Category: Business

*Disclaimer – This blog has been created as general information and should not be taken as advice. Make sure you have the correct level of insurance for your requirements and always review policy documentation. Information is factually accurate at the time of publishing but may have become out of date.

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09:47:25 GMT • 14 January 2025

Understanding Chakra Stones and Healing Crystals

9 October 2019

•

7 mins read

Contributors

Steffi joined the business in July 2017 as Business Support Executive. Steffi completed her degree in Sports and ...

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Chakra stones, or healing crystals, are thought to correspond to the seven chakras or centres of energy in the body. These energy centres are believed to govern our physical, emotional, and spiritual wellbeing. When they are in balance, energy flows freely and harmoniously. But when one or more chakras become blocked or imbalanced – often due to trauma, stress, or emotional distress – this can manifest as worry, insecurity, fatigue, or even a sense of disconnection from oneself.

As chakra therapists or those exploring the path, working with healing crystals is a powerful, intuitive way to support clients in their healing journeys. Chakra stones are often used in Reiki therapy as well, where practitioners place specific crystals on or around the body to align and activate the chakras during energy healing sessions. This combination of crystal healing and Reiki can help amplify energetic shifts, clear blockages, and restore balance on multiple levels.

In this guide, we explore the chakras, the crystals that resonate with them, and how to use these stones in your practice with depth and integrity.

What are Chakra Healing Crystals?

Chakra healing crystals, also known as chakra stones, are natural minerals thought to carry vibrational energies that interact with our own energy fields. The word ‘chakra’ originates from Sanskrit and translates to ‘wheel,’ referring to spinning centres of energy in the body.

Each of the seven primary chakras is associated with specific physical, emotional, and spiritual attributes, and each resonates with particular colours and frequencies. Chakra stones are chosen based on these qualities, to either balance, activate, or calm these energy centres.

This video from Fire Mountain Gems and Beads gives you a great overview.

The seven chakras and their healing crystals

Root Chakra (Muladhara)

Location: Base of the spine and pelvic floor
Associated with: Security, grounding, survival
When blocked: Anxiety, fear, feeling unsafe or unrooted
Crystals: Hematite, Black Onyx, Smokey Quartz

Sacral Chakra (Svadhisthana)

Location: Just below the navel
Associated with: Sensuality, creativity, emotional flow
When blocked: Low libido, creative blocks, guilt
Crystals: Carnelian, Sunstone, Orange Calcite

Solar Plexus Chakra (Manipura)

Location: Upper abdomen / navel area
Associated with: Confidence, personal power, will
When blocked: Low self-esteem, lack of direction
Crystals: Citrine, Pyrite, Yellow Jasper

Heart Chakra (Anahata)

Location: Centre of the chest
Associated with: Love, compassion, emotional balance
When blocked: Jealousy, grief, inability to trust
Crystals: Rose Quartz, Green Aventurine, Jade

Throat Chakra (Vishuddha)

Location: Throat
Associated with: Communication, truth, self-expression
When blocked: Fear of judgement, difficulty expressing oneself
Crystals: Lapis Lazuli, Aquamarine, Sodalite

Third Eye Chakra (Ajna)

Location: Between the eyebrows
Associated with: Intuition, insight, clarity
When blocked: Lack of direction, poor judgement, overthinking
Crystals: Amethyst, Fluorite, Iolite

Crown Chakra (Sahasrara)

Location: Top of the head
Associated with: Spiritual connection, enlightenment
When blocked: Disconnection, isolation, apathy
Crystals: Clear Quartz, Amethyst, Moonstone

How to use chakra crystals in healing sessions

As a chakra therapist, your intuition is one of your greatest tools. You might begin a session by using a pendulum to assess energy flow in each chakra, or by simply sensing where there are imbalances in your client’s body or aura.

Crystal Placement: Place the appropriate stone on or near the corresponding chakra while your client lies down in a relaxed state. You might combine this with reiki, breathwork, or guided meditation.

Gridding: Use a sacred geometry grid layout to amplify the energetic impact, especially for deeper emotional clearing or spiritual connection.

Energy Sweeping: Gently move the crystal over the chakra in circular or sweeping motions to help shift stagnation or blockage.

Client Interaction: Encourage your client to hold or meditate with a crystal between sessions, to deepen their own connection with that chakra’s energy.

