The Making of an Esthetician

Sandra and I covered the front desk at school today while the girl whose desk day it was ate her lunch. We were really busy with clients. I recognized a woman who walked in; I had had her as a client the week before. She was an incredibly sweet woman who was really into skin care and really appreciated the facial I gave her. Our personalities really clicked and I enjoyed chatting with her throughout the treatment. My goal is to get my clients to return and request me.

She came in and was not requesting anyone in particular, but, as it turns out, the girl in my class who was supposed to get her because she was next up for a client said I could take her if I wanted. And there you have it: a return client. Kind of. And the woman told me that she was actually really happy to have me do her facial again because then I would start to get more familiar with her skin, and we could really work at accomplishing all of her skin care needs.

While giving her the treatment, we got to talking about a friend of hers who went to school for esthetics. She was telling me how her friend was a very nice person, but she was the kind of person who was given everything and was very well-off and found that she wasn’t really into the service industry. I totally understood what she was saying and it made me think a lot about my career choice.

I love making people feel good and putting them at ease while giving them a relaxing treatment. It’s always made me happy to see others happy. What I really enjoy about this particular client is that after almost every step of the facial, she thanks me. Though it catches me off guard because I am not used to my clients saying this, it’s so nice and I can tell she really loves it. When we finished, she said thank you again and she always uses my name and tells me that I pamper her and spoil her. If only all clients could be as great as she is! Something I always tell myself while giving a treatment is “Treat others as you would like to be treated.” This applies to how you talk with them, but also—and more importantly—how you are touching and interacting with their skin. I think about when I am taking care of my own skin at home, and when I think I am not using enough pressure, I think of how much pressure we use on ourselves and I realize that others can probably handle more than I think.

1. Anne O'Brien, Owner-Aesthetician - Healing Partners Day Spa
   May 1st, 2008 at 4:28 pm

   After 22 years in the business I have learned that silence (during treatments) is golden. The number one complaint clients tell me about their former aesthetician is that they talked all through the facial. Clients relax more when not talking, you can concentrate more, and everyone is happy.

2. Dawn Briggs, owner/esthetician - SKIN wellness and pampering center
   May 2nd, 2008 at 10:03 pm

   I like the idea that you converse with your client as long as she starts the conversation, but as Anne said, silence is golden. Your client will give you hints as to when they want to talk and when they want to relax. Learn to recognise them… good luck with this career, its a great one.

3. Colleen
   May 5th, 2008 at 7:52 am

   Anne and Dawn - I could not agree more! I would much rather be quiet while doing a treatment. I am learning when my clients want to chat and when they don’t want to chat. And of course if they choose to talk, I will as well - but like you said, this is time for them to relax and I want to make sure that happens! Thank you for the comments.

4. Svetlana
   May 11th, 2008 at 9:45 pm

   Silence is good at the massage part, but skin analysis and extraction need to be commented for your client’s best benefit and for the success of retail. Ask questions in kind and professional manner. Listen. Suggest.