Cheap beauty therapy

freelancemermaid

for anyone living in crewe/nantwich/south cheshire - south cheshire college offers this too.

i've had massages for £6 and facials for £8! the students are second or third year, they're really professional, their tutors are on-hand but never needed. i can't recommend it highly enough

Babsack

What a good idea! I don't know how I forgot about this. I used to be a catering student and we served lunch twice a week to the public. We did a three course lunch plus coffe, with wine available and it was so cheap. On my second-time-around studying I trained as a holistic therapist and we had one night a week when we brought in clients too. I'm off to phone Northumbeland college now (01670 841200) to book mum and myself in for lunch and a massage. Can't wait.

thriftymoo

Hi

Ive heard that newcastle college offer this too but cant find anything on their website and dont know if its just for students. does anyone know anything?

Thanks

sparkles

number1kitty

Word of warning from a beauty therapist (I dont work so I am not saying this because of fear of losing business).

First, most colleges about six years back had to for health and safety reasons stop using autoclaves to sterilise their equipment. This means if you are getting a manicure, pedicure or facial you may run the risk of cross infection from un-sterilised equipment. Because colleges are so desperate for clients verruccas and coldsores are often ignored just for the practice. When I was at college we did sterilise everything with autoclaves, which is the only known way to kill all bacteria etc on metal equipment. Please double check with the college to make sure any equipment used has been sterilised prior to your treatment. I only learnt this bit of advise as I owned my own salon for 4 years and my new recruits didnt know the first thing about the risk of cross contamination.

Second, the products that are often used by first year students etc are cheap and have often been sat around for ages - not so great if your after a facial to deep clean. I personally dont rate dermalogica, however, it would be far better to book a facial with a brand like this or MD Formulations etc as the products are often kept up to date and are better quality.

Third, be wary of waxing...... Just because the teacher is in the room does not mean she can watch all ten students. My waxing only improved when I did extra training after college. I have lost count of the amount of students that caused severe bruising and burning through wax treatments. Waxing is taught to 1st year students and they usually only get a few goes on each other before being let loose on clients. I know on one occasion I personally got the wax caught in a womans bikini hair, because her hair was soooo long the wax would not come out. I was too young and in-experienced (and never taught) that I should trim the hair first or apply smaller amounts of wax to the area. It resulted in me pulling the strip several times before the client nearly in tears caught the eye of my teacher, whom had to cut the remaining wax out of her bikini area and me leaving said client severly bruised.

If you go for waxing, speak out if you think that the wax is too hot. It should feel warm on the skin, not hot or uncomfortable. The therapist should try it first on her wrist before applying it to your skin. Speak up if it hurts or if she makes a mistake get a teacher ASAP. If anything you will do the girls a favour as they will ultimatly learn from their mistakes. Don't be put off by my comments, just aire on the side of caution. If it feels too painful, or you think its wrong please speak up.

With nail extensions be prepared, colleges dont use the best products all of the time, some are poor quality. They may only last a week.

You can encounter problems in high street salons too, but the risks of some treatments in colleges are far higher.

Enjoy a good pampering session, but just remember to speak out if you are in any way unsure about the girl treating you. If you are having a fake tan/Leg Wax/Nail extensions etc for special occasions like holidays or weddings it may be best to get a professional to do it, otherwise you may run the risk of being streaky/burnt/or nail less for the occassion with no come backs.

Sometimes it pays to cut corners and sometimes it dosnt!

Sorry to put a dampner on the thread!

mineallmine

Thanks number1kitty for your words of advice.

I've had facials using Dermologica, which I love, I think it's down to personal preference. I've had lots of facials at these places and generally I'd say the standard is high. You can always enquire if there are different sessions run for eg year 1 or year 2 students.

Had a dodgy haircut once and so I'd only recommend that if you're brave!

cwp500

Anyone ever get those mini spray samples in the post or from the orange faced women at makeup counters?

When they are empty, remove the top and pull out the spring plunger (you may need some pliers here but its not rocket science). Be careful that the little spring doesnt get lost - it looks like the ones in pens.

squire a few drops of your fave perfume or aftershave guys into the bottle, top up with plain water and replace spring plunger.

Dead easy and you have a nice little portable spritzer to carry with you at all times.

I have loads of these so can have different scents at all times.:T

Pink.

Hi cpw,

That's a good tip! As we now have a health and beauty board, I'll move this thread across.

Pink

shegha

number1kitty wrote: »

Word of warning from a beauty therapist (I dont work so I am not saying this because of fear of losing business).

First, most colleges about six years back had to for health and safety reasons stop using autoclaves to sterilise their equipment. This means if you are getting a manicure, pedicure or facial you may run the risk of cross infection from un-sterilised equipment. Because colleges are so desperate for clients verruccas and coldsores are often ignored just for the practice. When I was at college we did sterilise everything with autoclaves, which is the only known way to kill all bacteria etc on metal equipment. Please double check with the college to make sure any equipment used has been sterilised prior to your treatment. I only learnt this bit of advise as I owned my own salon for 4 years and my new recruits didnt know the first thing about the risk of cross contamination.

