Demi International Beauty Academy RTO32542

Demi International Beauty Academy is a leading boutique training school on Qld’s beautiful Sunshine Coast, only an hour north of Brisbane. We offer an extensive range of beauty courses in salon management, beauty, makeup, nails, IPL & laser hair reduction and massage courses as well as flexible study options, full time, part time, VET (while at school) either face to face or by correspondence. Demi International have been established for over 10 years on the coast and have graduated students of all ages nationally.

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My deep dark secret…

I lead a fairly normal healthy life - I don’t smoke, don’t do drugs, eat well (mostly), exercise regularly, and drink occasionally (that’s what I tell my doctor anyway).

However, it’s around this time annually for approximately a week or two I lose control – you see I have an addiction that I cannot deny.  It has always been there to provide comfort, soothing yet the excitement of sneaking in a bit here and there, thinking no one notices, you’d think it’s forbidden.  I have fond memories of its touch - smooth, and nothing feels better on my tongue – it makes my skin tingle, and my heart beat a little faster as I slowly unwrap it.  I look at it lying there naked and stop myself from devouring it straight away – I want this to last, knowing that after I have it I’ll want…no, need, more to relive the ecstasy over and over.

And then a couple of days into my binge it hits…a blemish here and there, a few puss filled pimples pop up their ugly heads to remind me that I have had a little too much!  I know in myself that that is not where it ends…my sleep doesn’t seem to be as peaceful, I become more irritable, my desire for exercise wains, and my body generally feels like its performing at 50%.  

How can chocolate be so good but then be so bad?  Why does it seduce me at Easter every year and then cast me aside after it’s used me?

In our industry we see the benefits of maintaining a healthy diet, namely healthy body & mind.  Unfortunately the health benefits we find in chocolate are not enhanced when we apply the ‘more is better’ approach but there are some good ones worth noting such as:

·         The flavonoid found in dark chocolate known as flavonols help your skin looking its best. The antioxidants that protect your skin from UV damage which means fewer wrinkles & sun spots, and they assist blood flow to help you look radiant!

·         One study has found that dark chocolate assists with improved skin hydration and we all know that means younger looking skin.

·         The flavonoids can also help keep your platelets less sticky decreasing your risk of heart attack or stroke from a clot.

·         Dark Chocolate can help relax vessels which in turn reduces blood pressure.

·         Can help reduce stress hormones, which means less collagen breakdown in the skin, and fewer wrinkles.

·         Finally, and probably the one that reels me in is the mood enhancing neurotransmitters.

Important things to consider when buying/eating chocolate:

1.       70% + cocoa dark chocolate to reap any of the health benefits mentioned above.

2.       Portion size does matter, other than flavonoids - you’re getting sugar, fat, and calories. (1 – 2 squares).

3.       Enjoy!

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Visit from ASAP Skin Products – the science of beautiful skin

Have you ever wondered about what products our students are training, and what products are being used on Salon Days, and why these products above all others were chosen?

A couple of weeks back we had a visit from our friends at ASAP who brought their product along to discuss with our Diploma of Beauty Therapy students.  A bit about ASAP:

·         They are the leading cosmeceutical skin care company in Australia.

·         ASAP products are aimed at supplying the marker simple & effective skin care.

·         Easy-to-use products that are effective, affordable and available only from trained skin care. Professionals, doctors and dermatologists.

ASAP products are made in Australia from environmentally friendly ingredients. ASAP products are not tested on animals and contain:

·         No harmful chemicals

·         No harsh detergents

·         No artificial fragrances

·         No animal derivatives

The ASAP rep ran through the benefits of each product and then got us to feel it on our skin.  We also took time to smell the product to see if we could identify the natural ingredients used in it.

We learnt that ASAP skin products quickly and effectively improve the appearance of:

·         Ageing/sun-damaged skin ·         Dry, dull and dehydrated skin ·         Fine lines and wrinkles ·         Uneven skin tone ·         Oily and acne-prone skin.

We learnt so much about the products we use on a daily basis and the benefits we can provide our clients when using them in a treatment.  It was so informative but the icing on the cake…we got a heap of free samples to take home AND access to an awesome offer on a pack of ASAP products.

