A Day in the Life of a Beauty Therapist

If the idea of helping people look their best and feel great about themselves is appealing, then a career as a beauty therapist may be just for you. Beauty therapists work with clients to apply face and body treatments, while making them feel comfortable and relaxed to enjoy the experience.

What common tasks could you perform as a beauty therapist?

• Assessment – interacting with clients and assessing skin types to prescribe the perfect treatment
• Facials – skin cleansing, massaging and toning
• Make-up – application and offering advice
• Eyebrows and eyelashes – shaping and colouring

• Nail treatments – manicures and pedicures
• Facial and body hair removal such as waxing
• Skin treatments – non-surgical skin improvement procedures
• Spray tanning

Very Strong
Future Growth

Employment Size

Certificate II or III

Other specialised tasks you may perform

• Massage – relieving aches and pains by applying pressure to muscles and joints
• Aromatherapy – using essential oils for massage and bath treatments
• Hydrotherapy – therapeutic body treatments that use water
• Reflexology – a type of massage that relieves tension based on pressure points in the hands, feet and head

Top 5 Knowledge Areas

Customer & Personal Service

Sales & Marketing

Administration & Management

Education & Training

English Language

Top 5 Skills

Active Listening

Speaking

Service Orientation

Critical Thinking

Active Learning

Day to day business tasks you may be required to perform

• Reception – answering phones and scheduling appointments
• Ordering and delivering supplies
• Record keeping – e.g. clients’ medical histories
• Cleaning – keeping the treatment rooms up to cleanliness standards

Gender Employment Share

Full-Time Worker Share

Possible work locations and opportunities

• Beauty Salon

  These establishments offer stable hours, the same location and regular clientele. You’ll be trained in all of the salon’s products and treatments, and learn about any specialised electrical machinery they may have.

• Day Spa

  Generally offer more specialised treatments, including the use of specialised machinery for body and hydrotherapy treatments. You’ll work with a combination of regular and temporary clients, and skills learned can be transferred anywhere in the world.

• Tourist Destination Area

  This could be anywhere in the world, from a beachside resort, to an eco-health retreat in the middle of a forest. Chances are your clients will be different everyday, and you’ll be a long way from home.

• Hotel

  You’ll be offering the same treatments as found in day spas and salons, with the quality dependant on the class of hotel. But often the hours are unsocial, meaning you could be giving treatments at any time of the day or night.

• Cruise Ships

  Hours are long and there’s nowhere to go! However, you often get time off in port to explore the region, meaning you’ll experience some of the world’s most amazing places. You’ll work under contract conditions, and there’s the potential for a high income if there’s a tipping culture on board.

• Home

  A career as a beauty therapist also opens up the opportunity to be self-employed. Owning your own home-based business could greatly increase income potential, and you can set your own hours.