I was excited to find out about this academy & their long menu of discounted services. I'm not one to get manicures often, maybe once or twice a year for special occasions. However, when I saw the amazing price of $15 (as of Aug 2025) for a gel polish, I called right away! Booking an appointment was super easy & they have day or evening spaces open. How convenient! The location is clean and inviting with plenty of parking and a bright open interior. I was greeted by the receptionist & soon called in by Karma, the student nail tech. She was quiet but professional and kind. Her instructor was nearby throughout the service. Other students were working on clients in the salon. The atmosphere was upbeat and relaxing. My nails are short and I wanted just a simple gel polish application. I got exactly what I came in for. Karma worked with my soft nails by adding builder gel. She did a lovely job and was impressed at her work. I might just need to start getting more manicures at this rate. read more

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I went there for a haircut and blow-dry. Before even combing my hair after she washed it twice, the hairdresser student started sectioning the hair off with hairclips, not to mention that she didn't even try to find my part. She did not know what the hell she was doing. She must have cut 1/2 inch off of my shoulder length hair. When I left, it did not even look like I had a haircut. This was the worst haircut I've ever had. What a disaster! read more

Scheduled a pedicure at this school. Had one of the best pedicures ever for $18 completed by a student! I highly recommend!!!!!

Had a wonderful experience today at International Academy. I had a pedicure and the result was beautiful. The class is under the professional direction of their instructor, Michelle, who lovingly watches over them. The nail salon was beautiful, modern and clean. I booked a manicure for next week. I highly recommend. Janet Smith, New Smyrna Beach read more

Wonderful customer service and an excellent experience. The instructors do a superb job educating the students. As the owner of a business myself, it's always appreciated when you take the time to leave a positive review. Unfortunately, in today's day and age some want to leave a review only if they've had what they feel is a "poor experience" without recognizing how damaging that can be or giving the business and opportunity to make it right. I would and do recommend this school to my friends and family. It's a pleasure to support the students as a part of this community. read more

I've had my hair cut and colored here twice this year and am pleased with the results. I brought a picture of the style i wanted The instructor makes rounds and observes .She also looks at the end result and may need to make a minor adjustment. read more

We get a massage here twice a month. They are students practicing so it's only $30 for a 50 minute massage. Most of the time, they are wonderful and relaxing. The students are well trained. Once in awhile, we will get someone who has a very light touch, but don't be afraid to ask for more pressure. Well worth the visit! read more

I went for a manicure and pedicure. I hadn't been there in forever and now I know why. First of all, I was there for 2 1/2 hours for a standard pedicure and manicure. No nail polish to remove at all. The pedicure was so-so. I didn't go with gel polish because by the time I need another pedicure, in about 4 weeks, the polish is still on. Not this one. I had the pedicure on Wednesday and by Saturday it was peeling off. The manicure was another story. I don't have long nails and I just wanted my nails filed up a bit and my cuticles cleaned up. That seem to take forever. But when it was time for the polish, which was not gel, to go on holy smokes. The girl kept having to take a brush with polish remover and get all the polish off my fingers. It was everywhere. Plus she put so many coats of polish on my fingers they felt heavy. Of course, there was no instructor around or if they were there they were talking, laughing and eating. When I left, I showed the receptionist my nails and she couldn't believe it. She said I was going to get a credit for the manicure but I'm never going back. I know they are learning but really this was awful plus 2 1/2 hours to polish my nails and my fingers!!! WOW!!! read more

Do not go here to get your services/ do not enroll for any classes!!! This school is fraudulent, 99% of the time the instructors do not even cross check the students work. I was enrolled in the school not for very long due to the fact they do not care about anything accept taking your money and if you're using financial aid don't put it past Mez "the owner" to unleash his financial hound to be sure to try and take all your money before you even get an education. There was no curriculum for the class they offered me, sent me through a bunch of rooms only for me to be extorted for other services and bribed with signatures to do services the other students didn't want to preform. I never received any education for my course I signed up for. Not to mention a teacher getting covid and the owner and Annette telling them to " keep quiet"- sending her home..not ever once closing down to clean or disinfect. Soon after a lot of students were hospitalized for covid. My teacher was gone over a month with COVID-19, and when I dropped the program and told Mez the owner why I asked for a partial refund due to me not getting proper education and there being no curriculum for the course I signed up for. I agreed to pay for my books but I did not want the time credited as I yet again received no education from this school only accrued more debt. Mez scoffed over the phone stating he would not do that because he would have to do it for everyone. Told me to come back so he could "make it right" I declined as I have a child I have to work the time I had for school was now up. This place ruined my passion for the thing I loved the most so much to the point I almost gave up my career. Please don't waste your time or money here. Home of the 5$ haircut you get what you pay for. And indeed I did not. DAYTONA STATE also offers wonderful services/courses!!! DO NOT GO TO INTERNATIONAL ACADEMY DO NOT GO TO INTERNATIONAL ACADEMY DO NOT GO TO INTERNATIONAL ACADEMY DO NOT GO TO INTERNATIONAL ACADEMY DO NOT GO TO INTERNATIONAL ACADEMY DO NOT GO TO INTERNATIONAL ACADEMY DO NOT GO TO INTERNATIONAL ACADEMY DO NOT GO TO INTERNATIONAL ACADEMY read more

