Beauty College Chronicles: Week Eight & Nine

This is a double update as I didn't update about college last week due to life, generally getting in the way!

The last two weeks of college have been very good, lots of hard work trying to juggle work, studying, practicals, exams and home life, so my levels of  perseverance and dedication have been squeezed to no end. So a word of advice for anyone considering going down the beauty route post 16 years old, especially if you're holding down a full time job too - consider it very well, it's a lot of hard work and you feel constantly tired, but the results are well worth it!

I had my major facial, anatomy and physiology exam this past week and I really struggled to get some study time and I was really worried about it. I essentially need to achieve 100% in all major exams, but 70% and over gets you over the hurdle and anything you get wrong after, the teacher sits you down and orally questions you on your incorrect answers. Below 70%, you sit the entire exam again! Pressure's on!  I'm glad and relieved to say that I passed with 80% . I was one of the only two that passed in a class of fifteen therapists, so I'm very grateful for my results. Show's that studying on a packed First Capital Connect train during rush hour does work :-)

We also started microdermabrasion. Yippee! I've been looking forward to this treatment from the start of the course, but I have to say that I didn't enjoy it, when it was done to me. I'm happy to do it on other people, but the grainy feeling from the crystals that remains on the face after, I'm not a fan of. Crystals in my mouth, ears and nose, too much crystal action going on for my liking. Having said that, I think its my partner that didn't clean my face properly after, because when I do the treatment, I don't leave any crystals behind. A smooth, clean facialist, I am!

The Agera Microdermabrasion Machine
This is what we use at college

If you don't already know, microdermabrasion is using fine crystals in combination with suction to give the face a deep exfoliation and remove the top most layer of skin (stratum corneum) to reveal fresher, smoother skin underneath. It really tackles unwanted skin conditions such as pigmentation, sun damage, acne and acne scarring. Fine lines, wrinkles and and uneven skin tone issues can also be addresses. It really is a great treatment and I have people lining up to have a course.

On the same note, I seem to be developing quite a following of clients at college requesting me for their facials. I've got friends of friends, calling me or the college up requesting specifically for treatments with Kay. I love it and I'm so chuffed that people want me to look after their skin for them.

This week, my teacher also dropped the bombshell that we are all required to do at least two days of unpaid work experience in a salon other than the one we already work in. Great :-), as if I haven't got enough that I'm juggling, I now have to find a work experience placement. Ideally, I'd love to do work experience in a salon that focuses on facials, so if you're reading this and can offer me something or know of a salon in the London area that can offer me something, please do let me know.

So that's the major happenings for the last two weeks and we've now finished the electrical facial unit. Next we're on to electrolysis. I freeze upon the sight of a needle, so this unit is going to be very interesting!

Beauty College Chronicles: Week Seven

Firstly, I can't believe I've been on my course for nearly two months already. It seems to be flying by! We also nearly at the end of the electrical facial unit as well and will be moving on to epilation in the next week. I predict that will be a toughie!

Anyway, back to talking about this week. Monday was a good, but surprising day. I had my Multi Current facial exam (henceforth known as the chopsticks facial) and I was dead nervous, because I didn't feel competent in it yet. I was getting there but thought that more practice was needed. My lecturer on the other hand who has copious amounts of faith in all of us, insisted I would be fine, to get on with it and she wasn't going to let me go home if I didn't do it, so I rolled up my sleeves and got stuck in. Happy and shocked to say that it was all OK and I passed. But I didn't want 'just ok', I wanted it to be excellent! So I guess, I'll be working on this particular facial a lot during free practice session to make sure its absolutely PERFECT.

Monday seemed to be the day of demos and we had one demo on the brand new microdermabrasion machines, which looked very exiting and good fun. Can't wait to get my hands on them! And we also had a demo on the lymphatic drainage facial machine. I love this machine and I think its one of my favourite to to do. Its a great pick me up facial for those with minimal skin complaints as it just revives and brightens the complexion by using glass ventouses to move waste products and toxins away from the normal areas they clog up the skin, i.e under eyes, chin. Its great for circulation too!

At the end of the day, I did a practice on my class partner and it was amazing the results were quite visible straight away. Clearer, rosy and more glow to her skin.

Tuesday was full of theory work and more practicals. My partner did her multi current exam on me and managed to get my hair wet with the steamer. I walked around all do looking dishevelled with nappy hair.  Had to avoid the Liberty's at lunch for fear of being thrown out (lol). I just kept thanking God, I had a hair appointment scheduled for Saturday to redo my extensions.

