DCG Introduction to Beauty Therapy – Level 1

This course is perfect if you are interested in stepping into a career in the beauty therapy industry. It will provide you with the opportunity to gain knowledge and practical experience in skin care, hand care, basic make-up application and pedicure treatments.

This course leads to a College Diploma. It is designed for you to focus on improving your English and maths grades while studying the fundamentals of beauty therapy. 

As part of your studies, you will be required to complete work experience to develop skills and behaviours that support your progression to further study.

You need to be highly motivated and demonstrate a keen interest in your chosen subject. Offers of a place on the course are dependent on your qualifications and practical aptitude. Entry requirements are:

• A majority of GCSEs at grades 1-2 or a limited GCSE profile
• The need to resit both English and Maths GCSE

You will have an interview and will be invited to attend a taster session. Parents and carers are welcome to attend the interview and taster.  If you are successful, you will be allocated a conditional place to study.

Mandatory units are:

• Introduction to the hair and beauty sector
• Presenting a professional image in a salon

You will also study some of the following additional units:

• Skin care
• Hand care
• Basic make-up application and themed face painting
• Basic manicure and pedicure
• Create a hair and beauty image
• Salon reception duties
• Working with others in the hair and beauty sector

You will continue to study maths and English as part of your study programme.

This course will be delivered on-site at the Roundhouse. It is highly practical and so a basic level of fitness is required as you may spend long periods on your feet between breaks.

Theory lessons will require you to take notes in order to revise terminology and learn processes.

English and maths sessions will be traditional classroom-based sessions.

You will be working with clients – often they are people with whom you will not be familiar or you may be asked to find your own clients on whom to undertake treatments. You will also receive treatments as a client as part of a reciprocal agreement with your peers. You need to be aware that you will be working on the feet and hands of clients.

There is a kit and uniform to purchase: full details will be given at your interview.

The kit will contain the essentials required to carry out a range of treatments. Financial assistance will be available for eligible candidates.

The uniform must be worn every day.

Please note that jewellery (including facial piercings) and nail extensions are not permitted for practical sessions. These must be removed in advance of practical classes. Black closed-toe shoes must be worn (no trainers or sandals) and hair should be tied back. 

When acting as a client (receiving treatments from a peer), you will need to remove all jewellery and remove strip eyelashes for facial treatments. Make-up will be removed for facial treatments so please consider this as part of your day (You may want to bring your make-up to reapply after). Nail extensions to fingers and toes are not advised as they will be removed for manicure and pedicure treatments. You must be considerate about these requests as being unable to participate as a client will negatively impact your peers’ progress on the course.

If you have any limitations with regards to what treatments you can do due to medical restrictions or religious beliefs, please inform us immediately.

You will be assessed by a range of methods including practical observations and assignments.

As the course is highly practical you should expect to have plenty of observations to ensure your competency in each treatment.

There will be written assessments and tests to assess your theoretical knowledge of the subject.

English and maths will be assessed through exam on nationally-set exam dates.

The aim of this programme is for you to improve your GCSE grades in English and Maths. You will be considered for progression to Level 2 courses should you do this, and have passed your Level 1 Beauty components.

Further study

You can progress to Level 2 Beauty qualifications.

You may wish to study Level 1 Hairdressing if there is no improvement in your GCSE English and Maths grades.

Careers

This course is an excellent starting point for a career in the beauty sector.

For more information, contact Derby College Group on 0800 0280289 or enquiries@derby-college.ac.uk