Beauty Therapist
Kaihaumanu Kanohi
This job is sometimes referred to by alternative titles
Beauty therapists provide beauty treatments for the face, body and nails, such as facials, appearance medicine, laser hair removal and nail painting.
Pay
Beauty therapists usually earn
$33K-$60K per year
Source: Trade Me, 'Trade Me Jobs Salary Guide', 2016.
Job opportunities
Vocational pathwaysPay
Pay for beauty therapists varies depending on what type of work they do, and their hours.
- New beauty therapists usually earn between minimum wage and $17 an hour.
- Beauty therapists with more than two years' experience may earn between $17 and $28 an hour.
- Nail technicians may earn up to $19 an hour.
Some beauty therapists work on a salary plus commission basis, and many are self-employed.
Source: Trade Me, 'Trade Me Jobs Salary Guide', 2016.
- PAYE.net.nz website – use this calculator to convert pay and salary information
- Employment New Zealand website - information about minimum wage rates
(This information is a guide only. Find out more about the figures and diagrams in our job information)
What you will do
Beauty therapists may do some or all of the following:
- study clients' skin and treat conditions such as acne or dry skin
- advise clients on face and body care
- apply and sell make-up and skincare products
- give clients face and body treatments such as facials, scrubs, peels and massages
- remove unwanted hair by waxing, electrolysis, or laser treatment
- apply artificial tan
- shape, dye or apply eyebrows and eyelashes
- prepare, paint, buff or apply nails
- decorate or pierce nails
- assist nurses to give cosmetic injections.
Skills and knowledge
Beauty therapists need to have:
- knowledge of the body, including skin, hair and nail health
- knowledge of face and body treatments such as facials, peels, manicures, massage, electrolysis and laser hair removal
- skill in applying make-up and false eyebrows or eyelashes
- familiarity with beauty products, appearance medicine and chemical treatments
- knowledge of dyeing eyebrows and eyelashes
- knowledge of nail care and nail problems
- skill in using various nail applications, and filing, polishing and shaping techniques
- an understanding of hygiene, and health and safety regulations.
Beauty therapists who are self-employed also need business skills.
Working conditions
Beauty therapists:
- usually work long hours including evenings and weekends, and may work extra hours when necessary. Some do shift work
- usually work in beauty clinics and salons. They may also work in department stores, pharmacies, fitness centres, cruise ships and hospitals, or in their own homes or in clients' homes
- may travel to attend training seminars and competitions.
Beauty therapists may handle dangerous items such as lasers, liquid nitrogen, hot wax, needles and chemicals.
What's the job really like?
Hana Snowden
Beauty Therapist
Early interest in make-up led to a career in beauty therapy
Hana Snowden laughs when she recounts how she got into beauty therapy. "I was always doing my friends' make-up and shaping their eyebrows while we were at school, so people thought I would naturally pursue it as a career.
"When I finally decided to enrol as a beauty therapy student, it did come naturally and I found the courses quite easy. I got my qualifications and headed out into the workforce where I worked at, and managed, various beauty salons, but I still felt like I wasn't following my own dream."
Drawing on her heritage to create a unique business
"It was then that I decided to open my own day spa. I wanted to create something that was unique, so I created a salon with a Māori theme. In other words, I blended the old with the new."
A woman with a vision
"I do have a vision for my business, and that is to become a franchise. It may take a little longer than expected but I have strong faith in God and a son that motivates me to keep going."
Hana Snowden is of Te Rarawa and Ngāti Porou descent.
Entry requirements
To become a beauty therapist you need to complete a one-year, full-time certificate or diploma in beauty therapy. Newly qualified beauty therapists are often supervised and trained by senior beauty therapists.
Secondary education
There are no specific secondary education requirements to become a beauty therapist, but NCEA Level 1 in maths and English and NCEA Level 2 in art and science is useful.
Beauty therapy through Gateway
Students can study unit standards in beauty services through the Gateway programme. This programme is free while you are still at school.
Additional requirements for specialist roles:
Beautician
To become a beautician (which excludes training in full-body massage, electrolysis and laser hair removal), you need to complete a six-month, full-time or one-year, part-time course at a tertiary institution or beauty school.
Clinical Aesthetician
Clincial Aestheticians administer injections or support nurses who administer injections.
Those who administer injections need to be registered nurses.
