But before we dive into that, the first thing you need to realize is…
Instagram is basically the modern-day landing page.

When clients look up your business, they’re officially more likely to check out your Instagram page than your website.

“Why is this strange phenomenon happening?” you might ask, bewildered.
The answer is something you might not expect and it’s called… honest signals.

HONEST SIGNALS
Honest signals refers to the concept that there are certain things you can fake in order to convey something and other things you can’t fake.
A website is something you can fake. Nowadays, with the advent of easily-accessible and idiot-proof website builders like Wix, Weebly, and Squarespace, it’s easier than ever to make your business come across divinely professional with little-to-no coding knowledge.

Just slap together a website in 10 minutes using a pre-built template and you’re good to go!

A business Instagram page, on the other hand, although containing less overall info than a website is actually more of an honest signal because of one thing: the pictures.

Most of us grew up with the web, so we’re accustomed to fabricated images (i.e. stock pictures) and can easily discern between them and “real” pictures.
On the other hand, creating a website professionally and easily at a low cost is now a widespread commodity, making it more difficult for us to determine a business’ professionalism just going by their website alone.

10 years ago, if the business had a nice website, you were able to trust that business with a high degree of certainty. It was an “honest signal” because 10 years ago websites were actually arduous, required custom development work, and super expensive to build, conferring onto their owners a true honest signal of value and trust.

This is what the client thinks:
“Well, if they can afford a website like that, or invested that much into it, they must be a legit company.”

Nowadays, just because you have a nice website, doesn’t mean your business will be the right fit for a client.

As of this writing, with that same website, the client thinks:
“The company probably just used a template from Godaddy website builder or Wix to throw it together in a few minutes.”

Instagram, on the other hand, features prominently the photos that you choose to display.

And unlike a cookie cutter website template, it’s hard to fake good photos (given what we discussed before regarding how folks typically have an eye for spotting fake vs real photos).

So now that we’ve exposed the tricky way Instagram forces business owners to put more of the ‘realness’ of their business on display, instead of hiding in front of a well-crafted template, here is the real question:

How do we as business owners take advantage of this format instead of letting it scare us into not posting anything? (Which might be the worst thing of all – to the modern-day world of service business clients, you basically don’t exist if you don’t post online)

There are three things I’d like to discuss:
1. Useful, relevant content (for *your customers*)
2. Calls-to-action (you have to ask your customers to *buy*)
3. Using the bio link wisely (you only get one)

The first of which is useful, relevant content.

USEFUL, RELEVANT CONTENT FOR YOUR CUSTOMERS
The first mistake I see Instagram business profiles make is oversell (too many calls to action) without any actual substance (useful content).

The issue with this is that your content isn’t engaging, and doesn’t draw folks in.

So your Instagram page looks like a wall of tacky neon and multi-colored flyers for your business. In fact, this may be the majority of the content you post anyway.

Think about what would be useful for your customers to know.
One great example is to post ways that they can actually avoid using an Esthetician and do it themselves.

For example, post content about how clients can take care of their own faces so they don’t need to get a facial or extractions.

Believe it or not, this actually makes them want to come see you because it does the following…

1. Builds trust – in this example, you or your business is the authority on the topic of skin care
2. Provides actual value – reciprocity is a strong human urge. You can delightfully encourage folks to give back by using your service to thank you for the value you’ve given them, expecting nothing in return!

More examples of useful, relevant content for Estheticians:

• How to set up your morning skin care routine
• How to keep your skin young with [Insert Product Here]
• How to prepare for your first extraction or facial
• What to do after you have a facial so you don’t ruin your perfect skin
• When to use mud versus milk versus oatmeal versus algae
• Why massaging your skin can be game changing
• How to deal with the sun…is SPF1,000,000 sunscreen high enough
• Why using too many products on your skin can be very dangerous
• How vitamins and water are literally all you need

So now we’ve talked about Instagram business profiles that have lots of substance and value added content (and as a result growing follower base and great engagement), we’re going to take it to the other extreme:

An Esthetics business owner who posts only great content, but never asks for the sale.

CALLS TO ACTION
You’ve got to ask for the sale!

Consider this, studies show: 90% of customers won’t buy unless you ask.
With a figure like that, and all of these possible customers browsing your Instagram, you’d be crazy not to at least ask occasionally for the sale!

But what’s the best way to do that?

Several ways:

• You can use the comments section in each of your pictures to refer folks to your bio link, and have a link to your online store or your PocketSuite booking widget there.
• Then there’s the bio link, which some folks will directly access without looking at the comments or your pictures.
• Instagram Stories are a great place to put a call to action (it can literally be a video of you asking folks to swipe up to claim their offer) but your account needs at least 10,000 followers to enable it, so if you have less you’ll need to direct people in your Stories to access the offer by tapping the link in your bio
• Finally, we have the description, where you should be placing an offer so irresistible that your potential customers are just aching to tap that bio link! As an Esthetician, try a free facial with purchase of a recurring membership.

At last, we arrive at the best practice tip, which is how to make best use of the sole link in your bio.

USE YOUR BIO LINK WISELY
…because you only get one!

Instagram’s single-bio-link “feature” constraints mean you can only have 1 link in your bio.

So how do you take full advantage of this?

The best advice I can give you is simple and to the point – paste PocketSuite’s booking widget in there so clients can book your services online, right from their phone or computer.

Combine this with an amazing offer in your description and you’ve got a recipe for a bunch of new bookings coming in out of the blue from your Instagram!

Trust me, you’re going to wonder how you ever lived without it.

Aside from that, with a service like Linktr.ee you can add a whole bunch more!

I hope these 3 tips have given you enough actionable content so that you can market your Esthetics business or yourself as an Esthetician solo-preneur on Instagram effectively.

If you haven’t checked out PocketSuite’s booking widget yet, try the 30-day free trial to test drive it!

Once you’re signed up, paste it into your Instagram and let me know how many extra online bookings you get!

Like this article? You’ll love our guide on how to generate leads for service businesses in 2022, and of course our Frustrations with Square article!

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

Well, have I got a doozy for you. In fact, I’m about to share one of the industry’s best-kept secrets.

It’s no wonder that the ASCP (Association of Skin Care Professionals) deems PocketSuite “The app for Estheticians.”

There’s also a reason why over 10,000 folks have been using PocketSuite to manage their business.

In this article we’ll go over the best features that PocketSuite has to offer specifically for the Esthetics industry.

Get your Jade Rollers and Skin Scrubbers ready, because we’re about to take your Esthetician game to the next level!