Choosing the right stones for your practice

Start with a basic set of the seven chakra stones and slowly build your collection based on your intuitive pulls or client needs. Keep an open heart – sometimes a stone will call to you without a logical reason, and that’s often exactly what you (or your client) need.

Dual-purpose stones like Amethyst (which supports both Crown and Third Eye) or Citrine (Solar Plexus and Sacral) are wonderful additions. Always work with ethically sourced stones when possible, honouring the earth from which they come.

How to care for your crystals

Crystals absorb energy, so regular cleansing is essential. Common methods include:

Placing them under the full moon
Smudging with sage or palo santo
Sound baths (using a singing bowl or chime)
Burying them in the earth overnight

You can also charge your crystals with an intention by holding them in your hand and mentally or verbally infusing them with purpose.

Integrating crystal healing with other practices

Crystals work beautifully alongside other holistic tools and modalities. Depending on your training and personal style, consider incorporating:

Meditation and Breathwork – Let your client hold a stone during guided meditations focused on chakra activation.
Sound Healing – Use singing bowls or tuning forks aligned with the vibrational frequency of the chakra being worked on.
Aromatherapy – Diffuse essential oils that complement each chakra’s energy (e.g., patchouli for Root, peppermint for Throat).
Movement Practices – Introduce gentle yoga poses or intuitive movement to help open blocked energy centres.

How to assess chakra imbalances

Being able to intuit or assess where energy is stuck is a vital skill. Some methods to explore include:

Pendulum Dowsing – Hold a pendulum above each chakra and observe the movement.
Body Language Cues – Hunched shoulders may point to a closed Heart Chakra, while crossed arms can signal defensive energy.
Client Dialogue – Ask simple reflective questions about their emotions and physical sensations.
Energy Scanning – With practice, many therapists sense energetic shifts or stagnation by moving their hands over the body.

Empowering clients between sessions

Give your clients tools to stay connected with their healing journey:

Crystal Meditations – Simple daily meditations with a chosen crystal.
Chakra Journaling Prompts – Encourage writing about themes of each chakra to deepen awareness.
Crystal Carrying – Recommend keeping a stone in their pocket or wearing crystal jewellery.
Chakra Affirmations – Pair affirmations with specific stones (e.g., “I am safe and grounded” with Hematite).

Navigating science and scepticism

Some clients (and therapists) might feel uncertain about the metaphysical aspects of crystal healing. It helps to:

Acknowledge the energetic and symbolic value of crystals even if not scientifically proven.
Embrace the placebo effect as a valid and powerful component of healing.
Speak from personal experience and observation rather than rigid belief.
Frame crystal work as complementary, never a replacement for conventional care.

Ethical practice and intuitive integrity

Always approach crystal healing with responsibility and humility:

Recognise that each client is on a unique path.
Avoid spiritual overreach or pushing ideas that don’t align with their belief systems.
Clearly communicate that crystal therapy is supportive, not curative.
Continue to educate yourself and seek mentorship from experienced energy healers.

Get Chakra Healing Reiki Insurance from Protectivity

Whether you incorporate chakra stones into your Reiki sessions or focus purely on energy healing, having good-quality therapist insurance is essential. It not only protects you and your business against potential claims, but also ensures that any investment you’ve made in ethically sourced healing crystals and equipment is covered in case of damage or loss.

At Protectivity, we offer specialist Reiki insurance policies designed for practitioners, including Public Liability, Professional Indemnity, and equipment cover. Whether you practise chakra healing, crystal Reiki, or traditional energy work, our flexible and affordable plans give you the peace of mind to focus fully on your clients. Why not get a quote today and safeguard your practice with confidence?

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10:22:23 BST • 11 April 2025

Essential First Aid for Personal Trainers

By Mandy Czyz

4 October 2019

•

5 mins read

Contributors

Mandy Czyz

Mandy has been with Starpeak Insurance Solutions since 2018, starting in sales in the consumer department and mov...

Red Cross First Aid Training
First Aid for Life

A personal trainer will work closely with their clients to help them achieve their best health and fitness performance. As with all exercise, there is always the risk of injury or accidents so as well as personal trainer liability insurance, what should you know about First Aid so that you can be prepared if an incident should occur?

Do Personal Trainers Need a First Aid Qualification?

Although holding a first aid certificate is not a specific requirement to get a job training clients, or even taking out insurance, it’s always a good idea to have some sort of knowledge on the subject.

When designing a programme for your client, you will be looking for a programme which pushes clients to achieve their goals whilst trying not to push them so hard that they injure themselves.