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Back Wax of a 120kg Gorilla (his words!!)…ahem, Client

There are few treatments that we struggle to get a model for and male waxing is one of them.  This week our trainer managed to persuade one of the male staff members to a Nose, Ear, and Back wax.  The model was in his late 30’s and it was quite apparent that he had not had a back wax for quite a while in fact he referred to himself has a gorilla with luscious fur…hmmm, I’ll leave that with you.

First things first, the model (aka client), completed a client questionnaire so that we (the Beauty Therapist) were aware of the client’s expectations of the treatment.  It also gave us an idea of other areas we could make suggestions in an effort to assist with their needs.  Our client advised that he used a cleanser but there was no mention of a moisturiser or exfoliate.  It was later that we found out that the client had ‘simplified’ his life with a 3 in 1 body, face, and shampoo treatment used twice a day…it was amazing that his skin wasn’t flaking off his body and instead looked relatively healthy – benefit of being male maybe?

We started with a demonstration of a nose wax.  After completing some prep, i.e. cleaning and preparing the skin, the trainer partially filling one nostril with semi dried wax, to ensure that it doesn’t flow into the nose canal, and taking care to add pressure in the right area the wax was ripped out in an upwards motion collecting an impressive amount of nose hair. Our trainer asked if there was anyone that we knew who could do with one these and I immediately thought of my Dad – sorry Dad!  The client was horrified and somewhat embarrassed of the hair growing from parts of his body he never considered as areas where hair should grow even though he could see it daily… an insight into the male psyche perhaps?  Throughout the treatment more questions were asked about access to our own wax pots suggesting that there may be a few boyfriends, dads, etc. potentially going to be on the waxing table in the near future.  The other nostril was completed in the same fashion and then we moved onto the ears.

Taking note of the direction of the ear hair, and ensuring that no wax entered the ear canal, our trainer again pointed out the best method to pull off the wax, i.e. maximising the effectiveness of the hair removal and minimising the pain. The model claimed that the ear wax procedure stung a little more than the nose however both were relatively painless for what was about to come.

Saving the best for last, our client was asked to roll over on to his stomach for the back wax.  Some pre wax ‘trimming’ was required due to the thickness of the (client’s words) ‘luscious fur’ and then we prepped the skin with some oil and talc.  The trainer pointed out the different directions that the client’s hair grew and started applying a thin layer of wax to one side of the client’s back.  The wax strip was applied and then riiiiiiiip…pressure applied and the used wax strip with a significant amount of hair was shown to us all…impressive.  A reminder was given to us that we need to ensure that we apply pressure as soon as the wax is ripped off and to keep moving through the treatment quickly and methodically as opposed to checking out the masses of hair being ripped out! We were also told that when working in a beauty salon some treatments have an expected time frame associated to it in order to complete the task and that while some treatments can go longer or shorter the main purpose was to maintain the integrity of the appointment book. We also learnt throughout the process that there were places on the client’s back that were significantly more sensitive than others, clearly defined by the client’s sharpness in breathing!  

 Afterwards, a cold compress was applied which reduced the redness of the skin, followed by the application of a dry tea tree oil. We were all very appreciative of having a live demonstration and I think we all picked up a few pointers to apply to our future guinea pigs…look out Dad, your eyebrows are first!

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Tips for a successful year of study at Demi International

1. Have Fun!

You’ve made the decision to study and whether you have a real passion for the industry, you want some sort of recognition (like a diploma), or your just ‘dipping your toe in the water’ because you really don’t know what you want to do, make sure you have fun doing it – every day is opportunity to learn something new AND the best thing about our industry is that you can apply the skills you learn to the real world almost immediately!

2. It isn't like high school

All of your study is going to be more self-driven than ever before. No one’s going to give you reminders about homework -unless you have a particularly kind teacher;-).

I remember my mum say you’re only going to get out as much as you put in, and while I hate say it, she was right. You’re also going to have a lot more free time, but that doesn’t mean you can slack off!