In this article we’ll cover:

1. Getting your Esthetics Business set up on PocketSuite
2. Importing your Clients
3. Setting up your Services
4. Setting up Payments
5. Key Features (important!)
6. Best Practices

HOW TO RUN YOUR ESTHETICS BUSINESS WITH POCKETSUITE

You probably offer different services to your clients – from microblading to facials, maybe you even offer monthly discounts on recurring packages!
Either way, PocketSuite has you covered.

The first step would be to sign up and get your PocketSuite account set up.
You can easily go thru the onboarding process, which takes 30 seconds and will customize the app based on which industry you’re in. In your case, we’ll be selecting Health and Wellness -> Esthetician.

Now here’s where the magic starts to happen.

Next, we’re going to set up your services.

SET UP YOUR SERVICES WITH POCKETSUITE

Now we can get to the fun part!

Start by adding your services, ideally in groups of 3 (studies show that psychologically folks like to see items in odd numbered groups). If you have more than 10 services, turn on the “Categories” feature so you can group your services in a way that makes it easy for your clients to click and checkout online.

If you have 3 different prices, keep in mind that most folks will choose the middle price. Set up your pricing accordingly!

Finally, you can add your current clients. PocketSuite makes this easy because of the importing provided to all accounts.

SET UP PAYMENTS

Are you currently accepting credit cards from your clients? If not, you can easily set that up with PocketSuite. Here’s 10 different ways you can accept payments using the app.

For now, we’ll walk you through setting up payments via accepting credit cards from your clients.

The benefit of this is you have their card on file, they get an automatic receipt texted to them, and you don’t have to ask for payment each time because their info is stored in your system!

It also makes you look like much more of a professional Esthetician. The kind they can feel comfortable referring to all of their friends!

You can also use these tips to help you get more referrals – after all, in the Beauty industry word of mouth is everything!

KEY FEATURES

Here we will be discussing the key features of PocketSuite that Estheticians in particular rave about. I hope you’re wearing 2 pairs of socks because the first pair is about to get blown off!

Online Forms

You can create beautiful forms for internal use (taking notes about your clients’ preferences) or client-facing intake forms (in order for clients to fill out their personal health history and skincare needs/preferences).

Waivers & Contracts

Say goodbye to using 3rd party apps to send liability waivers or contracts to your clients – a few taps, a signature, and PocketSuite has got you covered.

Products & Inventory Tracking

It’s a shame you’ve been tracking all of your products and inventory manually, since PocketSuite has a built-in online product sales and inventory tracking feature!

Gift Certificates

Gone are the days when you were searching for a third party tool that can send out gift certificates. Or were you just creating them manually in Google Docs? How do you even track those? Forget all of that, you can sell gift certificates and track the purchases with ease from your PocketSuite dashboard. Log in to the app today and try it out!

Smart Campaigns

We’ve got you covered here – auto-send SMS campaigns to your clients encouraging them to book their next appointment, share skincare tips and aftercare guidance, or even offer holiday/special discounts.

Did I mention you can re-engage past clients to build your recurring client base? Yeah, PocketSuite actually helps you to build your business and increase your bottom line. Which makes it practically pay for itself, not once but many times over. And that’s not even considering all the time you’ll save not typing the same message over and over, and customizing it for each client. Hooray for more money in your pocket and more time in the day to spend with your family!

BEST PRACTICES

Signing up new clients is a breeze with PocketSuite. You can literally take all of the pain out of the process. No more relying on spas that barely send you any new clients, just to take a huge percentage of your income.

Now you can be your own spa (not literally, but essentially you’ll have the back office that a spa typically gives you).

For example, a lot of folks get their massage therapy license, and then go back to get their Esthetician license in order to be able to give facials as well as deep tissue massages. The major reason is that they don’t have enough clients for their massage therapy business – but the issue is, the same problems that hinder your massage therapy business will also limit your esthetician business.

The reality is, if you have a stream of clients coming in, you need a system to manage all of them. How are you going to keep track of client preferences, payment info, client intake forms, liability waivers, recurring appointments, cancellations, and charges?

With PocketSuite, you basically get an app that does all of that and more.
Top Estheticians are crushing it with PocketSuite, simply because it gives them more time to focus on what they do best – namely top-of-the-line facials, extractions, and general skin care regimens.

How, you ask? Let’s dive into that now and I’ll give you the low down.

CLIENT MANAGEMENT
How about when clients cancel on you? Now you need to go back into your excel spreadsheet and mark that they canceled. What about keeping track of repeat offenders?

And then of course there’s the waitlist feature. If you’re all booked up, and somebody cancels, the waitlist feature automatically tees up the next person into the time slot that was canceled.

You can literally send out a group message that will alert all of the folks on your waitlist that a spot has freed up. All of this with just a few taps on your phone. No more digging thru SMS threads to find your customers and trying to remember which one wanted the time slot!

PAYMENTS

Not to mention that payment info is stored automatically so you’re not worrying about collecting credit card info or cash from your clients every time.

Your clients can update their own credit card information, saving you the hassle of having to ask them for a new card when one expires.

CANCELLATIONS

Want to initiate late cancellation fees? No problem, you need to protect your time and this also decreases no-shows dramatically (no surprise, huh?)

MARKETING / SALES

Now let’s move on to marketing. I’m assuming you have a Facebook and Instagram page for your business. If not… go make one now!

Okay, now that you’ve made one (or already have one and are puzzled that I even needed to ask) it’s time to hook up your PocketSuite booking widget to your social media.

That’s right, folks can book appointments with you right from your Facebook / Instagram page. I know you’re getting giddy because this is the future!

How about selling products? Facial creams, tweezers, powders… whatever is in your inventory, PocketSuite’s new Inventory Management feature allows you to keep track of how many products you have, how many you’ve sold, and even alerts you when it’s time to re-order.

Not only that, but your products can be separate transactions from your services. It also allows you to apply different discounts on services without compromising your bottom line when selling your products.

Most top Estheticians make a handy profit by up-selling their products after the service, so if you’re not reaping this reward already, you need to get in on it! Studies show that 40% of top esthetician income is typically from product sales. That’s how you’re going to grow your business and ultimately your bottom line. If you don’t, you’re leaving money on the table.

What about following up with current clients? The handy Smart Campaigns feature handles that effortlessly. Simply tee it up and personalized SMS messages will automatically be sent out to your current clients. You can use this to upsell them, offer discounts, and ultimately get them coming back for more (the best way to increase your income without having to find and get more customers).

THE BOTTOM LINE…

If you’ve been puzzled wondering how your competition seems to run huge businesses without breaking a sweat, realize that every part of your business (except the direct services that you provide to clients) can be broken down and streamlined.

