Treatment Clients in Different States

Have you ever given someone a triple oxygen facial? Have you ever done a brazilian wax right before a client leaves for her exotic vacation? If so, you’re probably an esthetician (or #beautyboss). From facials to microdermabrasion to chemical peels, today, we’ll discuss all of the treatments available in the market to make your client’s skin softer, their eyebrows thinner, and their extensions even more fab.

I write this article because I was curious about which treatments clients in different states love most. 

Does a client’s skin and hair treatment preferences shift based on where they live?

Curious to know the answers, we analyzed data from tens of thousands of Estheticians who are using PocketSuite to schedule and collect payment from hundreds of thousands of beauty clients.

After analyzing this Esthetician data, we created the map above to answer the question – we hope you’ll join us as we nerd out on some Beauty Industry statistics!

(Psst.. If you’re new to the PocketSuite blog, we’ve also written a lot on the topic of How to Market your Esthetician Business on Instagram, How to Get your Esthetician License, and How to Get More Clients for your Esthetician Business on Yelp.)

Today, we’ll discuss some common trends in the beauty industry as well as share the most popular skincare services for estheticians by state based on PocketSuite client booking data.

But first… what’s been going on in the beauty industry as a whole?

THE BEAUTY INDUSTRY

‘Skincare Specialists’ is the technical term used to describe Estheticians and Beauticians by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

The beauty industry is popular and growing fast – the employment of Skincare Specialists is projected to grow 14 percent from 2016 to 2026.

The beauty industry is growing and expected to reach $180 Billion by 2024. 

With all of these positive growth indicators, plus the unemployment rate being at a low 2.2% (prior to Covid-19) for Estheticians, it makes sense to commit to this field if you’re just starting out in your career.

WHAT DO ESTHETICIANS DO?

The BLS defines the job description as “cleansing and beautifying the face and body to enhance a person’s appearance.”

Common terms for Skincare Specialists include Estheticians, Beauticians, as well as sub-categories of specialists like Eyelash Technician or Hairdresser.

Well trained Estheticians should be able to do the following easily:

• Sterilize equipment and clean work areas, now in the age of Covid-19 more than ever
• Examine clients’ skin to evaluate skin condition and appearance.
• Cleanse clients’ skin with water, creams, or lotions.
• Demonstrate how to clean and care for skin properly and recommend skin-care regimens.
• Apply cosmetic products, such as creams, lotions, and tonics.

HOW MUCH DO ESTHETICIANS MAKE?

US News determined that the average Esthetician and/or Skincare Specialist makes around $30,080 per year:

The BLS estimated the median hourly wage of an Esthetician was $15.05 in 2018.

However, this number varies dramatically by area.

For example, Estheticians in the Virginia Beach area earned more than $55,000 in May 2011 while those in south central Wisconsin earned less than $23,000.

Here’s a closer look at average salary by state:

Given this large chunk of change, it’s no surprise that the industry is growing quickly – an estimated 6,800 Skincare specialist jobs are expected to be added between 2016 and 2026.

However, there is a barrier to entry to becoming a certified specialist in the Beauty field.

Typically, the price of admission is the cost and time it takes to earn a certification.

According to IPEDS, the tuition for a 2 year degree in Esthetics ranges from $3,393 in public institutions to $10,546 for out-of-state private institutions.

Check out our article on how to get certified – we can guarantee it will cost you less if you do it online than at an institution, however the in-person training could be worth the expense.

If you don’t have an official college degree, don’t worry!

A full 89% of Estheticians have no Bachelors degree, so don’t let that stop you.

Additionally, there are other opportunities available in the field besides actually being an Esthetician – you can try medical esthetics, aromatherapy, or permanent makeup.

“You also have the option of becoming a teacher, representing or launching a skincare line, or managing a spa.”

Now that we know what an Esthetician does and how much they make, let’s talk about the most popular services offered by Estheticians in the US.

THE MOST POPULAR SKIN CARE SERVICES IN AMERICA 

We looked at the entire US and highlighted the most popular skincare services in each state.

The absolute #1 most popular service across all states is General Waxing (pictured in grey above).

TYPES OF WAXING

There are a variety of waxing treatment available, including Bikini Waxes, Brazilian Waxes, and waxing individual body parts.

There are also different techniques – Soft and Hard waxing according to Women’s Day:

“Soft wax is done with paper or muslin strips, and hard wax is removed without strips.” 

Just make sure you don’t go tanning up to 24 hours after your wax, or you’ll be really itchy and uncomfortable!

Tied for 2nd place with 5 states each are:

• Eyelash Extensions
• Facials
• Face Cream

Let’s dig a little deeper with each one of these so you can understand which of these treatments may be right for your clients.

Who knows – you may even discover your new favorite service!

TYPES OF EYELASH EXTENSIONS

There are many types of popular eyelash extensions available:

Mink – The most desirable and usually the most expensive. Natural look.

Sable – Ultra fine, not recommended for those with allergies to animal fur.

Fox – Require more work – must be permed to maintain the curl. 

Man-made – No need to curl or perm them! 

Silk – Heavier, best for special occasions.

Synthetic – Heaviest, least natural looking.

Volume (Russian) – choose between 2-6D. Usually cost more and take longer to apply.

Choose wisely – and expect to pay roughly $80-$150 for your first set of lashes.

TYPES OF FACIALS

Fun fact: Over 7 Million consumers have had a Facial in the last 6 months.

There are so many different kinds of facials you can get:

Classic – Involves cleansing, exfoliating, extractions, a mask, and a moisturizer.

Lymphatic Massage – Minimizes puffiness by massaging certain areas of the face.

Microdermabrasion – Sprays small crystals onto your skin and then vacuums up the exfoliated skin cells – often called an ‘Instant Facelift.’

Electric – Contours the face by applying small electric shocks using a microcurrent device.

Anti-Aging – Similar to a Classic Facial, usually with antioxidant-heavy serums and collagen added.

Brightening – Evens out your skin’s color (hyperpigmentation) using Vitamin C.

LED – Uses specific wavelengths of light to lower breakouts and inflammation.

Laser – Resurfaces your skin by removing the top layer with a laser (don’t worry, this is a lot less like an episode of Star Trek than it sounds)

Go try giving your clients or your best friend one of these facials, especially one you haven’t tried yet! You might just discover it’s your new favorite to give clients.

TYPES OF FACE CREAM

There is a ridiculously large number of choices when it comes to face cream.

It may be more useful to talk about the different face cream regimens of which there are a variety as well.

Here’s an article that summarizes 8 rules Estheticians live by.

Here are 6 top regimens from the best Estheticians in the world, including Kim Kardashian West’s go-to Esthetician.

Studies suggest that about half of women will choose their skincare products based on the ingredients, so keep an eye on what’s inside and check the label before you buy!

Now that you’re well versed on the most popular Skin Care services in America, why not try using PocketSuite to treat your entire Esthetician business to a “face lift”? Estheticians use PocketSuite to look more professional with clients. You can schedule, collect payments, receive intake forms, and get contracts signed by your clients all in one app, completely from your phone.

We even have a free plan for beginner Estheticians.

There’s a reason we come recommended by the ASCP!

Like this article? You’ll love these articles:

• How to Market your Esthetician Business on Instagram
• How to Get your Esthetician License
• How to Get More Clients for your Esthetician Business on Yelp.
• Our guide on how to generate leads for service businesses in 2022
• Our Frustrations with Square article