The skincare industry is booming, and estheticians are in demand. It’s a fun and rewarding career that lets you help people feel comfortable in their skin.
However, starting a new career takes some work. Becoming an esthetician requires a lot of research and preparation, including finding the right school.
Get the Right Education
Estheticians are beauty professionals that specialize in the face and body, providing cosmetic treatments and skin care advice. They work in various settings, including skincare salons and medical spas. Finding the right school for you is crucial if you want to become an esthetician. Many options are available, and you should choose a nationally accredited program that meets the minimum 800 hours required by the state to become a licensed esthetician.
The best esthetician schools will offer a mix of theory and practical application and teach you how to perform facials, makeup services, hair removal procedures, and other cosmetology techniques. These programs typically last about a year and include hands-on training on dummies and live models.
It’s also a good idea to look for a school that is approved to offer financial aid. This way, you can use federal student loans to pay for your education and earn money as soon as possible.
Get a License
One stage in how to become an esthetician is to apply for your state’s esthetician license after completing your education and passing all required examinations. Ensure you’ve researched and selected the best esthetician school because it’s a significant step.
Some schools have a high on-time program completion rate and offer career assistance services to help you find employment as soon as you graduate. These services will also help you build a portfolio attractive to potential clients.
Once you’ve obtained your license, you can work in beauty salons or medical spas, providing facials, body wraps, and other skin treatments. As an esthetician, you must be organized and able to provide excellent customer service to your clients. It means you should use a client management system to keep track of your appointments and send email/SMS reminders to your clients.
Build Your Clientele
Estheticians work with people from all walks of life and help them meet various needs. Whether providing comfort, confidence, or healing, esthetics is a gratifying career path.
To grow your clientele, start by getting listed on reputable online beauty directories and esthetician-specific social media accounts. You’ll also want to use marketing tools like email and SMS to keep clients engaged with your business. Ensure you have a fully-customizable esthetician website that includes your contact info, service menu, pricing menu, client reviews, gallery, blog, events/news (like business partnering up with another esthetician), etc.
It’s essential to be organized as an esthetician to provide a comfortable experience for your clients. That means having a clean workspace, organizing your tools and supplies, keeping up with appointment schedules and reminders, and staying on top of any changes to your services or products. You’ll also need to plan out the initial startup costs of your business, which include renting or purchasing a space, licensing fees in your area, necessary supplies and equipment, and a marketing budget.
Start Your Own Business
There is a lot of flexibility and earning potential when starting your business as an esthetician. Some estheticians start their businesses with established client relationships and a loyal customer base. In contrast, others take the time to build up their reputation and establish themselves in their community before they open their doors.
Once an esthetician has a good clientele, they can start charging higher service prices and make more money as independent business owners. Estheticians specializing in high-ticket services like waxing and makeup can often make six figures a year!
Estheticians must stay on top of modern marketing trends to grow their business. Email and SMS marketing tools can help them attract new clients, engage their existing clientele, and turn them into raving fans of their brand.
