Trainee hairdressers and beauty therapists from West Nottinghamshire College discovered new skills and met professionals from the sector during their industry week.

Beauty students, who train in the college’s Revive salons at the Derby Road campus, were introduced to a variety of new skills in workshops that covered spray tan application, henna tattooing, lash extensions, hot shell massage techniques, and dermaplaning facials, all of which can be added to a therapist’s portfolio.

Guests from businesses inspired the students’ career pathways with an insight into their job roles and how the companies operate. Some of the guests gave practical demonstrations and invited questions from students.

Make-up students welcomed former students Elisse Hardy and Georgie Tatton, who graduated from the Advanced Diploma in Fashion, Theatre and Media Hair and Make-up in 2022. They went on to study at the University of Leeds and gave students an insight into degree-level studies and the practical assignments they had to produce.

Laboratory coats were donned when Serene Wright, of Pretty Sins Lipstick, put students through their paces as cosmetic scientists. The groups learned the history of make-up, followed by an interactive session carefully creating their own shade and scent of lipstick using specially-selected ingredients.

Edyta Ciura, a former Level 3 Spa Therapy student, gave a talk about make-up techniques and provided a facial demonstration. Edyta is now owner of Mansfield-based Beauty Place Aesthetic, offering a range of treatments.

Mansfield’s Bannatyne Health Club and Spa’s Michelle Bailey, spa manager, and Toni Bailey, senior therapist, spoke about therapist roles at the spa and how the national company recruits. Michelle gave a demonstration of body cupping.

Professional skincare brand Dermalogica’s Rosie Saveedra demonstrated the company’s Pro-Skin treatment. The undergraduate programme manager also gave students advice relating to the client welcome, consultation, and aftercare.

Level 1 Hair and Beauty students went to PLouise Make-up Academy in Manchester for a special make-up masterclass and topped up their beauty kits after touring its 40,000sq ft ‘Barbie pink’ HQ and warehouse.

Other guest speakers included Kelly Marie Smith, of Tropic Skincare, and make-up artists Sam Cahill, Rosie Roberts and Shooting Star Body Art’s Suzanne Jaques, who all gave practical demonstrations using their products and the latest application techniques.

Hairdressing students took advantage of the masterclasses run by teachers, which included a perming workshop, bleaching and cutting techniques, barbering skills, and a balayage workshop — a free-hand painting method designed to add highlights to a client’s hair.

Hair stylist and salon owner Marie Hall worked with students in the hair salon to demonstrate and practise the Nikki Clifford holographic colouring technique. Marie, who studied at the college and has now gone on to run her own business in West Bridgford, guided students through the colourful hair treatment process and how to style the finished results.

The head of department for hairdressing and beauty therapy, Nicholas Thorpe, said: “We had a really successful week with lots of new techniques being taught to our students in both hairdressing and beauty therapy.

“This is thanks not only to our brilliant staff, who have co-ordinated the activities while showcasing some of their own extended skills, but also to our guest speakers who gave up their time to inspire our students as they consider their chosen career paths.”