Since we have all have been under strict stay-at-home orders (at least in California), it’s no wonder there has been a surge of online courses vying for your attention. But is Online Lash Training the right way to learn such a detailed skill? Well, that depends on the course and on you as the learner.
First off, where will you be learning? While the thought of learning in my P.J.’s without the distraction of strangers is a dream come true for me, it wouldn’t be the right situation for someone with no privacy in their home to focus and do hands on practice exercises. Also, it may be a fun thought to have a couple of friends over and learn the material together but when it actually comes down to showing up, some are more committed than others and we are in a pandemic. But for those who are preparing for when this crisis is over, online training in lash extensions may be something you are entertaining.
For some people, they know exactly what their learning style is but for others, it may have been awhile since you’ve been to school or had to learn a new skill. In order to determine if online lash extension training is right for you, you should know which category, or combination of categories you fit into as a student. Let’s break that down.
VISUAL LEARNERS: Symbols, boxes, charts and color coding are the go-to ways to learn and these people often learn best by reading and looking at images. They love diagrams and graphs and are able to retain information better when they have read about it and have seen it. You are the perfect candidate for online training as long as the course provides little symbols, charts and videos along the way.
VERBAL LEARNERS: If you highlight and recite information out loud or you have a passion for words and rhymes, you probably fit into this category of learners. You will do well with an online lash course with a lot of lectures rather than a lot of text.
AURAL: Auditory learners develop understanding by hearing and listening, especially if it involves sound effects and music. You are similar to a verbal learner and will do well with lectures, especially if the instructor has thought to include fun music.
PHYSICAL: Doing, touching, moving, building are all words that make the physical learner very happy. Remember chemistry lab when you had to partner with someone to do an experiment? If that made you excited about the material, you are probably a physical learner (and probably good at chemistry). You would be a hands-on person so an online training course for you is going to need to include a practical portion.
LOGICAL: If you need to understand the big picture and think abstractly about patterns and how things relate to each other, you are a logical learner. You probably ask a lot of questions and you are a natural thinker. You will need an experienced curriculum designer who has written courses before, not necessarily in the subject you are looking for. These designers know and understand learners like you and will know how to speak your language. Just make sure the actual teacher is an experienced lash artist, regardless of who designed the curriculum.
SOCIAL: Social learners thrive in group settings and love brainstorming with others. They like to know where they stand with their peers and get excited about competing in their progress, so seeing how others are doing is a necessity for them. An online course will need to have some group meeting aspect to it where you all show your work in order for you to adhere. For the most part, you will probably not be happy with most online training since it is mostly solitary.
SOLITARY: This type of learner tends to be more introspective and independent when they learn. They prefer to figure things out on their own or at least at their own pace. They feel like they understand things better when they aren’t distracted by others. If you are the person who attends a workshop but describes themselves as one who is there to learn, not make friends, this is you. You may be very social outside of learning, but you are very serious when it comes to education for a number of possible reasons. Online Lash Extension Training would be a much better fit for you than a live course in most cases, depending on the design.
Once you know your learning style, it is wise to consider why you want to learn Lash Artistry. Are you looking for a career change or are you already a licensed beautician looking to add to an existing menu? Do you want to learn so you can do your friends’ lashes and have a little side hustle? Are you already doing lashes but feel like you didn’t get good, quality foundational training? All of these describe different scenarios and most courses are not one size fits all.
For instance, if you are looking for a career change and have had your lashes done regularly and think this is something you might like, you shouldn’t invest a lot. In fact, ordering a cheap kit on Amazon and watching some youtube tutorials will let you know if this is something you even want to get into. I say this to all prospective students: “Lash extensions are easy to learn conceptually, but difficult to master.” If you can get through a whole set from a video on youtube and have done the research for your state requirements, then you will want a solid foundational comprehensive course complete with practical application. Are you someone who is already doing lashes but not getting the retention you want or feel a bit overwhelmed in your journey? You, too, would benefit for a comprehensive course from an experienced artist.
So, what types of courses should you avoid? First off, be careful of digital testing. Sometimes you will see a product or course offered at 1/5 the price of what the seller says it’s worth. More often than not, they are testing the market which means they don’t know a whole lot about what it is they’re selling or they are trying to make fast cash to invest in something else. They are banking on the fact that you, the buyer, don’t know much about it either but might pay if the price is low enough. Of course, there may be exceptions, but there is always a risk that very little effort was put into what they are pushing. If it is a skill set your trying to acquire like lash extensions, you should also avoid courses that push women empowerment, business set-up, high earnings, or paint any sort of a picture of success. Focus on courses that are realistic because any of us lash artists who have been to trainings know, 50% of the class is stressed and disappointed in how long it takes to learn this craft and charge a premium price for it. Those who are prepared for the work and have patient personalities succeed. And, while there is nothing wrong with personal empowerment, that isn’t what you should be spending your money on if your serious about the craft. A good teacher will empower you anyway, not sell it as part of a course. As for business set-up, an additional course can be taken later for that.
Finally, who should you learn from? A comprehensive lash course should be complete in every area that requires you to deliver a quality lash service and charge money for it. It should cover everything from when a client books an appointment, walks through your door and leaves your space. Most importantly, the course should focus on making you a good artist who can handle diverse situations. There should be a way for you to contact someone with questions, especially if you are enrolled in their course. Avoid courses pushed by influencers or “coaches.” While there is nothing wrong with online influencers and coaching, you don’t want to get bogged down in the social media “appearance” that your learning something. You should know who your teacher is going to be and how experienced they are in lash extensions, not social media. Most quality lash artists are too busy to constantly tend to social media while influencers pushing courses and product are not. With that said, that does not mean someone who is experienced is a good teacher and it doesn’t mean an experienced artist can’t have a great social media manager. Just proceed with caution.
Finally, how much should you pay for a course? Well, again that depends on your scenario. If you aren’t sure about lash extensions, don’t spend more than $75-$100 to see if it’s right for your personality type. If you are a messy, unorganized person with a short attention span, lashing could be very painful for you or it could be exactly what you need to learn organization and discipline. If you know it’s something you want to invest in, then be prepared to spend $500-$1,000 (which should include a kit) and even more if you need a course where the instructor is present, like you social learners. Keep in mind that before online training was available, lash training courses were $1500-$2,000 not including travel expenses. Most instructors who have the training and experience today to teach you anything worth learning in this field have multiple certifications and know the value of quality information. Anyone can take an online course and learn just enough to create one and sell it to you for cheap, but an experienced artist wouldn’t do that. Too much time and money has gone into their own training and product research for it not to have value. Plus, consider the time invested in creating an online course, which is must harder than teaching live, if it’s good. It takes months of planning, writing, filming, editing, re-shooting, re-writing, branding and marketing so in the end you get what you pay for.
There are great lash courses out there, but if you know minimal about lash artistry, start with the basics and build from there. Once you learn and have practiced the basics, you can expand and take shorter courses from a variety of artists to expand your skill set.
Learn more about our LASH ARTISTRY COMPREHENSIVE online training course for beginners.
