Has online learning killed industry standards?

Krystal Price, owner of salon The Glamour Room, discusses the importance of in-person training and raising standards in the industry

As the owner of a busy salon in Chelmsford, I’m often looking to hire new therapists who are experts in their field. Over the last few years, however, I’ve been shocked at the lack of skill or qualification level coming through from potential candidates.

I worry that some of this is likely caused by the fallout of Covid, where many learned practical skills from a screen without getting invaluable hands-on experience. I’m also concerned that educators themselves are teaching the skills incorrectly or not thoroughly enough. If this continues, the future of our industry could be in jeopardy.

A matter of regulation

Right now, there are not enough regulations and guidelines in place for the beauty industry, something that urgently needs to be improved. I feel so strongly about this that during Covid, I used the time when we couldn’t be in the salon to gain my teaching and education qualifications. I believe, along with many others, that we urgently need to raise standards and skill sets to protect the future of our industry.

In-person training courses are fundamental for our industry’s credibility, where skills are demonstrated and taught thoroughly with educators who can oversee how the students are performing. When hiring, I look for therapists who have a City & Guilds Level 2 or 3 qualification or similar, along with any additional courses completed with reputable companies, and I will always check that the training provider is accredited.

With more information and research available online, clients are becoming much more informed about the treatments they want. Knowledge is power and therapists need to be ready to answer any questions and give the best advice. The industry is growing rapidly, and with more competition than ever before, new and existing therapists need knowledge and skills to stand out.

Into practice

In my own salon I ensure we conduct regular training sessions, both in-house and with external providers, to keep up to date with the latest beauty techniques.

We use social media to spot upcoming trends but we conduct our own trials and testing to see if they do what they say they will and fit in with the ethos of our salon.

While it’s important to stay relevant, we also need to make sure the trends have some longevity behind them and are not just a fad.

Ensuring quality and consistency across the industry is a challenge. To achieve this in my salon, I spend a lot of time ensuring my team is aligned and this comes from my leadership and practising what I preach. I have been lucky to find therapists who not only love what they do but share my passion for industry standards.

My therapists all have different specialisms, but with quality and professionalism as the thread running through everything. For me, successfully achieving this means clients don’t mind who they see because they know they will get that consistency and skill from any of my team members. When a client books an appointment and says they don’t mind who they see because everyone is great – that makes me do a little dance inside!

Krystal Prince is the owner of The Glamour Room in Essex and specialises in skincare with a less-is-more approach. She also mentors other business owners.