The highlight of Tuesday, was our first evening salon session, which meant that we would be working on real paying clients, just like in a regular salon. I was excited and nervous, but I held it all in and put my confident therapist face on and went for it. My client was a lovely mature lady, who'd never had a facial in her life, so I was determined to make sure she enjoyed it. She booked in for a Prescriptive Facial, which meant I could tailor it more for her skin type. So after an in depth consultation of her skin, habits and lifestyle, we settle on a galvanic facial, which would stimulate her dry skin and allow it to absorb more products for maximum moisture and hydration.

I always say the sign of a good facialist is if they can get you totally relaxed and put you to sleep. I'm glad I did just that and by the time of her massage, she had fell into a deep relaxed state and was sleeping peacefully. Her feedback was ' great facial and Kay has wonderful hands and will make a fantastic facialist.' That so made the 12.5 hour day at college worth it and although I was exhausted, there was a big grin on my face the entire way home!

So that's it for another week....next week it will be more facial exams and getting used to the microdermabrasion machine and getting the anatomy and physiology exam out of the way. Yikes! must hit the books now.

Beauty College Chronicles: Week Six

A similar machine to what we use at college

As I vowed to to tell all about college, I have to admit that I had a pretty bleurgh week. College was cancelled on Monday because of the class trip to Olympia Beauty Show. I ducked out of that one as I went on Sunday and I've never been on for pairing up, school outings and all that malarky.

Tuesday morning, I was pretty psyched up but my mid morning my mood has sunk. We were learning a new machine - the multi current facial - which tones and firms skin and muscles. Its the same machine used for Caci facials, but of course ours wasn't an actual Caci, just one that did similar things. The Micro-Current treatment is one of the best age prevention treatments out there as it really tones, tightens, lifts and contours the facial muscles underneath the skin, especially if used over a course of treatments.

The cheek muscle (zygomaticus) being lifted
by double sided wands

The lecturer explained the machine and did a demonstration, which I thought was pretty straightforward, but upon me getting to do the treatment on my partner, by hands were going in all different directions and I just couldn't get the hang of using it. There are five phases to the treatment and I couldn't master all the phases, so I got a bit disheartened. I hate when I can't do things properly or don't feel I get how to do it! Also it didn't help that the diagrams with the movements were confusing as they had so much writing on them. Boo!

Anyway, by the end of the day, I got myself some plain diagrams of the face and drew my own movements on and since then I've been using chopsticks to practice on my boyfriend. This has helped quite a bit, but definitely more practice needed, before any exams!

So not any more to tell just yet. I'll let you know how I get on this week and I have another exam which I hope to ace. Wish me luck! (I'm going to need it)

Beauty College Chronicles: Week Five

This post is one huge pat on the back, because nothing much interesting has happened at college apart from exams, more exams and exams. We didn't learn any new machines or techniques, we just did exams! I'm not complaining though as I think its good to have your knowledge and technique tested as it challenges you to achieve more and you can brush up on any areas found lacking.

So I had four exams in the space of two days.  Three practicals and one online exams. They weren't necessarily difficult, but I guess that's because I actually like what I'm doing and really enjoy it. Some of the girls asked for extensions as they didn't yet feel confident.

On Monday, I did my galvanic facial exam, using the desincrustation method. Now this is really good for oily skin as it breaks down sebum on the face, cleans out pores and allows products to penetrate into the skin.  Tuesday was the turn of the faradic facial, which as I mentioned last week, is to tone and firm up facial muscles. No problems with either, no one pinched my products out of my trolley and I passed with flying colours. My lecturer commended my massage techniques, later telling me 'Your massage looked impressive.' Yay me!

Just after I fell asleep on the couch after one of the girls did their practical on me, the lecturer disturbed my peace (lol) by informing me, that I had to do another galvanic facial exam - this time Iontophoresis. That wasn't on the original schedule of exams.  This type of galvanic is excellent for dry skin, it rejuvenates and stimulates the skin to create a more balanced sebum level. Iontophoresis can also be used for other skin types, but I won't bore you with those. Again, I passed, sending my partner into deep slumber, with some snoring. Always a sign of a good facial I say.

