The primary responsibility of an aesthetician is to apply skin care treatments and provide home skin care instructions. People with this training are most often found in spas and salons, but they can also be found in medical offices and clinics. The setting affects a lot of the work you do on a daily basis. Clients frequently seek purely cosmetic treatments, such as skin peels and microderm abrasions, at spas to make their skin look more refreshed and youthful. Professionals in these settings typically spend the majority of their time listening to their clients’ needs and administering appropriate treatments. This type of training is also required for medically necessary plastic surgery and skin restoration, and this type of work focuses on the treatments patients require to stay healthy, rather than just what they can do to look their best. People in both settings are frequently tasked with counseling clients and patients about skin care and general maintenance, as well as administrative and filing work.
Getting a General Understanding of the Field
A beauty consultant who focuses primarily on the skin and face is known as an aesthetician. Meeting with clients, determining goals, and making recommendations about different soaks, creams, or scrubs that could be used are some of the most common tasks. Hair removal is sometimes a concern for these professionals, and they can do things like apply lasers to unwanted hair on the face and neck, or thread brows for a more contoured look. A lot is determined the environment and the client.
Treatments for the Skin
One of the first things a person working in this field should learn about different skin types in order to apply the proper skin treatments and products. Professionals often have to cater to a wide range of clients, including those with sensitive, dry, oily, or combination skin. When working with a new client, a basic skin consultation is usually performed, which involves the use of equipment such as a magnifying lamp to get a glimpse of the skin’s overall appearance and condition. Professionals will then suggest the best skin care regimen and products for you. Other common responsibilities include massaging the face to relax the muscles.
Getting Rid of Hair
It’s also crucial to be aware of the most popular hair removal methods. Many people in this field use waxing, which is the application of hot wax to the skin that is then quickly ripped away to remove hair follicles from the root up, in addition to lasers and threading. It takes some practice to get the right technique, and paying attention to the client’s skin needs is also important; people with sensitive skin or allergies frequently have bad reactions to wax, and it’s the technician’s job to help prevent or treat these issues.
Instructing others
In addition to performing treatments, professionals frequently provide clients with tips and advice. He or she may, for example, demonstrate proper face and body cleaning techniques or instruct on how to use chemical peels or treatment masks at home in between salon visits. Finding and applying the right makeup, as well as teaching clients how to use skin, nail, and hair care tools, are all common recommendations.
In Medical Environments
In a medical setting, an aesthetician assists a dermatologist or plastic surgeon in the treatment of a patient with a skin injury or deformity. He or she may also perform medical peels, microdermabrasions, or facials, as well as laser skin rejuvenation and laser hair removal, to help restore the skin before and after surgery. The professional may be tasked with administering prescription skin care treatments or medications on occasion, but only under the supervision of a licensed healthcare provider.
Administrative responsibilities
It’s not uncommon for people with aesthetics training to also be in charge of administrative and business tasks. Excellent customer service skills are required, and the job frequently entails tracking client needs and providing appropriate services. Additional administrative responsibilities include scheduling appointments, conducting business transactions, keeping track of supplies and equipment, and selling cosmetics and skin care products.