Ok. To the people complaining about long wait times and not getting to have services done, please keep in that this is a SCHOOL. Most services don't allow appointments, so it is first come, first serve. However, some services in the school do require an appointment, which is why you might see people get walked back even though they came in after you did. Again, this is a SCHOOL. When students are just starting out, they will be slower, and possibly cant take that many people in the time they are there. So, when you walk in, please remember, there are usually no appointments, these are students, and students can make mistakes. That is why the prices are so low. For example: Full Sets, Overlays Acrylics or wraps with or without tips............ $12 Fingernail Repairs............................. $2 ea Shampoo Only.................................. $3 Haircuts: Men, Ladies & Children Include shampoo only, no style............ $5 Blow Dry, Wrap or Roller Set Style....... $10 Blow Dry or Wrap with Irons................ $15 Up Styles/Specialty Sets..................... $20 I would LOVE someone to show me a salon with those prices. So if you want to be seen and receive a service at a specific time, or think a student will butcher your hair/nails, etc., by all means, FIND AN ACTUAL SALON AND SET AN APPOINTMENT. These are students! They are trying to get an education. They don't get paid. The cost is for supplies. Be kind to them, and try to have sme understanding. read more

Hair Salon: I used to like coming here. Inexpensive, the instructor was on top of the students' work, results were always spot on. The only con always was the LONG wait and I previously experienced a time where I was sent home only to return the next morning because there were not enough students to do hair coloring. I received a discount the following morning which was polite (on this visit). Even after that horrible experience, I was satisfied with my hair! I left loving my hair at that time. Fast-forward to May 23, 2019, I come into the salon to receive a touch up on my balayage. I stated that instead of a touch up on balayage, I would like to just color the whole root blonde. I normally trust the instructor as she is always hands-on and checking the process so us clients receive exactly what we want. This time I did not provide a picture, I provided word by mouth and description. I guess they misunderstood me, but how clearer could I be? The student showed me a book of blonde tones and I picked the most natural one. My ends were already a natural ash blonde, but my roots were not. As a result, the tone of my roots is completely different and unblended with the rest of my hair. She also schmoozed me into paying "twelve extra dollars for a GREAT treatment and needed treatment for all blonde hair!". Not only that but was schmoozed into paying extra for a trim and texturizer to the hair. When I finally was done with the wash process after two trips to the slop sink, I noticed my roots were literally WHITE! An eighteen-year-old girl with WHITE hair! I wish I was overexaggerating. My hair does not look blonde, nor does it look natural or blended altogether. Usually, I am extremely enthusiastic about the results but today I was not. After taking 45 minutes to blow dry my hair and 30 minutes to straighten my hair (which I was charged extra for too but did not even want my hair styled or stated I wanted it styled!) I was ready to go. I tipped the student, paid the front counter $46 when it should have been $27, and left. I will never return to this school and have to go to a family friend tomorrow who is a hair stylist who will add dark highlights to my hair and in two weeks dye my hair back to dirty blonde altogether. Please pay the extra money and go to a professional salon. I never thought I'd be unhappy with my experiences here but today was the last straw. Not to mention you wait 45 minutes to get called, then 30 minutes for consultation and grabbing product, then 75 minutes for first application, 20 minutes under the heat lamp, 25 minutes washing in the slop sink, and double all of that if you need any toner or extra washing, then 45 minutes for blow-dry, and 30 minutes for straightening which you did not ask for! Haha. What a gimmick they have going on here. I will NEVER EVER return to this school and because of them feel embarrassed to leave my house tonight. They colored my hair so poorly. read more

International Academy - Literally ... my roots were dyed WHITE. - Vocational & Technical School Near Me - South Daytona, Florida

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I love the school and people gotta remember they are a school not a real salon! If you are looking for perfection go to the licensed stylist or if you can't wait go to the real salon and make an appointment or the walk in chain salon. Stop complaining! read more

Since I am a disabled senior citizen on a small fixed income, I figured I would try to help others who like myself may fall prey to the lure and cheap prices this so-called school offers, so after such a disappointing experience I decided to contact the administrator of the school, as to be expected she was not available. Spoke to supposedly the second person in command. Although at first she was attentive and appeared concerned she soon began trying to defend the indefensible bad behavior, rudeness and lack of respect of her student and her staff. I requested she look at her cameras which I am sure if she did, she probably erased the images rather than confront the truth. My sincere suggestion: Avoid this dump of a "school"! read more

