If you love the thought of doing people’s nails to earn a living, then knowing your options is the best start. Here at Allure Beauty Academy, we offer a range of nail training courses that can not only help you understand everything you need to about becoming a qualified manicurist but can also put you on track to becoming a fully booked, self employed business owner.
Here are some of the reasons why you should join a nail training course in Newcastle.
A Perfect First Step
Our precision gel manicure course is the perfect first course to join, if you are taking the first step in the beauty industry. Most gel nail techniques start with understanding gel polish application with basic manicure practices to start. With regular practice, you can master the skills in 1-2 months.
We recommend our 4 week ultimate beginners course if you know this is the career path you want, and you are ready to go all in on your investment. You can also add a kit to this ultimate beginner's course too and make sure you have all of the right tools to start your business off to a flying success!
Even if you don’t intend to become a professional nail artist, one great benefit of joining a gel nail course is that you can perform professional treatments on yourself or even your friends and family. Having learnt the skills to perform gel nails, this is a skill no one can ever take away from you! you will be able to take care of your nails and start doing it as a hobby! When I was learning how to do nails I loved the fact it was so therapeutic for me. I would switch off from the world and it became my passion. I loved painting new nail art designs and realised there was a gap for high quality education in the North East, England.
Return On Investment
Given their popularity, nail treatments are a commonly available service at salons. Essentially, it’s a skill every beauty professional must have. Given that nail treatments are widely popular, you can easily find clients willing to pay for your services. There’s no dearth of demand for quality nail treatments. In fact, it is a growing industry generating over 759.5million in revenue for the UK's economy. Nail services in the UK are highly demanded, indicating a rise in demand for more professionals.
By joining a nail training course in Newcastle and mastering the skills, you can expect to recoup your investment in a short period of time. You could begin by working at a salon offering nail treatments. You could even consider setting up your own nail salon from home as a small business.
Here is a step by step guide on how to become a professional, qualified nail artist in the UK:
1️⃣ Decide what kind of nail tech you want to be
You don’t need to do everything straight away. Start with one lane:
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Natural nails (manicures, builder gel, gel polish)
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Extensions (hard gel, acrygel, acrylic, gel extensions)
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Specialise in Nail Art or clean manicures
👉 Tip: Natural nail services are in HUGE demand and lower risk when you’re new.
2️⃣ Get properly trained (this is non-negotiable)
In the UK, you don’t need a licence, but you do need insurance – and insurance requires accredited training.
Look for courses that include:
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Health & safety
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Nail anatomy
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Product chemistry
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Preparation skills (this is EVERYTHING)
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Contra-indications
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Allergy safety
What to look for in a course?
✔ Accredited
✔ In-person if possible (online is okay but much harder and will take longer to perfect your skills and see return on investment)
✔ Includes a certificate you can insure with
Avoid:
🚫 £99 “masterclasses” claiming to make you a pro in 1 day
🚫 TikTok-only learning (great for tips, not foundations)
3️⃣ Practice like it’s your job (because it is)
Before charging clients, you should practice on:
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Yourself
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Friends & family
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Nail trainer hands
Aim for:
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10 full sets before charging
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Focus on prep, structure, retention
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Take photos of EVERYTHING (even bad sets) tracking your progress
✨ Progress > perfection.
4️⃣ Get insured + registered
Once trained:
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Get public & professional liability insurance
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Register as self-employed with HMRC
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Keep basic records (income + expenses)
You do not need a salon to start.
5️⃣ Start small (home, mobile, or salon)
Your options:
🏠 Home-based
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Lowest cost
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Most beginners start here
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Check landlord / council rules
🚗 Mobile
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High demand
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More time + travel
🏢 Salon
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Less pressure to market yourself
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Commission, employment or rent
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Learn from others (if it’s a good salon)
6️⃣ Build clients the smart way
Instagram & TikTok matter, but word of mouth is still queen.
Do this early:
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Before/after photos
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Clear pricing
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Simple booking system
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Ask clients to rebook before they leave
📌 Most new techs fail because of inconsistent clients, not bad nails.
7️⃣ Keep learning (this is how you level up)
The best nail techs:
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Take advanced courses
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Learn WHY nails lift, not just how to fix it
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Invest in education before expensive products
Education = confidence = money.
Real talk 💬
You don’t need:
❌ Thousands in products
❌ A salon straight away
❌ To be “perfect”
You DO need:
✅ Solid training
✅ Patience
✅ Practice
✅ Business basics
Allure Beauty Academy - Newcastle - North East England:
If you are ready to learn more about gel nails, contact Allure today. Our qualified and experienced trainers will provide practical training and help you gain hands-on experience to help you kick-start your career as a nail artist. 0191 489 4993
