NEW school OF THOUGHT

71 industry pros came together at Professional Beauty North at Manchester Central to discuss the core trends and techniques shaping the market, as well as what can be done to entice more people to think about beauty as an exciting career path.

With a lively Education Forum and six action-packed Live Stages taking place over two days, visitors learned lessons on how to further grow their business from those at the top of their game.

Technical tips

Our Business Skills Live Stage was a hit, with many pulling up a chair to hear from Nathalie Du Preez, COO of Blow Ltd, on the benefits on-demand treatment booking apps provide mobile therapists, while consultant Susan Routledge explained how to easily fill appointment books without heavy discounting.

Crowds gathered on the Professional Beauty Stage to watch Sam Marshall from The Beauty Guru perform a female intimate wax while sharing her top troubleshooting tips, such as how to wax those with mobility issues.

Meanwhile, PB’s Therapist of the Year 2017 Jody Adele Taylor went down a storm when explaining how therapists can design a facial treatment for fussy brides that’s completely bespoke.

Treatment updates

Those looking to offer more resultsdriven options for clients booked themselves in for sessions on the Advanced Treatments Stage.

Brow queen Karen Betts was applauded for her insight into how the training needs for permanent cosmetics and microblading compare, while Kevin Williams, chief technical officer at Wynyard Aesthetics Academy, talked about what to consider when taking on either IPL or laser hair removal.

On the Skin is Alive stage, Murad’s training director Katie Mares discussed how to treat clients suffering with pollution or blue light damage – known as the “modern-day agers”.

Practical solutions

Meanwhile, MUAs rated the tips and techniques demonstrated by celebrity make-up artists on the Warpaint Stage, from creating the perfect base to pop art body paint and red carpet looks.

But, one of the standout programmes of the show was the Education Forum, which was abuzz with healthy debate on how to address the current therapist shortage.

Discussions included what colleges should focus on to meet the everchanging needs of the industry and how salon owners can enhance the career paths they offer to help retain staff.

The Training Stage also featured sessions on helping students thrive in the industry, with a clear breakdown on what the Government’s apprenticeship changes mean.