-Written by Centre Training Manager Laura Holdstock
VTCT recently launched its Level 4 Certificate in Enhancing Eyebrows with Microblading Techniques, which has been developed in conjunction with industry experts within the field of semi-permanent make-up.
What is microblading?
Microblading is a rapidly growing service within the beauty industry. It is an ancient form of tattooing that has been around for thousands of years and is believed to have originated in Asia. It is used as a form of semi-permanent make-up, where a small blade is used to implant pigment using fine incisions in the skin. The technique is also known as feathering or embroidery and when carried out correctly, results in a beautiful natural looking brow.
Below is some information on the highly regarded experts in the UK that have supported our qualifications.
Naomi O’Hara
Naomi started working in the beauty and aesthetic industry in 1997. Years later, Naomi felt she needed to move forward from beauty and in 2006 trained in permanent cosmetics with the world-renowned Karen Betts – founder of Nouveau Contour, and went on to study advanced techniques in Harley Street London.
For 10 years Naomi has seen thousands of patients wishing to create bespoke brows or a fuller lip through cosmetic tattooing, and many more for medical reasons including areola tattooing following breast reconstruction and follicle tattooing for hair loss caused by alopecia or male pattern baldness.
Naomi has a passion for all things aesthetic and is always looking to progress further, having the most advanced and up-to-date equipment and pigments dedicated purely to permanent cosmetic tattooing.
She said: “Watching the expression on someone’s face as they see the procedure finished for the first time never fails to motivate me. Whether it’s a brand new client’s first time with a procedure or someone who has had a treatment elsewhere previously, the feeling I get from exceeding expectations is immense, and makes me strive for perfection every time”.
Naomi is the Training Director for The Clinical Academy based in Portsmouth. The Academy hosts a range of accredited courses from Level 2 and 3 VTCT Beauty Courses, Level 4 Micropigmentation and Microblading, Laser/IPL Courses as well as short accredited courses.
Naomi was chosen to train specialist nurses at The Royal Marsden Hospital in London, to improve the treatments they were able to offer including areola tattooing for women and men who have had reconstructive surgery following on from breast cancer, an essential part of post-treatment care.
For more information on courses offered by Naomi visit her website: http://theclinicalacademy.com/ or call 023 9238 2000.
Teresa Frake
Teresa has been working within the beauty industry for over 30 years and has been carrying out micropigmentation for nearly 20 years.
She trained originally in hair and beauty therapy and went on to work in television and theatre, but continued to train in Aromatherapy, Reflexology, Sports Therapy, Sclerotherapy and Cryotherapy. She then went on to become a Salon Manager for a beauty clinic and private training school in Tunbridge Wells.
Teresa has taught a variety of aspects of the beauty industry, but always had a passion for more advanced procedures, so progressed on to Micropigmentation, when it was still in its infancy.
After working as a salon manager/trainer in Bermuda for many years, Teresa returned to the UK and joined the BCI training team in 2002. Teresa continues to update her skills and knowledge by attending training courses and conferences in Germany, Belgium and the USA.
As well as performing cosmetic tattooing, Micropigmentation and Microblading, she is also trained in paramedical treatments and remedial skin camouflage.
Teresa feels it is important as a tutor to keep updated with any changes within the industry and be aware of any new techniques and procedures. This way she can feel confident that she is teaching with the latest and newest information.
Teresa feels that VTCT has always set their standards to a higher level and it is important that students receive high quality training. By working with VTCT it ensures that when students are ready to work in the industry they can do so with confidence and assurance that their knowledge is of the highest grade. Teresa has enjoyed working with VTCT on the Level 4 Microblading qualification and will now add this qualification to her programme offer, ensuring her students can achieve even more in-depth training and she looks forward to continuing working with them for many years to come.
Brenda Griffin
Brenda discovered the beauty industry in her 30’s while living in Asia. She studied at the prestigious Frederique Deleage French Beauty School and went on to become head of the beauty department at the Jacques Dessange Hair and Beauty Salon in Hong Kong, having worked in recruitment sales for several years before then.
In 1998, bringing together her skills in sales and beauty Brenda was employed by a local beauty distributor called Light Concept Nails. Her position was to set up and build a customer service department. Back in those days, gel nails were a new thing and the business went from strength to strength. Light Concepts Nails was rebranded to Beauty Concepts International (BCI) Ltd. and Brenda became the director of training and business development, a post she still holds.
Brenda runs a team of freelance beauty and podiatry trainers who all adhere to the company training standards as directed by her. She is also an international trainer for Wilde-Cosmetics in Germany, travelling to other English-speaking countries and supporting the international distribution network and the Glossy Island Nail Bar franchise.
In 2001, she instigated the introduction of Micropigmentation to the company’s training portfolio, spotting that this would be a great area for development. With the expertise of Training Manager Teresa Frake, the company has established itself as a quality training provider.
In 2015 BCI started working with VTCT and has since become a Sterex Academy currently working towards becoming a specialist training provider for postgraduate beauty training. It has been a privilege for Brenda to work with Debra Morris and her team at VTCT to assist in the development of the new Level 4 Award in Microblading.
She has worked for awarding organisations as a consultant for the new technical awards, she sits on an Industry Advisory board and is also a member of the JCCP Aesthetic Practitioners sub-committee working with other industry professionals to create standards in the industry.
For more information on courses offered by Teresa and Brenda visit their website: https://www.beautyconcepts.co.uk/ or call 01273 837302.
Jacqueline Gibson
Jackie has been a key member of the hair and beauty industry for over 35 years. She has a vast amount of experience within the educational sector specialising in both hair and beauty, primarily as the head of a hair and beauty department at a local FE college for 15 years, working closely with other senior management team members overseeing and running the FE College. More recently, in 2010 she became the director at her own specialist advanced beauty training VTCT centre – The LivAva Academy in Birkenhead.
She is a fully qualified teacher, assessor, internal and external verifier. She is qualified up to degree level in Advanced Beauty, Aesthetics and Spa Management and is currently involved in updating her Level 7 Aesthetics qualification to include botox and fillers injectables, to ensure she ‘future proofs’ her abilities and provision against emerging industry developments.
Previously, she has implemented the delivery and quality management of the new suite of VTCT Level 4 Advanced Beauty qualifications into her VTCT Centre.
Jackie and her team at LivAva have worked alongside VTCT on many occasions assisting other VTCT Centres with the delivery of Level 4 and Advanced Beauty qualifications and troubleshooting any issues they may face. She also works alongside and is a recognised sector specialist consultant to the UK Official CPD Register.
Her specialist subject area is in the field of micropigmentation including microblading at Level 4 and previously assisted in writing the unit content for the VTCT Level 4 Micropigmentation Qualification. Jackie has been delivering training and treatments and continuously updating her CPD within this field for over 15 years. She is passionate about the implementation and maintenance of robust quality assurance standards across the hair and beauty sector – this is shown with her continually professional work ethics and good values.
For more information on courses run by Jackie, visit her web site: http://www.livava.co.uk or call 0151 651 0101.
Teaching microblading
To teach the VTCT microblading qualification it is important that you have at least three years of industry experience. This ensures that you are confident and comfortable dealing with and working with a variety of clients and being able to adapt your treatments to suit their individual needs. As this is such a visual and ‘permanent’ treatment, it is important that you are well practised before disseminating your expertise.
Find out more about the Level 4 Certificate in Enhancing Eyebrows with Microblading Techniques here
