Category: Blog

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Accredited Facials Training in Aberdeen

The GTi Facial Treatment Course provided by Sanctuary Training Academy, is accredited by the Guild of Beauty Therapy, and consists of two elements.

Theory

Upon receiving your activation e-mail from us, you first proceed to completing the theory online, and you will have the opportunity to watch videos, giving you a chance to practice at home.

Practical

When you have completed your modules online, we arrange your training day.  We are flexible for practical days, and don’t always have set days.  We understand that your need is sometimes not compatible with set days.  Even if you are the only student, the course will still run.

All students are provided with a PDF manual by the Guild of Beauty Therapy, to use as a reference.

In the unlikely event you do not reach the required standard, then an additional practical training session will be available at no extra charge, although you may be required to fit in with another training day.

If you do not have Professional Standards for Therapists from the Guild of Beauty Therapy, you would be required to complete this before beginning your Facial Treatment modules.  Please ask for more details.

As part of your practical training day, you may receive a treatment, as well as giving one, if you are completing the course as part of a group.  If you have sensitive skin, an infection or allergies, please notify us as soon as possible.

Expectations on the day

We have a dedicated training therapy room, which is used for most of our practical sessions.  Please wear dark clothing.  Comfortable clothes are a necessity.  Clothes with tight waistbands can be uncomfortable when you perform lengthy treatments while sitting down.  If you don’t own salon wear, dark clothes are more likely to hide any potential stains you may pick up while performing a treatment.

Tea, Coffee and water is provided.  Please take along a packed lunch.  Don’t worry if you forget, as there are shops close by.  We also have a microwave and a kettle, and you are welcome to use the staff room to eat your lunch.

All equipment and products needed to complete the course are provided.

  • Long hair should be tied back.
  • Comfortable shoes must be worn.
  • Minimal jewellery should be worn.
  • Socks or tights should be worn.

Venue

Sanctuary
53a Bon Accord Street
Aberdeen
AB11 6EB

E-mail:  lesley@sanctuaryaberdeen.co.uk

Timings

Your practical is one day.  Please arrive for 10am.

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Complementary and Alternative Medicine

Any treatment that falls outside what we know as the NHS type system of mainstream healthcare, falls under the banner of complementary or alternative medicines.

There are many different treatments and medicines that count as alternative, such as:

  • ear candling
  • massage
  • accupuncture
  • bach flower remedies
  • aromatherapy
  • reiki
  • reflexology

and many many more….

There is a difference though.  As an example, complementary therapies usually go hand in hand with traditional medicine, hence the term, complementary.  The doctor might treat a patient for anxiety and stress, and the therapist helps with well-being by giving a relaxing massage.

When the treatment is used instead of traditional medicine, it tends to be known as alternative.

At Sanctuary Training Academy, we focus on complementary therapies rather than solely alternative, however, the two are not mutually exclusive and do overlap significantly.

Aromatherapy can be both complementary and alternative, depending on the use by an individual person, who makes their own choices for treatments.  Other examples might be using a chiropractor and herbal medicines from the chemist.

Which to Choose

This is simple.  Ask your doctor, do the research on individual treatments, and make an informed choice.  If you are trying to treat a health condition, see your doctor first.  Always.  Also check with your doctor to make sure any complementary or alternative treatment you are considering is safe, as some medicines may mean a particular therapy is unsuitable for you.

Find Complementary/Alternative Therapists

Choose your practitioner wisely.  By law, there is no regulatory body for complementary and alternative therapies, apart from osteopaths and chiropractors.

If you decide to use a CAM, it’s up to you to find a practitioner who will carry out the treatment in a way that is acceptable to you.

Check Professional Registers, some of which are:

Consultation

As part of a consultation, or before your appointment, you should expect to know, or be able to find the following:

  • treatment price and duration
  • whether you are suitable for treatment
  • pre-appointment advice
  • proof of their professional status
  • the aftercare advice
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Learn New Skills in Aberdeen

Here at Sanctuary Training in Aberdeen, there is the opportunity to learn new skills, and join the working population as a fully trained professional in the Beauty or Holistic Therapy industry.

We can provide courses in Aberdeen, where Holistic skills like Indian Head Massage, Facials and Hopi Ear Candling courses let you earn your own money legally and cover you for insurance to practice your new skill.