3. Time Management

Balancing your free time between work, study and your own "me" time isn’t as easy as it sounds. Tertiary study requires a lot more study than high school, and there are a lot more homework assignments.

The earlier you get things done, the more time you’ll have to yourself later! You'll also stress out less, rather than realising you have five assignments due the next day!

4. Don’t Be Afraid to Ask for Help

Some of your modules may seem pretty intimidating, new content, new students, and new teachers, but your teacher understands how intimidating it can be, because at some stage they were first-year students themselves.

Never hesitate to ask if you need to know something or if you need something repeated. And if you ever get lost or aren’t sure where to find something, just ask a fellow student where to go! The worst thing they might say is, "I’m not sure."

5. Get Yourself Out There!

Talk to your new classmates and start to follow people in your industry, use Facebook, Pintrest, Twitter, etc.  experience your industry, ie Try out services at the different salons and get a feel for what you think works and how you think it could be done better – it’s not all about the treatment, it’s about the end to end experience, ie from the moment you walk in the door until the moment you walk out!  Maybe seek some work experience or a part time job in the industry?

6. Make the Most of It!

Learn to manage your new study load while maintaining a balance in your life.

If you're willing to seek advice and take advantage of all the resources at your disposal, you'll definitely be able to look back at your time at Demi as rewarding.

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Diary of a Beauty Therapy Student - Term 4 Week 10

Week 40 of 40 AND the last week of my Diploma of Beauty Therapy…YAY!!

So excited to be finishing but will be sad to not go to school and hang out with the fantastic friends that I’ve made this year at Demi International.

Most of us graduated on Saturday night at a 1930’s themed Christmas party which was so much fun.

It’s been such a huge year and I have learnt so much – not only do I now know how to perform treatments from facials through to waxing or massage, but I also have the skills to engage with clients, and understand the components required to operate a beauty business.

During the year we have visited a day spa, done a bit of mystery shopping to understand how our future competitors/employers deliver customer service, and experienced unique yet effective teaching methods when content was a little hard going.  My teacher has been awesome and I got a sense that not only do they put their heart and soul into the course but they care about each and every one of the students who put the effort in.  The Diploma of Beauty Therapy at Demi International has given us more than just ‘beauty training’ – if you want to be more than just another beauty therapist than the Diploma of Beauty Therapy at Demi International is for you.

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Diary of a Make Up Student - Term 4 Week 10

We are done…that’s right a Diploma of Specialised Make-Up in hand, no more study and a job placement – not bad for 6 months’ worth of study and work experience!!

We had a great graduation and Christmas party on Saturday night, it was 1930’s themed so a great opportunity to show off a bit of hair and make-up skills learnt over the past 20 weeks.

Looking back over the course highlights, other than meeting a class full of likeminded creative ladies with a passion for make-up, it is pretty hard to go past work experience at the Sunshine Coast Fashion Festival and a week later FestEvil at Aussie World.  I now have the skills to start working in the industry specialising in many different areas such as Special Effects, Fashion, Wedding, Film & TV, Stage, and so many more! 

I am so fortunate to have found the course at a school that has awesome teachers and sense of professionalism that has improved my outlook on so many things, not just make-up.  If you are looking for a course where you will get the best training, real work experience, and meet new people then a Diploma of Specialised Make-up at Demi International is the course for you!

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Diary of a Beauty Therapy Student - Term 4 Week 9

This is the last official week of class and we are very excited, and maybe a bit stressed! Term 4 is really about nailing what we’ve learnt and applying it to real situations which requires a lot of focus and commitment on our part.

No new module this week however we did have to complete practical and written assessments on Indian Head Massage.  Also, this week we had to hand in our assessment on ‘Build relationships With Clients’ and present part of it to the class.  For this assessment we had to research skin care brands, provide details on the mark-up, and select marketing techniques we would use if we used it in our future salon.  Another part was assuming the role of spa manager and write scripts for our hypothetical staff based on the principals learnt in the student workbook.  This assessment really made me think about what I would like as a client out of a spa experience, which I think helps as me as a beauty therapist working in a salon meeting my client’s needs in the future.

