Imogen Nicholls is turning her passion for make-up into a career with the help of City College’s hair and media make-up courses.
Like many teenagers, after leaving school Imogen was unsure of what to study, but having developed an interest in watching make-up tutorials on Instagram, she decided to go with her heart and applied to study for a Level 2 Diploma in Hair and Media Make-up at the College.
Having successfully completed this course, she has now progressed to the level 3 qualification and is enjoying being able to develop her own interests within the vast world of hair and beauty.
Imogen said: “The level 2 course is very broad and I learnt a lot of new skills. I’ve been practising make-up techniques at home for a few years, but it was really interesting to learn how the professionals create these incredible looks.
“I like how this course really expands your skills. You don’t just learn about hair and make-up, you learn about spray tanning, eye treatments, body art design; you also learn a great deal about client care, communication, health and safety – the lecturers make sure you have the knowledge you need to work in the industry.
“In particular, I’ve really enjoyed creative make-up artistry – particularly creating looks for catwalks – and I’m really excited about being able to work in Stars, the College’s spa and salon. You’re given a lot of time to practise your practical skills to ensure you are happy and confident working with clients.”
For Imogen, one of the best things about studying at the College has been the noticeable difference with how students are treated by staff.
Imogen said: “You aren’t treated like a child at City College. The lecturers are really supportive and will help you in any way, but they’re more like friends than teachers. They value our opinions and will structure the course to suit our interests. When you’re at school, you don’t always feel listened to when it comes to what you are learning about, but our lecturer Amanda really cares about our future careers and it is important to her that we’re learning the skills we need to be successful.”
