The Pyramid Beauty School is a popular choice for individuals interested to build a career in cosmetology. Their mission is to provide accessible and affordable high-quality education in wellness and skin care therapy.

We’re impressed that although they’re a relatively new institution, only having been established in 2013, The Pyramid Beauty School was able to build a strong reputation not just locally, but internationally as well.

The Pyramid Beauty School is accredited by Services Sector Education and Training Authority (SSETA) as well as ITEC, an international examination board. Take note, though, that the ITEC Examination proper is not covered by the tuition fees.

It’s a plus for us that they offer both full-time and part-time courses, giving students the freedom to choose based on their schedule and interest. 

Full-time courses take a year to complete and concentrate on beauty technology, body and spa therapy, and advanced aesthetics. The part-time courses, on the other hand, are more focused on specific practices like Swedish massage and hot stone massage.

The short courses are usually just five sessions, held once a week.

Another feature we like about this school is its complete and updated equipment. Students appreciate The Pyramid Beauty School’s well-kept and furnished facilities that contribute to a good learning environment.

The Pyramid Beauty School’s annual tuition fee ranges from R 25,000 to R 45,000, depending on which course you’re going to take. Similarly, part-time courses are priced from R 2,500 to  R 8,000, which we think is reasonable.

Unfortunately, the school does not offer any discounts and requires a straight payment even for their full-time courses, which is a hefty amount of money for many.

Lastly, there are several complaints about some of the instructors’ poor attitudes. We’re disappointed to hear that some students encountered dismissive and rude mentors.

SA College of Beauty, Hair & Health is a training centre established in 1994. Initially, they only offered beauty courses but then decided to expand their curricula and added hairdressing and health programmes.

Just recently, they underwent a change of management and decided to focus on improving their services. Currently, they’re one of the leading cosmetic academies in Joburg, which we find impressive. 

We also like that they put great value on credibility. SA College of Beauty, Hair & Health is accredited by the Institute of Training and Education for Capacity-building (ITEC), and the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO).

They’re also recognised by the South African Association of Health and Skincare Professionals (SAAHSP), and the Sector Education and Training Authority (SETA).

They offer full qualifications for barbering, beauty specialist training, body therapy, and hairdressing. In addition, SA College of Beauty, Hair & Health also offers modular certificate courses for several cosmetic and wellness focus points.

One thing we like about this school is they implement their courses in a small, focused and relaxed setting, allowing instructors and students to interact with each other. We also commend the school’s lecturers for their professionalism and apparent expertise.

Students love how their classes are beginner-friendly and personalised. Moreover, they prefer the SA College of Beauty, Hair & Health over other massage and beauty schools for its affordable courses.

Nonetheless, there are several complaints from previous students regarding the delayed processing and late release of their hard-earned certificates. 

Many of the students appealed to the school’s administration however, its representatives aren’t very eager to accommodate enquiries and grievances, which is disheartening.

Nailcity Training Academy is one of the top performing beauty academies in the area. Despite what the name implies, the school actually offers a broad range of beauty courses in health and skin care therapy, body therapy, reflexology and nail technology.

One of the reasons why we included this school on our list is its solid track record. Nailcity Training Academy has over 16 years of experience in the industry.

Also, they’re internationally accredited by the International Esthetiques and Cosmetology Accreditation Board (IECAB), an independent international awarding body.

One of our favourite features of this beauty academy is its small and interactive classes. Nailcity Training Academy makes sure that the class size for each course is very small, no bigger than four students at a time.

Their courses are very short, usually just running for one to six days.

This is to ensure that each student is given equal and first-hand attention by the lecturers. Also, the instructors exert an effort to arrange courses according to students’ needs, which we commend.

Another thing we love about Nailcity Training Academy is its very cheap course rates. It’s amazing that their beauty courses only cost R 350.

Take note, though, that the tuition fees do not include the cost of an accredited IECAB certificate. If you’re interested, be prepared to spend around R 1000 for the certification.

Hydro International College is a highly-regarded premium cosmetology and wellness institute in Edenvale. They’re a well-founded teaching institute that has over 30 years’ worth of experience.

They’re a popular choice primarily because of their complete and high-end academy facilities. Students appreciate how the rooms are spacious and furnished with updated equipment and products.

It’s also a plus for us that Hydro International College is accredited by several national and international organisations including the SAAHSP (South African Association of Health and Skincare Professionals), ITEC, and CIDESCO International.

Another thing we like is that Hydro International College offers both full and short courses for beauty and body therapy. 

Their full-time massage therapy programme that runs for six months covers several massage techniques, including Swedish body massage, Indian Head massage, infant massage, and others. 

Part-time programmes, on the other hand, focus on one specific type of massage per course. 

Another one of Hydro International College’s strongest assets is its reasonable pricing for tuition rates. A full-time and part-time course in massage therapy costs about R 2500-3000 per month, which we think is a good deal considering the quality.

Nonetheless, there are a handful of concerns from previous students about some of the instructors at Hydro International College. Some students complain that a few of the instructors seem disinterested and unaware of the course syllabus.

On top of that, there are some reports of racism and poor student treatment, which we don’t condone. We hope Hydro International College’s administration addresses this issue and trains its personnel to provide a safe and nurturing environment for students.

Mangako Beauty & Health Spa is quite popular for its wellness centre, but unbeknownst to some, they also provide several courses in beauty therapy, caregiving, and baking. 

We like that they offer an extensive list of beauty courses specialising in body and facial aesthetics, nail technology, massages, and facial therapy. 

We included Mangako Beauty & Health Spa Academy in our list primarily because we admire their mission to make exceptional cosmetic and wellness education accessible to the public through very affordable courses and programmes.

Often, they even offer discounts on tuition fees for selected courses. So we suggest you visit their website before enrolment starts to catch a great deal.

Their beauty course, which covers facial waxing, nail technology, and massages, is priced at R 7500, which is awesome. Students also appreciate how the programmes are well-designed and truly helpful in helping them start their careers.

It’s also a plus for us that Mangako Beauty & Health Spa is well-staffed with qualified and seasoned instructors that are very hands-on in assisting their students.

Our only issue with this school is they can be difficult to reach at times. Some students grumble that the school’s lines are often unattended, which is an inconvenience.

Moreover, there are also complaints about the poor behaviour of some of the school’s personnel. We’re disappointed to hear that some students dealt with rude and unprofessional admin staff who were of no help to their concerns.