Master Esthetic Seattle
I had a chance to meet up with a number of medical spas on how they are going to adjust for the new esthetic laws. Of the handful that I spoke to, many indicated they were going to help their current estheticians get grandfathered. How about for new estheticians that will apply in 2014?
In addition to a master’s esthetic license, what else are they going to be looking for? They shared some things that were to be expected and others that were not as traditional.
Expected areas include; greater understanding laser, light, energy and radio frequency, medical rules, laws and terminology, HIPPA, stronger understanding of skin analysis, IPL facial rejuvenation, Laser Hair Removal Treatment, LEDs, PDT, Microdermabrasion, Micro current Technology, Dermaplaning, Skin Needling,etc.
One owner reminded me that the technical skills are only about 30 percent of the decisions. She shared, “Frank, we want your students to have an understanding, but we’ll need to train them to get them up to speed on what our philosophies are.
What is truly important is that they are coachable. That’s one thing we appreciate about your students is that we know in your culture, they have to be coachable.” In addition to that, business skills, working with medical personalities, selling a treatment plan so patients take your recommendation, etc. are areas that are not as easy to distinguish on a transcript.
My follow up question is “if it doesn’t show on a transcript, how can you tell?”
So my question to you; “What do you think she told me?” I’d love to hear your thoughts; please write them below 🙂
Evergreen Beauty College offers esthetics and cosmetology programs. Contact us for more information.
Interesting comment that spa owner made to you, Frank!
I’m not sure I get what exactly she meant with her reference to ‘your culture’, but I’m pretty sure in some organizations, that might be cause to get the HR department involved:)
Also … technical skills only 30%? … Really??
I think that that this particular spa owner (and hopefully not all of them) is much more interested in hiring and training a sales staff that can sell packages of services, rather than a skilled and trained esthetician that provides a quality service!
Just sayin … 🙂
Thanks for the reply Maddie 🙂 I had to chuckle at your comment regarding culture and getting HR involved … I am sure the spa owner was referencing to ‘organizational culture’ than any other culture 🙂
I just got back from the American Association of Cosmetology Schools conference where I had a chance to meet with Ella Stimpson, the Chairman of International Spa Association. She also serves as the Executive Director of both the Encore and Wynn Spas in Las Vegas. I always ask spa owners and industry leader what they see as the most critical areas for Estheticians to grow stronger. You know what she shared? The ability establish relationships, being a team player, etc. I asked her where technical skills came in and she said it was secondary. Estheticians need to have fundamental understanding and exposure, but she can teach, coach and refine that, and always does through her onboarding process and training.
She said there are three areas that make a successful esthetician in her organization:
1. Ability to connect with the guest
2. Ability to help the guest get results
3. Retail
I did ask her, technically, what do estheticians need to be strong in for her consider them. She said immediately, ‘waxing.’ 🙂
I agree with you that estheticians need to skilled and trained to get results, but according to my interviews with most spa owners and directors, that wasn’t their leading criteria.
Thank you for taking time to read my blog. I truly appreciate your thoughts and comments.
My pleasure, Frank!
I spent 25 years in the beauty industry doing hair and I have to say that I do agree with the ‘people skills’ criteria … I can remember a few colleagues that fell a bit short in the skills department, but had huge followings because the those stylists had great personalities and the ability to make people feel good.
But I also remember that being pressured to push retail on my clients made me feel a bit disingenuous at times.
I’ve always been a fan of the ‘soft, benefits oriented’ sales approach 🙂
Take Care!
Maddie, I think that is one of the biggest challenges to retail is the ‘pressure of it’ When we talk about it in the classroom, I know that the students are afraid of coming off disingenuous, or making people feel pressured, or coming off sales-y (if that is a word). What I try to help our students understand is that we are here to help our guests, and if they can use the product or would benefit from it, we need to let them know. It’s really not about the service provider, but it’s about our guest. We carry good products and if we truly are good at what we do, our guest will see the benefits of using a professional product to extend their experience. If they don’t need it or can’t benefit from it, then don’t recommend it. Integrity is critical to our industry and we need to maintain it.
Hope our roads will cross 🙂
Very well said, Frank 🙂
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