And, while you will do your best to avoid a client having an accident or causing themselves an injury, this is always a possibility to be aware of. Holding a first aid qualification provides peace of mind that you will be able to help a client should a situation occur during a training session.

How Do I Obtain a First Aid Qualification?

To get a First Aid Certificate you will need to complete a first aid course which will include a training day where you will learn the key skills that you need.

At the end of the course you will receive a certificate. Some trainers will also provide a credit card sized certificate stating that you are first aid qualified so that you can carry this around with you, should you need to put your skills into practice outside of a Personal Training session.

What is the Best First Aid Course for Personal Trainers?

To obtain a first aid qualification you will need to complete a training course during which you will learn basic first aid skills and how to respond in an emergency. You can complete a one-day Emergency First Aid Course which will provide you with all the knowledge and techniques that you will need to cover a range of situations.

Training will develop the skills and confidence to help someone who is:

· Struggling to breathe
· Having a heart attack
· Having a stroke
· Choking
· Bleeding
· Suffering from shock
· Having a seizure
· Burnt

You will also learn:

· How to assess and monitor a patient, checking their airway and breathing
· How to respond in an emergency
· How to apply a bandage/dressing
· How to manage the control of hazardous substances

What is Involved in a First Aid Course?

Most courses are 1 day which will take place in a classroom or hall. You will receive a mixture of classroom style training eg. Presentations through Powerpoint and practical training where you will be expected to practice the techniques that you have learnt (usually on dummies).

How do I Find a Course Near Me?

There are courses that take place all over the country, throughout the week with courses available at weekends too. Look for the best one near you that will provide you with the skills you need. You can find them quite easily with a quick internet search. Here are some good links to try:

How Much does a First Aid Course Cost?

This can vary between training providers but typically a 1-day course would cost between £70 and £140. If you are employed, for example you work in a gym, then your employer might offer to pay the costs of you attending the course.

However, if you are a self-employed Personal Trainer then you would of course have to cover the cost yourself.

Do I Need to Renew my Training?

Yes, you will need to renew your training every 3 years to ensure that you keep your skills up to date and in order to validate your insurance. Your training provider will be able to give you more details.

So, in order to offer the best and safest training programme designed for your client you should ensure that you complete a first aid course and get a certificate. Being first aid qualified will also make you more appealing to potential clients who will feel reassured that they and their fitness programme are in safe hands!

About Us

As well as Personal Trainer Insurance and Gym Insurance we offer insurance to other leisure section entities such as Sports Clubs. Get your quote today by visiting our Sports Club Insurance page.

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09:46:04 GMT • 14 January 2025

The Importance of Patch Tests for Hairdressers

3 October 2019

•

4 mins read

Contributors

Steffi joined the business in July 2017 as Business Support Executive. Steffi completed her degree in Sports and ...

Hair dyes are made from a range of ingredients which might, in some cases, irritate your client’s skin or cause an allergic reaction. Many permanent and some semi-permanent hair dyes contain a chemical called paraphenylenediamine (PPD), which is a known irritant and allergen.

Many clients won’t react to this, but it is important to assess this before applying a solution that will come into contact with your client’s skin. Because of this, patch testing has become standard practice for hairdressers, but why is it so important?

Protectivity is a specialist provider of Hairdressers Insurance and Barber Insurance. We cover thousands of individuals and small to medium size businesses across the UK each year.

What is a Patch Test?

A patch test is a way of testing if your client might react to a colour treatment. It is essential to complete a patch test so that you can be sure that your client will not have a reaction to the products that you intend to use.

If your clients skin reacts badly to the test that you have applied, then you should not use the product on them.

What Are the Risks Of Not Doing a Patch Test?

There are a number of possible outcomes if you don’t complete a hair dye patch test on your clients. If your client reacts badly to the product you use, then their skin might become dry, red and itchy. In more extreme cases a client’s skin might become red and swollen and they might experience a burning or stinging sensation.

In very severe cases a client might suffer from anaphylaxis or anaphylactic shock. This would happen within minutes of being exposed to the product. According to the NHS website, signs of anaphylaxis include:

· itchy skin or a raised, red skin rash
· swollen eyes, lips, hands and feet – the eyelids can swell so much that the eyes close
· feeling lightheaded or faint
· swelling of the mouth, throat or tongue, which can cause breathing and swallowing difficulties
· wheezing
· tummy pain, nausea and vomiting
· collapsing and becoming unconscious

If your client presents these symptoms then you should call 999 and ask for an ambulance. With less severe reactions you should wash the product from your client’s hair to reduce the effects.