Additionally, when you then realize that most of these systems can be automated with a single app, it makes it a no-brainer to give PocketSuite a try.

There’s not a single app on the marketplace currently that makes it easier to run your entire esthetics business from soup-to-nuts.

Like this article? You’ll love our guide on how to generate leads for service businesses in 2022, and of course our Frustrations with Square article!

No more waxing, exfoliating, or pore cleansing under-the-table.
That’s right, you’re going to signal to the world that you are a pro and take your Esthetics business to the next level!

But before we crack in, we’ll discuss the basics of why you should even bother to get your Esthetician license in the first place. (By the way, all puns are intended.)

This article consists of the following parts:

1. Why you should get licensed
2. How to get licensed

First off, let’s discuss why you should get licensed to begin with!
Get your lancet ready because we’re about to poke some holes in the argument that you don’t need your Esthetician license.

WHY YOU SHOULD GET YOUR ESTHETICIAN LICENSE

This is pretty straightforward. We’ve come up with 4 reasons why you need to get yourself licensed if you are a practicing Esthetician, and outlined them below:

• Professionalism
• Gaining Trust (and clients)
• Training Others
• Missed Opportunities (Financing, Payment-wise)

Let’s take these one at a time:

PROFESSIONALISM

First off, being a licensed Esthetician is critical in order to appear more professional and distinguish yourself in the market.

We routinely see Estheticians showcasing their license on their Facebook and Instagram profiles, in order to prove to the world (and to potential customers doing their research before booking with them) that they are a true pro.

GAINING TRUST (AND CLIENTS)

It’s not enough that you are marketing your services to clients – once they find you, they also would like to have confidence that you will deliver on your promise, whatever that is.

If folks will be trusting you with lancets and creams around their face, it’s fairly plausible to assume that they will be more comfortable with a high degree of certainty that you know what you are doing. Clients often fear the worst, “what if the chemicals burn my face?; what if I have a bad reaction to the creme?; or is there a chance I pay you and I don’t see any difference on my face?”

For this reason, it’s immensely important to showcase your license to folks in any and every way possible, so that you get a higher conversion rate of folks seeking out your facials and waxes and full body scrubs to people who actually book you.

TRAINING OTHERS

At PocketSuite, we have an eye on Estheticians who are killing it, and a lot of them actually train other Estheticians once they get their license.

This can be an additional income stream for your business with the added benefit that you don’t have any inventory expenses. What you are delivering is your knowledge and experience to others who are just starting out.

This means your profit margin will be substantially higher when you train others. Time to take some of those extra profits and treat yourself to a pamper session (especially if you already work in a spa or salon!)

MISSED OPPORTUNITIES

Think about all of the missed opportunities that will inevitably pass you by if you aren’t licensed. We’re talking financing, payments, etc.

For example, your business may not be eligible for financing from banks if you aren’t licensed.

Also, you won’t be able to get access to a reputable payment processing platform to accept client credit card payments if you don’t have that license hanging on your wall.

Payment processors do this to ensure that they are not hit with massive disputes chargebacks, for example should your clients pay for a facial and decide they are unsatisfied with the treatment because their unlicensed Esthetician didn’t do the “Swedish facial” the way that they  like it.

Furthermore, the Bureau of Labor Statistics found that the median hourly wage of a skin care specialist is $14.55 as of May 2016 or $30,270 per year in salary.

This is dated info, but it should still motivate you to get licensed for one simple reason…

“The highest paid specialists are those employed in dermatologists’ offices or otherwise working with physicians, making an hourly wage of $19.33”
Source: Chron

Try getting that hourly wage without a license!

So now that we’ve reviewed the key advantages of having an Esthetics license, let’s shuffle on to how you can do this with minimal time and effort on your part.

HOW TO GET YOUR ESTHETICIAN LICENSE

TRAINING & CERTIFICATION

There are a number of authorities on this.

One community that comes to mind is Associated Skin Care Professionals, or ASCP for short, and they dominate the market in terms of being one of the largest professional organizations for Estheticians.

Their group consists of Professionals, Students, Educators, and Employers.
Navigate to their signup page, enter your email, and get connected with some resources that will launch your Esthetics game into the stratosphere.
What about finding a school? This varies by state, but there are resources out there to help you find one that works for you.

In order to find an Esthetician school in your state, you can go to our esthetician resources portal to get comprehensive information on schools, licensing, and associations. Explore a list of all the accredited schools in your state where you can get certified.

I would also recommend looking into getting certified on a national level, in order to further distinguish yourself and get more professional opportunities. You can do so by checking out the NCEA – according to them, getting the National Esthetician Certification is the highest voluntary credential for Estheticians in the United States.

LICENSING

So now that you’ve gone thru an Esthetician school and received your coursework completion diploma, let’s get you licensed on a State level!
There are 3 parts to getting your State license:

• Go thru a school or apprenticeship (this part you’ve already completed)
• Take the licensing exam and pass it
• Maintain your license

First of all, depending on what state you live in (assuming you’re in the US), you should be able to contact your local state licensing board in order to get licensed.

This process is different in each state, but you can find all licensing info by state.

Here’s what Washington State’s licensing website looks like to get your Esthetician license:

First you would click on “Cosmetologist, Barber, Manicurist, Esthetician, Hair Design, or Master Esthetician” (yes, that’s all one category)

Then click on ‘Graduate of a school or apprenticeship’ and complete the prompts that follow.

Remember, this may vary by state so make sure you follow our instructions and figure out how it works in your state.

Once you pass the exam, consult the school of your choice on the best practices for maintaining continuing education, as these requirements vary by state as well.

So, what are you waiting for? Go find a school, take a course, get licensed, and start raking in the extra cash! You might even have enough to get some new facial creams or exfoliating treatments to expand your inventory and offer more options to your clients.

Here are some additional resources for your consideration:

• AACS – Find a beauty school
• Should I go to Esthetician School?

If you’re an Esthetician and you’re looking for a one-app solution to run your business on-the-go, give PocketSuite a shot today. We come recommended by the ASCP!

Like this article? You’ll love our guide on how to generate leads for service businesses in 2022, and of course our Frustrations with Square article!

These are just some of the services you can provide:

• Facials
• Eyebrow and eyelash treatments
• Extractions
• Waxing
• Body Wraps
• Masks
• Scrubs
• Acne Treatments
• Makeup Applications
• Makeup consultation
• Chemical Peels

To reach this level, you’ll need to get certified and licensed to practice in your state. It’s fun, fairly easy, not too expensive and much of the coursework can usually be done online for convenience.

In this article you’ll learn:

• How much money you can make as an esthetician
• The required training and certifications
• Professional groups to join
• Employment opportunities for estheticians
• Finding clients
• Plus helpful tips for new estheticians

How much money can you make?