Now on to the online exam which was all about health and safety in the salon. Not having studied much due to work and generally feeling very tired the week before, I crossed my fingers and hoped for the best. Happy to say, I passed with 97% (highest score in the class) and only got one question wrong. I am now officially class swot.

So that's it for another week at college. Next week, we'll be moving on to micro-current and lymphatic drainage facials, so more to come!

Beauty College Chronicles: Week Four

I stood at a bus stop for nearly an hour, similar to this. GETTY Images

College was a bit all over the place this week with the tube drivers going on strike. Our timetable was completely sent to pieces as a result. Monday we had to finish early so that we could manage to catch the last trains home and on Tuesday, only half the class came in and of those some were over two hours late. I was thirty minutes late and I have to say a big thank you to make up ledge Kenneth Soh for guiding me on to the right bus via Twitter messages!


Monday was not a good day at all. If you follow me on Twitter, you'll know that I didn't pass my direct high frequency facial exam. I got a big fat NOT COMPETENT across my treatment sheet and I was not a happy bunny. I didn't pass because someone pinched a few products from my trolley AFTER I'd set up and during my treatment when I realised this, I had to ask another student to get me some products.  According to lecturer if it was a real treatment room, I would look unprofessional asking a colleague to get me products half way during a treatment. Point taken, but seeing as it wasn't a real treatment room and the facial itself was perfect, including use of the machine, maybe the fact that I asked for help from another student should have been overlooked. I don't know......


Its very important to pass in class exams, because without it, you're not allowed into the college salon to work on paying clients. Usually it would be a few weeks before you're allowed to do a re-take, but seeing as the timetable was already all over the place, I managed to convince my lecturer to let me do it again on Tuesday and I'm happy to say I passed with flying colours!  Again, thanks for all the congratulations I received via Twitter. I was so pleased with myself, I slipped out at lunchtime and bought myself some nail polish.



Our health and safety exam also got postponed, because not every one was in. I did feel a little put out as I had managed to study for it and wanted to get it out of the way. Oh well, I hope we do it this week, so we don't get exams piling up.


In the afternoon, I practiced my galvanic facials in time for our exam this coming week. I think I should ace those too, so long as I make sure I double check my trolley before I actually start my treatment and no one pinches my products. I'll be keeping my beady eye on everyone!

Exactly like the one we use in college, but there are much posher ones on the market

The lecturer also took some time to demonstrate the faradic facial machine. The faradic is used for tightening the facial muscles to provide more lift and tone to the face. It can also be used all over the body - more of that to come. I didn't get a chance to practice using it, but my partner did on me. It was hilarious! She placed the black block on different parts of my face and I could feel my muscles tensing underneath with each pulse and you could actually see the muscles tense and release underneath the skin as well. Felt and looked like I had a nervous twitch.


I can see the faradic being a treatment I like, because my face felt very lifted afterwards, like a mini face lift.


So that's it for another week at beauty college. Next week, more on the faradic and test results!

Beauty College Chronicles: Week Three

Only one day at college this week, due to the Monday bank holiday.

I was very excited because I missed the direct high frequency facial practical the week before. Excitement stopped when I realised that I also had a galvanic facial at the end of the day. So two electrical facials in one day. I was not impressed. For one, a facial is recommended every four weeks, so to have two electrical facials in one day, was bordering on slight madness as for as I was concerned. Plus I remember the damage done when I did my Level 2 beauty therapy and had facials every other day for six weeks.

Lucky for me, I pipped first to carry out the facial on my partner and as I set up the machine, it looked very ominous with its different types of glass tubes and mushroom heads. Felt like I was setting up for some kind of electrocution. So partner on couch, I did a regular facial, but cut the massage down by ten minutes, so I could use the rest of the time to apply the direct high frequency.

Boy was I scared...I was going to apply electricity to someones face to cleanse it and the fear of shocking her meant I forgot to breathe.  In the end, I just went for it, I put the mushroom head on her face, turned on the machine and whacked the current up. The electricity shot through the glass tubing in a purple glow and whirred, quite loudly might I add. For a facial it didn't sound relaxing. It was all very Doctor Who'esque'.

Glass Mushroom Heads, Zapper at the top of image

I also had to use the Zapper (yes its called a Zapper) to dehydrate her spots. This helps to dry out the spot and cleanse bacteria from the area. The Zapper is a long thin glass tube that has an electric current flowing through it. Again, it looked like a torture device so I was apprehensive. Very gingerly, I hoovered the Zapper over the spot and the current flowed out and zapped it. Literally. You can actually see the purple spark when the current hits the spot. I could see my partner wincing, so I stopped after two zaps. But I'm glad to say, I didn't once shock her during her treatment. Unlike her, who shocked me and left me sitting bolt upright, saying things I really shouldn't say in a learning environment.

