Pamela Hill Institute

Critical Precursor Steps To Starting Your Own Aesthetics Business

Pamela — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 12:51:09 +0000

If you are thinking about starting your own spa or aesthetics business there are many things that need to be done ahead of time to make sure your success is inevitable, and to give you an excellent start to enter the business world competently.

Perhaps the first thing after having the concept and desire is the creation of a business plan, an organized plan on paper that outlines how you will go about organizing the business, what market you will service, who the competition is, how much money you need to make, how you will go about making it, and in general simply creating a plan to live by in order to be in business.

The next concern will be banking. You will need a place to keep your money. A business checking account that will hopefully be interest bearing or at the very least have very low fees is preferable. Check all of the banks in the area, including credit unions. Find out how badly each one wants your business, and what extras they are willing to offer. Make sure that they will not charge your employees to cash payroll checks. Find out if direct deposit for payroll is available, if they operate merchant accounts for accepting credit cards and debit cards, and if they will give you a credit card in the name of the business. Also are lines of credit available?

Licenses and zoning also need to be checked out, and this fits in with finding a location. You may have to purchase city, county and state licenses, and you may be required to collect state sales tax. This can require a bond through an insurance company. When choosing a location make sure that it is easy to get to, has space for prominent signage to make you noticeable, and has adequate parking space both for clients and for your employees. Remember the old saying “location, location, location.” Location is very important.

Developing a website should also be on your mind as well as marketing materials and advertising plan. You will need to create a web site that may require hiring a web designer. Also finding a web hosting provider. Business cards, brochures, fliers, discount coupons and other items to provide to keep the word about your business spreading need to be taken care of. Also how will you advertise? Will you use radio, television, newspaper, magazine? Talk to the sales reps from all local media, but don’t buy immediately. Make a plan and coordinate all marketing activity towards your master plan. Integrate all of your marketing communications.

Purchasing equipment will be the next step. Have you found a provider? Should you rent, lease, buy new or buy used? Analyze your financial situation and talk to an accountant before deciding.

Hiring staff of course is also important. Find people who will represent your business to your clients in a professional manner. Check references and licenses and be careful of whom you hire. It is your business, so take care of it.

Recommendations to Clients for Post Laser Treatment Skin Care

Pamela — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 12:00:00 +0000

If you offer laser hair removal to your clients, it is critical to remember that your patient care should not end when they leave your treatment room. Post laser skin care is equally important, as are follow-up treatments in certain circumstances.

As you may know, different people react differently to laser treatment. Some report a mild tingling sensation, following by minimal redness and they are fine within a few hours. Other people have a lower threshold for pain, and will experience redness for several days.

Scheduling Follow-Up Appointments

For clients that are having laser hair removal, it is important to respect and understand the three growth stages of hair (which will be discussed in detail in an upcoming post), so that the appointments are scheduled at optimal times. Ideally, you want to book subsequent appointments 3-5 weeks apart.

How Many Treatments Are Needed?

Every client is different and will require a different care plan. A person with fine hair may only require 3 treatments, while an ethnic client with dark, coarse hair may require 5 or 6 treatments to effectively remove all hair from the treated area. Make sure your client is aware that there is truly no guarantee of how many laser sessions it will take, but that they understand the average is 3-5 sessions.

Post Treatment Recommendations

As mentioned at the beginning of this post, your responsibility includes guiding your client safely through the after treatment phase. The advice you give will vary from person to person depending on color of hair and fairness of complexion.

The client should stay out of the sun for several days at least, which should be assessed based on the clients’ skin sensitivity.

Let the client know what types of creams and ointments can and cannot be used on treated skin. Naturally based moisturizers and Vitamin E creams are fine. Heavily scented or essential oil based creams may irritate the skin within the first few days after treatment. Non clogging products are always best to avoid ingrown hairs and rashes (due to the open state of the hair follicles following treatment).

When your clients have a pleasant post treatment phase, with no problems or issues, they will be happy to come back for subsequent appointments. On the other hand, if the client develops a rash or unnecessary discomfort, they very well might hesitate to return. As you can see, going the extra mile for every single client is always good for long term business.

You might also be interested to read a relevant blog post on Advanced Hair Removal

In the News: Summer Sun Can Be So Bad for Current and Next Generation Spa Clients

Pamela — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 11:21:21 +0000

Summer Skin Needs Extra Care

By Samantha Critchell

The Associated Press

NEW YORK — By this point in the season, parents are probably pretty good at slathering their children with sunscreen, but good summer skin care doesn't stop there.

