Student Information Q&A

Essential Nails courses are home study courses based around the famous Nail Trainer practice hand* which facilitates the main thing you need when learning nails: Practice Practice! Practice! You watch a lesson online, copy what you see on your own Nail Trainer. When you’re happy with your work, you unclip the nails and send them to us on special ‘progress cards’ for assessment and certification.

*Some courses, such as the Manicure and Pedicure are carried out on clients and you send in photographic evidence for the assessment process.

We offer a comprehensive range of accredited home study courses:

• Gel Nails (also called Gel Tip & Overlay or Gel Extensions)
• Acrylic Nails (also called Acrylic Tip & Overlay or Acrylic Extensions)
• Manicure & Pedicure (includes associated spa treatments and techniques)
• Gel Polish (UV cured polish)
• Nail Art
• One Stroke Art
• Acrylic Art
• Freehand Art

No. The video lessons and tests are delivered to your mobile, tablet or laptop via our online Academy. You watch these lessons and copy what you see using the tools and products. You create nails on the Nail Trainer hand and send them to us on special cards for assessment and certification. You learn a practical skill, not just theory. You will learn the correct techniques similar to what you would learn in a classroom.

You sign up for the tools & products, assessment & certification options and you will need a Nail Trainer practice hand. Work through the videos, answer the question papers, create your nails and send them in for assessment. If you pass, we issue your certificate.

There are separate certificates for each of the courses (currently 9 in total):
Acrylic, Gel, Gel Polish, Manicure, Pedicure, Nail Art, One Stroke Art, Acrylic Art, and Freehand Art.

Yes. Essential Nails graduates and the certificates awarded are recognised in the industry and accredited by The Beauty Guild. They will enable you to get professional insurance if you want to start working in a salon or start your own business doing nails.

You have a dedicated student coach available on the end of the phone, by email, or via social media messaging who will be happy to help. If you get really stuck, you can even attend our HQ for face-to-face help. However, we have solved 99% of issues that students come across through online coaching and postal nail exchanges.

Student Support Hotline: 01440 844 860
Email: support@beautytrainer.co.uk

That comes down to whether you want to work full-time or at times that suit you. If you are looking for a full-time wage, a salon is better as it has an established clientele. If you want a flexible lifestyle, working from home or mobile is the way to go.

Give us a call on 01440 844 860 for a friendly chat! We have years of experience helping new nail techs get started with zero obligation.

Working from home or mobile is very popular. If you take on say 10 regular clients (which is very doable), they require on average 2 treatments a month. Charging £20 - £40 per service yields £400 to £800 per month, with product costs accounting for only ~10%.

If you work in a salon, income depends on whether you earn a fixed salary or rent a desk and keep client fees. Call us anytime to discuss salon business models!

Essential Nails invented the Nail Trainer hand in 1997. We were the first company to create practical distance learning courses built around the Nail Trainer, and we have trained approximately 2,000 students per year since 2010.

Yes! You can change your mind and return the course for a full refund within 30 days of purchase. Any tools and products used or missing will be deducted from the refund.

Yes, but there is a administration charge, unless transferring to an immediate family member. Please contact student support for assistance.

Yes. DVD versions are available complete with paper test sheets so everything can be completed offline. Contact us to request the DVD package option.

Yes. Our systems were fully upgraded in February 2019. Please register for a new account on essentialnails.com to continue receiving support, assessment, certification, and product orders.

Online video courses enrolled after February 2019 have a 12-month completion window starting from purchase date. All tutor support is free during this 12-month period. If you need extra time, extensions can be added in 12-month increments for £49.95.

Note: Students on legacy DVD courses enrolled prior to February 2019 retain no time limit.

Yes! Use our website www.essentialnails.com to purchase items as you need them. Refit packs, tips, glues, gels, and acrylics are readily available.

Aspire is our exclusive rewards program for graduates, granting a 10% lifetime discount on all nail products!

Once you pass any course and receive your diploma, send an email to support@essentialnails.com with the subject line 'Apply my Aspire discount' including your details.

Email: support@beautytrainer.co.uk
Phone: 01440 844 860
Socials: Direct Message on Facebook & Instagram

Our support team is live on phones and responds to messages within 4 hours, Monday to Friday, 9 am to 5 pm.

Monthly payment plans are available for full training course packages via Zoho Billing. Flexible monthly finance is also available via PayPal at checkout.

Orders over £40 qualify for FREE shipping! Standard orders ship via Royal Mail (1 to 3 day delivery). Next-day and Saturday delivery options are available at checkout. Cut-off time for next-day dispatch is 12 noon.

We strongly advise buying directly from essentialnails.com. Counterfeit products on third-party marketplaces do not meet safety standards and perform poorly. Any student assessment work submitted using counterfeit products will be returned unmarked.

Yes. Replacement certificates can be ordered on our website either in PDF format for instant printing or as a hard copy sent by post (£12.95 fee).

Please send your completed progress cards and physical work to:
Essential Nails Assessment Dept.
Manor Road, Haverhill, Suffolk, CB9 0EP