Last Saturday was so busy at school. The school put coupons in a few of the local papers and people responded. One of my aunts was coming in for a facial first thing that morning. Thankfully she got there before the crowds! My aunt had never been to the school before, although she has had a facial before. I’d been bugging her since last November to come in and I’m glad she finally did.
When I started cleansing her face, she told me I had a very nice touch. I thought that was a nice compliment. Part of me also thought she was just being nice because I’m her niece. :)
When my aunt’s treatment was finished, I was told I had another client. It wasn’t this client’s first facial either, although it was her first one at the school. When I started cleansing her face, she also told me I had a very nice touch. I couldn’t believe twice in one day!
Recently, I met with a couple salon and spa owners to get some advice and do a little networking in person. One owner mentioned that, as part of the interview process, they have the prospective employee give the senior esthetician a facial. One of the things the senior esthetician pays attention to is the touch of the prospective esthetician. The other owner I met with mentioned that recently she had a prospective employee give another employee a facial and she, too, paid attention to her touch.
A student I go to school with had given me a facial once and when she applied the product, it felt like it was being slapped on. Not hard enough to hurt, but hard enough to make me jump a little. At the time, I remember wondering how it felt when I applied a product and made a mental note to pay attention to this the next time I gave a facial.
I had never really thought about that before and thought it was so weird (in a good way) to be told I have a nice touch by two different clients literally days after talking with the spa owners about that very thing.
We usually ask our clients if our pressure is okay, but what does having a nice touch actually mean? Does it have to do with not slapping on the product? Does it mean having a good rhythm and making sure all your movements flow? Is it your pressure? How important is having a nice touch?
July 17th, 2008 at 7:24 pm
Hi Sandra!
There is no greater compliment than that! Having a “great touch” to me, meanst that you have a gentle and calming technique. Touch is a very powerful thing! I remember when I was in school, there was one girl who was amazing and a few that lacked the gift of that “great touch.” To me, it was the best gift to know the difference between a great facial and an ok facial. The best advice I could ever give another esthetician is to remember everything you love from a great facial and make sure you do that times 10! Your clients will LOVE YOU and you will be successful! So, keep up the GREAT work!!!
; )
July 17th, 2008 at 8:37 pm
Sandra, Having a good touch is one of the most important aspects of being a good Esthetician. Many esthetic schools teach estheticians to use the flat side of their fingers to wipe products on but in our school (Bellanina Institute), we train to use the tips of the fingers and to cup and embrace the face when cleansing and massaging the face. Time and time again, we have learned that if you touch the face in a slapping or wiping or dabbing manner, it just doesn’t feel great. And feeling great makes a great skin care treatment. I suggest getting a tennis ball and practice rolling it in your hands and your touch will become “embracing” rather than wiping. There are so many subtle nuances to touching the face and a good esthetician can do a ballet on the face and put the client in a deep state of relaxation in moments.
August 4th, 2008 at 2:50 pm
Sienna: Until my two clients told me I had a nice touch, I was really unsure about it. I feel more confident now when I give a facial, but I still want to work on it and improve it. I definitely do pay attention to what I love when I get a facial and I’ll incorporate it when I’m giving one. Thanks!
August 4th, 2008 at 2:57 pm
Nina - Thanks for the tip about practicing with a tennis ball. I’ll try that.
August 28th, 2008 at 4:15 pm
Having a nice touch is a huge compliment! Congrats! Having a nice touch is in my opinion one of the most important traits of being an Esthetician. It’s how you connect with the client. Your touch should be able to put them at ease, relax, and show a client you are concerned about their well-being.
=)
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