The Making of an Esthetician

A woman I used to work with came in today for some waxing and a facial. I waxed her eyebrows, lip and chin. The eyebrows went really well–she just needed a cleanup–and I followed the protocol this time! The lip started out okay, but I didn’t do good on the middle part. The chin was terrible! I know what I did wrong though. I put the wax on too thick and the pulls were terrible! I felt so bad that I tortured her, but her exact words to me were, “I’m a tough old bird.” :) I’ve never waxed a chin before and it’s a really awkward spot. A few of the pulls were perfect, but as I got toward the end, it got terrible again because I didn’t thin out the wax. I thought I was getting better at waxing, but I think I’m just getting better at waxing eyebrows because I’ve done them more. Although I don’t know if I should say “better;”I think I’m just getting used to doing them now. I know that I have to keep practicing. It’s just really frustrating.

Afterward, I did an anti-aging facial on her and, in the middle of the facial, I realize that she’s supposed to avoid heat and exfoliation for about 24 hours after waxing. So what am I doing during the facial? Using hot towels on her face to remove the products and exfoliating. I was so mad at myself because I could’ve used esthetic wipes to remove the products and I could’ve avoided the waxed areas when I applied the exfoliating product. Or, better yet, I could’ve just given her a spa facial or a basic facial, and saved the anti-aging facial for another time.I know I shouldn’t be too hard on myself because I am still in school and I’m learning, but I feel bad and these are things I should know. In one of Colleen’s entries, she talked about skin care being more than just a facial, and it’s true. There is so much to know. There are contraindications with everything that we do, and we need to know them. We need to know about allergies and skin sensitivities and diseases. I need to really pay attention to what I’m doing. I could cause injury to someone and that really scares me.

1. clarice
   April 25th, 2008 at 5:29 pm

   Always remember to place pressure after each pull; it helps with the pain. Also, have them breath in as you pull.

2. Sandra
   May 5th, 2008 at 11:59 am

   Clarice: Yes, I definitely always place pressure after each pull. That is very important and I know first hand how much more it hurts when it doesn’t happen! I had my lip waxed once by a fellow student who didn’t apply pressure afterwards. It hurt so bad! I did not know about having the client breath in as I pull. That sounds like a very good idea and I’ll try that the next time I wax. Thanks!