Esthetician Secrets: Welcome to Our Learning Curve
Note to our readers outside the US: The following pertains to US schools and regulations for estheticians.
Here’s something most estheticians would rather you didn’t know: you are our learning curve. It’s not strictly a problem for estheticians – most service providers, nurses, doctors, massage therapists, etc, have to start somewhere, and learn on someone. But in those cases, the learning stage is catered to – we have ‘learning hospitals’, interns shadowing experts, schools offering discounted services from their students.
The problem for estheticians is the schism between what is taught at school and what is practiced in the field runs wide and deep. Schools teach the hygiene aspect of the job, or at least they do if they want their students to pass their state board. Besides a written test, (which if taken before 2003 is based on a terribly outdated book), estheticians take a practical, where they are watched by proctors to make sure hands are washed, utensils are sanitary, and there’s no double-dipping when applying makeup, etc. All essential, and all just a small portion of what her future job will entail.
At my school, a public vocational/trade school, the wax we used was cold sugar wax, something that is never used in the field due to its almost complete inability to strip hair. But it’s cold, there’s no risk of burning, and therefore reduces the risk of litigation. This is a huge disservice to both the esthetician whose job will almost always entail waxing, and the client, who will pay the price, literally and figuratively, for this lack of experience.
It’s a cold world out there for the new esthetician. If lucky enough to find a job, she’ll be shunted into a small windowless room and expected to appear the consummate professional to anyone who walks through the door. Any sense of doubt conveyed could lead to a complaint, and possibly, loss of employment. If the client asks her if she’s new, or is she’s waxed this area before, admitting the truth would be career sabotage.
This isn’t the case all the time, but it’s the case most of the time.
Schools differ, between public and private. Between one state and another requirements for an esthetician’s license differ as well. But the lack of support, and the lack of real-life experience before hitting the job market is a consistent complaint, regardless where the esthetician studied.
What can you do to make sure you get a qualified, experienced esthetician? First, take a look at our article on How To Find a Good Esthetician. Also, there are spas and clinics out there who take a lot of pride in their reputation and would not dare let an employee near you without the proper training. Burke Williams, for instance, requires their estheticians to undergo six weeks of training before they’re allowed to work on a client. Unfortunately, it’s unpaid training for the esthetician. Cold world.