Lunch was a welcome relief and I went for a stroll on Oxford Street to entertain myself (i.e. shop!) and get myself all relaxed and ready for the galvanic facial. Due to the 'shockgate' incident, I arranged to change partners as the galvanic facial doesn't only electrocute if used incorrectly, it can also burn the skin quite deeply, like a cigarette burn.

A Galvanic Machine

For those of you who don't know a galvanic machine in its simplest form, it increases the absorption of products into the skin and generally increases the efficiency of any treatment. There are two versions for oily skin or dry skin to either cleanse or help rehydrate skin and then allow products to penetrate into the inner most layers of the skin. It is used with various gels to either cleanse, calm, rehydrate or firm skin. There are many more types of gel as well, depending on what you want to achieve.

Lucky for me, again I pipped up first, so I performed the galvanic to my partner, thus avoiding it having it done to me. Yippee! Happy to report, nothing extraordinary happen, no shocks or electrocutions. It'll be my turn next week to lay on the couch.

And that was the end of all the fun and games for the day! Next week, more tales from practicals and two exams to talk about!

Beauty College Chronicles: Week One

Surely, I won't ever lose this hot pink glitter pencil case?

Monday started with a frantic dash around the house trying to find something to wear. All my good intentions of getting my clothes and stationery ready on the Sunday night drowned when a friend came over with a bottle of wine, so not the perfect start to my first day at college.

Trying to find the perfect outfit took way longer than I imagined and I ended up having to run to the station. Only to see the train chugging away from the platform, while I was still gasping for breath on the bridge. Great start!

Home for next nine months

I was running about ten minutes late when I arrived at Oxford Circus so I didn't even get the chance to admire the view of Liberty's from Argyll Street. I had to rush past my favourite store without paying homage or lusting after products in the beauty hall window. Meh!

Lucky for me, the group was still in the waiting area when I arrived, so I just slotted myself in the back pretending I'd been there all the while and sized up the group. There's sixteen of us, all mixed aged groups and I'm glad to confirm I'm not the oldest in the class. It's a nice mix of students, everyone there seems to want to be there, which means there will be no slackers (hopefully). When I did Level 2, most of the girls had thought beauty was the easy option, until A & P slapped them about and they started dropping like flies!

The first day was all about paperwork and being spoken at, A LOT. My brain was frazzled with information overload and we did the usual lets get to know each other stuff: find three things out about your partner and a very funny balloon game. We had to make a chair out of balloons and someone has to sit on them without popping them. My team won, what did you expect? :-)

Team volunteer trying hard not to pop a balloon

We went through the syllabus and I'm happy to say that this year dermabrasion has been included in the course. I always wanted to learn that, so I am very pleased. (Volunteers, make an orderly queue please!) And if you finish the course, you get a diploma issued by City & Guilds, not just a certificate. The standards have been up'd so the prestige of the course has gone up. That's very good news as it increases one's employability at the end of the course. The main modules are:

Electrical face & body treatments
Electrical Epilation treatments
Body Massage
Stone Therapies
Events & Promotions

Just before lunch, the Head of Level 3 Beauty came and did a talk that was supposed to put the fear of God into us. Basically, don't be late or I'll have ya!, don't be absent (ever) or I'll skin ya!, don't breathe or I'll kill ya!  I'm sure you can see where this is going. She's going to be a pleasure to know but I think she's a softie, underneath the hard exterior.

At the end of the day, room was buzzing with the arrival of our kits and uniforms.  Not quite sure why we were so excited over white polyester tunics and grey trousers with black plimsolls that pinch. The kit was ginormous and heavy. All the creams, lotions and potions that will make me a fantastic therapist were in there, but before we get excited, its not high grade products by any means. There's just enough quality in them to give us an idea of what to expect when you get into the big and beautiful industry.

Can you spot the transparent bag, we're expected to carry all out stuff in?

So that's it, day one over and I was left carrying the ginormous kit home on the underground during rush hour, with a large order of head ache to boot!

Abbreviations:


LCBT : London College of Beauty Therapy
A & P : Anatomy and Physiology