What is the Best Way of Doing Patch Test?

You can expect to learn how to do patch test whilst at college. A small amount of the tint and peroxide is made up, just as you would do in the salon. This solution is then applied to your client’s skin. It is best to use an area such as the elbow or behind the ear.

Typically, this colour patch test is carried out 48 hours before the treatment itself to give time to assess if a reaction is likely to happen. Patch tests should then be completed regularly as repeated exposure to an ingredient can cause it to become an allergen.

Protecting Yourself

Even if you are thorough in completing patch tests, there is always the possibility of something going wrong so it’s best to make sure that you have adequate insurance in place.

Public Liability insurance will protect you in situations where a third party may make a claim for injury or damage caused by your treatment.

If a client reacts badly to a solution that you have used during their treatment without you having completed a patch test before-hand then you might make your insurance invalid so you won’t be covered.

Some clients might refuse for a patch test to be done, assuring you that they will not react to any of the ingredients. In circumstances such as these it is best to inform your client that the test only takes a few minutes and you would prefer to be sure that they won’t react and that you are simply taking precautions.

Reactions to hair dye are avoidable as long as you follow guidance and complete regular patch tests to continually assess if your client’s skin will react to the products that you are using during a treatment.

Without doing this you are putting your client and yourself at risk.

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09:41:54 GMT • 14 January 2025

5 Things to Remember when Selling at Craft Fairs

By Mandy Czyz

3 October 2019

•

4 mins read

Contributors

Mandy Czyz

Mandy has been with Starpeak Insurance Solutions since 2018, starting in sales in the consumer department and mov...

Get stallholder insurance from Protectivity

Craft fairs are great events to showcase your products. There are likely to be various fairs throughout the year ranging from craft fairs at school events to Wedding or Christmas Craft Fairs. Some might also have fabulous themes that you can adopt for your own stall, it is certainly worth researching the event, the stallholders and the visitors expected to find the Craft Fair that is most suited to you and your business.

So, you have chosen your event, booked and designed your craft stall, made your products and are ready to sell. But what else should you consider when selling at Craft Fairs?

Here are 5 important things to remember for your next Fair:

Finances

Look at the cost of attending the event vs. the profit that you estimate you could make from it to assess if you can benefit from selling there.

You should also consider the benefit that you will get from promoting your business and showcasing your products.

Track your outgoings, for example the attendance fee or stall hire, cost of materials, transport costs etc and then calculate what you think that you could sell.

This will help you to estimate the finances and then you can review the actual figures after the event to help identify if it is something to repeat in the future.

Insurance

Whilst the organiser of your craft fair will likely have their own event insurance, those attending the fair as a stallholder will probably be asked to take out their own public liability insurance upon booking a stall.

Stallholder insurance typically protects you if a third party makes a claim against you for injury or damage for which you are found to be responsible. Consider also getting insurance cover for your products and equipment in case they get damaged whilst at the Craft Fair. Alternatively, we also offer event cancellation cover which will protect you from the unexpected cancellation, postponement, or interruption of an event due to unforeseen circumstances

Link to Online

Although you may engage with a lot of people at a Craft Fair, you might find that some won’t want to make a purchase that day but do have an interest in your products.

It is important then to give them a second opportunity to review your products.

Direct potential customers to your website or Facebook page.

This way people can view your full range of products in their own time and they may well make a purchase. Make sure that you have business cards/leaflets printed so potential customers can take your business details with them and find you later.

Register Your Business

It is likely that the best way to set up your business is as a sole trader and you can do this through www.gov.uk. As part of this you will register for self-assessment and will need to submit your profit and income each year.

Licences

Depending on what kind of Craft Fair you are selling at, you may need a license to trade. If you are attending an organised Craft Fair, it is likely that the organisers will have obtained a licence to cover the event itself.

However, if you are trading at a market for example, you may need a market stall or street trading licence. Contact your local council to understand what requirements there might be.

It is best to check with the organisers of the event that you are attending if there are any requirements for you to obtain licenses or insurance.

So, consider these factors when planning an event. Then enjoy creating fabulous products to showcase you and your business at your next Craft Fair!

