Name
Michelle Brookes
Verified Verified User

Aromatherapist , Assessor , Beauty Influencer, Beauty therapist, Beauty Writer/Journalist, Brand Ambassador, Brow specialist , Business coach, CEO, Course developer , Educator , Electrologist , IQA, Judge, Manager, Mystery shopper , Nail technician, Salon owner , Skin specialist , Wax specialist
Business Profile
beauty-lounge

Biography

About Me

Michelle Brookes

Master Nail Educator • Beauty-Industry Entrepreneur • Competition Judge

Doncaster | South Yorkshire | UK

Professional Snapshot

With nearly two decades in the nail and beauty arena, Michelle Brookes is recognised nationwide as a multi-award-winning nail technician, Scratch Stars “Educator of the Year” (2022 & 2025), and a driving force behind elevated training standards across the UK and Ireland. She is the founder and Managing Director of both Beauty Lounge (Doncaster) Ltd (est. 2006) and Michelle Brookes Training Academy Ltd (est. 2019)-—centres of excellence that blend cutting-edge salon services with industry-leading education.

Qualifications & Credentials

  • Level 5 Diploma – Teaching in the Lifelong Learning Sector
  • IQA/Internal Quality Assurer (VTCT)
  • Level 3 CAVA – Assessor in Beauty & Nails
  • Skin-Care Practitioner – specialising in hydro-facials, microneedling & chemical peels
  • VWAX Educator, delivering advanced waxing techniques and protocols
  • Artistic Nail Design Educator
  • Footlogix Educator 
  • Famous Names Educator 
  • NVQ 2 & 3 Beauty Therapy 

Industry Roles

  • Master Nail Educator & Centre Manager, Skills North East (VTCT Level 3 programmes; Government Advanced Learner Loan funded)
  • UK & Ireland Nail Competition Judge, adjudicating live and photographic categories for leading show organisers
  • Professional Beauty Awards Judge – evaluating excellence across salon, spa and aesthetic sectors
  • Scratch Magazine Contributor regular technical features, trend commentary and blog posts

Awards & Recognition

  • Scratch Stars Awards - Educator of the Year Winner 2022 & 2025
  • Multiple National & International Nail Competition Titles, recognised for technical precision and creative design
  • Professional Beauty Awards – finalist & panel judge

Leadership & Impact

  • Michelle Brookes Training Academy delivers VTCT-accredited courses (Levels 2–4) in nails, beauty and skincare, producing salon-ready graduates year-on-year.
  • As Centre Manager for Skills North East, Michelle oversees a team of educators, ensuring quality assurance, curriculum innovation and consistent learner success.
  • Regularly invited as a conference speaker and brand ambassador, Michelle champions safe practice, product chemistry understanding, and career progression for nail technicians and beauty therapists alike.

Personal Ethos

Michelle’s teaching philosophy blends creativity, scientific rigour and business acumen. Her mission is simple: raise industry standards while empowering every learner, from complete beginners to seasoned pros, to master their craft and build sustainable, profitable careers.

Get in touch

Awards

Brands

Verification Badges

  • Professional beauty awards Judge
  • Professional beauty awards winner
  • Scratch Awards Winner

Work Experience

Work Experience

Beauty Lounge Salon owner

Beauty Lounge is my business, which I have built up into a large commercial salon.  I employ 8 members of staff.  I also employ trainees on work placements.  I attend trade exhibitions to source out new products and equipment. We have experience with dealing with the apprenticeship framework.

 

Michelle Brookes Training Academy LTD

College principal

Developed private accredited training courses in all the major aspects of Beauty Therapy and Nail enhancements.  Full academy with 14 Nail Stations & 5 treatment beds.  Retail student shop.

 

Skills North East

Vtct Centre Manager & Safeguarding centre lead

I have taught VTCT nail technology, nail services & beauty therapy massage via skills North East.  I manage a team of assessors.   I have experience of government learner loans requirements & how to use E-Portfolio.  I have also completed my IQA training and safeguarding management learning.

 

VWax Educator Doncaster

I have been a self employed educator for Vwax, training students in their specialised waxing course including the intimate VMould treatment.  I also teach Vwax Male intimate waxing and the vacial, which is a skin treatment for the pubic area.

 

Sweet Squared Educator for Artistic, Famous Names & Footlogix

Within my role as an educator we started with intensive training and examinations with each brand.  I went to Canada to complete my Footlogix Educators Training which was an amazing experience and I am proud that Louella Belle invited me to experience this.