There are advantages to learning a new skill in a modular fashion:

  • For those who do not have the time or ability to attend a full time course at college.
  • Older entrants to the holistic and beauty therapy, who don’t want to do courses with lots of 16 year olds.
  • People who are looking for fast track entry to the beauty and therapy industry.
  • People who want to learn their new skills in small classes, where they have the maximum amount of personal attention needed to be able to practice.
  • Younger girls who may not be able to attend for two whole years at college and are only interested in one skill, such as massage or facials.
  • People who want to dip their toes in the industry and find out if it’s for them long term.
  • Do your theory in the comfort of your own home, at a time that suits you.
  • Choose when to do your practical, and have your training in a local salon, knowing your training is accredited by the Beauty Guild and qualifies you for insurance to practice.

 

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Facial Course in Aberdeen

You don’t have to look any further to find an accredited facial treatments course in Aberdeen.

Here at the Sanctuary Training Academy, for this course, you complete your modules online, which means you’ve done all the theory work before you come to me.

It means that our practical time, is spend doing what we need to do, which is the hands on experience.  We’ll still talk about techniques and client expectations, as well as safety as part of the course.

Book your course with us, then we’ll send you details to begin your online training.  When you have your practical code, then we’ll book you in for your practical training.

On successful completion of your practical day, we’ll amend your details to passed for the practical, which will allow you to get insurance to carry out facials on members of the public.

This is a beginners course, as you do not need to have any previous training to embark on a whole new career in facials.

Next to relaxation massage, a facial is one of the best things a beautician can provide.  As well as thoroughly allowing your client to lie back and enjoy a treatment, it allows them to prepare for the rest of their day.  Clients tend to know what they want when they arrive, even if it’s just a full pamper, where they can lie in blissful peace, while the therapist treats their face to some tlc.

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Guild Accredited Beginner Facial Courses in Aberdeen

Here at the Sanctuary Training Academy, we have a Guild Accredited Beginner Facial course for budding enthusiasts, or simply those who wish to start a whole new career.

This course covers the technique for the following:

  • superficial and deep cleanse
  • tone
  • steam
  • extract
  • massage
  • mask
  • moisturisation

The course also includes:

  • anatomy and physiology resources with clear diagrams and voice over
  • health and safety
  • skin conditions
  • skin analysis
  • advice about different skin types
  • guidance on product type to use

You don’t need to be at college for years to be able to practice as a therapist.  This course tells you all you need to know, to perform an effective facial.

Look for our Facial Course, and book online or:

e-mail: lesley@sanctuaryaberdeen.co.uk

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Why Should I Choose Guild Accredited Courses?

Being supported in your career is one of the most important things you can have as a therapist, whether it’s in nails, beauty, holistic therapies or alternative therapies.  Working within the therapy industry can be both fun and give you a sense of well-being.  For future careers, your courses can lead to working self-employed, working for a salon, or even within larger spas and holiday resorts/cruise liners.

Legal Aspects

Working in the field of beauty, nails or holistic therapies can be rewarding, but to offer a professional service, you need to have qualifications which are good enough to allow you to apply for insurance to work on members of the public.  Even your friends and family count as members of the public.  An accident or incident can happen to anyone, both new and experienced in the beauty industry.

Which Route?

There are two routes to a career in the beauty and therapy industry.  Most youngsters choose to head down the route of College, or where they cannot find the time to fit a 2 year course in, others can choose to go a private route, which allows a huge scope for accredited training.

There are many schools and courses available, and choosing an accredited course is one way to ensure you will have the right qualification to entitle you to practice your newly learned skills once you’ve finished your course(s).  Our accredited courses are through the Guild of Beauty Therapists, which is the UK trade body for the professional beauty industry.

College Qualifications

At college, and the route taken by most school leavers who enter the industry, is to attend college full-time for a year or two.  The qualifications are recognised NVQ or SVQ, and also accepted for Guild Membership and insurance.

Private Qualifications

The speedy route to a new career is through private courses, of short duration, and are in small classes, where students have lots of individual attention during their training, and training can fit in around your lifestyle.  Many short course providers will work late, or work a flexi schedule to allow you to fit in your training.  If the course is Guild Accredited, you can apply for insurance and membership with the Guild as soon as you have your certificate.  This lets you work on the public right away, and start to earn money with the skill you’ve learned.  For example, if you booked and Indian Head Massage course with us, upon completion, you would be able to get insurance to work and begin taking appointments with clients, then add more skills as time goes on and you expand your portfolio.  A popular route is for facials and massage, and taking more courses later.