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09:42:42 GMT • 14 January 2025

Hairdressing Regulations You Need to Know

3 October 2019

•

4 mins read

Contributors

Steffi joined the business in July 2017 as Business Support Executive. Steffi completed her degree in Sports and ...

When running a hair salon there are lots of factors to consider but most important is health and safety for both your clients and your employees. Here is a guide to the areas that you need to focus on for health and safety legislation in hairdressing.

What are the hairdressing regulations that you need to comply with?

There are key regulations that everyone who runs a hairdressing business should comply with. These are:

• Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 – UK legislation detailing the duties of employers regarding health and safety in the workplace. Employers have a duty to protect health, safety and welfare in the workplace.

• Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations (COSHH) 2002 – this is the UK law that requires all employers to ensure that they are sufficiently controlling harmful substances in the workplace.

• Cosmetic Products (Safety) Regulations 2004 – this covers any substance or mixture intended to be placed in contact with the external parts of the human body (including hair)

What do you need to put in place to comply with the regulations?

Risk Assessment

Carry out a risk assessment together with your employees, identifying the areas of risk within your business and then demonstrate that you have put in place measures to protect clients and staff. It is a good idea to have the risk assessment recorded as a document that all staff members can have access to, a typical format for this might look like this:

Hazard	Who might be harmed and how	What Precautions are currently in place?	Any further action required?	By Who	When	Date completed
Hair dye solution	Clients or staff could have a reaction to the ingredients within the solution	Allergy (patch) testing takes place 48 hours before a client’s treatment	Continue to regularly conduct patch testing	All Hairdressing staff	Every 3 months	Ongoing

Staff Training

All employees must receive regular Health & Safety at work training. This covers several key areas including:
· COSHH (Control of Substances Hazardous to Health)
· Fire Safety
· Manual Handling
· Electrical Safety

Health & Safety Policy

A Health & Safety Policy is a written statement that sets out how you, as an employer ensures that the workplace is a safe environment to work in. It is a legal requirement that you have this policy displayed in your hairdressing salon.

First Aider

HSE states that employers must have appropriate first aid provision for their workplace. It is good practice for a hairdressing salon to have a nominated person who, in the event of an accident, will be able to administer first aid. They would need to gain a qualification in first aid at work by attending a first aid training course to be renewed every 3 years.

Allergy Testing

You should have as a standard practice the regular patch testing of products on clients skin 48 hours before exposure to assess if they might react to a product.

As a salon owner, you have ultimate responsibility for ensuring the safety of your staff in the workplace.

To do this you should put in place the procedures for managing hazardous substances, take precautions to avoid trips and falls, keep your salon clean and well ventilated, have a clear fire safety procedure and ensure that all appliances are well maintained and regularly checked.

Taking these precautions should help to avoid any incidents and make your salon a safe place for you and your employees to work in.

Protectivity is a specialist provider of Hairdressing Insurance. We cover thousands of individuals and small to medium size businesses across the UK each year.

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09:42:56 GMT • 14 January 2025

10 Traditional Reiki Hand Positions

1 October 2019

•

3 mins read

Contributors

Steffi joined the business in July 2017 as Business Support Executive. Steffi completed her degree in Sports and ...

Get therapist insurance from Protectivity

Reiki is a Japanese technique for stress reduction and relaxation which also promotes healing. The belief behind this treatment is that a life energy is flowing through our bodies and if this energy is low then we are more vulnerable to illness and stress.

Reiki treatments increase this life energy by placing hands on, or just above the body, creating beneficial emotional and physical effects, healing pain, reducing stress and anxiety.

A typical Reiki session

During a Reiki Treatment, a client will lie on a massage table, or a chair if they prefer. There is no significant pressure applied during a Reiki session, instead a practitioner will gently place their hands on a client.

There are a series of key hand positions which, when done in the correct way, will generate the effects needed. Here is a guide to some of the most popular hand positions.

1. Place the palms of your hands gently on your client’s forehead and cover the eyes. Take care not to cover the nose and restrict your client’s breathing.

2. Place hands gently around the temples.

3. Cradle the head by rocking the head very gently from one open palm and then to the other eventually achieving a balanced hold. Your own hands can rest on the table underneath your clients head.

4. Hands are gently placed over your client’s throat. If they don’t feel comfortable with this then your hands can be placed under the throat instead.

5. Hands are placed over the heart and the heart chakra (located between the breasts). They are then placed gently over the upper abdomen.

