See how ProLash Ireland teaches beginners
One-to-one courses for complete beginners and for stylists who want to learn a new technique, in Portlaoise, Co. Laois.
How we teachChoosing an academy
How to choose a lash academy in Ireland: a checklist for beginners
Who is writing this: LashCourses.ie is run by ProLash Ireland, a lash and brow academy. The checklist works for any academy - including ours. At the end of the page we answer the same questions about our own courses, clearly marked.
16 questions to ask before you pay a deposit
Ask every academy the same questions and write the answers down. The differences show up quickly.
The trainer
Who exactly will teach me?
Ask for the name of the trainer on your course date, not just the name of the academy. Then look up their own work and how long they have been working on clients.
Can I see the trainer's own lash work?
Real photos of real clients, ideally close-ups. Stock photos or pictures with someone else's watermark tell you nothing about the person who will correct your hands.
How long has the trainer been teaching?
Doing great lashes and teaching a beginner are two different skills. Ask how many students they have trained and for how long.
Does the trainer hold a teaching qualification?
Lash work in Ireland has no official standard, so anyone can run a course. A trainer qualification shows that the person has learned how to teach, not only how to lash. Ask what it is and who issued it.
How you learn
How many students share one trainer?
The fewer people, the more time the trainer spends watching your tweezers. In a one-to-one course, every correction is for you.
How many hours will I actually practise?
Ask how the day is split between theory, mannequin practice and work on a live model - not only how many days the course lasts.
Will I finish a set on a real person during the course?
This is the step most beginners are afraid of, and the one that builds confidence. Ask whether you complete a full set on a live model while the trainer watches - not only on a mannequin.
Do I have to bring my own model?
On most beginner courses we checked, you do. Ask what time she has to arrive, who does her patch test, and what happens to your course if she cancels on the day.
What you get
What is in the kit, and which brand is it?
A starter kit saves you money only if you will actually use it. Ask for the list: tweezers, lashes in which lengths and curls, glue, pads, tapes, cleanser.
What does "accredited" mean on this course?
In Ireland there is no state accreditation for lash courses. "Accredited" usually means the course was approved by a private association. Ask who gave the accreditation and on what basis - and decide by how you will be taught, not by the label.
Do I need case studies before I get the certificate?
Many courses give the certificate only after you send photos of several full sets done on your own models after the course. Ask how many, by when, who checks them and how quickly you get feedback.
Do I get a written manual?
Weeks after the course you will want to check the glue rules or a lash map again. A manual you can keep is worth asking for.
After the course
Can I send photos of my work and get feedback?
Questions come when you work alone. Ask how long support lasts and how you reach the trainer - message, call, or a refresher session.
Is there a next step when I am ready?
Most people start with classic lashes or a brow course. Check whether the academy also teaches the next technique you are interested in, such as volume or lash lift.
Money and terms
What does the full price include?
Kit, model, certificate and manual - or are some of them extra? Compare the full price, not the headline price.
What happens to my deposit if I need to change the date or cancel?
Ask for the deposit, refund and rescheduling terms in writing before you pay. A good academy will send them without hesitation.
What beginner lash courses in Ireland look like
We read the public course pages of 15 Irish lash academies and colleges, so you know what is normal before you start asking.
- Price, beginner classic course in person
- about €250 to €695One-day courses: seven academies with a published price. Two-day courses: €400 to €650. Most include a starter kit.
- Price, online classic course
- about €399 to €425Video lessons and case studies sent by photo - no trainer watching your hands live.
- Length
- usually one day (6-8 hours)A few academies teach over two days; college courses run over 6 to 12 weeks.
- Students per trainer
- rarely publishedWhere it is stated: 2 to 6 students per trainer.
- Live model
- usually you bring your ownNone of the academies we checked says it provides the model.
- Certificate
- often after 3-6 case studiesCase studies are full sets you do on your own models after the course. Where a course is called "accredited", it is usually by a private association.
- Deposit
- usually €100-€200, non-refundableTwo academies ask for 50% at booking.
Source: public course pages of 15 academies and colleges in Ireland, checked 25-27 October 2026. Prices and terms change - always confirm with the academy.
Red flags
One of these is a reason to ask more questions. Two or three are a reason to look elsewhere.
- Promises of how much you will earn after the course.
- A full certificate after a very short course with no work on a live model.
- Portfolio made of stock photos, or photos with another salon's watermark.