 

Brillbird Uk Master Educator Yorkshire

I have been a self-employed educator Brillbird UK.  I work at trade shows demonstrating products on the Brillbird Uk stand. 2015 & 2016 I was awarded Brillbird Distributor of the year and generated £57,000 of orders.

 

Oracle Training Consultants

Assisted in the teaching & assessing of Nvq level 3 Beauty Therapy. I worked in the centre self employed in 2013 for a month.  This was never a permanent role as during that time I was pregnant & didn’t want the extra commitment. However, I wanted to gain some experience in the college environment.

 

Silhouette Dermalift

Training Representative & Sales Representative

Training Beauty Salons and colleges in all Silhouettes Beauty Equipment   Selling high-end electrical equipment to Beauty Salons, Spa’s & colleges.  Selling at Large Beauty trade exhibitions.

 

Fantasy Tan Trainer & Sales Representative

Training Beauty Salons and colleges in all aspects of spray tanning and retail products.  Cold Calling salons & Spa’s selling spray tanning products & equipment.  Managing salon’s orders and account’s every month.

 

Beauty Trade Company Trainer and sales Representative

Training salons in Royal Effem make up and body products and Loukia Nicola Skincare

Awards & Achievements

Qualifications

Indian head massage Advanced Nail Art & Sculpting Airbrush Makeup Certification Aromatherapy Assessor Beauty therapy level 2 Beauty therapy level 3 Body massage Body wraps Brow Lamination Brows Chemical peel Dermaplanning Ear candling Electric File (E-File) Certification Facial Galvanic Gel polish Henna brows High frequency Higher national diploma in beauty therapy Hollywood waxing Hotstones Hydrofacial Lash and brow tinting Lash extensions Lash lift Lava shell Level 3 Award in teaching Level 4 /5 Advanced Skin Science Level 4 Advanced Facials Level 4 Certificate in education Level 4 Dermaplaning Level 4 Microneedling Level 4 Microneedling Level 5 Diploma in education Make up Manicure Microdermabrasion Microneedling Nail Correction & Rebalancing Techniques Nail extensions Non surgical face lift/microcurrent NVQ holistic therapies Pedicures Radio frequency Skin peels Spray tan Waxing

Accreditations

Beauty therapy level 2 Beauty therapy level 3 Body massage Electric File (E-File) Certification Facial

Publication

Publications

Scratch Magazine Articles by Michelle Brookes
You can find them all here;
https://www.scratchmagazine.co.uk/author/michelle-brookes/

Roles & professionalism as a nail technician – in-person, via correspondence (email etc) and 
on social media. How to behave/speak to clients etc.
https://www.scratchmagazine.co.uk/feature/first-impressions-count-top-tips-for%02perfecting-your-dialogue-with-new-nail-salon-clients/
Starting out: Basic products needed and where to buy them from – e.g. reputable 
distributors and the importance of this over Amazon for example.
https://www.scratchmagazine.co.uk/feature/heres-what-you-really-need-in%02your-nail-tech-starter-kit-why-you-shouldnt-buy-from-just%02anywhere/?utm_source=scratchmagazine&utm_medium=webstory&utm_campaign=michellebrookesnailkitpurchase
How to determine which course is right for you – and what makes a course reputable
https://www.scratchmagazine.co.uk/feature/how-to-choose-the-right-nail%02course-for-your%02needs/?utm_source=scratchmagazine&utm_medium=webstory&utm_campaign=%0Amichellebrookesnailcourse
How to build and raise your profile the right way (social media tips, competitions, 
networking events, awards etc)
https://www.scratchmagazine.co.uk/feature/how-to-raise-your-profile-as-a%02nail-professional/
The importance of insurance and what to look for in an insurer.
https://www.scratchmagazine.co.uk/feature/nail-beauty-pros-heres-what-to%02consider-when-taking-out-an-insurance-policy/
Employability - How to apply for jobs in the industry
https://www.scratchmagazine.co.uk/feature/looking-for-a-job-as-a-nail%02technician-here-are-5-tips-for-nailing-the-application-process/
The importance of client consultations.
https://www.scratchmagazine.co.uk/feature/why-are-client-consultations-so%02important-in-the-beauty-industry/
How to effectively communicate with clients and retain them
httpsa://www.scratchmagazine.co.uk/feature/first-impressions-count-top-tips%02for-perfecting-your-dialogue-with-new-nail-salon-client

Work Image Gallery

Pink acrylic nails
Easter bunny nail art
Autumn leaves design
Butterfly gel design
Aquarelle rose
One stroke nail art