What Is The Difference Between A Beautician And A Beauty Therapist?

Are you interested in working in the beauty industry but aren’t sure which career you should pursue?

Beautician. Beauty Therapist. Dermal Therapist. Dermal Clinician.

Because the Australian beauty industry is self-regulated, it can be challenging to understand the difference between all these different job titles.

While all beauty professionals operating in beauty salons need to be vetted and trained to perform treatments on clients, it doesn’t mean they’re all qualified to carry out the same type of treatment.

In fact, Beauty Therapists, Dermal Clinicians, Dermal Therapists and Beauticians aren’t trained to deliver the same level of service.

Got you intrigued?

Good!

In this post, we’ll shed some light on the difference between beauticians and beauty therapists.

What Is A Beautician & What Does A Beautician Do?

A beautician is a beauty professional who typically holds a Certificate III in Beauty Services. The course is usually completed over six months and provides Beauticians with a basic understanding of the beauty industry and how to perform basic treatments.

Some of the main tasks a Beautician performs include:

• Waxing (all areas of the body)
• Applying lash treatments
• Applying brow treatments
• Doing manicures and pedicures
• Applying a cosmetic tan
• Applying and creating make-up looks
• Handling bookings and arranging appointments

The average hourly pay for a Beautician is $22.91 an hour, although the rate can reach $29.22 for more experienced Beauticians.

What Is A Beauty Therapist & What Do Beauty Therapists Do?

A Beauty Therapist can do everything a beautician does and more. They usually have to hold a Certificate IV in Beauty Therapy which allows them to build on the knowledge and skills developed through a certificate III in Beauty Services. 

Some of the services a beauty therapist will be able to deliver include:

• Body massages and treatments
• Applying spray tan
• Waxing services
• Creating make-up looks and applying make-up
• Performing lash and brow treatments
• Providing skincare routine recommendations
• Advising on skincare products
• Performing manicures and pedicures
• Performing body wraps and scrubs
• Performing facial treatments

The average salary for a Beauty Therapist in Australia is $29.50 per hour. The most experienced Beauty Therapists can earn up to $36.62 an hour.

Want To Be Your Own Boss?

Once you’ve gained the necessary qualifications and the right experience level, you might be tempted to become an independent Beautician or Beauty Therapist. And that’s a great idea! 

Not only will you be able to work flexible hours and organise your appointments around your personal commitments, but you might also be able to earn more money.

However, as a beauty professional operating independently, don’t forget to insure your business with a tailored public liability & professional indemnity insurance policy. Allergic reactions, nail infections, and hot wax spills are only some of the risks of operating a beauty business and performing beauty treatments. Accidents are sometimes unavoidable, which is why holding insurance is so important! It’ll give you the peace of mind you deserve.

If you’re looking for the best insurance cover for your beauty business, hop onto our free instant quote generator to get an estimate on market-leading insurance in seconds.