- "Accredited" used as the main selling point, with no clear answer to who gave the accreditation and on what basis.
- No clear answer to "who will teach me" or "how many students per trainer".
- Pressure to pay in full straight away, or no written terms for the deposit.
- No hygiene, patch testing or contraindications in the course content.
Compare two academies side by side
Print this table or fill it in on your phone while you call or message each academy.
| Question | Academy 1 | Academy 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Who exactly will teach me? | ||
| Can I see the trainer's own lash work? | ||
| How long has the trainer been teaching? | ||
| Does the trainer hold a teaching qualification? | ||
| How many students share one trainer? | ||
| How many hours will I actually practise? | ||
| Will I finish a set on a real person during the course? | ||
| Do I have to bring my own model? | ||
| What is in the kit, and which brand is it? | ||
| What does "accredited" mean on this course? | ||
| Do I need case studies before I get the certificate? | ||
| Do I get a written manual? | ||
| Can I send photos of my work and get feedback? | ||
| Is there a next step when I am ready? | ||
| What does the full price include? | ||
| What happens to my deposit if I need to change the date or cancel? |
Our own academy
How ProLash Ireland answers these questions
We think you should ask us the same questions as everyone else. These are our answers.
- Who teaches
- Magdalena Czajor - lash technician since 2012, training lash and brow artists for over 8 years.
- Teaching qualification
- QQI Level 6 award in Training Delivery and Evaluation (2019) - a state-recognised trainer qualification in Ireland.
- Students per trainer
- One-to-one: one student, one trainer.
- Course length
- Classic lash extensions: 2 days (12 hours) - most academies teach it in one day. Other courses: 1 day (5-7 hours); Pro Brows: 2 days (12 hours).
- Live models
- Yes - you bring your own model: one for lash extension courses, two for lash lift and brow courses, four for Pro Brows.
- Kit
- A starter kit (worth €80-150, depending on the course) is included.
- Certificate
- We don't certify you after one set: after your course day you complete 3 case studies on your own models (6 on Pro Brows), Magdalena checks every one, and your certificate comes when you can do the treatment on your own.
- Case studies
- 3 case studies in 6 weeks (6 on Pro Brows, 2 for each type of brow treatment) - full treatments on your own models; a friend or family member is fine. Need more time? Ask once and you get 4 extra weeks, free. Feedback within 2 working days: what is good and one thing to improve. One case study can be redone and sent again. Your certificate follows within 7 days of your last approved case study.
- After the course
- Individual feedback from Magdalena on each of your case studies, with questions answered on WhatsApp within 1 working day (Monday to Friday) and one 15-minute video call if something isn't working. Then our WhatsApp support group, including business guidance and marketing tips.
- Insurance
- Yes, you can get insured after a ProLash course. Insurers set their own rules, and not all of them ask for an accredited course. Insify, for example, told us in October 2026 that they do not require a specific accreditation, minimum training hours or proof of training: self-employed beauty technicians apply online under "Beautician". Lash and brow treatments are not listed separately, but they are not among the exclusions, so confirm your treatments when you get your quote. Public liability insurance is not required by law in Ireland, but we recommend it before you work on paying clients.
- Deposit
- €100 to secure your place, deducted from the course fee. No deposit with Intreo funding.
- Who it is for
- Complete beginners and stylists who want to learn a new technique.
- Where
- Our studio in Portlaoise, Co. Laois. Est. 2018, 150+ students trained.
Prices, dates and the full course terms are on prolashireland.ie.
Choosing an academy: questions
What people ask when they compare lash courses.
Is a more expensive lash course always better?
No. Price tells you little on its own. Compare what you get for it: how many students per trainer, how many hours of practice, a live model, the kit, the certificate and support after the course.
Is a one-day lash course enough?
It depends on the technique and on how much of that day you spend practising. Ask how the time is split. For your first course, choose one where you finish at least one set on a live model with the trainer watching.
Should I choose an academy close to home?
Distance matters less than how you are taught. Many people travel for a course with a trainer they trust - but think about how you will get support afterwards.
Can I learn lashes online first?
You can learn the theory online, but nobody can correct your hands through a screen. If you start online, plan an in-person session where a trainer watches you work.
What should I bring to an academy before booking?
Nothing but questions. Use the checklist on this page, write the answers down for each academy, and compare them side by side.
From the team behind this guide