6. Hands are placed gently over your mid abdomen (solar plexus).

7. At this point, you, as a Reiki Practitioner might continue treatment to include your client’s legs.

Both hands are placed gently on the leg. Repeat for the other leg.

8. Put one hand on the bottom of each foot.

9. The next step would be to ask your client to roll over to their front and for you to apply pressure to your client’s shoulder blades and middle back and then the lower back.

10. At the end of a treatment you may move your hands all over your client’s body to cleanse and remove any leftover debris, transforming any negative energies into positive ones.

At Protectivity, we provide a wide range of what we believe are cost-effective insurance solutions for therapy professionals including Reiki Insurance, Counselling Insurance, Massage Insurance and many more. To see if your speciality can be covered, just visit our Therapy Insurance page and input your technique into the quote box. If we can cover the activity, we will provide you with an instant price.

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09:41:26 GMT • 14 January 2025

Talking Wages: How Much Does a Barber Earn?

11 September 2019

•

4 mins read

Contributors

Steffi joined the business in July 2017 as Business Support Executive. Steffi completed her degree in Sports and ...

Get barber insurance from Protectivity

There are several ways to work as a barber and therefore several ways that you can earn money. Here are some of the structures available and gives an indication on how much a barber can make.

About us: Protectivity is a specialist provider of Barber Insurance. We cover thousands of individuals and small to medium size businesses across the UK each year.

Employed at a barbers salon

You might be employed at a salon and paid an hourly rate. Your salary will then be paid to you on either a weekly or monthly basis.

A barber’s salary will depend on experience and can range from £8 to £12 per hour. This is something that you will agree with the Salon owner at the start of your employment.

Self employed (Freelance)

A lot of barbers salons will hire you as a self-employed barber. This simply means that you will work on a freelance basis and would need to manage your own financial records and pay your own taxes.

This is done by registering for self-assessment, on the Government website.

Rent a chair

A common way for barbers to work is to rent a chair in a Salon. You will pay a fixed (usually weekly) fee to rent a chair. After you have paid this rent, you then keep the rest of the money that you earn. This works well if the salon is a busy one.

The amount that you can charge for a haircut will depend on several factors eg. Salon location and reputation, competitor charges etc. but you could expect to earn £100 – £200 per day. You then need to deduct the cost of renting the chair from this amount.

This structure works best once you have built up a good client base, so you know that you are going to have paying clients to cover the cost of renting the chair.

Split & commission

This is a common structure amongst barbers and enables you to share the revenue from the salon that you work in. For each haircut you complete, you would keep a percentage and the remainder you would pass to the salon.

The potential to earn very much depends on how many haircuts you do in a day, but this method can work well for a barber who is prepared to work hard and contribute to the success of the salon, attracting and retaining clients.

Own your own salon

There is obviously a greater potential to earn if you own your own salon once you have developed your experience and client base. However, you also need to consider that you also have the overhead costs of running the salon, staff wages etc.

Are there any opportunities to boost how much a barber can make?

You can boost your salary as a barber either through earning commission on the sale of hair products which you can offer your clients at their appointment. You can demonstrate which products would suit their needs best and then if they purchase it to take home you can earn between £2 and £3 on each purchase. If you can sell these products across your client base then this can become a great additional income.

Tips are also a great way to boost your earnings. Tips are entirely at the discretion of your clients but if you provide a great service and a great haircut leaving your client happy, they might choose to leave you a tip. The amount is again at the discretion of the client but averages between 5 and 10%.

So, there are plenty of options available and it is worth exploring each one in more detail to find the best structure for you. The London School of Barbering also has a great interview about the earning potential for barbers.

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09:41:13 GMT • 14 January 2025

How to Become a Barber: Training and Courses

4 September 2019

•

3 mins read

Contributors

Steffi joined the business in July 2017 as Business Support Executive. Steffi completed her degree in Sports and ...

Get barber insurance from Protectivity

If you have made the decision to become a barber, then there are a number of ways to achieve your goal! There are different routes depending on your age, working status and financial situation.

The majority of barbering courses will offer a mix of classroom-based learning where you will learn about styles and techniques, and practical learning where you can put what you have learnt into practice and will cut hair on live models.

About us: Protectivity is a specialist provider of Barber Insurance. We cover thousands of individuals and small to medium size businesses across the UK each year.

College course

There are lots of college courses available nationwide providing both classroom-based learning as well as some experience cutting hair on live models.