We offer Guild Accredited Training at the Sanctuary Training Academy in Aberdeen, both online and practical courses.

Who are the Guild of Beauty Therapists

Guild courses have been vetted and created by the Guild for the content and tuition.  They ensure all relevant National Occupations Standards are achieved.  Tutors are qualified in the subjects they are teaching and hold a teaching qualification.

The Guild of Beauty Therapists is the UK’s trade body for the professional beauty industry.  For over 20 years, the Guild has evolved and grown to over 8500 professionally qualified members.  Only properly qualified Beauty Therapists, Holistic Therapists, Nail Technicians and Therapy Lecturers will be accepted by the Guild, to be members.

 

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The Spices for Life

We all know there are supplements and spices which are actually really good for us, but do we really take the time to learn them properly.  We’ve created a short list of the most important ones to help you along the way.

Turmeric

Anyone who reads sporty magazines will have had loads of information about turmeric thrown at them.  For the rest of us, it’s all about being sensible, and adding a little spice to our life.   Get it…..  Ok, being sensible, Turmeric has an anti-inflammatory compound in it, which helps us to recover from activity and exercise.  It is also said to help with pain levels.

Ginger

Always one of my favourites, I add Ginger in powder or root form to many soups, stews and salads.  It’s versatile and even goes well in a coffee or pudding.  Tiramisu and Ginger anyone?  Ginger is another of the spices with anti-inflammatory purposes, and tastes absolutely amazing in almost everything I make with it.    It’s said to help with nausea, and even morning sickness, although I’d clear it with a doctor before taking any supplements at any stage in pregnancy.  This is also another spice which might actually help with musclepain and general aches and pains.

Cayenne Pepper

Never a spice to sit on its laurels, Cayenne Pepper is a warm pepper that helps to curb the appetite.  It’s also yet another spice said to help with pain relief.    It can help ease upset stomachs, ulcers and sore throats, as well as relieve coughs and diarrhoea, although I doubt it’s scientificically proven.

Cinnamon

Cinnamon is a well known blood glucose regulator.  This helps by improving sensitivity to glucose and also is said to help lower blood pressure.  It can reduce the risk for heart disease, but make sure to get Ceylon cinnamon or use Cassia very wisely, in very small doses.

This is another of my favourites, and possibly my all time favourite spice, which I’ve left until last today.  Used for thousands of years, and as far back as Ancient Egypt.  With double purpose for scented products, it’s a well-used favourite for Christmas time, in everything from candles, wine, scented cones and even soups and puddings.   It used to be a gift fit for kings, but is now cheap and cheerful, and available almost anywhere there’s a food shop.

Yet another anti inflammatory spice, it helps us to fight infections with the anti oxidant properties.  It’s said to be protective against cancer, but you’d have to research this for yourself.

 

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Benefits of Indian Head Massage

In India, Indian Head Massage has been practiced by families for thousands of years.  Traditionally, head and hair were the only reasons for a massage, to help condition the hair of women.  The treatment developed into a whole routine which also involves the upper back, shoulders, neck, arms and face.  The seated Indian Head Massage seems to be the most popular way of providing this treatment, although variations using a special massage chair, limits the ability to massage shoulders, neck and face properly.

Indian Head Massage is a relaxing experience that can be done at home, in a clinic or even in a workplace, as part of a wellness therapy scheme.  Clients receiving Indian Head Massage, report on feelings of relaxation, reduced stress, and feeling more alert and able to carry on with the day.

Performed seated, this therapy allows full access to the head, neck, shoulders and face.  Although some practitioners carry out the treatment through clothing, for best effect, skin to skin contact is more effective and easier to carry out.  Ask your client to remove upper body garments, and give them a towel or blanket to wrap around their whole body.  Ensure you give your client a towel/blanket that is big enough to wrap around their body.  They must feel comfortable while the treatment is performed.

The technique to manipulate muscles tissue is through different massage movements to promote stimulation of the head, neck, upper body and shoulders.