Aestheticians who support nurses need to hold qualifications in beauty therapy, laser treatments, acid treatments and electrolysis, and have at least two years' industry experience and knowledge of cosmetic injections.
Nail Technician
There are no specific entry requirements to become a nail technician as skills are gained on the job. However, most employers prefer you to complete a nail technician course before you start working.
Tanning Technician
There are no specific entry requirements to become a tanning technician as skills are gained on the job.
Personal requirements
Beauty therapists need to be:
- friendly, tactful and patient
- creative and artistic
- organised and able to work well under pressure
- good at sales
- good at managing their time
- able to work well in a team.
Useful experience
Useful experience for beauty therapists includes:
- modelling
- customer service or retail work
- volunteer work in a beauty salon
- fashion or cosmetics sales work
- work as a hairdresser or hairdresser's assistant.
Physical requirements
Beauty therapists need to have a neat and tidy appearance, and a high standard of personal cleanliness. They must also have good hand-eye co-ordination and good eyesight (with or without corrective lenses) for the detailed work involved.
They should not be allergic to make-up or beauty products.
Beauty therapists need to have a reasonable amount of upper body strength for massage and body wraps. Those who work in clients' homes need to be able to carry heavy objects such as massage tables.
Find out more about training
- The Association of Beauty Therapists of New Zealand
- (09) 918 6347 - info@beautynz.org.nz - www.beautynz.org.nz
- NZ Hair and Beauty Industry Training Organisation
- (04) 499 1180 - enquiries@hito.org.nz - www.hito.org.nz
Check out related courses
What are the chances of getting a job?
Beauty therapist numbers growing significantly
Chances of getting work as a beauty therapist are good as a growing number of women and men are using beauty therapy services.
Job vacancies for beauty therapists are increasing each year, and it is expected that the beauty services industry will continue to grow.
Chances best for experienced and qualified beauty therapists
Your chances of finding a job are best if you:
- hold full beauty qualifications including certificates in laser therapy, chemical peels, waxing, electrolysis and massage
- have experience in a salon.
Demand for registered nurses
Demand is high for registered nurses who can administer beauty injections and peels.
Types of employers varied
Beauty therapists may work for:
- beauty salons and clinics
- large department stores
- luxury hotels and cruise ships
- spas and health clubs
- specialised nail bars.
Some beauty therapists are self-employed.
Sources
- BeautyNZ, 'Lasers, Light and Energy Devices in Demand', September/October 2015, (www.beautynzmag.co.nz).
- Cummings, E, chief executive officer, NZ Hairdressing and Beauty Industry Training Organisation, Careers New Zealand interview, April 2016, (www.hito.org.nz).
- Elite International School of Beauty and Spa Therapies, 'Investment Plan 2016', 2016, (www.elitebeautyschool.co.nz).
- Figure.NZ, 'Enterprises in the Hairdressing and Beauty Services Industry in New Zealand', 29 October 2015, (figure.nz).
- McKinnie, D, 'Beauty Only Skin Deep So Make it Last', May/June 2015, (www.beautynzmag.co.nz).
- Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, '2006-2014 Occupation Data' (prepared for Careers New Zealand), 2015.
- Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, 'Annual Percentage Change in Advertised Job Vacancies, March 2015 to March 2016 Quarters', 19 April 2016, (www.mbie.govt.nz).
- Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, 'Jobs Online Monthly Report - March 2016', 18 April 2016, (www.mbie.govt.nz).
- Cummings, E, chief executive officer, NZ Hairdressing and Beauty Industry Training Organisation, Careers New Zealand interview, April 2016, (www.hito.org.nz).
Progression and specialisations
Beauty therapists may progress to:
- supervisory or management positions
- sales representative roles in the beauty industry
- running their own beauty salon.
Beauty therapists may also progress to become permanent make-up artists, who tattoo hair and facial features.
Beauty therapists may specialise in the following roles:
- Beautician
- Beauticians do the same tasks as beauty therapists, except for full body massage, electrolysis and laser hair removal.
- Clinical Aesthetician
- Clinical aestheticians administer cosmetic injections and peels or support nurses who administer cosmetic injections or peels.
- Nail Technician
- Nail technicians treat clients' nails and may apply artificial nails.
- Tanning Technician
- Tanning technicians offer spray tan services.
Beauty therapists provide a range of services such as facials
Last updated 28 August 2017