The Making of an Esthetician

Hi! My name is Sandra and I’m an esthetic student. I go part time and I’ve been in school for six months. I also work full-time as the assistant controller for Allured Publishing Corporation and I’ve been there for eight years.

This is my first blog and I’m really excited about it. I hope everyone will enjoy reading about my journey going to esthetics school as much as I will enjoy writing about it. Before I begin, I’d like to thank everyone at Skin Inc. magazine for giving me this opportunity. I think it’s a great idea and I hope to get lots of feedback, as well as help or encourage others just starting out in esthetic school.

So, first off, a little about myself. I just turned 43 last week, I’m engaged to be married (although a date still has not been set!), and I am switching careers mid-life. It was really scary to think about, but I’ve been going through a HUGE adjustment in my life already, so why not add another one? My mom passed away April 15, 2007, and I was feeling really lost and I needed a distraction and something positive to focus on. My mom’s death made me question a lot of things in my life and one of them was my job. I’ve worked in an office since I was 17 years old and, although I like accounting, I didn’t love it and I really wanted to love my job. I also didn’t want to look at it as just a job. I started to reflect on my life and remember the things I loved to do, and figure out how I could incorporate that into making a living for myself. The road that led me to esthetics is a long one and, while it would’ve been nice had I made this decision earlier in life, I certainly don’t regret what I did up to this point. I believe that each job you have is a stepping stone to something even better for yourself, and you never know where it’s going to take you. I certainly didn’t, and, although a lot of people were surprised when I told them about my career change, looking back, it does make sense.

From the time I was 7 until I was 16, I wanted to go to cosmetology school. I loved hair and makeup and I couldn’t wait to wear makeup. When I was 10 or 11, I would sneak off to school wearing my mom’s blue eyeshadow (it was the ’70s!). When I was a teenager, I practiced putting makeup on my friends and would style their hair. I even put makeup on my younger brother a couple of times and tried styling his hair! But when I was 16 and had the opportunity to go to cosmetology school, I turned it down. Why? Fear.

Science wasn’t my best subject and I had convinced myself that there was a lot of it in the book the school had given me and none of my friends were going and I didn’t want to go by myself. So even though that was it for my cosmetology career, my interest in hair and makeup never stopped.

From there I took office education in school and got a part-time job working in the accounting department for a large company. I was a senior in high school, taking my first accounting class, and going to my first “real” job. I went to school in the mornings and then went to work in the afternoons. The next 25 years found me working as a receptionist, secretary, bookkeeper, and finally, assistant controller. I got my associate’s degree in accounting in August 2004, and made the decision not to continue on with my accounting education. I didn’t like any of my accounting classes, and when I told people that, they would ask, “But don’t you do that for a living?” I told them that I liked my job, I just hated the classes. I like working at Allured and have learned so much and not just about accounting. Before I started working here I had never heard the word “esthetician.” I started reading Skin Inc. magazine each month, and I even worked two years at our Face & Body trade show in San Francisco. I also attended our America’s Expo trade show in Chicago every year but one. Working here really exposed me to the world of skin care and I loved it, but the thought of becoming an esthetician still hadn’t crossed my mind.

A couple of weeks after my mom died, I found myself looking online for makeup classes, but everything that came up in my searches had to do with becoming an esthetician. I still didn’t think about doing that, so I put makeup on the backburner. Colleen—my co-blogger, former co-worker and classmate—was getting ready to graduate from college and was talking about going to either cosmetology or esthetic school. We shared a cubicle wall, and during the next few months, talked a lot about it. Colleen checked out all the schools, and would then come back to work and tell me about them.

The more she talked about it, the more I started thinking about it. I put cosmetology out of my mind because of how long I would need to go to school and mostly because of the schedule. I wasn’t sure I could do four nights a week, plus Saturdays and work full time. I started thinking about esthetics and wondered if I could really do it, but I wasn’t sure about waxing … especially bikini waxing. Plus, I knew there was going to be science involved, and I never did well in that subject. Also, even though it had been three years since I graduated, it still seemed too soon to go back to school. But when Colleen went to check out the school we attend now and told me that their part-time schedule was two nights a week plus Saturdays for one year, I started thinking more seriously about it. And when she came to work one day and said she had made the decision to go to esthetic school, I told her I wanted to go, too.

So here I am, already halfway through school. I was so scared to start, but once I did, I loved it! It was such a good feeling to finally find what I wanted to do with my life. My family and friends even noticed how much happier I seemed. After a really rough year with my mom, it was nice to have something positive going on.

