How to choose an esthetician (aka Aesthetician, skin care therapist)?

When I was in high school and I had my first facial I didn't know what to expect. No one told me before what makes an esthetician good or bad and I didn't know that not all estheticians are the same. I had good and bad experience and now I can see it from both sides: as a client and as an esthetican.

First of all when you choose an esthetician you want to find someone who fits for your concerns and needs. One esthetician could be good for your friend, but not good for you.

The bad news is, you can't really be sure if she will be the right for you until you go in and experience any kind of service. Definitely a good point if she has a website, because you can get a picture of the salon and of her, you can see what kind of services and treatments she offers, what lines she carries and hopefully you can see the prices too. (I don't like spa websites without prices.) On this basis you can decide if you want to give it a try or not.

The fundamental question is what kind of service you want. The expectations are different depends on the service you want, eg. waxes, makeup, eye lash and brow tinting, or facial treatments.

Here in Montreal an esthetician has to do manicure-pedicure and as a European esthetician it was weird for me, because a nail technician course is completely different than an esthetician course. Facial and body treatments are very serious things and if an esthetician wants to be really good in that, she has to focus just on that. I've learned 2 years in the esthetician school just to be a facial and body expert. Other countries have different rules and regulations, so be aware about those things.

The esthetician should be well-groomed, her skin has to be nice (after all, nice, clear skin is an indicator of a good esthetician. With other words: her skin is her "advertisement") and her nails have to be short. With acrylic nails she can't work properly, because she can't really feel what she is doing.

She should be well informed about new treatments, breakthroughs, machines and all kind of latest trends in her field. (It doesn't mean she has to do them!) She should give you proper, advanced answers for your questions about nutrition, health, lifestyle, essential oils, etc.

When you book for an appointment find out what line she carries, what products she uses. This is the most important thing. She has to offer professional lines, not drug store products.

The relationship between a client and the esthetician is similar to a doctor-patient's relationship, ie. trust. This requires that the esthetician has to be friendly, kind and calm, so you can easily relax between her hands.

When you go to the salon, take a good look around: the place has to be clean and organized. If the place is dirty what can you expect? She works with sterile tools and equipment, so if the place is dirty I can assume her tools are dirty too. Not to mention if she is not organized and there is a mess, you can't relax.

Her punctuality (who wants to wait for an hour if you had an appointment? Different story if the previous client was late.), her clothing, and the room temperature (you have to take off your clothes, so the room has to be warm) may effect your choice too.

Other useful signs that you should look for:

• She has to wash her hands before she touches you
• Is she confident? Does she know what she is talking about?
• Does she listen to you? You don't want to feel she does the same things to you as on everybody else. Everything has to be customized to you and your skin type
• Do you feel you can trust her?
• Does she ask you about your lifestyle: what do you eat, do you smoke, what is your daily facial routine, what products do you use, etc? It's an important part, because these questions can lead her to the roots of your skin problem
• *Do you like the way as she touches you? Does she have cold hands? (It could be very bad feeling) Is she gentle? Does she touch you confidently?

*Some of my clients didn't want facial massage. When I asked them why, they said because they had a bad experience.

I had bad experience too, when the esthetician was too rough, too firm, she almost poked my eyes out, put the cream into my eyes, etc. It was terrible, but it doesn't mean that other esthetician will do the same and I found some who is good. Keep searching, keep trying.

You have to find the touch that works for you. I think the best is in the middle. Not too firm and not too gentle. If it's too gentle you can't feel anything, if it's too firm it could hurt you.

I personally like when she explains what she is doing. I always consult with my client before any kind of treatment.

Signs you should stay away.:

• Dirty place
• Not nice, warm welcome (greetings)
• You get the feeling that she is doing kind of a favor
• You can tell she is not enthusiastic
• She doesn't treat you right: you are just one of those client
• She doesn't focus on you
• She looks scruffy
• Cigarette smelling hands
• There is radio music instead of relaxing music
• Loud, noisy place
• Too much gossips
• Dirty tools, machines

An esthetician is a good listener and she is like a psychologist.

Don't forget: the esthetician is a human too with mistakes. She is not perfect.