The average esthetician salary in the United States is $35,112. That works out to about $17.56 per hour. Those on the high end of the pay range (the top 1 percent) are making more than $29 per hour. With tips and commissions on products you sell in the salon, you’ll make even more.

You can check average salaries for your state with EstheticianEdu.org’s searchable web page.

Training and Certification

Many private schools and institutes offer esthetician training at varying price points. The best approach to selecting a program is to check with your state’s cosmetology board on local requirements for certification and licensing. Then you can choose a program that best fits your needs. An alphabetical list of state cosmetology boards and contact information is available here.

If you want the best, the National Coalition of Estheticians, Manufacturers/Distributors & Associations (NCEA) is the premiere organization for certifying professional estheticians in the United States. “NCEA Certified” represents the highest skin care credential currently available in the United States and adherence to the profession’s code of ethics.

The cost of training ranges from $664 if you pay in installments, to as low as $600 for paying upfront. You can complete the training at home with study materials delivered by the NCEA. For details on training, browse training program for specialties and look for certification programs.

From initial training to certification as an esthetician, expect to invest four to six months of full-time effort. If you choose to train part-time, you can earn certification within nine to 12 months.

There are 3 Steps:

1. Order the training manual and start your candidate application requirements while working through the manual. Your candidate application should be ready to send in after four to six weeks.
2. Authorization to test. Schedule and pay for your exam.
3. Take the exam. You’ll need a computer, a smartphone and an Internet connection, which will allow you to take the test anywhere you wish.

You’ll also need CPR/AED/First Aid certification and be recertified during an in-person class every five years. Certification training is available through the Red Cross and the American Heart Association.

Here’s what you’ll learn in preparation for the national esthetician exam. The 90-minute exam covers scientific concepts and skin care and services, testing your knowledge in these areas:

• Infection control procedures involving bacteria and viruses, controlling infection, including methods; and safety guidelines; knowing what to do when exposed to blood
• Basic understanding of human physiology and anatomy
• Skin histology and physiology, including the function of skin layers and glands, and hair follicle structure
• Body hair composition, including hair structure and growth; hair growth abnormalities
• Chemistry of cosmetic products, including ingredients, labeling and more.
• How to perform a client consultation with appropriate documentation. That includes:
• The analysis of the skin, including type and condition
• Handling the records of clients, including intake and consult charts
• Protocols involving treatment
• Knowing when to withhold certain Skin services based on client evaluation
• Cleansing procedures
• Steaming procedures, including towel and steam
• Exfoliation procedures, both chemical and physical
• Hair extraction procedures
• The effects of massage movements
• Use of masks, including clay/mud and gel
• Methods and procedures of hair removal, including waxing and tweezing
• Makeup application principles, including face shapes and features analysis, plus color theory
• How to use equipment during skin services (lamps, facial steamer/vaporizer and LED therapy.
• Services related to body treatments and eyelash extensions

Professional Groups to Join

You’ll want to remain a member of NCEA both to maintain certification and have access to their continuing education materials and other valuable professional information.

There are three membership options:

$65 per year

$95 per year – this includes your business listing in the NCEA’s online directory

$160 for a three-year membership, in which you’ll save $35.

Employment

Professional estheticians can find a confusing array of employment options, each with different benefits and potential drawbacks. Let’s go through the most common employment types:

Independent Contractor with Booth Rental

These estheticians pay a salon or spa a rental fee for access to the salon or spa facilities. As independent contractors, booth renters buy their own supplies, set their own working hours and fees, and provide their own business insurance. You are completely in control of your earnings. With an established business and steady clients, independent contracting may be right for you.

Hourly Pay + Commission

Many salons and spas pay their full-time employees a low hourly wage plus commission, which is based on a percentage of how much business you produce. So if you delivered $500 worth of services to clients and receive a 20% commission on gross sales, you’d be paid $100 plus your pre-arranged hourly wage.

Team Member Compensation

With this employment arrangement, you receive a base salary plus commissions on your services and any products you sell to clients. If salesmanship is a skill you possess or would like to master, this compensation package might be right for you.

Straight Salary

You earn a yearly salary and probably receive benefits like health insurance and paid time off. Straight salary jobs are usually found in professional settings such as medical spas. You offer your services and are typically under no pressure to sell products while working with clients.

If you’re just starting out, it may not be financially practical to open your own studio at first. This means working for someone else. An up-to-date resume and a copy of your NCEA certification are essential parts of your application. Online job-search services such as Indeed.com and ZipRecruiter will yield openings.

Join esthetician discussion groups on social media (Facebook has several) so you can build your professional network. Set up your professional profile on LinkedIn to start connecting with other estheticians and groups whose members may know of upcoming job openings before they’re advertised.

If you’re thinking of opening a studio, search for cities where the competition is not as great. Consider locating in resort areas where people on vacation want to be pampered. You might get so much seasonal business that you’ll be able to afford lengthy vacations of your own in the off season.

Finding Clients

When running your own business, an attractive website is essential. If you’re not comfortable designing a website yourself using templates and artwork from popular sites like WordPress, hire someone to build a basic website for you. Just get an online presence going and keep it up-to-date with photos, special offers on skin-care products to drive traffic to your door, discounts for new customers, maybe even a price break for existing clients who refer new business.

Build Your Credibility With Online Reviews. According to a survey, 90% of participants are influenced by positive online reviews.

Have all new customers fill out a basic form about their interest in your services and be sure they include their contact information. Your web site can be set up to require contact information before the form can be submitted. You want contact information so you can follow-up with all your clients. This encourages repeat business.

Good to know:

• Tips are appropriate and encouraged in beauty salons and spas. A 20 percent gratuity is considered the minimum for good service.
• Communication is vital. To succeed, you’ll need a loyal customer base.
• Create a relaxing environment. Clients should look forward to their visits.
• Always dress professionally and be well-groomed (your skills will be judged initially by your own appearance)
• Deliver every service “by the book” following all best practices.
• Focus on specialties for everyone working at your spa. Staff then work better and faster.
• Know how to sell products and upsell services.
• Stay on top of your profession with continuing education.

If you enjoyed this article, check out some other PocketSuite.io content that can help you grow your career as an esthetician. Here’s a great place to start.

PocketSuite has thousands of business owners who all started where you are right now. Our community is always happy to help you ramp up, grow your client base, and achieve your income goals, both within the PocketSuite app and as part of our exclusive Facebook Community Group. PocketSuite’s vision is for any professional to be able to work for themselves and make a great living. It starts here. It starts with you. It starts today. Let’s get started, download PocketSuite now! Feel free to reach out with any questions (we’d love to hear from you)! Text us @ (415) 841-2300.

