All too often we see wonderful, eager cosmetology and esthetic students with dreams of being a self employed esthetician making hundreds of thousands of dollars by their second year in the business. It's a good dream but the timeline is wrong and unrealistic. There is a great career waiting for most estheticians out there but you have to understand the ground rules and know the difference between a door that leads to opportunity and a door that leads to quicksand. Here is a quick guide on what to expect when you graduate and move forward with your career.
I just graduated...now what?
Well, now the practice, learning and work truly begin. By now you probably have a good idea of what services you want to do and may have your eye on some advanced classes. Great! Keep in mind that the more services you do the more opportunity you have to make an income in the "slow" months. We recommend becoming great at three totally different services like:
Waxing - all body parts for men and women
Facials - all types and conditions of skin
Body Contouring - you don't need a shower for this
As you build clientele (and have a regular stream of income) you can specialize in one or two services but to grow your business you must offer a variety of services. With that in mind... don't try to learn too much. We see people that spend tons of money and time taking advanced classes in everything from eyelash extensions to microdermabrasion to spray tanning and they don't know how to do a good facial or a bikini wax. Start with the basics and practice until you are better than good...get great at it. There are a few ways to learn but the best is to go to to a hands-on class and work side by side with an experienced instructor. Unfortunately, anyone can make a DVD and claim they know what they are talking about. Do your research before purchasing a DVD and make sure the instructor on the video is well known, knowledgeable and works with a company that can provide answers to your questions. Here are the best ways to learn services after you have graduated:
Class with hands-on interaction with a reputable instructor
Class with lecture and demo
DVD/Video
Webinars
Tradeshows
After you have learned a new service, the next step is PRACTICE. Recruit your friends, neighbors, and family as guinea pigs and practice. Build your confidence and potential clientele list. Tell everyone close to you that you are in business.
You will soon find that learning how to do a great service is only half the battle. You need to learn how to talk with your clients, sell them products and rebook them for services. Sounds simple...right? Most estheticians who fail are business people who don't sell products and don't rebook their clients. If you can't sell products to your clients that help them maintain their beauty at home, between services, they will move on to another esthetician or worse...buy products from the drug store. Experiencing your services should be enjoyable and a valued part of the beauty ritual of every client you have. Rebook them before they leave your salon so they have the next service to look forward to.
What are the slow months?
If no one told you about the slow months then let me be the first to tell you that there are periods during the year, usually December, January and February that are typically slow. You will also have random periods that are unusually slow for no apparent reason. The estheticains who remain busy all year have multiple services to offer that keep clients coming back. A good example is: A client gets waxed 9 months of the year but during the winter lets the hair grow. Book her for a body wrap series to help her keep in shape and looking good during those winter holiday months.
What should my hours be? When should I be at the salon?
As much as possible. Let me rephrase that...as much as you possibly can! I will reiterate... ALL THE TIME! If you work part time you will be making part time money. We understand that many of you have to work another job to make ends meet while you build your clientele but at some point you have to jump in the water and learn to swim. Take a week off your other job and book that week with clients and get a little taste of what full time means.
How do I learn about running a small salon? How do I manage my records?
The short answer is invest in a company that will invest their time and knowledge with you. More specifically, call Eva's Esthetics and ask about the package that will get you personally trained by Lori Nestore. This one on one educational opportunity is available to everyone whether you work alone out of one room or in a spa with 50 employees. You will not only have the chance to sit with Lori to discuss services, sales and rebooking you will also see how Lori does it. As a successful business owner Lori has streamlined the learning process and wants you to benefit from her experience. She will tell you exactly what you are doing incorrectly and help you understand how to be efficient, profitable and successful.
Don't Give up on your dream of being a successful esthetician. The industry is big enough for everyone to be profitable, happy, and busy.
Contact Us
To get more information about the package listed above and Lori's mentoring program please contact us at 800-765-7597. We sell to licensed professionals only. If you are a retail customer visit us at http://www.tuelskincare.com/ for more information about our product line and to find a retailer near you. Ask your esthetician if they use Tu'eL Skin Care products and let them know you read this article.
Extraordinary Products for the Not-So-Ordinary Professional
Phone 510-382-0222 - Toll Free 800-765-7597
evasesthetics.com - info@evasesthetics.com
