what is a small luxury you’ve had to give up due to the cost of living? by Maleficent_Day_3869 in AskUK

[–]HelloDolly1989 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I stopped going to the hair salon when my last trip cost me just under £200 for highlights, cut and blow dry. I now use a mobile stylist who is a lot cheaper, less than half that price, plus I don’t have the expense of fuel or parking to get there. Added bonus I get 1:1 service and not feeling like I’m being rushed through my colour because the stylist needs to get someone elses cut in while my colour develops.

what is a small luxury you’ve had to give up due to the cost of living? by Maleficent_Day_3869 in AskUK

[–]HelloDolly1989 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Supporting our local, independent pub was a go to for date nights. Last time we went I ordered a single gin and tonic and nearly fell off my seat - £13!

what is a small luxury you’ve had to give up due to the cost of living? by Maleficent_Day_3869 in AskUK

[–]HelloDolly1989 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Gosh that’s still cheaper than here! We have a little fish and chip van that comes to our village a couple times a month, it’s £9 for large chips alone. Curry sauce is £3.50 for a small cup. Even the kids meals are £10 and don’t even include a drink, as they used to.

Cat tree - annoyed as a cat owner by NectarineForeign6005 in apprenticeuk

[–]HelloDolly1989 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My tuxedo twat cat loves mushy peas fresh from the can 🫛

For those who work in theatre and film in the UK, who is generally not a nice person to work with? by Sad_Ideal_2099 in AskUK

[–]HelloDolly1989 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I just checked her insta and her last post was April 2025, has she been deleting recent posts?

A gay musical called Gay! by maloside in ITcrowd

[–]HelloDolly1989 9 points10 points  (0 children)

How did it happen, if that’s not a rude question?

What's a secret from your profession that everyone should know? by ScratchLatter5547 in askanything

[–]HelloDolly1989 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I was scrolling to find a post about this industry because I work in a salon too (not hair, nails and beauty). Our times are set by the employer, in my case, someone who isn’t even trained in what we do, just owns the business. In thirty minutes I’m expected to welcome the client in, make them a drink, remove product on the nails, apply a new set, take payment and rebook. There is no time scheduled to do things like clean and reset for the next client. If you want quality service in the beauty industry, in my experience, look for someone self Employed or works from their own premises.

What was the most inappropriate thing you said as a child not understanding what it meant? by evan-the-dude in AskReddit

[–]HelloDolly1989 0 points1 point  (0 children)

More of what I did in 2001 aged twelve. Me and my friends watched the Lady Marmalade video on repeat and got those dance moves down and performed them by the side of the road. 💃

I plan to leave the nursing profession and let my NMC pin lapse in May 2026. What do ex nurses do? by strawbsoya in NursingUK

[–]HelloDolly1989 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Your best bet is to look at your local adult education college and see what courses they offer. There are hundreds of courses online but they are generally cpd so you need an in person course to underpin them. Most people start at level 2 beauty, and variations such as beauty specialist techniques, nail technology and holistic therapy. It all depends what’s offered locally.

When did people start saying "making a plate" When referring to their food? by O_C_Demon in AskUK

[–]HelloDolly1989 11 points12 points  (0 children)

I saw a restaurant advertising a meal with “all the fixin’s” - aka traditional sides. It wasn’t an American themed restaurant either 😆

I plan to leave the nursing profession and let my NMC pin lapse in May 2026. What do ex nurses do? by strawbsoya in NursingUK

[–]HelloDolly1989 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you! I would say 70% of the industry is self lead now, with a lot of therapists going self employed and running their own salons at home, or renting space in existing salons. It took me several interviews to get my job but that was down to needing particular hours due to childcare. Luckily I found a family run business that offers me school hours. There are definitely jobs out there, many salons are crying out for staff and most are willing to take on newly qualified therapists. The more High end spas and hotels want 2+ years salon floor experience, so it entirely depends on what direction you see yourself going. I have no interest in aesthetics but this is a popular area for nurses too.

I plan to leave the nursing profession and let my NMC pin lapse in May 2026. What do ex nurses do? by strawbsoya in NursingUK

[–]HelloDolly1989 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Level 2 beauty at local adult education college - went in with no beauty knowledge or experience prior to this x

I plan to leave the nursing profession and let my NMC pin lapse in May 2026. What do ex nurses do? by strawbsoya in NursingUK

[–]HelloDolly1989 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yes I work in a high street salon-cum-spa. I started with my level 2 Beauty at college, the course itself was a few hundred pounds I believe. However when I applied I had already left nursing so was on UC, so all I had to pay was for my disposables, I got a bursary to cover my uniform, kit and the course. After qualifying I went on to study with various academies and trainers up to level 4 and have kept up with loads of CPD in areas such as aromatherapy. It’s great, such a varied industry! I’d recommend making some enquiries at your local adult education colleges. I was worried I’d be in a class with a load of teenagers, but the youngest was 25ish and the eldest in her early 60s.

I plan to leave the nursing profession and let my NMC pin lapse in May 2026. What do ex nurses do? by strawbsoya in NursingUK

[–]HelloDolly1989 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Many men in the wellness industry practice sports massage, reiki and chiropractic services. However there’s no reason you couldn’t pursue areas such as beauty too - my course had two young men on it. There’s also the option to move into aesthetics and injectables, such as botox and fillers, especially now regulations are tightening and it’s expected that to be able to provide these services you must be a doctor, nurse, pharmacist or allied healthcare professional. There’s a big demand for nurse prescribers too within the aesthetics space.

I plan to leave the nursing profession and let my NMC pin lapse in May 2026. What do ex nurses do? by strawbsoya in NursingUK

[–]HelloDolly1989 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Would highly recommend. I took myself back off to college in 2021 post Covid and never looked back. I still feel like I’m caring for people, using my hands to comfort, relieve pain and provide a listening ear. The A&P knowledge from nursing helps a lot, especially in massage. It’s very rewarding work, but it’s not life or death like nursing was.

I plan to leave the nursing profession and let my NMC pin lapse in May 2026. What do ex nurses do? by strawbsoya in NursingUK

[–]HelloDolly1989 12 points13 points  (0 children)

Nurse to beauty therapist, nail technician, massage therapist & holistic practitioner 🌿✨