All you need are three all-natural ingredients – sugar, lemon juice and water – to form a sugaring paste. Some sugaring techs spice up their paste formulas with a drop or two of essential oils, maybe a dash of honey, but the basic ingredients remain the same. A natural product, sugar only adheres to hair and dead skin cells, so the procedure does not agitate healthy skin.

Generally, you’ll need an esthetician’s license before you can train to practice sugaring. There are many online courses available to train in the skill. Also, beauty salons and spas throughout the country offer training as a sugaring tech. Most of these in-person courses can be completed in a day, after which you’ll receive a certificate you can display in your salon – and start sugaring.

You can make decent money offering sugaring services, but again, being able to offer sugaring means you’ll attract more clients to your business. So getting trained in sugaring gives your customers one more reason to choose your salon over all the others.

Sounds sweet? Let’s get ready to train in sugaring. 

In this article you’ll learn:

• How much money you can make as a sugaring technician
• The required training and certifications
• Professional groups to join
• Employment opportunities for sugaring technicians
• Finding clients
• Plus helpful tips for new sugaring techs

How much money can you make?

Salaries for sugaring techs range from $33,000 to $38,000 annually. By training to become certified as an esthetician, in addition to sugaring services you can nearly double your annual income to an average of $73,000. Information on how to become a certified esthetician can be found in Chapter 1.

Salaries for sugaring techs also depend on your employment location. Sugaring technicians working in department stores, for example, actually make more money than those employed at spas and resorts.

You can check average salaries for your state with EstheticianEdu.org’s searchable web page.

Training and Certification

There are dozens of online training programs in sugaring. Many spas and beauty salons also offer in-house training, which is beneficial because you get hands-on experience.

Because licensing regulations vary widely around the country, the first thing to do is find out what’s required by the state where you plan to practice sugaring. Here’s a state-by-state listing of official governing agencies.

Even if your locality does not require formal licensing, becoming trained in sugaring is still important because it takes skill to perform the procedure successfully. You can’t just whip up a sugar and lemon-juice paste with a dash of water and start removing hair from your clients’ bodies. It takes practice.

Training course fees typically range from $500 to $1,000 or more, with $750 to $800 being average. Most training courses can be completed in a day. In-person training at a salon or spa tends to cost a little more than online training, but again, the advantage is you get immediate hands-on experience. If you choose the on-line route to training, you could ask friends to be test subjects so you can get some actual sugaring practice under your belt.

Here’s what you’ll learn during training:

• Hair removal theory
• How to consult clients on the process, covering what to do and what to avoid before and after their appointments
• Preparing sugaring paste (if you don’t wish to buy a prepared formulation)
• Practicing sugaring technique on a model
• How to sugar different areas of the body

If your state requires certification as an esthetician to perform sugaring, join the National Coalition of Estheticians, Manufacturers/Distributors & Associations (NCEA). This is the most-respected organization for certifying professional estheticians in the United States.

The cost of training with the NCEA ranges from $664 if you pay in installments, to as low as $600 for paying upfront. You can complete the training and take your final exam at home with study materials delivered via email from the NCEA. For detailed information on becoming an esthetician, see Chapter 1.

Check out this video of a common sugaring procedure to get a feel for what’s involved.

This video offers a demonstration of how to apply the sugaring formulation the way the pros do it.

Professional Groups to Join

Consider joining The Professional Beauty Association to meet other sugaring technicians and enjoy continuing education opportunities that can advance your career. This association offers three membership levels, bronze, silver and gold, starting at $195 a year. Bronze is probably the right choice for an individual membership. The gold level is mainly for salon owners who can add up to 30 employees on the same membership for a $1,500 annual fee.

Benefits of joining include social networking (a good way to find out about job openings), plus continuing education, conferences and special events, and discounts on liability, health, dental, and vision group insurance.

If you pursue certification as an esthetician as part of your career preparations, maintaining your membership in the National Coalition of Estheticians, Manufacturers/Distributors & Associations (NCEA) will further expand your professional network while holding onto a valuable credential.

Employment

Local spas and beauty salons should be your first destination. Many offer sugaring services to clients and those that do not can probably be convinced that they should. Bring copies of your resume, licenses and certifications, as well as photocopied images of your sugaring work (or a business card with links to your website and Instagram account). Your attractiveness as a job candidate – and opportunities for making a larger income – will only increase if sugaring is just one of the beauty services in your skill set.

If you’re able to relocate, online job-search sites like ZipRecruiter, Simply Hired and Indeed.com can turn up dozens of job opportunities for sugaring techs. Bear in mind that when moving to another state you’ll need to be in training and certification with that state’s laws before you can work.

Finding Clients

In addition to your business website, create an Instagram account to showcase your sugaring services. The idea is to post plenty of “before” and “after” photos with hashtags so that people looking for sugaring services can find you. For example, using #Eyebrowsugaring as a hashtag will cause your Instagram page to pop up when people search for eyebrow sugaring on the platform. Instagram is the #1 online venue for sugaring artists to display their work. Be sure to get written permission from your clients before you post images of their faces. Close-up shots of eyebrows and sugaring work are probably okay to use if no individual can be identified by the images.

Other strategies for attracting new business:

• Give discounts to new customers.
• Create a referral program with discounts for returning customers who bring new clients to you.
• Ask clients to review your services online. According to a survey, 90% of people say their buying decisions are influenced by positive online reviews.
• Ask all new clients to complete a simple form about their interest in your sugaring services. Get their contact information on the form. This lets you follow up with clients and increase repeat business.

Good to know:

When consulting with clients about their sugaring procedure, there are important pre- and post-procedure topics you should discuss with them. Here’s what your clients need to know:

• Exfoliate the skin a minimum of 2 days before an appointment.
• Do not exfoliate the day before, the day of or the day after the sugaring procedure.
• Do not moisturize before the appointment. That means no lotions or creams on the body area to be treated.
• Avoid using deodorant the day of the appointment if getting underarms sugared.
• Wait four to six weeks for regrowth of hair before scheduling another sugaring appointment.

In addition, for at least 24 hours after sugaring treatment, clients should avoid:

• Applying scented lotions or creams
• Exfoliating the skin (wait at least 48 hours after a sugaring treatment)
• Using deodorant (if the underarms were sugared)
• Heat (no saunas, steam rooms or hot-yoga studios for at least a day)
• Direct sunlight, tanning beds and infrared lamps
• Working out
• Make-up (if the procedure involved facial sugaring)
• Touching, scratching or rubbing the treated area

If you enjoyed this article, check out some other PocketSuite.io content that can help you grow your career as a sugaring technician. Here’s a great place to start.