Adults often adjust their health and beauty routines as they deal with heat, chlorine, sand, salt — and increased bathing to alleviate all of the above. It makes sense to do the same for children:

SUNNING: Sunscreen for kids isn't an option — it's a must, says Dr. Carol Drucker, a dermatologist and associate professor at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. But it's important to find the right kind of sunscreen for your children's skin.

Some thicker formulas, often with higher SPFs, can clog pores and contribute to heat rash, especially when combined with sweat, sand and dirt. Drucker encourages parents to experiment with different textures and weights. Sprays, for example, tend to have a lighter touch.

For teens, clogged pores can lead to another problem: acne. When there's any sort of extra oil secretion, it's important to fully cleanse, tone, exfoliate and hydrate (with an oil-free formula), says Jeanna Nims, lead aesthetician at the Beach Plum Spa at the Cape Codder Resort in Hyannis, Mass.

Nims recommends choosing an astringent with humectants, which can help retain natural moisture instead of adding an extra layer on top; she's partial to products with hyaluronic acid.

SWIMMING: Wet skin doesn't have as strong a barrier as dry skin, so kids become more susceptible to funguses and viruses, especially warts, ringworm and athlete's foot, warns Drucker.

"They're not usually bad things, but you want to recognize them — and maybe wear flip-flops or disinfect your feet when you get back to the car," she says.

Beach swimmers are also at risk for rashes.

An itchy, bumpy rash on skin that's either normally covered by a swimsuit or occurs in skin folds could be caused by larvae in salt water, Drucker says. One rash that occurs on exposed parts of the skin is more common in fresh water and is called "swimmer's itch." It's caused by little parasites of birds and snails, she explains, and while not dangerous, it can be uncomfortable. It can be treated with hydrocortisone, she says.

Another common ailment Drucker sees during the summer are children's raw finger and toe pads.

The culprit? The concrete at the edge of the pool.

"Kids hold on to the edge of the pool and walk on the concrete around it. It's especially a problem with new pools. It's an abrasion and people don't realize what it is," Drucker says.

BATHING: This is the grimy season for kids, but, says Drucker, they don't need a bath to wash off sunscreen. If anything, the buildup of a previous day's sunscreen just provides a little extra protection.

That said, sweat and dirt should come off.

Because of the frequency of washing, Drucker recommends switching to a milder soap and not soaping up quite so much — just enough to get clean.

Dry skin is more of a problem during seasons of low humidity, mostly winter, but it still will bother some kids during the summer. One option is a moisturizing sunscreen, says Drucker, while another would be an oil-free lotion.

Nims, the salon aesthetician, also notes that moisturizers with aloe or shea butter might soothe sunburns.

HAIR: Bathing and swimming do strip moisture from the hair, so it should be conditioned following every shampoo, advises Cozy Friedman, founder of the Cozy Cuts for Kids salon chain in New York. If hair is very dry and brittle, leave a little conditioner in as added protection.

"At the first haircut after camp or the back-to-school haircut, the stylists say it's like cutting off straw," Friedman says. "The stylists have to sharpen their scissors every September after the rush."

It's also the season for knots. To prevent tangles, Friedman recommends children with long hair wear a ponytail or loose braids both when they're active and when they're sleeping.

The other concern in the summer is the green tint that can come from chlorine.

"If I could tell people one little bit of advice, it's to use a swimmer's shampoo," Friedman says.

Her brand's made with orange extract, which helps remove chlorine, she says.

Teaching Spa Clients the Tangible Benefits of Anti-Aging Treatments & Lifestyle Changes

Pamela — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 11:46:12 +0000

Selling your clients the benefits of long term anti-aging treatments is a good thing that you can do for your client and a good thing that you can do for yourself and for your business. The reason for this is simple. Your clients will benefit because they will look good, feel good and put off the visible effects of the sands of time for a good long time, helping them. You and your business will benefit from increased business, increased profit by selling the necessary products to the client and also benefit long term because your client will be happier than ever before with the results and this will undoubtedly lead the client to refer friends, neighbors, relatives and acquaintances to you for treatment in the future. It is a win-win situation all the way around.

Our culture is obsessed with anti-aging and the process of reversing the aging process, slowing it down, and using the latest and best anti aging treatments available. To seek the anti aging treatments means sometime to erase the scars we have from our life. While some would rather keep these scars of time, most spa customers would rather erase them and have shiny hair, white teeth and vibrant, youthful appearing skin. This is accomplished through many different treatments. Fillers like collagen help many, as do microdermabrasion and alphahydroxy chemical peels, which remove the dried older skin and bring the healthy skin to the surface.Despite our anti aging treatment and fixation, we as people continue to age. Fortunately we can slow it down.