Benefits

Indian Head Massage has been said to:

  • relieve aches and pains
  • improve concentration
  • relieve stress
  • relieve tension from knots in muscles
  • relax muscles
  • improve circulation
  • help aid sleep
  • condition scalp and roots of hair (with oil)
  1. Learn to perform Indian Head Massage with us on an Accredited Course for £195, that allows you to gain insurance and begin taking clients.
  2. Attend a Workshop over at our therapy suite in Sanctuary Aberdeen for £75, to carry out at home.

When you train with us, you find yourself seated in a comfortable tub style chair, with a footstool for those who need it.  We carry out our Indian Head Massage the traditional way, with full access to your shoulders and upper back, as well as your head and face.  We use an aromatherapy blend for this massage, with a choice of soothing, or anti-stress essential oil blends, with a sweet almond oil base.  If you’d prefer unscented, we have grapeseed oil, which is less greasy than sweet almond oil, or coconut oil for an added skin moisture boost.

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What is a Manicure?

People often get confused about what a manicure actually is.  Here, we outline what we mean by a Manicure, at Sanctuary in Aberdeen.

A manicure is a beauty treatment, provided all up and down the country, in almost every beautician premesis you can find. It’s a popular staple treatment, and one that never ceases to make people feel good about themselves.

In reality, it’s not just a file and polish, as many people think.  It’s a full blown beauty treatment, which involves creams, scrubs and massage of the hands, in addition to an optional file and polish, to leave our hands looking groomed and lovely.

What Does a Manicure Do?

A manicure involving creams, scrubs and massage, like a facial, helps improve the texture and appearance of hands.  The treatment has a holistic touch with the massage, and can be a lovely relaxing treatment, which makes you feel good.

What Happens at a Manicure?

For most manicures, they can begin with your therapist turning over your hands, looking for any signs of infection or broken skin, which you would be advised to wait until healed for a manicure.  If you are good to go, then, your technician is likely to soak your hands in a little manicure bowl, then use cream and a scrub, before filing nails and applying polish or gel if required.

Types of Manicures?

There are many different types of manicures, which all involve some form of treatment to the hands, and often to the nails.

French

Slightly out of fashion at the moment, the French Manicure uses clear or pale pink polish on the mail with a coating of white at the tip.  The nail is fairly square across the top.

Hot Stone

My favourite manicure, involves a hand massage using hot stones.

Luxury

A luxury massage, I would often see as adding a mask to the cleanse, tone and exfoliate regime of a regular manicure.  Using hot towels between the different parts of the manicure, is said to help increase the uptake of ingredients into the skin.

Pre-Appointment Care

Before your manicure, try and remove any traces of polish already there.  As therapists, we can remove the polish for you, but due to the time it takes, we do give you the choice of being charged for this, or it eats into your manicure pampering time.  If you have nail extensions please be prepared for us not to be able to remove those as part of a treatment, as that would require a much longer appointment for a more specialised treatment.

Post-Appointment Care

Resist the temptation to continually put your hands in water.  Wear gloves for cleaning and for the use of chemicals to try preserving your manicure.  Lastly, please don’t pick the polish off, as it can damage the nail beds beneath.

 

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About Our Training Courses

Welcome to Sanctuary Training Academy in Aberdeen.  Situated within Sanctuary Aberdeen, our training facilities are clean, modern, and practical.  Our trainers are fully qualified to delivery top class training within the beauty and holistic environments.

The Sanctuary Training Academy offers tea and coffee during your practical training, with emphasis on modern products and up to date techniques to learn your new skills.  You will have learned enough skill and knowledge to practice your own craft with clients.  We provide accredited courses from the Guild of Beauty Therapy, which allow you to gain professional membership and insurance to start your own business, or work as a sole trader, mobile therapist, or even open your own salon.

Why Pick The Sanctuary Training Academy

  • Accredited Courses
  • Professional Training
  • Start-Up Advice
  • Discount For Insurance
  • Modern, Clean Facilities
  • Coffee & Tea Available
  • Snacks Provided
  • Cold Drinks Available to Purchase
  • Aberdeen City Centre Location.

Easy Access Via Bus and Train.

Parking:

Chapel Street Multi-Storey Car-Park.
Long Stay: 8am to 8pm Monday to Saturday, 1pm to 5pm Sunday

On-Street
On-street parking available on Bon-Accord Street and Bon-Accord Square, however, it is time limited.