PocketSuite has thousands of business owners who all started where you are right now. Our community is always happy to help you ramp up, grow your client base, and achieve your income goals, both within the PocketSuite app and as part of our exclusive Facebook Community Group. PocketSuite’s vision is for any professional to be able to work for themselves and make a great living. It starts here. It starts with you. It starts today. Let’s get started, download PocketSuite now! Feel free to reach out with any questions (we’d love to hear from you)! Text us @ (415) 841-2300.

Depending on where you live in the United States, you may not need certification as a brow tech, but you will need formal training to offer quality services. Many states do require brow techs to be licensed as an esthetician or cosmetologist. All the resources you need to learn the requirements for your state are right here.

In this article you’ll learn:

• How much money you can make as a brow technician
• The required training and certifications
• Professional groups to join
• Employment opportunities for brow technicians
• Finding clients
• Plus helpful tips for new brow techs

How much money can you make?

Newly trained eyebrow techs in the United States currently make about $11.30 an hour, however, if you choose to become a licensed esthetician in addition to brow tech training, you can just about double your hourly rate. See Chapter 1 for in-depth information on becoming an esthetician.

You can check average brow technician salaries for your state with EstheticianEdu.org’s searchable web page.

Training and Certification

There’s a patchwork of regulations impacting brow technicians from state to state. Some states do not allow eyebrow tinting, for example, but other techniques are permitted.

Most states require a cosmetology, esthetician, or medical license for you to practice as a brow technician. Depending on where you live and the services you offer as a brow tech, your work might fall under the same regulations as a tattoo studio or laws regulating “body art facilities.”

There are literally dozens of schools, groups and organizations that offer training for eyebrow techs. Their pricing is also all over the place.

To help you narrow your options, consider this tip:

It’s a good idea to pursue certification with an organization that certifies throughout the United States. That way, you enjoy greater professional prestige and employers are less likely to demand recertification if you move from another state with only local accreditation.

An alphabetical list of state cosmetology boards and contact information is available here. Contact your local board and find out your state’s requirements for certification and licensing as a lash technician. Then you can choose a program that best fits your needs.

Many programs can be completed in as little as a day to achieve basic certification. Pricing for these courses can range from $1,000 to under $500.

If you also need an esthetician certification to meet your state requirements, join the National Coalition of Estheticians, Manufacturers/Distributors & Associations (NCEA). This is the premiere organization for certifying professional estheticians in the United States.
The cost of training with the NCEA ranges from $664 if you pay in installments, to as low as $600 for paying upfront. You can complete the training and take your final exam at home with study materials delivered by the NCEA.

What you’ll learn in training for certification as an eyebrow tech:

• Threading, waxing, cleaning and tweezing techniques – and knowing which ones to use
• Eyebrow shaping, such as softly angled brows, high arch, straight brow, strong-angled brows, as well as rounded and curved brows.
• Customizing brow styles to your clients’ facial shapes
• Eyebrow threading, which is similar to tweezing but uses a thread to cut hair in a scissor-like motion.
• Eyebrow tinting – a colorizing technique in which you’ll clean the client’s brows, apply a thin layer of petroleum jelly to prevent the tint from staining the surrounding skin, then prepare the tinting formulation and apply it with a small brush across the brows. Timing is important so both brows are tinted evenly.

Many salons offer certification classes in eyebrow threading and waxing. Some offer online training as well.

Once certified, you’ll need to be licensed to practice in your state. Refer to the alphabetical list of state cosmetology boards available here.

Professional Groups to Join

Join the Society of Permanent Cosmetic Professionals to network with other eyebrow techs, exchange style ideas and techniques, even get tips on job openings. Membership is $325 per year paid upfront, or you can choose to pay $29 a month, which works out to $348 annually. Here’s how to join.

One benefit of membership is the SPCP’s toll-free national line and website so that clients seeking eyebrow beauty services can obtain referrals and locate qualified member technicians and trainee members. You’ll also have access to the society’s marketing kit, with downloadable logos, images and other branding material you can display on your website.

Employment

Job-search sites such as Indeed.com, Simply Hired and Zip Recruiter can turn up many employment leads for brow technicians.

Perhaps even more effective is the person touch, where you make the rounds of local salons and introduce yourself with copies of your resume and professional certifications. Even if there’s no immediate opening at a salon, the owner is likely to remember your initiative. Be sure to dress professionally for the occasion.

Salaries tend to be higher at spas and salons in resort areas where people vacation and happily pay for a variety of pampering services.

Finding Clients

When running your own business, an attractive website is critical to attracting clients. Keep it current and fresh with photos, special offers on skin-care products to drive traffic to your door, discounts for new customers, maybe even a price break for existing clients who refer new business.

Ask clients to post online reviews of your services. According to a survey, 90% of people say their buying decisions are influenced by positive online reviews.

Ask all your new customers to fill out a basic form about their interest in your beauty services. Be sure they include their contact information. Your web site can be set up to require contact information before the form is submitted. You need contact information so you can follow-up with all your clients. This encourages repeat business. That’s important because many of the services you’ll be offering will last several months before clients need to return. A steady stream of clients built up through your marketing efforts means less time waiting for appointments and more time providing services.

Good to know:

• Having trouble coming up with a cool and distinctive name for your eyebrow services? Try entering random keywords on BizNameWiz to get instant ideas.
• The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) at this time does not approve any color additives for eyebrow tinting. Some states, including California, have made it illegal for salons to offer eyebrow tinting. To protect your clients and yourself, when practicing where eyebrow tinting is allowed, use only vegetable or henna-based dyes.
• Here’s a dozen bold eyebrow moves that will thrill your clients.
• Top eyebrow tips & tricks from some of the most well-respected brow techs in the world.
• Discover how brow trends have changed through the ages.
• From Tinting to Tattooing: How to help a client select the right eyebrow treatment.
• Check out this series of before and after eyebrow transformations featuring nearly two dozen celebrities.
• How long does eyebrow tinting actually last?? Find out here in this primer on eyebrow tinting techniques.
• Tips are appropriate and indeed are encouraged in beauty salons and spas. A 20 percent gratuity is considered the minimum for an eyebrow tech’s services.
• If you’re working at a salon that also sells products, and virtually all of them do, make sure you know the compensation structure. Many eyebrow techs supplement their income by selling in-store products to customers for a predetermined commission.
• Always follow best practices when performing brow services. Use quality tools, keep them clean, and maintain a professional appearance every time you step into the salon. Work with a colleague to perform brow treatments on each other, as needed. Clients will judge your skill by your own appearance – even though you’re obviously not doing eyebrow work on yourself.