On Tuesday we presented two pieces of assessment ‘Plan/provide/work in a Spa Therapies Framework’ and ‘Chemical Composition’.  Our Chemical Composition assessment required presentation of our own cosmetic/beauty product – see pics. From bath milks to coffee body scrubs it was so great to see and learn about each other’s creations!!

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Diary of a Make Up Artist Student - Term 4 Week 9

Our last week before we graduate….and what a week it’s been!!  This is the week where we close off all of our outstanding assessment items and anything that might not have been covered off during the semester.

We started Monday morning with an exam on Theatre Make up which thankfully wasn’t too hard.  Quickly moving on to Glamour Make Up which is dramatic but not overdone, typically the style to make you looking your best!  We spent the rest of the day trying it on our study partner and then swapping.

Tuesday we learnt the art of blow drying hair which is harder than it sounds.  There is a technique to achieve optimum results but once you have it…well, it becomes so easy to do.  A change of pace and we were running through Film and TV Terminology enable to competently work in that industry.  Like most industries Film & TV have their own jargon and acronyms however it’s not too hard of a code to crack!

Finally we presented our Hair & Make Up interpretation of the John Galliano period focusing on his work for Givenchy, and Christian Dior.  Galliano was well known for using make up to complement his extravagant and beautiful fashion especially on the catwalk at fashion shows.  It was great to draw on our recent work experience at the Sunshine Coast Fashion Festival to enable us to fully grasp what is required from a make-up artist.

Such a huge week, rather such a huge semester!!  I’m so happy that I’ll be graduating the Diploma of Specialised Make-Up and made the right decision to study at Demi International Beauty Academy!

[demiinternational]

Diary of a Make Up Artist Student - Term 4 Week 8

We are definitely at the business end of the course!  We spent Monday with a demo of an animal character and a clown character followed by the opportunity to try it on our fellow students.  Tuesday we moved into the world of Gothic Punk make up which was fun as its unique style requires a bit of insight to create the right look.

Wednesday we were extremely lucky to have a visit from Kat of Katz Body Art speak to us and provide a demo of her unique talents.

Kat’s work is best described on her website http://katzbodyart.com.au/katzbodyart/

Using premium body ink, I airbrush body art onto the skin of a model or client. All my body art is custom developed from my imagination and inspiration from the world around me. I airbrush any part of the face and body and even the hair if need be! Wear your body art as a focus on selected parts of the body or the whole body for maximum effect.

Any free time we have at the moment is being spent on catching up on any specific looks/units that we missed or needed more experience on…it’s a busy time of term but the end is so close only 2 weeks to go including our final major assignment due next week!!

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Diary of a Beauty Therapy Student - Term 4 Week 8

Argh!!!  First up on Monday morning we completed our electricity exam, probably the most difficult exam yet however our teacher, who is halfway through marking, says the results have been looking good so far (sooo hoping mine is amongst it)!

We did a read through of our LAST TOPIC for the year - Indian Head Massage. The theory is fascinating as we discussed the ancient Ayurvedic principals including dosha types, charkras and marma points, which are vital energy points, and each with its own role to balance the body.  The treatment has been performed for over a thousand years in India. Indian Head Massage theory focuses on stimulating three major energy centres being the brow, crown and throat.  By creating a relaxing rhythm Indian Head Massage can help unknot blockages and relieve the build-up of tension in the body and mind.   On Tuesday we covered the practical aspects of Indian Head massage and did an in class assignment.

 We completed our last Salon Day for the year on Monday and we are all feeling good with our client interactions and treatments.  This is great news as there is only a couple of weeks left until graduation for some of us (like me) while there are a few students who will be finishing off the Diploma in Semester 1 next year. 

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Diary of a Beauty Therapy Student – Term 4 Week 7

To be honest it’s been a tough week…2 days of learning about electrical circuits, a module that’s perhaps a little dry for us but made bearable with some hands on circuit making and unique teaching methods.

