
As previously mentioned, we offer a number of part-time courses for adults who want to retrain or develop their skills around work or family commitments. These courses generally take place during the evening.
At Rotherham campus, these include:
- Level 2 – Asian bridal, barbering, eyelash and eyebrow treatments, face painting and body art, make-up, nails, women’s hairdressing, tanning
At North Notts, we offer:
- Level 2 – Barbering, beauty, eyelashes, women’s hairdressing, threading
Why choose RNN Group?
At RNN Group, we have two hair and beauty academies where our courses are run from. These salons are at our Rotherham Campus in the town centre and North Notts Campus in Worksop.
All the salons are modern and fully equipped with all the tools you need to develop your skills. We have things like spray tanning booths, electrical massage machines, and nail bars.
We also work with major hair and beauty brands such as Dermalogica and Wella, so you’ll be using products and equipment found in industry.
Our salons are all open to paying customers throughout term time. This means that our students get hands-on experience during their lessons by working on real clients.
You’ll be fully supported by our experienced teaching team who oversee all client appointments.
The hairdressing and barbering courses are led by Gavin Morely, a second-generation barber who has been in the industry almost 40 years. He has owned salons in Doncaster and is a Wella master colour expert.
Gavin says:
“I’ve never worked in a college before where there has been so many staff members still working in industry like there are here. Our staff didn’t just work in a salon 25 years ago; we are all constantly refreshing our own training to ensure we remain current.
The level of experience we have has upskilled our students and they leave with better qualifications.”
The beauty courses are led by Tracy Mills who has been in the industry for over 35 years, two-thirds of which she’s been part of our teaching team. Tracy has been pivotal in introducing the new level 4 non-medical courses so that beauticians can safely train in more advanced areas in a controlled environment, ensuring they have the correct qualifications and skills to minimise risk to clients when undertaking these aesthetic treatments.
Our media make-up courses are led by Lydia Teale who has been with us for over 13 years. She started as a beauty therapy student at our Rotherham Campus, before becoming an assessor. After gaining her teaching qualifications, she joined the lecturing team before becoming curriculum team leader.
Our staff have developed excellent links with industry professionals and employers. Students benefit from visits and masterclasses with hair and beauty brands, as well as trips and trade shows. We run various competitions and cross-college events so that students can put their skills to the test.
Real graduate stories
Sophie – Level 4 Beauty Therapy
Sophie started at college after leaving school on the media hair and make-up course, before deciding that she was more interested in beauty therapy. Now in her late 20s, she continues to develop her skills with our new range of level 4 beauty courses.
“I keep coming back as this is the only place I’ll do courses – I can’t imagine going anywhere else. The tutors have been amazing and I don’t want to leave. They help us with career advice and show us the options available for our individual courses. I’m hoping to get some experience in salons and spas before going to work on cruise ships.
“It’s helped build my confidence so much for going out into industry. It feels so much more professional working on clients rather than just family or friends. And there’s always someone watching us which is why clients like coming here.”
Kelly – Bachelor’s Degree in Theatrical Hair and Media Make-up
Kelly went back to college as a mature student to take the BA degree after a career change from a health and social lecturer. After graduating in 2022, Kelly has now joined the lecturing team in the hair and beauty department, teaching on both the FE and HE hair and media make-up courses.
“I’d gone self-employed as a make-up artist six or seven years ago and had worked in TV, film and theatres. But, approaching 40, I decided it was my time to get back into education. I loved the way I was taught; it was so organised, professional and welcoming.”
“You do feel nervous as an adult learner but I didn’t feel any different to the other students and I got a lot of peer-on-peer support.”