If you enjoyed this article, check out some other PocketSuite.io content that can help you grow your career as a brow technician. Here’s a great place to start.

PocketSuite has thousands of business owners who all started where you are right now. Our community is always happy to help you ramp up, grow your client base, and achieve your income goals, both within the PocketSuite app and as part of our exclusive Facebook Community Group. PocketSuite’s vision is for any professional to be able to work for themselves and make a great living. It starts here. It starts with you. It starts today. Let’s get started, download PocketSuite now! Feel free to reach out with any questions (we’d love to hear from you)! Text us @ (415) 841-2300.

The Esthetics industry has gone through many paradigm shifts in the last 30 years. From Beauticians to Estheticians, we’ve seen many changes in how skin care professionals do business. As the “goddesses of skin care,” Skin care professionals mostly help women (and some brave men) to clean, treat, refresh, rehydrate, and rejuvenate their skin.

They also do massage and use products like steam, milk, creams, and scrubs (and in some cases chemicals) as part of their treatments.

Skin care professionals also consult with clients on the topics of nutrition and well-being, which plays a major role in the condition of the skin.

Dehydrated skin, for example, may be indicative of not drinking enough water.

A good Esthetician often plays the role of a health and wellness consultant for many of their clients.

Given how important skin care is becoming, we wanted to get a clearer sense of the state of the industry – so we decided to go straight to the source.

We sat down with Susanne Warfield, President and Founder of the National Coalition of Estheticians Association (NCEA) for an in-depth scoop on the major trends happening in the Esthetics industry as of 2020.

Check out the full interview with Susanne Warfield on the PocketSuite Professional On The Go Podcast.

Our first question was personal and straightforward: How did Susanne get into the Esthetics industry? 

Susanne: I always had an interest in skin care and started in high school as a Fashion 22 sales representative. (I’m from Canada)

My mom always made me wear sunscreen and a hat, although back in those days it was a paraben-based sunscreen, which we later learned was not great.

As the founder and president of the NCEA, we wanted to find out how and why the association was created in the first place.

It turns out, Susanne founded the NCEA back in January of 2000.

At the time, the American Academy of Dermatology’s (AAD) Allied Health Committee was looking to liaise with the skin care industry.

Ms. Warfield, a member of the AAD’s Allied Health Committee, was asked to form a coalition of over 30 associations representing skin care professionals in the United States.

The inaugural meeting was held on June 25th of 2000.  22 associations were represented. The National Coalition of Esthetics & Related Associations was formed.

It’s been almost 20 years since the association was formed. With such a strong background in the industry, we were curious why Estheticians (and skin care professionals in general) needed to be licensed to perform their services.

We asked Susanne why estheticians need to be licensed, and how much training is required to get licensed?

Susanne: Licensing is a way of assuring public safety that an individual has met competency standards to practice as required by the state.

On average in the United States, Esthetician training programs are around 600 hours. The master Esthetician license offered by 4 states is around 1200 hours, as is the National Esthetician Certification (NCEA Certification).

With such a vast array of potent creams, invasive extractors, sharp tweezers, and lancets, it’s no wonder Skin care professionals need a license to operate legally in the US.

It must be a complicated endeavour to get licensed as an Esthetician with so much industry-specific knowledge to learn and then be tested on.

We wanted to know if Estheticians work in the field while getting trained to make it easier when it’s time to pass their licensing test?

Susanne: In some states, they have apprentice / internship laws that allow for Esthetics students to work in an approved salon/spa for a percentage of the hours required by the state.

Also, most schools have school clinics / shops that students will work in (under teacher supervision) and consumers enjoy reduced pricing.

Intrigued by the benefits of being licensed, we wondered what is needed to help more aspiring estheticians get licensed and have a successful career?

Susanne shared some great advice for aspiring Estheticians:

Susanne: Government / School funding for loans [is needed] so that students can afford to go to school. A successful career is to never stop learning.

After state licensing, get your National Certification and take a COA-Approved continuing education course to stay current with technology, science, and ingredients.

Also, be involved with your National Association. Try to attend state board meetings (as part of the 10 Steps to Protect Yourself – found here).

Interested in getting an NCEA Certification?

HOW TO GET NCEA CERTIFIED

According to the NCEA website, it takes as little as 4 to 6 weeks to get certified.

If you don’t pass on your first try (by getting a score of 75% or higher), you must send a letter to the NCEA stating why you think you failed and what you have done to be better prepared to take the exam a second time. You will also have to pay a $375 fee.

If you live in Washington, Utah, Virginia, or the District of Columbia, you can take your licensing game to the next level by getting a Master Esthetician license to show prospective clients that you went above and beyond your state’s licensing requirements.

HOW MUCH MONEY CAN YOU MAKE AS AN ESTHETICIAN?

Including part-time Estheticians, you can make at minimum $30,000 per year.

Top Estheticians, on the other hand, can comfortably earn up to six figures.

The top Esthetician on PocketSuite is located in Texas and makes $276,000 per year. That’s over a quarter million per year – not bad at all!

Part time Estheticians (gigsters and hobbyists) typically focus on treatments that don’t require a lot of equipment such as facials and eyebrow waxing.

Professional Estheticians, on the other hand, require more space and equipment and will usually do additional procedures such as body scrubs, bikini waxing, steam facials, and extractions.

MEDSPAS

Medical Spas, or MedSpas for short, are another niche in the Esthetics industry that require a doctor to be present and supervising at the time of treatment.

These spas employ Estheticians that have additional medical training and specialize in more invasive treatments such as microdermabrasions, chemical peels, acne therapy, laser hair removal, and even botox.

DERMATOLOGISTS VS ESTHETICIANS

Have you ever wondered what the difference is between Dermatologists and Estheticians?

Dermatologists treat the skin, however the big difference lies in that dermatologists are doctors who treat specific skin conditions (as an example skin cancer). They are able to write prescriptions and perform surgery.

Estheticians, on the other hand, analyze your skin and perform holistic treatments such as facials, body wraps, extractions, and in some cases, aromatherapy.

It’s important for Estheticians to get additional certifications to work at a MedSpa so they can be trained in infection control, ingredients used in cosmetics, phases of wound healing, and use of devices such as microdermabrasion vacuums.

Even if Estheticians aren’t using microcurrents or lasers, it’s important that they have the knowledge in case their customers ask them about these treatments.

Next we’ll clear up some confusion about the two major associations in the Skin care world.

NCEA VS ASCP

The National Coalition of Estheticians Association (NCEA) differs from the Associated Skin Care Professionals (ASCP) organization.