So I’m going to get technical for a second or two (helps me remember by ‘regurgitating’ it):

We learnt that a circuit is like a pathway made of wires that electrons can flow through. A power source gives the force (voltage) that makes the electrons move. When the electrons get to a device like a light bulb they give it the power to make it work. Important to remember the word “circuit” sounds like “circle,” and a circuit needs to be circular to work. The wires have to go from the power source to the device and back again, so that the electrons can go out and come back.

Finally, many circuits have a switch so that they can be turned on and off. When the switch is off, it makes a gap in the circuit and the electrons are not able to flow around. When the switch is turned on, it closes the gap and the electricity is able to move and make the device work. 

A week full of reading about techy stuff, and repetition…now, the challenge of retaining it all over the weekend before Monday’s exam!!

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Diary of a Make Up Artist Student – Term 4 Week 7

We started the week by continuing on our Hair and Make Up journey through the ages with a run through of the 2000’s.  I think we can all agree that this was (is) a period where a lot of looks have been borrowed from previous periods.

We received certificates and a special gift each from Aussie World following our work experience at their Halloween FestEvil – we love the guys at Aussie world, great to work with and so generous!!

We moved onto Indian Bridal Make Up starting with a run-down of the theory and history behind it. Indian Make Up is all about the eyes – a special smoky eye technique (sometimes with colour) is required to complement perfect mascara topped with thin sharp eyebrows – beautiful!

While most of the course requires an element of creativity there probably isn’t a module that provides quite the creative flexibility that Fairy Tale Make Up does.  Fairy’s, pixies, etc. which means lots of colour, glitter, and magic.

We finished off the week with a bit of ‘Derelicte’ (reference to the movie Zoolander) – yes we learnt how to create vagrant make up for movies/stage. Again the variety we have covered in this Diploma blows my mind – only 3 weeks to go…I wonder what’s left to cover!

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Diary of a Beauty Therapy Student - Term 4 Week 6

Sitting our Chemical Composition exam was not a great way to start the week but being as I’m a “glass is half full” kind of girl - at least it’s over!

We also had another hugely successful salon day from 2-5pm gaining lots of great feedback and clients rebooking. The students who didn’t have clients did treatments on each other so in order to get their log books completed by the end of semester. The log books are great, it provides us all with our level of competency in each unit - we sign and date each unit, every time we perform a treatment or cover a particular aspect of theory.

I just realised that we have approximately 6 assignments due in before the end of term, holy cr@p that’s a lot!  We are so lucky that we get the opportunity to work on them in between modules/units during the day.  Got so much done today!

Next week we move onto Electricity which I think may be the most challenging unit we’ve had yet but I have faith in our trainer to find a way through it…!!!  I just can’t believe it’s already near the end of term – over the hump…most of us will be graduating with a few returning to finish off next year. 

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Diary of a Make Up Artist Student - Term 4 Week 6

I got so carried away with rambling on about our work experience last week that I forgot about the history lesson we got last week on 18th Century Make Up.  Such a fascinating period of Make Up for both men and women, yes that’s right men were well into not only pale white make up but also the use of wigs was prevalent amongst Dandy’s and Macaroni’s – men who exceeded ordinary bounds of fashion in terms of clothes, fine dining, and gambling.

Pale white skin represented wealth as these were the people who stayed indoors and did not have to work.  Bright red button lips represented a healthy fun loving spirit which worn together with rouge worn on the lower apples of the cheeks.  Eyebrows were thin with a high arch and coloured black to accentuate the white skin.

This was a period of high experimentation when it came to the ingredients used to produce make-up. Toxic chemicals such as lead and mercury were common and even cocaine was used in some concoctions!  Other ingredients included herbs, flowers, fat, brandy, vegetables, spring water, lemon juice, and crushed strawberries. We learnt that not only was the white make-up painted on but the use of shapes (hearts, stars, etc.) was drawn on the face to cover up scars left by small pox.  Some of these shapes also represented political allegiance.

Moving into the 19th century we covered the 20’s: Thin brows, smoky look with burgundy lips.  We moved onto the 30s and found that a more natural and refined look came into fashion.  Learning so much about history and make-up in this course, and what I find really interesting is the use of some of these older styles (looks) coming back into fashion in recent history. 

