I teach Elleebana courses both ways, online and in person, and the question I hear most before someone enrolls is "which one is better?" The honest answer is that neither is the lesser option. They suit different people, different schedules and different stages of a career. Here is how I help artists choose.

First, who can enroll

Every course we offer, webinars included, requires a current cosmetology or esthetics license or current enrollment in an esthetics program. That applies online and in person.

Elleebana certification itself is something I strongly recommend. It is how you learn the system properly, from the chemistry to the consultation to troubleshooting. Your license and your state board's rules are a separate matter, so check those for your own state. And whenever you add a new service, it is worth letting your insurance provider know.

What online training actually looks like

A lot of artists picture an online course as a stack of videos. Ours are more than that.

Lamination courses. The Online Elleeplex Profusion Lash Lamination Training, the Online Elleeplex Profusion Brow Lamination Training and the Online Elleeplex Profusion Lash & Brow Lamination Combo Course each include two live Zoom sessions with an Elleebana educator, three months in the Excellence Academy portal, an extensive manual, a starter kit shipped to you, and ongoing support from your trainer and the brand. For the lash course, your certificate is issued once you pass the online exam and submit five approved case studies; for the brow course, once you submit five approved case studies. For the combo, it follows completion of the course and your case studies.

One Shot lash lift. The Online Elleebana One Shot Lash Lift Course includes two Zoom sessions with a trainer, an introduction and a case study review, with the rest self-paced. You receive a One Shot Starter Kit and a printed manual, and your certificate follows passing the online exam and five approved case studies.

Korean lash lift. The Online Elleebana Korean Lash Lift Techniques course is self-paced, and goes deep on Korean, freestyle and adhesive-free methods and includes a downloadable troubleshooting guide.

Brik & Pearl. The Online Brik & Pearl Lash & Brow Lab Course is self-paced with three months of access, comes with all three Brik & Pearl products, and issues your completion certificate through the platform. An optional case study assessment is available if you want your work reviewed by your educator.

The case studies are the point. A certificate that follows approved work says you can do the service, not just that you watched it.

What hands-on training looks like

In-person classes are small-group by design. The day starts with theory and consultation, then your trainer demonstrates the full service, and then it is your turn on a model with your trainer right beside you. That is where bad habits get corrected before they ever form. Ask me how many I've caught mid-form.

A few practical details:

  • Where: we hold classes in Santa Barbara and Reno, and in Nashville with Taylor Stewart. Every scheduled class shows its city, dates and trainer on the class calendar.
  • At your salon or school: we can also come to you. Contact us to schedule, and travel is quoted separately.
  • Class size: it depends on the space. Our Santa Barbara salon, for example, seats up to eight students.
  • Models: students bring their own models. Each course page says how many you need.
  • After class: some courses continue after the day itself. The In-Person Elleeplex Profusion Lash Lamination course, for example, is followed by an online exam and photo assessment.

Lash extensions are taught in person. The In-Person Elleebana Classic Lash Extensions Foundation Course also includes three months of portal access afterward, so you get both.

Some courses use both

Two of our courses are built as a blend, and I think they show the best of each format.

Korean lash lift is split in two. You complete the online course first, then attend a three-hour in-person session: half educator demonstration, half your own application with them watching. The course page explains how your certificate is issued.

Brik & Pearl hands-on starts with the online course, then adds a full training day: a short theory recap, two educator demonstrations, two applications you perform yourself, and a printed Brik & Pearl Guide. Your hands-on certificate is issued by your educator on the day.

Who online suits best

In my experience, online works beautifully for artists who:

  • Already have chemical services under their belt and are adding a new system
  • Live far from Santa Barbara, Reno or Nashville
  • Need to fit training around a full book or a family schedule
  • Are disciplined about practicing and submitting their case studies

If you are already certified in lash lifting or lamination with another brand, look at our conversion courses first. They are online, they cover the Elleebana system without repeating fundamentals you already know, and you submit your existing certificate for review.

Who hands-on suits best

I steer artists toward in-person training when they:

  • Are learning their first lash lift or lamination
  • Learn best by feel and want correction in the moment
  • Feel nervous about working near the eye for the first time
  • Want to ask questions with the product in front of them

There is no substitute for a trainer adjusting your hand position on a live model. I have trained in over 400 salons, and the artists who improve fastest are the ones who get that real-time feedback early.

Questions to ask yourself

  • Have I done this kind of service before, or is it brand new to me?
  • Do I learn better by watching and repeating, or by doing with someone beside me?
  • Can I realistically travel to a class, or bring a trainer to my salon?
  • Will I make the time to complete and submit my case studies?

If you are still torn, start with the format that gets you practicing soonest. A course you finish beats a perfect course you keep putting off. Your someday folder is full enough.

Either way, the certificate is not the finish line

Online or in person, you keep ongoing support from your trainer and the brand after you are certified. Use it. The artists who build the strongest books are the ones who keep asking questions.

Common questions

Is Elleebana certification required to offer lash lifts or lamination? I recommend it strongly, because it is how you learn the system properly. What your license allows is set by your state, so check your own state board's rules.

Do I need to bring a model to an in-person class? Yes. Students bring their own models, and each course page says how many you need.

Do online courses include any live time with a trainer? Many do. The lamination courses include two live Zoom sessions with an Elleebana educator, and the One Shot course includes two Zoom sessions with a trainer. Each course page lists exactly what is included.

Can you train my whole team at our salon? Yes. We travel to salons and schools, with travel quoted separately. Class size depends on your space, and every student needs a cosmetology or esthetics license or current enrollment in an esthetics program.

Not sure which course fits you? Ask Ellee, our product expert at polymorphbeauty.com.

xoxo, Reid

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