Nail & Beauty Courses For Kids & Teens
A hobby they can actually get good at. Our accredited nail and makeup courses are short online video lessons they follow at home, at their own pace, with a real tutor looking at their practical work and a certificate at the end.
✓ ABT, IPHM and IGCT accredited · ★ 1,345 reviews · Teaching since 2008 · Pay in 3 with Klarna, PayPal or Clearpay
Jump to the courses, the right age to start, what they will need, or meet their tutor.
Why Nail & Beauty Courses Make A Great Hobby For Kids
Something to show for the time they spend on a screen. Short lessons, practice at home, and real feedback on what they make.
No Deadlines, No Pressure
Nothing is late and nothing expires, so it fits around school. An hour on a wet Sunday, then nothing for a fortnight, costs them nothing, and they can do more in the school holidays.
Written For Complete Beginners
Every course starts at the very beginning. No experience assumed and nothing to know beforehand.
Real Feedback, Not A Grade
They send photos of their practical work and a tutor tells them what to do differently. They can resubmit as often as they like.
Safety Taught First
Hygiene and product safety are part of the course, not an afterthought.
Something To Show At The End
An accredited diploma in their own name, and a portfolio of their own work to go with it.
Four Nail & Makeup Courses For Kids And Teens
The same online courses our adult students take, taught the same way, so kids and teenagers learn it properly from the start. Manicure is a popular first course, and they can add the others when they are ready.
Manicure Course
Nail shaping, cuticle care, a proper polish finish and a hand massage. A great first course.
Gel Polish Course
Applying, curing and safely removing gel polish — the finish that actually lasts a fortnight. Safe removal is the part that matters most.
Nail Art Course
Freehand designs, foils, glitter and stamping. Usually the course they ask for first and the one they show everybody.
Makeup Course
Skin prep, base, eyes and a finished look, with brushes, hygiene and colour matching covered properly.
Tell us their age and what they would like to learn, and we will point you at the right starting point. Each course is booked on its own, and every one includes lifetime access to the materials and tutor feedback on every case study. Pay in 3 with Klarna, PayPal or Clearpay.
Which Course Suits Which Age: From Under 10s To Teenagers
There is no hard minimum age. Ten and over is about right for working through a course independently, and younger children do well with a parent alongside them. Read our guide: Is there a minimum age for beauty and nail courses?
Under 10s
With A Parent
Manicure and nail art, done together. You set up and manage the account and help with the written parts; they do the practical work.
10 to 12 year olds
Starting Out
Manicure first, then nail art. Short sessions and plenty of practice on family and friends.
13 to 15 year olds
Building Up
Add gel polish and makeup. This is the age most students start wondering what they could do with it.
16 and over
Going Further
The Complete Nail Technician route if they want to take it further. Acrylic has no age limit either, so there is no need to wait.
Home educating? See our home education page →
Buying It As A Gift?
A nail or makeup course makes a Christmas or birthday present for a teenager that lasts well beyond the day. Buy the course, and add a kit at checkout if they need one. The lessons never expire, so they can start whenever they are ready.
What Kids Need To Get Started
To Get Started
- A course kit – or add one at checkout
- A practice model: a parent, sibling or friend
- A phone camera for case-study photos
- A clean, well-lit table to work at
Safety And Supervision
- A parent or guardian sets up and manages the account
- Courses teach hygiene and product safety
- We recommend a parent nearby for practical sessions
Questions Parents Ask About Kids’ Beauty Courses
Quick answers for parents.
What Age Can My Child Start?
There’s no hard minimum age. We suggest 10 and over for working through a course independently, and younger children are very welcome with a parent working alongside them. A parent or guardian sets up and manages the account. Younger learners usually begin with Manicure, Nail Art and Makeup, then add Gel Polish, and many go on to the Complete Nail Technician route, including acrylic, when they’re ready.
Will They Actually Stick With It?
There are no deadlines and nothing expires, so a gap costs nothing. The lessons stay in their account, so if they lose interest for a month and pick it up again, nothing is lost and nothing has to be paid again.
Is It Suitable For A Complete Beginner?
Yes. Every course starts at the very beginning and assumes no experience at all.
How Much Time Does It Take?
An hour or two a week is plenty. There is no set end date, so they can go faster in the holidays and slower in term time.
Do They Need To Buy A Kit?
They will need products to practise with. You can add a course kit at checkout, or use kit you already have.
Who Do They Practise On?
A parent, a sibling or a friend. The case-study photos are taken at home — nobody needs to come to you.
How Is Their Practical Work Marked?
They upload case-study photos through the student portal. A tutor reviews the work and gives feedback, and they can resubmit as many times as they need.
Does It Count As A GCSE?
No. These are accredited diplomas, not Ofqual-regulated qualifications, so they don’t count as a GCSE or a Level 2. They are a practical, recognised start that can lead on to further training, college or a future career in beauty.
Can They Work On Clients Afterwards?
Insurers set their own requirements, including minimum ages, so check directly with an insurer before taking paying clients. Many younger students start by practising on family and friends and building a portfolio.
Can We Spread The Cost?
Yes. You can pay in 3 interest-free instalments with Klarna, PayPal or Clearpay at checkout.
Taught by Victoria Arpels
Founder of Next Step Beauty since 2008
Victoria trained in beauty therapy, worked in a busy spa and lectured in further education colleges before founding Next Step Beauty. She demonstrates the techniques in the nail course videos herself, so you learn them from someone who has done the job and taught it. And she works alongside the tutor team on case-study feedback and in the private student groups, so the practical work you send in is seen by people who know what they are looking for.
Meet Victoria →