Careers in this area are particularly wide ranging, all the people in these jobs provide a service for members of the general public. Some of the jobs involve using your hands; others are very physical.

Below you'll find links to videos created by employers and organisations in the sector to help you get a taste of what working in this sector is like.

Videos:

Makeup Artist - Career Insights: Jey provides career insight into her job as a Makeup Artist. She explains how she got started and what skills and qualifications are useful. Find out what she wished she knew before she started, what she finds most satisfying and challenging, and a typical day.

Hairdresser - Career Insights: Ever wanted to know how to become a Hairdresser or own your own Salon?Sophie provides insight into her job as a Hairdresser and owner of her own Salon. She explains how she got started and what skills and qualifications are useful. Find out what she wished she knew before she started, what she finds most satisfying and challenging, and a typical day.

Unifrog Free Webinars:

Live webinars across a variety of careers - requires booking.

Virtual work experience opportunities:

Springpod Check here for regularly updated VWEX opportunities. 

Speakers For Schools

Try different jobs in real life through free VWEX so you can find the best fit for you.  Speakers for Schools are a non-profit organisation offering free UK-wide work experience.   

Explore Forage Work Experience Programs  

Media to Explore:

Many young people have been inspired by TV shows, movies etc. to follow a particular career. We have collated some resources here for you to discover. We have included podcasts because they are the best way to get real insight into the industry’s current dynamics and are a great way to demonstrate knowledge and passion in personal statements and interviews.

Please note, we have not specified the platforms for these resources as they can change over time. We suggest you do a web search for the title – you will often find them on YouTube in their entirety. Some titles will only be available for a fee or subscription.

Please be aware that not all of the titles below are appropriate for all ages. Please check the age appropriateness before watching. Common sense media are a good resource to use to do this.

TV Factual: A Glamorous History, Good Hair, Vidal Sassoon – The Movie, About Face, Beauty Laid Bare

TV Reality:  Face Off, Glow Up, America’s Next Top Model, Self Made

Film: What It Takes, Steel Magnolias

Radio & Podcasts: Fat Mascara, The Science of Beauty, Beaute Industrie, Glow Journal, Beauty in Your Business, Beauty Bosses, The Beauty Edit Podcast, Goop

Useful Websites:

Hair

Habia - sets the standards for nationally recognised qualifications for the hair and beauty industry.

The Hair Council - the body that maintains the UK Register of Qualified Hairdressers and Barbers. They do not provide careers or training information.

NHBF (National Hairdressers' Federation) - the trade body covering hairdressing and barbering. Provides business support for members and other benefits.

Discover! Creative Careers - to explore careers in the creative industries, including in hair and make-up, and to find out about events and work experience.

Hairdressers Journal International (HJ) is available monthly; for industry news, careers advice, job vacancies and information on subscriptions.

Hair and Beauty Jobs -Apart from listing vacancies and courses, this recruitment site also provides careers information.

Beauty and Make-up

Habia - sets the standards for nationally recognised qualifications.

The Guild of Professional Beauty Therapists - a trade body for the beauty sector. Operates various registers including the Register of Professional Beauty Therapists and the Register of Professional Nail Technicians. 

The British Association of Beauty Therapy and Cosmetology (BABTAC) - a membership body for professionals working in the beauty and holistic therapy industries.

Joint Council for Cosmetic Practitioners (JCCP)

Cosmetic Practice Standards Authority (CPSA)

Federation of Holistic Therapists (FHT)

Hair and Beauty Jobs -Apart from listing vacancies and courses, this recruitment site also provides careers information.

ScreenSkills - the skills body for the screen-based industries. For all sorts of information and advice on careers in film and TV hair and make-up.

Discover! Creative Careers - to explore careers in the creative industries, including in make-up, and to find out about events and work experience.

National Association of Screen Make-up (NASMAH) - find advice on careers and training.

The British Association of Beauty Therapy and Cosmetology (BABTAC) - for professionals working in the beauty industry. 

Tattooing and body piercing

Tattoo Club of Great Britain

UKAPP (The United Kingdom Association of Professional Piercers) - not-for-profit organisation dedicated to safe piercing practice.

Tattoo & Piercing Industry Union - part of the GMB.

GOV.UK - for information on personal and premises licences for tattooing and piercing where you can also search for your local issuing authority.

Complementary Therapies 

The British Complementary Medicine Association (BCMA) - for information on various complementary therapies and BCMA-approved courses.

Complementary & Natural Healthcare Council (CNHC) - a UK voluntary regulator for a range of complementary healthcare fields. Maintains an Accredited Register approved by the Professional Standards Authority for practitioners in a range of areas - those not already mentioned in this leaflet include: Bowen therapy, colon hydrotherapy, craniosacral therapy, healing, kinesiology, massage therapy, reiki, sports massage, sports therapy and yoga therapy.

Federation of Holistic Therapists (FHT) - represents therapists from many disciplines and provides members with various services, including insurance. Operates a large Accredited Register of complementary therapists approved by the Professional Standards Authority. The complementary therapies currently listed on the Register that are not mentioned in this leaflet are: body massage, Bowen technique, craniosacral therapy, healing, kinesiology, reiki, sports massage, sports therapy and yoga therapy. 

British Register of Complementary Practitioners (BRCP) - a register for a wide range of complementary healthcare disciplines.