Healthy eating habits, moderate exercise and the treatments available at spas – both traditional day spas and medical spas contribute to improving the outer appearance and for many people that is enough to make them continue, improving the inner person as well.

Learning to avoid causing damage to the body through good nutrition, drinking plenty of water, and eating fruits, vegetables, berries and teas will help to keep the skin hydrated. Carrots, cucumber, spinach, celery, blue berries, strawberries, water melon and other natural fruits and veggies improve the skin and additionally control stress, reducing the visible effects of aging. Also avoiding smoking, excessive drinking of alcohol and other harmful things will help.

Encourage your clients to take care of themselves as well as using the products and services that your spa or clinic offers, and you’ll see them have great results, making them all the happier with you and your business.

Once you are aware, you can share these important benefits with your clients - they will thank you for it!

Permanent Makeup From an Clinician’s Point of View

Pamela — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 11:01:37 +0000

If you are interested in learning about or adding permanent makeup application to your menu of services, this article may be of interest to you. Although it is impossible to cover all aspects of permanent makeup in one segment, this blog will concentrate on detailing the three types of application.

Manual Method

The most time consuming of the three methods and requiring the most manual dexterity and skill. The manual method does not use any kind of appliance or electrical machinery.

Using a lifting technique aided by a manual application tool, the pigment is tapped into the skin by hand. The tool feature a handle and needle assemblies. The needles are disposable and single use only.

In this method, the needle is placed gently onto the skin surface, and then lifted forward and upward slightly to penetrate the skin. The permanent color is then implanted using a variety of lining and shading techniques.

Reciprocating Coil Machine Method

In this method, an electric tattooing machine is utilized. The reciprocating coil machine features a tube which holds the application needle. Using intermittent electromagnetic contact, the needle moves over the contact area with ease.

Color is implanted beneath the skin by guiding the needle over the skin surface, with the needle penetrating the skin and reaches the dermis layer. under the skin by guiding the needle attachment over the surface of the skin.

Once again, various techniques can be employed including lining, shading, ovuvoid and pointillism. For non-disposable tubes, rigorous sterilization must be employed. Disposable components are highly recommended.

Rotary Machine – Pen Method

This machine looks a lot like a digital thermometer and contains a tiny rotary motor. Not anywhere near as aggressive as the coil machine method, the pen moves in circular motions which cause the needle to move up and down.

The permanent colors are injected or implanted using lining, shading, pointillism and ovuvoid techniques. An autoclave is required to sterilize any non-disposable components.

If you would like to learn more about permanent make-up, you should check out my book Permanent Makeup by Pamela Hill.

Book Description

Tips and Techniques focuses on the newest techniques and the latest trends in permanent makeup that will give the reader a strong foundation and vital knowledge about this growing industry. Permanent makeup, while being one the hottest procedures in the aesthetics industry today, is also one of the most technique-sensitive. There is high demand for good permanent makeup artists in plastic surgeons offices, cosmetic dermatologists offices and spas. This text is designed to fully prepare the reader with comprehensive information, allowing them to move successfully into this exciting profession. With photos included to help illustrate the techniques, this book is an absolute necessity for the permanent makeup professional.

Facial 411: The Trendy and Increasingly Popular Oxygen Facial

Pamela — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 10:36:26 +0000

The trendiest spas in New York and Los Angeles probably have the most unique and cutting edge treatments in the country. The latest trend in that could be just around the corner: the hyperbaric oxygen facial.

The facial involves a machine that sprays atomized moisturizers onto the skin using a stream of pressurized oxygen. The treatment is designed to hydrate the skin immediately, making the face appear smoother and plumper. The theory follows that pressurized oxygen speeds the skin's absorption of moisturizing agents like hyaluronic acid (a carbohydrate that attracts water). However, it is important to note that no clinical tests have been done to see how the treatment works on the skin's top and underlying layers. In fact, no clinical tests have been done on the effectiveness of the facials, but that hasn't stopped spas from offering them. Approximately, 20,000 oxygen facials were done in the U.S. last year.

Celebrities seem to be on the oxygen facial bandwagon for the moment, and that might translate to a mainstream spa treatment offered at high-end spas. While its effectiveness is debated, one thing is clear, the oxygen facial is gaining in popularity.

Does that mean it is a treatments that the average clinician or aesthetician must master to compete? Possibly – time will tell if it becomes a mainstay on spa menus.

Source: "Does the Quick-Fix Oxygen Facial Really Work?" New York Times. www.nytimes.com.