This week we are moving through hair and make-up through the decades from the 20’s all the way through to the 80s. From ‘’Underbelly: Razor’’ finger waving (20’s), to the birthplace of Rockabilly (40’s), to hair made famous by Marilyn Monroe in the 50’s/60’s – big, round and centred.  The 70s were influenced heavily by a ‘natural’ look of long flowing hair similar to huge 70’s actress Farrah Fawcett from ‘’Charlie’s Angels’’.  Tomorrow we are moving onto 80’s hair and make-up…and to keep it fun we are bringing in a few costumes to set off our work!

[demiinternational]

Diary of a Beauty Therapy Student - Term 4 Week 5

With our lab coats still on we revised the chemical composition work we started last week and to keep a dry subject fresh we worked through crossword puzzles and revised questions to make sure we’re ready and confident next week’s exam!!

We started a new topic on Building Relationships with Customers, and as the name suggests, it’s all about how to make suggestions and recommendations to our customers, to gain their confidence and trust without the feeling of being ‘sold’ to. We did got to go on a little excursion over to the Plaza and spent some time anaylsing how we were greeted by sales staff, the service they provided, the sales techniques used, and the product knowledge they had. I always wanted to do mystery shopper job and while this gig wasn’t paid we had a lot of fun doing it.  We were ‘lucky’ enough to receive some pretty bad service which made it very clear on how not to treat their clients if you want return custom.  We also experienced some excellent sales staff and learnt some great techniques…and as an added bonus we came back with a few shopping bags!!

We had a fun Melbourne Cup day with a few of the other students wearing their best fascinators, and we ran a sweep for the cup. 

[demiinternational]

Diary of a Make Up Artist Student - Term 4 Week 5

Work experience at Halloween FestEvil, Aussie World, was a success!  We all worked well as a team and have been invited back next year – well done ladies!!  Photos attached of the consenting models shows some great examples of SPFX make-up – **not for the faint hearted!!  After recapping on our Aussie World efforts Monday morning we completed our SPFX (Special Effects) exam and presented our SPFX assignment. 

We moved onto all things hair – as Make-Up Artists we will quite often be required to work closely with a hair dresser so understanding and also having the ability work with hair is very important.  Not quite hair but we learnt about wigs and how to attach to the head.  We gained the skills to curl and straighten hair and the art of backcombing hair too.  We were wondering where these skills were leading us until we were presented with our next module on period hair and make-up.  Starting with the 1800’s we moved quickly on to each decade of the 1900s starting with the 1920’s with a bit of Pin curling.  Such a wonderful period and this week has been like a history lesson.  I look back over the past couple of weeks and think how broad and exciting this course is from fashion festival to Halloween adventures and now period make-up and hair – I now I picked the right school when deciding where to study Make-Up!

[demiinternational]

Diary of a Beauty Therapy Student - Term 4 Week 4

Time for us to put on our lab coats as we move onto Cosmetic Chemistry.  This module has had us delve into some basic chemistry.  We have learnt about atoms and atom bonding and an analogy or two was used to help us better understand this topic such as:

Charge attraction: Just like opposites can attract each other in the dating world, opposite charges attract each other in the chemistry world. In terms of subatomic particles, this means that electrons and protons attract each other.

In the dating world there are people you may be attracted to, there also people that you may think to yourself "no way" when considering the possibility of a romantic relationship with them. The same holds true in the chemistry world.  Positive charges repel other positive charges AND Negative charges repel other negative charges.

At times it can be a little dry so some of the teaching has been enhanced with the use of lollies and chocolate…YUM!

We also learnt about the stabilizers, emulsions, preservatives that are found in the cosmetics we use on a daily basis and how some brands use less of this stuff and more of the good stuff that benefits our skin.  The purpose of this module is to assist us to understand exactly what is in the products that we will be using in our industry.

The assignment for this module is a little different - we are required to make our own beauty product, i.e. lip balm, face mask, exfoliate etc.  With the information that we have gained from this module we need to consider the elements that enable different ingredients to bond, stabilize, preserve etc.  We are all very excited about our products in development, and keen to see what our classmates are going to come up with.