How to Become a Nail Tech in the UK

Why Becoming a Nail Technician is a Great Idea

If you’ve ever thought about starting a career in the beauty sector, there really is no better time. The hair and beauty treatment sector in the UK is now worth £5.8 billion, and in 2023 the personal care and beauty industry grew by 11% (NHBF). So beauty is big business right now, which presents a great opportunity for budding beauty entrepreneurs.

One such opportunity is that of becoming a Nail Technician. The UK’s nail salon market is expected to grow by 6-7% each year until 2030, and then be worth over £900 million, with manicures the biggest revenue generators, and treatments like gel overlays and extensions the most profitable (Grand View).

With this increasing demand for all kinds of nail treatments, and the skilled technicians to provide them, there has never been a better opportunity than right now if you’ve been thinking about starting up your own business as a Nail Tech.

Whether you’re looking to open your own salon, become a mobile Nail Technician, or simply use your skills for a side hustle to make some extra money, it’s about more than just doing nails. It’s about finding an outlet for your creativity, being your own boss with the flexibility to work on your own terms, and getting the huge sense of satisfaction from providing a transformation that helps people look and feel their best.

So What Does a Nail Technician Do?

The role of a Nail Tech covers everything from providing basic nail care services, manicures, and pedicures, to shellac nail polish, gel and acrylic extensions, and stunning nail art creations. You could find yourself working in a salon, in the home (yours or your clients’), in a luxury spa, or even on a cruise ship. There’s plenty of flexibility in terms of what you choose to specialise in, and where you decide to offer your services, so you can create the opportunity that offers the work you want to do and where you want to do it.

A professional Nail Technician needs to be skilled, but being successful is about more than just your technical abilities. You’ll want to always be improving and adapting these skills to provide better and more services. You’ll need to be professional and a people-person to make sure you provide the comfortable, enjoyable service that will keep clients coming back. And, you’ll need to be able to promote your nail business in order to grow and build up your clientele.

What Do You Need to Be a Nail Tech?

To become a Nail Tech, you’re going to need the right skills and equipment to make sure your new nail career gets off to the best possible start. Choosing a training course that gives you the necessary knowledge and techniques in all the different aspects of the role, from gel nails and acrylic nails to nail art, as well as the accreditation to demonstrate your abilities to your clients or employers, will be vital. Comprehensive training will give you the expertise and confidence to wow your customers as a fully qualified Nail Technician.

To complement your new skills, you’ll also want to get a full, professional Nail Technician kit, with all the equipment and products you’re going to need. The ideal kit will be one that allows you to offer the full range of treatments, from a basic manicure to exquisite nail art. Your investment in a professional-level nail kit isn’t just about looking the part, it’s also about providing the highest levels of service, safety, and hygiene your customers will expect.

What Qualifications Do You Need to Be a Nail Technician in the UK?

Becoming a Nail Technician is a great opportunity as there aren’t any formal qualifications needed to get started. That said, to be taken seriously by employers and clients, you’ll need to be able to demonstrate that you’ve had suitable training and possess the required skills and experience. With Level 2 apprenticeships, Level 3 courses, and online and in-person accredited nail courses, there are plenty of options to gain the qualifications you’ll want to make the right start.

So, while formal qualifications aren’t necessary for you to start working as a Nail Tech, your skills and credibility will be significantly enhanced by getting the appropriate training under your belt – which should certainly help in a competitive industry. You could even start out with some basic training or an apprenticeship, and then look to develop your skills and understanding of the latest nail technology techniques and industry standards through continuing education and courses, which will help to build your career in the beauty sector.

How Much Does It Cost to Do a Nail Course?

Depending on the type of training you choose, the costs can vary. Private, accredited training courses can cost from £300 to £900 or more, depending on the length of the course, where you’ll be learning, and whether your professional nail kit will be included. These courses are usually over 2-3 days and quite condensed, packed with in-depth training and hands-on practice to give you the essential knowledge and skills you need to get started.

If you decide on an apprenticeship or Level 3 course, these can be more expensive, typically around £1500-£2500 as they may be run over a number of weeks or months. However, you can usually find government funding that should cover a lot of the cost, often making them a more affordable option for some who don’t mind waiting a bit longer before they start their new career properly.

Whichever option you choose, as well as the cost of your course, it’s important to consider how you might prefer to learn your new skills, whether it’s hands-on training or online, condensed over a few days or spread out over a few months. By choosing the course that matches your learning style as well as your budget, and making sure it will provide you with the knowledge, skills, and accreditation you’ll need, you can be sure to get the most value from your investment.

How Long Does It Take to Become a Nail Tech in the UK?

