I started college at 28, finished my level 2 and then just applied for jobs in small salons. I got a few months in one place which was a bit rubbish (the owner bought really cheap colour and wouldn't spend money on decent products, relied on groupon for clients even though he made no money from them and they rarely came back...) but I was working on clients and had other stylists I learned some stuff from. I did my NQ level 6 last year and now I'm self-employed mobile.
Saying that, my tutors actually did put the effort in to teach us and make sure we were at a really good standard - my tutor commented that my foils are as good as hers - so we wouldn't just have the basic skills/knowledge.
) xx
