The beauty industry is a minefield of career opportunities. Do you want to know why? The answer is quite simple. People like to look good. Think about your typical routine when getting ready to leave the house. You make sure your clothes look good. A touch of makeup and beauty accessories completes the ensemble.
Yet, it doesn't stop there. The hair, nails, and everything else must be on point. And, let's not forget the touch of fragrance to keep you smelling fantastic the whole day.
If you isolate each aspect, you
contribute to the beauty industry in a significant way. Your hair looks like it
does because of your hairdresser. The clothes choice and accessories are thanks
to a designer somewhere.
Your glowing skin is due to routine
visits to the skin care specialist or esthetician. We will discuss the role of
professional estheticians. We will also inform you how to get a share of this
industry that experts predict will generate $177 billion by 2025.
What Is An Esthetician?
You go to your favorite spa for a day of
self-pampering. The receptionist assigns one specialist to take care of all
your skin needs. This expert is what the beauty industry calls an esthetician.
If you ask for qualifications, you will
see the specialist has the relevant certification. Beyond that, she has
licensing to practice in your state. That empowers her to advise, educate and
treat any skin-related issues.
Yet, their role extends beyond simple
beautification. The esthetician also focuses on the health and wellness of
clients. They can, for example, assess the skin and recommend a custom skincare
routine. And it will be specific to your skincare concerns.
The professionals must have a deep
understanding of the best products to use. The aim is to achieve flawless,
healthy skin.
So what is the difference between a
cosmetologist and an esthetician? A cosmetologist may offer skin care services.
But their range is broader, including nails, hair, makeup, and much more.
The esthetician focuses on skin care.
Indeed, it is a subset or area of specialization in cosmetology.
Steps to Becoming an Esthetician
The esthetician field is quite
fascinating, but you need proper training. First, you must enroll in a
cosmetology school and complete a specific number of hours. Please note this
will depend on the state.
On average it ranges from 600 hours of
practice, but in some, like Pennsylvania is only 300 hours. A Florida
esthetician license requires at least 250 hours.
So, how long does it take to become an
esthetician? Well, many programs will take five or six months.
You must also sit for practical and
written exams to get the license. To study and prepare for the exam, use the
online esthetic practice test. It takes question
samples from the previous year's esthetic state board exams. You will love the
resource because it gives you a pretty good idea of what you can expect in the
exams.
Education and training do not stop after
licensing. Students must complete post-graduate education training hours.
You will appreciate this because the
industry is vibrant and ever-evolving. It helps to keep up with the latest
trends, scientific breakthroughs, and products.
Soft Skill Requirements of Estheticians
What we have discussed above on training
are hard skills. You can learn this in a classroom or in on-job training. But,
you also need soft skills to excel in the field. And it comes down to your
innate individual or personal traits.
- Remember, your daily job involves constant interaction with people. That means you should be a good communicator with active listening abilities.
- Attention
to detail is also critical. You are dealing with a
sensitive, fragile part of the human body. What you do can impact the lives of
your clients positively or negatively.
- How you interact and receive feedback is also critical. Every client who walks in has their personality. You may have that patient, calm one in your chair. The next appointment could be the exact opposite. It is crucial to handle your clients with grace and understanding at all times.
So what happens if you don't have the
soft skills necessary to become an esthetician? Don't give up on this career
choice. It is possible to work on your interpersonal or soft skills.
Self-improvement courses are available both online and offline.
Also, take conscious steps to learn to
react calmly. Take a deep breath before responding. Count backward from 10 to
zero if you start to feel the agitation. Live by the mantra, 10% is what
happens, 90% is how you react.
Medical Estheticians; Who Are They?
A general esthetician performs routine
treatments. You go to them for hair removal, toning, cleansing, or massage.
To become a medical esthetician, you must
expand your training. You will and can continue to provide the essential
services of general estheticians. But your service offering will become
broader.
The training will equip you with the
skills to work with medical experts. Expect to specialize in dermatology, laser
procedures, plastic surgery, and skin trauma. You will also administer chemical
peels, skin therapy, microdermabrasion, etc. You can find medical estheticians
in hospitals, medical spas, and plastic surgery offices.
So what does it take to become a medical
esthetician? Well, you must complete the certification and licensing
requirements of general estheticians. After that, you will enroll in
specialized courses targeting medical skin care. Thus, you can decide to go
deeper into skin trauma, laser treatments, or any other area of interest.
Please note that medical estheticians,
despite the word medical, do not have any formal medical training. They only
work closely with those in the field. That means they cannot prescribe
medication or perform medical procedures. They, however, do assist with the
procedures.
Esthetician Scope of Work
By now, you have a pretty good idea of
what estheticians do. We can summarize their scope of work or service offering
as follows:-
- Chemical peels using special acids to exfoliate the skin.
- The microdermabrasion incorporates skin sanding to expose the inner layer. It is a fantastic treatment for sun damage, discoloration, stretch marks, and scarring.
- Facials cover deep cleansing, steaming, exfoliation, moisturizing, and mask applications. Blackhead extractions and skin cleansing to remove blockages and oil from pores.
- Acne treatment through exfoliation or using the right products.
- Scrubs, masks, and body wrap on the entire body.
- Hair removal and waxing, to name a few.
Final Thoughts
Estheticians offer an invaluable service
when it comes to skincare. Further, it is a fantastic, lucrative area to go
into as a career choice. Our article has shared all the salient points you need
to know about the fascinating field.