The ASCP is an insurance provider. You can purchase insurance for your Esthetician practice and get member benefits.

The NCEA, on the other hand, has a mission to raise standards for Estheticians through national credentialing and continuing education accreditation.

We hope this article has shed some light on the state of the Esthetics industry.

Check out the full interview with Susanne Warfield on the PocketSuite Professional On The Go Podcast.

Like this article? You’ll love these articles:

• How and Why you Should Get your Esthetician License
• How to Get More Clients as an Esthetician on Yelp
• Our guide on how to generate leads for service businesses in 2022
• Our Frustrations with Square article

Source: Trader Education

Are you an Esthetician solopreneur or possibly a small business owner with an Esthetics or Beauty business, and you’re interested in getting more clients from Yelp? Yelp has been under some major scrutiny following allegations and even multiple lawsuits claiming they were unfairly punishing businesses for choosing not to pay for advertising – i.e. extortion. However, as explored in this extensive article we’ve written on this topic, Yelp is still conclusively a great place for small business owners to find more clients, especially in the skincare and personal grooming industry.

For this reason, we will be covering some important tips today that will help you as an Esthetician get more business from Yelp.

Before we begin, let me preface this by saying that Yelp has been underfire for quite some time, but still has a large volume of consumers using its platform to find Beauticians and Estheticians such as yourself.

So even though you may disagree with their alleged business practices, we can’t throw out the baby with the bathwater, so to speak.

Given that tens of millions of consumers are still searching for services on Yelp, how can we use that reality to our advantage and come out on top and profitable?

Let’s get right to it – how do you win on Yelp as an Esthetician?

Source: Elegant Themes

HOW TO DOMINATE YELP AS AN ESTHETICIAN

Maybe you’ve heard of the new documentary, Billion Dollar Bully.

Or perhaps you’ve read articles regarding Yelp’s alleged mafia-like business practices.

Either way, it’s no excuse for you not to take the time to investigate this challenge of a business and attempt to use it to your advantage.

If you were able to opt out of being featured on Yelp, this article would definitely have a different tone to it.

But as the situation stands, there is no way for businesses to opt out of having their listing (and public reviews) displayed for the world to see.

That being the case, let’s see if we can turn lemons into lemonade on this situation. If you’re already in the belly of the beast, you might as well make the most of it!

Let’s get to the practical aspects of how to win on Yelp as an Esthetician.

Source: Yelp

STEP ONE: OPTIMIZE YOUR PROFILE

Make sure your pictures are on point, including pictures of you holding up your Esthetician license, as we mentioned in our article on How to Run your Esthetician Business on PocketSuite.

One tip is to make sure you have plenty of pictures of smiling, overjoyed clients that received a facial or other beauty treatment from you.

Secondly, make sure that you have a Yelp Deal set up.

It doesn’t have to be a huge discount (something like $15 for $10), but it will make it so there is a green ‘Yelp Offer’ button next to your profile in the listings, which will draw consumers’ attention to your profile and distinguish it from the litany of other Estheticians on the platform

Make sure you input all of your business information, such as:

• Hours of operation
• Location (Physical Address)
• Phone Number
• Website
• Services offered
• Women-operated business (a new Yelp feature)
• A description of your business

In the description, try to speak from the heart and write about what made you decide to get into the Beauty and Esthetics field.

You’d also be wise to include information such as how long you’ve been in business, what product lines you carry, and your PocketSuite online booking link (so folks can book your services directly from Yelp).

Additionally, keep an eye on your email or Yelp app, as that’s where you’ll get notifications that you have a new message in the Yelp Messaging center.

Your customers will be reaching out to you via the ‘Contact this Business’ button, and when they do, Yelp will offer to automatically send their message to other businesses.

For this reason, it’s absolutely imperative to follow up quickly, so other Estheticians don’t gobble up your potential clients by booking them before you have a chance to!

This is another reason to have the PocketSuite online booking functionality as you can include your booking link in your follow-up messages to the folks that reach out to you through Yelp.

This cuts down on the friction of forcing them to call you and instead allows them to self book your services with a single tap or click.

Now that we’ve covered some practical ways to improve your Yelp profile, let’s talk about how you can get more 5 star reviews as this is the fuel that will propel your profile into the top ranks of Yelp where you will be discovered by more clients and get more views – and more bookings!

STEP TWO: GET MORE 5 STAR REVIEWS

An easy way to get more 5 star reviews is to ask your happy clients to post reviews on your Yelp profile.

“But how do I distinguish my happy clients from the disgruntled ones,” you ask.

Easily – by surveying each client post-service to find out their opinion on the quality of the treatment they received.

For example – let’s say you recently performed a stellar facial for your client Lisa.

You should contact Lisa via email, phone, or text message the day after her appointment, and ask something like this:

“Hey Lisa! It’s [Your name] with [Your business name]. I wanted to thank you for choosing us for your facial treatment yesterday. I wanted to get your feedback on what you thought about your service as this does help us to improve.”

Wait for the client to give you the feedback. If it’s negative, thank them for their feedback and try to make the changes requested or mentioned in the clients’ message.

If the feedback is positive, immediately follow up with something to this effect:

“Thank you Lisa. We do strive to provide amazing service, and I’m happy you’re impressed! I was wondering if you would be willing to share your experience by posting a review on our Yelp page? It would really help us out.”

You can also offer to text or email the happy client a link to your Yelp profile, which will make the process easier for them and improve the chances that they’ll actually post a review.

As a bonus pro-tip, you can repeat this process for other review platforms like Google or Facebook.

Side bar: You can actually automate the entire process of asking for an internal review and then a Yelp review in PocketSuite. Check out “Smart Campaigns” in PocketSuite to learn more.

So now that you’ve built up a respectable Yelp profile with good information, a sharp follow up system, and lots of 5 star reviews, you should see new business rolling in.

The next question is, how do you manage all of the scheduling, payments, messaging, and the rest of the routine tasks that typically come with running your own small business?

Here’s where PocketSuite steps in to help – you can book clients online, accept payments, take deposits, sell products, manage your inventory, and a whole lot more – all from a single app.

Try the Premium FREE trial and see why the ASCP (Association of Skin Care Professionals) specifically recommends using PocketSuite to all of their Estheticians!

If you’re already using PocketSuite, here’s how to set it up for your Esthetics business.

Like this article? You’ll love these articles:

• Why You Should Get Your Esthetician License
• How to Run your Esthetician Business on PocketSuite
• How to Market your Esthetician Business on Instagram
• Our guide on how to generate leads for service businesses in 2022
• Our Frustrations with Square article
• Taste the Sweet Success of Sugaring