My appointment was on time. My stylist was very good, friendly and professional. I asked for auburn color. My previous color was red/brown. I never used Keune hair products but decided to get a color touch up because the price was right. The instructor told the student which color formulation to use. When she applied to my hair my color was bright orange. She said it would look better when it was done. The red was going over gray roots. I told the instructor the last salon I went to used a brown for the roots and reddish brown all over. She told me she was an expert colorist. Guess what! She was wrong. I had a bright orange stripe about 2 inches wide on top of my head. The stylist told me to keep washing my hair, eventually it would fade. read more

Most of everyone reviewing this place poorly seem to forget it's a school. It's a first come first serve type deal, get there early you'll get out in an hour or less. Always have gotten pretty good haircuts for only $5. Theres students learning to do hair, don't expect it to be top notch professional grade work, but what do you expect they're learning. Everyone is friendly there. read more

A 3 hour wait for ... nothing. I had been going on/off since 2006 when I moved to the area. Walked in a half hour or so after opening in March on a weekday (one where they operate the full-day). Signed in, girl put up my ticket. After a two hour wait, seeing others who arrived after me go in, and not being given an update by the desk clerk I asked what was going on. She went to check on my ticket - said it was where it needed to be. Another half hour later, I asked when I could expect to receive services, approximately. She said she didn't know, the ticket was there but they just weren't doing anything with it. Another half hour later (totaling 3hrs. of waiting when there were so few when I arrived and other were still being brought back prior to me) I inquired again. Finally, someone who seemed like an instructor came up, asked if I could come back the next day as students were now going to be leaving for lunch and there were would be no one left on the afternoon shift who could do my particular service (highlights). I told her I could not return the next day and that I wished I had been informed that I would not/could not be seen at any point during the 3 hours. She said she'd see what she could do and left me sitting there. She did not return. 15 minutes later I left -- frozen from the A.C., with a sore back from their lousy reception chairs, and a grumbling stomach. I did win a lifetime achievement award for patience, however. Yay. Never again. Avoid if you value your time and being treated like you are a human being. read more

Super pro gals at reception, as good or better than at most salons. I got a French braid just for fun. (And $6.00) while waiting for a friend who was getting a haircut. Jarely was super pleasant , competent, and accommodating. I'd come back. read more

TWO HOURS to then be told she cannot receive services. My mother waited 2 hours to be told at the end that her hair couldn't be done. This angers me. Why does it take 2 hours to tell someone their hair cannot be done? I just called to speak to a manager and was transferred to the attendance office. This is unacceptable. My mother didn't want to say anything about this. This is very unprofessional and should be taken seriously. TWO HOURS!!! My mother is of Dominican descent. I'm not sure if her corse hair had anything to do with this or not. I don't like to pull the race card but it seems that all the students on this particular day were Caucasian. I can't say that has anything to do with it. But it makes NO sense of the 2 hour wait! Don't go here if you are looking for pin curls because apparently they will allow people to jump ahead of you in line and wait til last minute to tell you you cannot get serviced. Stay away from this place. read more

Great service! I have had haircuts and waxing and been pleased and happy with all. I brought a pic of what I wanted and she did exactly that. Supervisors are thorough and helpful. Staff are friendly. read more

I was in today to get a simple hair cut but was in there waiting for almost two and a half hours. There was people who came in way after I did and they were seen and out the door long before I was seen. There is no reason for this. I thought you took care of people on a first come first served basis. When I finally was called, after complaining, it only took twenty minutes to cut my hair and out the door. I have been coming to the academy since you opened in South Daytona and have never waiting this long. I am not happy with the service today. read more

I recently moved to the area and thought I would give IA a try. During the first four visits I had great experiences with reception, students and instructor, Miss Lisa. However, on this Friday visit I arrived at 10:15 am, signed in and sat down. 45 minutes later, I asked what my status was. I wasn't in a great hurry, just wondering. The receptionist went to the back and came back and said there are only three stylists who are busy with customers and no barbers. I told her it would have been courteous of her to inform me of that sooner. Her sarcastic reply was, "Thanks for telling me how to do my job." Well, somebody should. If customer interaction isn't a part of IA's curriculum, it should be. This receptionist should not be interacting with the public. She should be in the back sweeping floors and cleaning used combs. All my previous experiences have been positive and I enjoyed interacting with Miss Lisa and giving the student live hair cutting experiences. Unfortunately, I will not return. There are many other options available out there, I don't need to be treated like this. Get rid of this receptionist, she's killing your repeat business. read more

Worst place ever. Zero customer service and extremely unprofessional. Rip Off. Stay far away. Horrible experience.