1. Maureen Vipperman
   April 23rd, 2008 at 1:03 pm

   What a inspirational story, It was the death of my own mother that lead me back into the wellness industry over 10 years ago. There is something very healing about the whole process of giving to others at a time in your life when you are grieving - that’s how most foundations begin. Good luck with everything - I am available if you have any questions.
   Maureen

2. Sandra
   May 2nd, 2008 at 2:49 pm

   Maureen: Thank you! It’s nice to know someone can relate to what I’ve been going through. And thanks for making yourself available for questions. I really appreciate that!

3. Susan C
   May 2nd, 2008 at 10:48 pm

   Wow, Sandra and Colleeen, your comments really struck a chord with me. I feel the same way about makeup/skincare. I am finally figuring out that you can make a career with this. How are you doing?? Are you glad you took the class? Would you do it again? I am considering it and want to know the real truth. Thank You
   Susan

4. amyest74
   May 3rd, 2008 at 6:13 pm

   Great story! I too switched careers, from 11+ years in Advertising to Esthetics! I have since been practicing Esthetics for about a year and I absolutely love what I do. The hardest adjustment for me was a very large pay cut!

   If anyone out there is considering a career switch to Esthetics, I say go for it! Its a great job but starting out can be tough as it is not the most lucrative!

5. Sandra
   May 6th, 2008 at 7:54 am

   Susan: I’ll be honest with you, I was very scared! A week before school started, I thought to myself “what am I doing?!!!” Taking yourself out of your comfort zone is not easy, but I knew it was something I had to do. And I’m doing really well, thank you for asking. I get good scores on all my tests, but it isn’t easy. It’s so much more than learning how to give a facial. You learn about more than just the skin, you learn about bones, muscles, and nerves. You learn about skin diseases, autoimmune diseases, ingredients, electricity, contraindications and so much more. If you are serious about this, I say go for it! I’m so glad I did it and yes, I would do it again! I’m already thinking about what advanced education classes I want to take once I graduate and get my license. Hope I’ve helped! Let me know what you decide to do.

6. Sandra
   May 6th, 2008 at 7:59 am

   amyest74: I have to say the pay cut at first is probably the only drawback to this and I’ve been thinking about what I want to do with this so that I can get a steady salary and some benefits. I’m not sure I want to work in a spa, but I don’t want to miss out on that experience either. Are you currently working in a spa? Since you’ve been doing this for a year, has it been hard to build your clientele?

7. Nicole
   May 17th, 2008 at 2:09 pm

   Hi Sandra. Can you tell me what school you and Colleen are currently attending? I have been looking at a school, but the hours are 4 nights a week, and all day Saturday, and I agree with working full time it is a lot. I like the idea of maybe going to school a little longer, but not having to go every night. Do you like the school you are attending, and where is it located? Thanks

8. Alexis, Aesthetician
   May 17th, 2008 at 2:10 pm

   Hi Sandra!
   You remind me very much of my mother! I had completed my esthetic training and was starting my first ‘real’ job when my mom decided to go back to cosmetology school. I was so so proud of her, it takes alot of courage at 50 to go back to school with 18 and 20 somethings. She ended up landing a scholarship and off she went into a whirlwind year.
   She graduated this past December and it made me cry! My mom and I have always shared a love of skin and makeup it was so nice to see her embrace it.
   She is now starting her first job as an Esthetician in a spa TODAY! I couldn’t be more proud of her.
   Good luck in your studies and beyond!!!

9. Sandra
   May 19th, 2008 at 8:47 pm

   Alexis: That’s so great that your mom went back to school! How was her first day at her new job? I wish you and your mom best of luck! Thanks!

10. Sandra
    May 19th, 2008 at 8:59 pm

    Nicole: I’m really sorry, but I can’t say the name of the school I go to, but I will tell you it’s in the Western Suburbs of Chicago. I know that a lot of the schools have a part-time schedule of 4 nights a week, plus Saturdays. The school I go to has a part-time schedule of 2 nights a week, plus Saturdays for one year. While I wish the school I go to was a little more structured, I do like it. Going 3 times a week for a year seems long, but it’s at a little bit slower pace, which is nice. If you live in this area, check out all the schools here - there are quite a few around.

11. Theresa, Owner/Esthetician - Romanik and Company Salon
    June 7th, 2008 at 11:59 am

    I just recieved my new magazine and saw your blog. I couldn’t help but to think how much you and I have in common.

    I had work for a corporation for almost 20 years and decided that I had had enough. At 42 I started skin school. I worked full time and went to school in the evenings. By the time the weekend came I was tired. I finished on my 43 birthday (my present to myself). I started working part time after work and found that I was missing out on a lot of clients. So a year after starting school, I quit my job and started skin care full time. I love it and two months ago bought a salon. I have never been happier. You will never regret your decision.

12. Sandra
    June 7th, 2008 at 5:40 pm

    Theresa: I’m so glad you can relate! It’s nice to know I’m not alone in this. How was it when you first started working full-time in skin care? How do you like owning your own salon? Keep in touch! Thanks!