Second, the products that are often used by first year students etc are cheap and have often been sat around for ages - not so great if your after a facial to deep clean. I personally dont rate dermalogica, however, it would be far better to book a facial with a brand like this or MD Formulations etc as the products are often kept up to date and are better quality.

Third, be wary of waxing...... Just because the teacher is in the room does not mean she can watch all ten students. My waxing only improved when I did extra training after college. I have lost count of the amount of students that caused severe bruising and burning through wax treatments. Waxing is taught to 1st year students and they usually only get a few goes on each other before being let loose on clients. I know on one occasion I personally got the wax caught in a womans bikini hair, because her hair was soooo long the wax would not come out. I was too young and in-experienced (and never taught) that I should trim the hair first or apply smaller amounts of wax to the area. It resulted in me pulling the strip several times before the client nearly in tears caught the eye of my teacher, whom had to cut the remaining wax out of her bikini area and me leaving said client severly bruised.

If you go for waxing, speak out if you think that the wax is too hot. It should feel warm on the skin, not hot or uncomfortable. The therapist should try it first on her wrist before applying it to your skin. Speak up if it hurts or if she makes a mistake get a teacher ASAP. If anything you will do the girls a favour as they will ultimatly learn from their mistakes. Don't be put off by my comments, just aire on the side of caution. If it feels too painful, or you think its wrong please speak up.

With nail extensions be prepared, colleges dont use the best products all of the time, some are poor quality. They may only last a week.

You can encounter problems in high street salons too, but the risks of some treatments in colleges are far higher.

Enjoy a good pampering session, but just remember to speak out if you are in any way unsure about the girl treating you. If you are having a fake tan/Leg Wax/Nail extensions etc for special occasions like holidays or weddings it may be best to get a professional to do it, otherwise you may run the risk of being streaky/burnt/or nail less for the occassion with no come backs.

Sometimes it pays to cut corners and sometimes it dosnt!

Sorry to put a dampner on the thread!

I work in a hair and beauty department in a college and our health and safety is hot!
All metal item are placed in a barbicide in front of the clients. Then after treatments students sterilise their equipment in medic.
we use dermalogica products and due to the high turner over in our salon products are use far more quickly than in a regular salon.
I agree with you about special occasions like weddings.
What I would say is the price reflects that the students are training and that no students are allowed to work on clients until they make the standard.
We alway like honest feedback at our college it helps us improve our services

number1kitty

Yes but barbicide does not kill the hiv or aids virus. There has also been research that you can contract MRSA through cross contamination in salons. The only effective method of serilisation is an autoclave!

I have seen girls come fresh out of college that have caused serious damage with waxing/tinting and pedicures and they are far from competent.

I am a beauty trainer and teach advanced waxing and i am amazed at the lack of hygeine and confidence that is in place with people working on a self employed basis. They tell me that they picked up all this from colleges. The standards in the beauty training have reduced dramatically over the past ten years and the pass rate is so low that anyone can qualify. Whilst there are excellent girls on the courses there are also some really bad ones and I have seen them let loose on clients and not watched.

All I want is for people to have an air of caution about treatments in colleges. Although I am far aware that you are just as likely to have a beauty disaster in a salon also.

These girls need practice, and I know most of the clients we got to practice on were over 60 and we never got the variety of clients we really needed. I dont want to scare people off, I just want to raise awareness for people visiting colleges. Mistakes can and do happen.

It is a shame that standards have dropped in colleges but thats the governments fault as well as red tape with regards to colleges using autoclaves.

Deva_2

Hi,

I have had several good and very very bad experiences with student salons for beauty treatments. One I do not recommend is the salon London Esthetique Student Salon also called The London School of Beauty & Make-up on Margaret Street. The students aren't the issue, as I understand that they are learning and they can make mistakes - that is the process of learning. But heaven forbid if you complain about the job that the student does.

The teachers, receptionists, supervisors do not like anyone complaining - nor do they listen to what you are saying in order to help the student. They are never interested in hearing customers complaints and don't value them either - even though you are requested to complete a survey form upon leaving. They sadly (both supervisors and students) need better customer service and communication skills in order to run such a salon and deal with the consuming public.

Another thing is the products in the salon the time I had gone - had been sitting there for awhile and were spoilt. The students were told they couldn't exchange it for a new one and had to make do. When they did try and exchange it - after much discussion - the salon didn't have a replacement on file. Isn't this a salon where they have to make sure they have products available for students to do their proper job?

My suggestion - stay away from this salon unless of course you are looking for a sloppy job and one where you will most likely go away dissatisfied.