Duration: 1 – 3 years
Content: A combination of theory and practical learning but offers the least amount of practical cutting experience.
Cost: Approximately £2000 (There is funding available for some students. Your local college should be able to provide more information.)
Outcome: Most will result in an NVQ qualification at the end of the course.
Benefits: Courses are easily accessible at colleges throughout the UK and training can be quite flexible to fit your needs.

Apprenticeship

Typically a route for school leavers, an apprenticeship involves in salon training where you can get lots of experience.

Duration: Approximately 3 years
Content: Usually an apprentice would start work doing the very basic tasks eg. Shampooing hair and sweeping up hair whilst watching and learning from the barbers in the salon.
Cost: £0
Outcome: At the end of an apprenticeship you would be awarded an NVQ.
Benefits: An experience-based way of training to become a barber and there is no cost.

Private courses

Some organisations (eg. London School of Barbering) can provide a private course which can be a more intensive course of barber training but often costs more to complete.

Duration: Usually between 6 and 12 weeks
Content: A combination of theory and practical learning, sometimes offering additional training in specific techniques.
Cost: Approximately £4000
Outcome: An NVQ and strong experience
Benefits: Smaller classes meaning more focused tuition

So, no matter what age you are or what stage of your career you are at, there is an ideal route for you and your circumstances so that you can gain the qualification and the experience that you need to become a barber.

Once qualified, remember you will need to take out suitable hairdressing insurance before you start to cut clients’ hair.

If you are just starting your training, then there are some useful websites to support you:

The British Barbering Association (BBA) is the leading association for the barbering industry in the UK.
The Barber Council is the statutory body established by The Hairdressing Act (1964) and tasked by Government to maintain a register of hairdressers and barbers in the UK.

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09:40:29 GMT • 14 January 2025

5 of the Best Apps for Mobile Hairdressers

4 September 2019

•

3 mins read

Contributors

Steffi joined the business in July 2017 as Business Support Executive. Steffi completed her degree in Sports and ...

As a mobile hairdresser, you’ll want to make your job as straightforward and organised as possible, all while keeping up with the latest trends. There is a whole world of apps for those in mobile hairdressing, to help you in every part of your job, from inspiration to organisation.

Whether you are new to hairdressing or are an established stylist, there are apps available to support you and your business. Here, we cover the best hairstylist apps for mobile hairdressing:

1. Best app for inspiration Pinterest

Pinterest is great for inspiration for anything and that includes hair styles, colours and beauty, which makes it perfect for mobile hairdressers. Over time, Pinterest’s algorithm learns about its users, including what subjects they’re interested in and what images they like to see, to provide content that is tailored to your interests. So, whether you are looking for ideas for how to decorate your salon, an up-do or a creative idea for using colour, don’t overlook this popular app.

2. Best app for appointments: Salon Iris

This is a great salon app with an easy-to-use appointment booking system which is great whether you are a salon owner or a freelancer. They have different packages available to suit businesses of different sizes and can take the stress out of managing the diary – leaving you to focus on enjoying your work and doing the best job for your clients.

3. Best app for managing payments: Square

Restricting payment methods to cash only can be frustrating for some clients but now you don’t need to put this restriction in place. Square is a mobile payment processing system which uses your tablet or smartphone. Using Square means that you can accept card payments, including contactless payments, without needing to invest in expensive software or card machines.

4. Best app for colour: Hair Colour Booth

Hair Colour Booth is a fun app which you could get your clients involved in when choosing their colour and seeing what it might look like. It can be a great conversation starter and help you to get creative with your hairstyling. While not designed specifically for the hair and beauty industry, this app is a great one to help show the transformation of a new hair colour.

5. Best app for hairstyles: Hairstyle Mirror

This free hairstyler app allows your client to take a selfie and then see what they would look like with different styles. Great for talking through hair-style ideas with clients, this one is also a lot of fun to try!

Are you a mobile hairdresser? Make sure you’re covered

There really is an app to support you in all elements of running your hairdressing business – from managing appointments, to attracting new clients. To protect yourself against the unexpected, it’s important you have specialist hairdressing insurance. Our Hairdressing Insurance offers financial protection to self-employed, freelance and mobile hairdressers should an incident happen that results in a claim against you. We also offer public liability insurance for barbers if that’s your trade.

With the right cover in place, you can enjoy your job with the reassurance that if something goes wrong, you have the support. Why not get a quote today?

Get Hairdressing Insurance from Protectivity

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