Fast-Tracked Beauty Qualifications Raise Concerns of Botched Beauty Treatments

Following the pandemic, there has been a worrying rise in companies promising quickie beauty 'qualifications', with some promising instant certification after one day to begin offering the services immediately. With the end of the furlough scheme and rise in redundancies, the appeal of ‘becoming your own boss’ has resulted in many choosing to pivot their careers to the beauty sector. 

The British Association of Beauty Therapy & Cosmetology (BABTAC), is concerned about the knock on effect to consumers’ safety and predicts a wave in botched beauty treatments, caused by this increase in sub-standard 'short courses'. 

A rise in back-street beauty courses
This worrying news comes at a time when the need for better regulation in the beauty industry has never been more apparent. The recent legislation banning under 18s from accessing botox and filler treatments* is a welcome change, however a recent BABTAC report, commissioned alongside other industry bodies**, found that 39 per cent of freelance hairdressers or beauty therapists have already obtained their training from unregulated short courses. All the while, consumers remain unaware that their therapist may be unqualified, or has unwittingly completed a course that is not fit for purpose. 

Lesley Blair, CEO and Chair of The British Association of Beauty Therapy & Cosmetology (BABTAC) comments: 

"Greater levels of female unemployment; redundancies in the beauty sector and the appeal of 'working for yourself' are making short ‘one day’ beauty training courses more attractive than ever before.

"As a result, we're predicting a real surge in some, potentially very dangerous, short courses - from plasma pen to microneedling, chemical peels and even injectables - over the coming months," warns Lesley. 

Not only do these pose a risk to consumers – particularly in the case of the more invasive services like laser or  skin rejuvenation – but professionals may also find they're unable to obtain the insurance cover necessary to carry out the treatments. Additionally, serious complications arising as a result of unsafe beauty treatments can include anything from allergic reactions and infections, to long-lasting issues such as nerve damage and blindness.

Lesley continues, "Short beauty courses are not a new concept and in fact, when properly governed, they are an excellent way for qualified beauty therapists to upskill and broaden their offering. Some stand-alone short courses - provided they meet the industry standard - do provide sufficient training to practice, but generally this will apply to more basic treatment modules.

So especially when considering training in more advanced therapies we are urging people to be on high alert now, as many unscrupulous companies take advantage of a "perfect storm" following the pandemic."

*https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2021/oct/01/botox-and-lip-fillers-no-longer-available-to-under-18s-in-england
** Report on Self Employment in Personal Care Post-Pandemic, commissioned by the British Association of Beauty Therapy & Cosmetology (BABTAC), the British Beauty Council, National Hair and Beauty Federation (NHBF) and the United Kingdom Spa Association (July, 2021)