My Journey Into Aesthetics

Let me take you on a journey - a journey of finding my true passion and navigating a path to becoming a Level 7 aesthetics practitioner. This wasn’t an easy road; it’s been full of twists, turns, and moments where I questioned what I really wanted to do with my life. But it’s also been incredibly rewarding.

When you start your career in the beauty industry, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by the choices in front of you. It can feel like you’re constantly searching for the perfect fit - something that clicks and that you can see yourself doing for years to come. And trust me, I’ve been there. Here’s how I found my way into aesthetics.

Beauty Therapy: A Foundation for My Career

After finishing school, I found myself unsure of where I wanted to go. Should I pursue a business in beauty, or should I dive into the medical field and become a nurse or midwife? I felt torn between the two worlds. One was glamorous and creative, while the other was rooted in healthcare, offering stability and the chance to make a real difference.

I decided to start with beauty therapy, and enrolled in a two-year course at college. I was excited—I loved the idea of learning how to make people feel better about themselves, using my hands to create beautiful results. I completed my Level 1 and 2 qualifications and enjoyed most of the course. The treatments, the products, the skin care - it was all fascinating. But as I progressed, I started to realise something: not all of it felt right for me.

There were certain aspects of the course I simply couldn’t see myself doing long term, and the more I thought about it, the more I realised I wanted something different. I had a passion for beauty, but I also had a curiosity about medical aesthetics. That’s when I knew it was time to move on and try something new.

Nursing: A Short-Lived Pursuit

After completing my beauty therapy qualifications, I decided to venture into nursing. The medical field had always intrigued me, and I thought that becoming a nurse or midwife would be the perfect way to combine my desire to help people with my career ambitions. So, I spent time exploring this path.

I signed up for online courses - cheap ones at first, to dip my toes in. But as I got further into my studies, I realised that I needed something more substantial to truly progress. I then invested in an Access to Higher Education course, which was much more expensive. This was a big commitment, and I was determined to make it work.

But life had other plans for me. Three months into my studies, I found out I was pregnant. At just 19 years old, I had to make the toughest decision of my life. My studies were put on hold as I focused entirely on preparing for motherhood. After my daughter was born, my life was a whirlwind of change, and everything I had been working towards seemed to pause.

The Realisation: A Career in Aesthetics

Life as a single mother was challenging, to say the least. When my daughter was old enough to start nursery, I began looking for work. That’s when I discovered a job as a healthcare assistant at a nearby hospital. It didn’t require prior experience, just a short training course. It seemed like the perfect opportunity to get back on track.

However, once I started the job, I quickly realised it wasn’t for me. On my second day, I had to assist with washing a patient who had passed away. The emotional toll it took on me was huge, and as a petite woman, I struggled physically with tasks like lifting and moving patients. I found that what I enjoyed most was simply interacting with patients, taking their observations, and chatting to them to make them feel better.

At that moment, I knew that the medical field wasn’t my true calling. I needed to find something that felt more aligned with my strengths and interests. So, I started looking at other options.

The Spark: Aesthetics as the Perfect Combination

One day, my partner and I were having a conversation in his brother’s kitchen. We were talking about a renovation project he was doing on a salon, and that’s when the topic of aesthetics came up. Suddenly, it hit me - why hadn’t I thought about this before? Aesthetics is the perfect combination of beauty and medical care! You can help people feel good about their appearance, while also working in a professional setting that allows you to learn advanced medical techniques.

That night, I stayed up late researching everything I could about aesthetics. I learned about Botox, dermal fillers, and advanced skin treatments. The more I researched, the more excited I became. This was it - this was the career path I had been searching for all along.

The Realisation of a Scary Truth

As I dug deeper into aesthetics training, I began to see a trend that disturbed me. Many websites were advertising fast-track courses that promised to turn you into an aesthetics practitioner in just a few weeks. Some were online, while others were in-person and claimed to offer a “quick route” into the industry.

At first, I was tempted. The idea of becoming a qualified practitioner in such a short time sounded appealing. But the more I looked into it, the more I realised that these courses were dangerous. How could anyone possibly be ready to inject Botox and dermal fillers into someone’s face after just a few weeks of training? The truth is, you can’t.

I soon realised that the Level 7 Aesthetics qualification was the only way forward. Without it, you’d be risking your career and the safety of your clients. Level 7 not only ensures you’re fully qualified but also gives you the peace of mind that you’re following the best industry practices.

Why I Chose to Pursue Level 7

Choosing the right path in aesthetics wasn’t easy. I had to consider everything - the cost, the time commitment, and the training quality. As I looked into my options, I realised that many courses out there were either too short or not regulated, which meant they wouldn’t properly prepare me for a successful career.

I wanted to be fully future-proofed. I didn’t just want a quick certificate. I wanted to be a qualified, confident practitioner, and I knew the Level 7 qualification was the only way to achieve that.

What’s Next for Me?

Now, I’m on my way to becoming a Level 7 aesthetics practitioner, and I couldn’t be more excited. The road ahead is full of challenges, but I know it will be worth it. My goal is to become the best in my field, to open my own aesthetics clinic, and eventually start an academy where I can teach others to do the same.

I’m sharing this journey with you because I want to help you avoid the mistakes I made. I want you to take the right steps from the very beginning, so you can build a successful, long-term career in aesthetics. If you’ve been thinking about pursuing a career in aesthetics, then follow my journey and let’s do it the right way together!