There are two reasons why people get facials; to get amazing results they can’t get at home, and to relax. If you as the esthetician can deliver both, your clients will keep coming back to you! However, it can seem a bit overwhelming to know which products to use, the correct massage techniques, what treatments to use, are there going to be side effects, ect… Here are five sure fire tips to give the perfect facial every time.

ALWAYS DO A THOROUGH CONSULTATION

This may seem like common sense, but you would not believe how many skin care specialists ask a few basic questions and get right into the treatment. TAKE YOUR TIME! Always ask the client if this is their first facial, if it is always be extra cautious. If they have had a facial before, ask them what they liked and disliked about their last facial. There is probably a reason why they have left their old esthetician and are visiting you. Find out what their past esthetician did that they didn’t like, this enables you not to make the same mistake. During your consultation make sure and really listen to your client. For example, if your client says they have sensitive skin, ask them what reactions they’ve had. You want to thoroughly understand the client’s skin issues and needs. As I stated before, this takes a little bit of time, but this extra attention to detail will make your client feel heard and more comfortable.

APPLICATION ORDER

Phew! This topic can be overwhelming!! There are an infinite number of products promising to bring amazing results, but where do you start? The first thing you want to remember is the order in which to put all the products. For this refer to my chart, Basic Facial Routine. This chart gives you the order of the products that should be used in a deep cleansing facial (the basic facial.) Basically, you start with a rinse, then a cleanser, another rinse, this is where you can do a double cleanse and use a scrub cleanser and lastly rinse again. During the cleansing process you will be using the steamer. The steamer opens up the pores to accept the treatments. You also can add a hot towel after the second cleanse. Hot towels help wash off the rest of the scrub. Apart from their practical use, the hot towels feel amazing! Your clients will love them, just remember to always do a test on your wrists with the hot towels, you don’t want to burn your clients with them. After you finish the cleansing process, you can do a facial massage, then this is where you can put a mask on them. Once the mask is finished, you will apply a toner, moisturizer and finally the SPF. Remember this is the basic facial, however, you memorize these basic steps, you can add different masks and facial tools to your facial.

FACIAL TOOLS

This is another category that could have its own separate blog. I’m going to briefly cover this topic. There are an infinite amount of facial tools. Some of these require separate licensing to use. Make sure you investigate each tool to see what your state requires as far as usage of these tools. Some tools I use are microdermabrasion and the high frequency wand. Using these tools is a great way to get noticeable results during the session. When you use one of these machines, make sure you do your research, because these machines can have side effects on certain skin types. This goes back to what I said before, that you need to have a thorough consultation with your client to understand what kind skin you are dealing with. I also don’t necessarily recommend using these tools on the first visit. I always try the basic facial on the client’s skin first and see how their skin reacts to each of the treatments. If you do use one of these facial machines on the first treatment, make sure and use the lowest settings. A negative skin reaction, is one sure way to loose a client.

THE CLIENT EXPERIENCE

This can not be emphasized enough. Your client’s experience from the time of booking to when they first step foot in your door. When I say everything, I mean everything. You want to pay attention to every detail. Make sure your salon is in pristine condition, cleanliness is so important. Another thing to think about is the smell. You want there to be an agreeable smell, but you also don’t want it to be too overwhelming for the new client. All of these little things allow the client to relax and enjoy their time in your salon.

If you are just starting out, don’t let this overwhelm you. Everyone must find their own rhythm. Continue to educate yourself, and don’t be afraid to ask others what you can improve on. All of these things will help you to continue to grow your business and bring in new clients.