Facial 411: Knowing the Symptoms and Treatments for Rosacea

Pamela — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 11:31:32 +0000

Rosacea is a common condition that is often misunderstood. It is known to affect about 45 million people worldwide, but primarily affects those of north western European descent and has been nicknamed the “curse of the Celts” since it particularly affects Irish, Scottish and those of Celtic heritage. It begins as flushing and redness on the central part of the face and across the nose, forehead and cheeks. As the condition progresses other symptoms can develop such as dilation of the superficial blood vessels in the face, small bumps and pustules, red eyes, burning and stinging. In advanced cases a red nose can occur.

Rosacea affects both genders but is most common in women, and can occur any time but usually between the ages of 30 and 60.

Famous people who have suffered or are suffering from rosacea include former President Bill Clinton, Lindsey Lohan, Rosie O’Donnell, W.C. Fields, Mariah Carey, and Princess Diana.

Causes of rosacea are unknown but many experts believe that it is a disorder caused by damaged blood vessels. This damage will cause the vessels to dilate more easily than they should and stay dilated for longer periods of time, or to remain permanently dilated. This can result in flushing and redness.

There is a hereditary component to rosacea, since it is primarily seen in Celts or others of northern European decent. While men are more commonly afflicted with it, the cases developed by men tend to be more severe. The first signs tend to be redness that persists after exercise, after cleansing or during changes in temperature. Exposure to temperature extremes are linked to rosacea as are intense sunlight and severe sunburn, anxiety, stress, cold winds, moving from a hot climate to a cold one, or a cold one to a hot one. Some foods and drinks can trigger flushing also, including caffeine, alcohol, spicy food and those high in histamines.

Some medications and topical ointments can make the spread of rosacea more rapid. A treatment that causes it to spread should be immediately discontinued. This includes some acne and wrinkle treatments on certain individuals. High amounts of isotretinoin, benzoyhl peroxide and tretinoin cause rosacea in some people, as do chemical peels and microdermabrasion. There are many creams and ointments available that bring relief to those who suffer from rosacea. Having a variety of these on hand for your clients who need them is a service you can perform as an aesthetician, as is staying knowledgeable of this ailment.

Facial 411: Meeting Clients Expectations for Knowledgeable Facial Care and Great Customer Service

Pamela — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 10:47:20 +0000

Most clients who get high end facials expect the works. They usually want a high quality facial, a light massage, great ambiance and excellent service. This full feature treatment relaxes the body and improves the skin while nurturing the soul. And that is what the high end spa is all about, making the client look good and feel good.

Offer All of the Facial Services To Please The Client

A facial, or cosmetic face treatment providing grooming steps and deep cleansing utilizing exfoliation, extraction creams, lotions, peels, masks, and massage is in the minds of many almost hedonistic, but that is really what clients want—to be treated like royalty. And that is what you and the spa are there for. Treat the clients well, make them look good and feel good and they will be back, and will bring their friends.

Exceptional Service To Your Client Is Expected And Should Be Delivered

Providing exceptional service is something that you should do for every client, but those who get facials expect it. Adding a little aromatherapy to the mix, and making sure that linens, towels and pillows used, as well as robes and slippers the client may wear are of the highest quality that you or the business can afford, soft to the touch with a pleasing texture, will pay off in the long run. They are part of the total experience that the client expects. So is the lighting. It should be soft and not harsh. Make sure that wall paintings and other decorations are pleasing to the eye, that the colors of the treatment room are light, pastel and easy to look at, adding warms and good feelings.

Pay Attention to the Facility’s Cleanliness

Also pay attention to cleanliness. Everything in the treatment room must be clean. If a client goes into a treatment room and sees an area that has not been cleaned, or linens that have not been properly laundered they will be immediately turned off and the pleasant experience they expected will not arrive no matter how hard you try. Pay attention to the little things and the big things will take care of themselves.

Think About Adding Music

Think about adding music to the mix. Ear pleasing sounds such as ocean waves, desert sounds, very light and neutral classical music without vocals, or light new age music can relax a client even more and enhance the total overall experience.

Facial 411: Effectively Treating Clients with Sun Damaged Skin

Pamela — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 11:17:05 +0000

Clients with sun damage and age spots on their skin can be effectively treated through microdermabrasion and chemical peels. Both of these methods have proven successful for thousands of people over the years and will continue to do so in the future.

