Beauty Therapy Institute (BTI) is one of the most esteemed beauty training institutes in South Africa (and Africa!) with over 20 campuses and franchises throughout South Africa, Kenya, Nigeria, Namibia and Ghana.
Founded by beauty veteran Sandy Fuhr in 1996, BTI offers quality education with a difference. Their flexible modular system allows students to study at their own pace and to focus on the areas that truly interests them, opening doors to mothers, working people and those with time constraints.
BTI affords their students the opportunity to perform beauty treatments to the public at very affordable rates. This allows students to practise their skills (under supervision, of course), and allows the public to receive a wide range of beauty treatments at unbeatable prices.
Our editor was invited to Beauty Therapy Institute in Woodstock, Cape Town, to experience a session of microdermabrasion. This was her experience:
“What if I told you that it is possible to enjoy professional facial treatments, massages, waxing, manis and pedis as well as lash and brow treatments at a fraction of the usual salon and spa prices? You may be forgiven for thinking it’s too good to be true – after all, it’s common knowledge that professional beauty treatments are pricey.
I recently visited BTI (Beauty Therapy Institute) in Woodstock to experience microdermabrasion and I learnt that this esteemed beauty training institute allow their students to perform beauty treatments on paying customers. A win for the students, and a win for the customers!
When I arrived I was greeted by the loveliest of staff, all ready and eager to assist me. After a quick change in clothing I was escorted to the treatment room, where several women were enjoying treatments ranging from massages to lash extensions and facials.
Screens are put between the beds and treatment areas for privacy, so you can fully enjoy your treatment without worrying about the person next to you.
I’m a big fan of microdermabrasion, so I chose this as my treatment at BTI. In case you’re not familiar, microdermabrasion is a non-invasive procedure that gently removes the top layer of skin cells to renew the skin tone and texture. During the treatment, abrasive crystals are propelled against the skin via a handheld vacuum system. These crystals mechanically exfoliate the skin, removing the top layer of skin cells. It is effective for treating acne and clogged pores, uneven skin tone, lines and wrinkles as well as fading scars.
My treatment was performed by one of the head educators, Leané Bruwer, who has an absolute wealth of skincare knowledge. Leané and I had a good chat about my skin, my concerns and my daily regime before she started the treatment. She told me to feel the texture of my skin before the treatment started. While it wasn’t rough or bumpy, it wasn’t completely smooth either, and she told me to remember this texture, and compare it at the end.
She used Environ skincare products to prepare my skin and guided me through the whole process, explaining each step, and happily answered all the questions I fired off.
The procedure was enjoyable, and comfortable – while microdermabrasion has a strange sensation, it is not painful or uncomfortable. I loved how the Environ products felt on my skin and I actually enjoyed the microdermabrasion sensation, which feels a bit like a suction on the skin. I was treated to the most incredible massage towards the end of my treatment, which almost sent me into sleep!
I appreciated the care Leané took to prevent the fine microdermabrasion particles from going into my eyes. She was so diligent about cleansing and wiping my skin afterwards while my eyes were still closed. She also checked on me several times throughout the procedure to ensure I was okay and not experiencing any discomfort.
At the end of my treatment Leané told me to feel the texture of my skin again, and what a difference the treatment made! My skin was soft and smooth, not a bump in sight. It literally felt like baby skin. I had an undeniable glow directly after the treatment and this lasted for several days afterwards.
One thing to take note of – I had quite an angry pimple near my mouth, and Leané said that the treatment will help speed up its recovery. She wasn’t wrong – every once in a while I get a breakout like that and it can take more than a week to calm down. After about two days, it was no longer sore to the touch, raised or irritable. And best of all, it did not leave a dark mark like I am prone to – while I can still see remnants of a light spot, I’m taking care of this with a vitamin C serum and have never seen a pimple heal and fade so quickly.
All-in-all it was a lovely treatment facilitated by a lovely therapist. Everything about the process was easy and effective and I can highly recommend BTI for affordable professional treatments. I’ll be back for sure!
I’d like to extend a very big thank you to the team at BTI, as well as the lovely educator Leané Bruwer, who performed my treatment with such care and expertise.”
Anien – Editor
Interested to book a treatment? Visit https://beautytherapyinstitute.co.za/ to find your nearest BTI branch and make a booking.
