Beauty Therapist
What you'd actually do
Day to day you will carry out a range of treatments, advise on skincare and products, keep your room and tools spotlessly clean, and build a friendly rapport with regular clients. Good hygiene, a steady hand and warm people skills matter as much as technical know-how, since clients return for both the results and the experience.
You will be on your feet a lot, working in salons, spas, hotels or for yourself, often including evenings and weekends, with pay usually starting around the minimum wage and rising with skill, reputation and tips. Many therapists go self-employed and build their own client list, which brings freedom but also the work of running a business.
Most people train through a college beauty therapy course or an apprenticeship that leads to a recognised qualification, which employers and insurers expect. Specific treatments may need extra certificates, and you will need insurance and to follow health and hygiene rules.