The Sun Gives Life, But Can Also Cause Damage

It doesn’t seem fair that one of the most enjoyable things in life, the sun, which shines its rays upon the earth to provide us with light and through that light makes life itself possible can also cause damage to our skin and appearance. Too much sun in fact can even lead to dangerous problems like skin cancer or actinic keratosis, a colored spot on the skin that comes from too much exposure to the sun and can be a warning sign. While it is not in itself indicative of skin cancer it can mean that you have an increased risk. When you see a physician for an annual check up make sure that they look at any unusual spots on your skin just to be safe.

Chemical Peels and Microdermabrasion

In the meantime, taking care of the more minor skin problems that the sun causes can be done through the afore mentioned treatments of chemical peels and microdermabrasion. When it comes to chemical peels available for use by aestheticians. Knowing the differences between them and assessing which chemical peel is right is important for proper treatment. The primary difference is strength of the chemicals used. Phenol is the strongest of the commonly used agents and produces a deep peel which can help with pre-cancerous growths or other damage caused by excessive sun exposure. It is often used on sun damage on the face.

Milder Options In Chemical Peels

Alphahydroxy acids (AHA) are milder agents that are in common use. They provide brighter looking, smoother skin through producing lighter peels. And can include fruit acids, lactic acids and glycolic acids. Alphahydroxy will sometimes be mixed with facial and become part of a daily regimen. If the sun damage is slight then these agents are a good choice as they require a shorter recovery time. Tricholoacetic acid is another option and can be used in varying concentrations. It doesn’t last as long as Phenol peels and multiple peels may be needed, but it has a short recovery time and is popular with those who have minor problems and a limited time for treatment.

Microdermabrasion Is Another Popular Treatment

Microdermabrasion is a procedure commonly performed by aestheticians and as a resurfacing treatment for the skin is gentle and takes off the top layer of skin through use of micro aluminum oxide crystals, or a diamond tipped wand. A non-invasive and non-surgical procedure, it can be performed in the aesthetician’s office with no down time. There are virtually no risks or side effects and most clients have very positive results.

Facial 411: Treating Sun Damage with Aesthetic Services

Pamela — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 10:05:05 +0000

There are several methods the aesthetician may take in treating a client with sun damaged skin. They include intense pulsed light (or IPL), microdermabrasion and chemical peels.

Intense pulsed light treatment these days often takes the form of the foto facial. This procedure takes about thirty minutes on average, and causes reconstruction of collagen and blood vessels beneath the skin. The result is a reduction in lines and wrinkles, many of which have been caused by sun exposure over the years. This is a popular, non-invasive treatment. While the skin may be pink for a time after the treatment, no recovery time is needed. This is a treatment that a qualified, professional aesthetician can perform if they obtain the proper training and equipment.

The best candidates for this treatment are those clients who have early stage skin damage. Settings on the light device are altered for each client to cover their particular skin conditions. Results seen will include a gradual decrease in redness, flushing and dilated capillaries. Age spots, blemishes, fine lines, scars, hyper pigmentation, rosaga and spider veins will disappear. Intense pulsed light emits over a variety of wavelengths, as opposed to a laser which emits over only one wavelength.

Chemical peels also provide solutions to sun induced skin damage. A chemical peel requires use of a chemical solution to remove the outer layer of skin, the damaged layer, which allows new skin to take its place. The chemicals used are adjusted for the individual patient of course, and their unique skin makeup. Personal appearance enhancement and getting rid of skin imperfections that bother a client are common reasons for having a chemical peel.

While some of your clients may have concerns over the strength of the chemicals used, as a practitioner, there are many chemicals available of different strength levels. Milder agents like alphahydroxy acids are commonly utilized in light (surface) chemical peels. These agents produce brighter looking and smoother skin and can include fruit acid, glycolic acid and lactic acid. There is a very short recovery time required with these light treatment chemical peels.

Microdermabrasion is much like chemical peels in that it removes the outer skin layer, promoting the growth of collagen and new skin. In addition microdermabrasion is helpful for acne scaring, wrinkles and other signs of aging. Microdermabrasion exfoliates the outer layers of skin and brings out the new, clean skin layer that lies below. Then much like a vacuum cleaner, the layer is removed by the esthetician.

Your clients know that too much sun exposure can be damaging, but most people continue to lie out in the sun anyway, especially younger clients. As an aesthetician, part of your job is educating clients about the dangers of sun exposure and also recommend appropriate at home treatment systems, using the correct products suitable for a particular client’s condition. A result of that sun exposure in later life will be blemishes and imperfections in the skin. By connecting with aesthetician, clients are able to choose from a variety of approaches to resolve problems, as per your recommendations, and greatly improve the quality of their skin.

Learn more about Ensuring an Optimal Outcome in Skin Care