Gaining the skills and expertise to start working as a professional Nail Tech can take anywhere from just a few days to 12 months or more. It all depends on which training path you choose and how much training you feel you will need before you’re ready to make a start in your new career.

You might even opt for the online training option, which allows you to learn over whatever timescales best suit you – whether that’s a few days, weeks, or even longer. Online training is a great option for those who prefer to learn at their own pace and perhaps like to go over different aspects of the nail technology training more than once.

What’s most important is making sure that you feel you have acquired all the knowledge and skills you will need to make a success of your new Nail Technician career, and there are plenty of training options over different timescales to make sure you achieve this. Plus, you can always continue your training once you’ve started your new role, with further courses to enhance and add to your skill sets and abilities.

What Insurance Does a Nail Technician Need?

If you plan to start your own Nail Technician business, whether you want to open your own salon, offer mobile nail services, or simply work from home as a freelance Nail Technician, you’ll want to make sure you have the right kind of insurance. While it may seem like an additional expense you don’t need when starting out, if you do ever need it, you’ll be glad you had it. Plus, if you do want your own salon and will be looking to have people working for you, there are definitely some types of insurance you will need.

Public Liability Insurance – this will cover you for any injuries to customers, suppliers, or members of the public, or damage to their property

Professional Indemnity Insurance – this is advisable as it will provide cover for any claims from customers who might feel you have provided substandard work or been negligent when dealing with them

Employers’ Liability Insurance – as soon as you start employing people, you will need this type of insurance, so you have cover for if they are injured or become ill while working for you

As well as these types of business insurance, you should also consider any other insurance that you might need. You’ll want to have the right kind of insurance for your premises and equipment, and if you work from home, you might need to adjust your home insurance so you’re adequately covered. If you plan to offer mobile nail services, your car insurance may need upgrading so you’re covered for business use.

Some of these types of insurance will be necessary, and some might be optional but advisable, but once you know how you want to work and build your business, you should make sure you have all the appropriate insurance set up in case the worst happens. There are specialist providers for the beauty and nail industry, and you should shop around to make sure you get the best cover/price.

How Much is Nail Tech Insurance in the UK?

Nail Technician insurance that covers treatment and public liability can start from as little as £7.00 a month, and if you’re a mobile Nail Technician, portable equipment insurance can be added for around £6 a month. These prices will vary depending on the level of cover required, but investing in the right kind of insurance to provide you with comprehensive cover should be considered as essential protection for your business.

Try not to look at it as simply an outgoing cost, but consider it as an important safeguard for your new career, and the assurance that you’re operating safely and legally, and all the hard work you are going to put into building up your new business is protected against unforeseen circumstances that could derail you.

Building Up Your Nail Technician Business

Once you’ve decided you want to become a Nail Technician, how you build up your new business will depend on the route you decide to take with your career. Do you want your own salon, or would you prefer to work as a mobile technician, or perhaps just provide nail services from your home? Each has its own benefits and challenges, so it’s for you to decide which suits you best.

Becoming a mobile or home-based Nail Technician will typically be at the lower end of the initial investment scale – once you’ve completed your training, you just need a professional nail kit and equipment, and you’re good to go. Setting up your own nail salon will typically require a lot more upfront investment, and may take a lot longer before you can start offering your services and see some money coming back in.

There is also the option to work for someone else, at least initially, so you can gain the experience and credibility before you decide to go out on your own. This way, your initial overheads will be very limited, you’ll be making money from the start, and you won’t have to worry about going out and finding your own clients.

If you do decide you want to start out on your own, the first thing to do is to make a proper business plan that outlines your approach, what you will need in terms of investment and equipment to get started, and how you’re going to build up your client base and the costs involved. This will allow you to plan your finances properly, so you’re going into it with your eyes open and know what’s needed to make it a success.

Once you get started, providing great levels of service for your new clients will help to build up your reputation and the possibility of repeat and referral business, but you also want to consider how to proactively increase your customer numbers. Consider how different marketing strategies could help, for example, showcase your work on social media platforms, consider online and offline local advertising, keep on top of your online reviews and reputation, and engage with your local community through events and partnerships with organisations and other businesses.

Consider all the opportunities you have to raise your business’s profile and always look to be providing the profitable services your customers want – this way you’ll keep your existing clients coming back, and attract the new clients you need to help your business grow.

Start Your Future in Beauty Today

Becoming a Nail Technician can be more than just a job – it can be the start of an amazing new opportunity and your chance to build your own business. Getting the very best training to equip you with the skills you need, providing the best levels of service to your clients, and always looking at new ways to grow your business, is a great way to achieve financial success, as well as personal satisfaction.

Start your future in beauty today and find out how our different courses can help you take the first step towards an exciting new career as a Nail Technician and building your own beauty business.