Cosmetology Pre-Enrollment Information

Nature of the Work

Acquiring the right "look" is basically what inspires clients to seek the services of a licensed highly qualified esthetician. The individual's right "look" requires a combination of services from the cosmetologist, nail technician, and esthetician. That perfect hairstyle, healthy well cared for hands, feet, and nails, and most importantly healthy glowing skin with artistically and tastefully applied makeup to bring out the natural beauty of all people. Estheticians work to improve their client's skin condition and health and to restore its functions. They help clients protect their skin from the effects of weather, pollution, stress, and poor nutrition, and they help the skin maintain optimal health and vitality. As the publics increasingly demands a well groomed appearance they rely on their cosmetologist, nail technician, and esthetician more and more. Although trends in makeup change from year to year the basic job of the esthetician remains the same help their clients to have healthy glowing skin and the "look" that compliments their features and skin tones.

Skin care specialists offer a wide variety of services, including skin analysis and examinations, lifestyle analysis and medical/health history as it effects the skin. They apply mask, cleansing pores, treat wrinkles and age spots, and moisturize the skin. They beautify the skin by giving facials, massage and wraps, cellulite treatments, and head and neck massages. They also do skin peeling, brow and eyelash tinting, hair removal, and aromatherapy sessions. As an esthetician you will also be enhancing the facial features of your clientele with color and shading through the application of makeup.

Most skin care specialist provides their clients with recommendations for at-home skin care and treatment. They also refer their clients to dermatologists or other medical professionals when necessary. They demonstrate and sell skin care products and makeup to the client, and keep record cards of client treatments.

In addition to their work with customers, estheticians are expected to keep their treatment rooms and work areas clean and all tools sanitized. Estheticians who manage or own their own spa business will have managerial duties that include hiring, supervising, and firing their employees, keeping business records, payroll duties, and accounting responsibilities.

Working Conditions

Your job as a professional esthetician is to promote beautiful and healthy skin. You have been trained to analyze skin conditions and to perform treatments to achieve results. These duties will be performed in a clean, pleasant, relaxing treatment room with bright to subdued lighting. Calming music and general atmosphere of well being completes the atmosphere of the spa/salon setting. Estheticians are in close physical contact with clients. They must take care to maintain a clean, healthful appearance and environment.

Employment, Earnings, and Outlook

Most all cities and towns offer esthetician services in either a cosmetology salon/sap or a skin care spa only. The demand for individuals trained in the field of esthetics continues to show steady growth as interest in skin care treatments is on the rise. The esthetician can expect to work full-time or part-time as they see fit. Part-time employment attracts many who want to combine a job with family, school or other responsibilities. Depending upon the size of the town and if you work full-time or partime you may work evenings and weekends to accommodate the customers schedules. Resort spa employees often have week-end schedules.

It is difficult to give an accurate picture of earnings for skin care specialist, because most of them work part-time and/or are self employed. The median weekly income for estheticians is about $311. Entry-level skin care workers are likely to earn minimum wages to start, but a successful, experienced skin care specialist eventually can earn a comfortable salary. Estheticians can boost their earnings by selling a product line, and some ultimately own their own shops/spa, which if successful, can result in much higher annual incomes.

The demand for skin care specialists is expected to increase during the next decade. In fact, statistics indicate that skin care is the fastest-growing segment of the beauty industry. This fast growth is the result of a combination of factors, including an aging population concerned with health and appearance, a growing awareness of the harsh impact of the sun, pollution, stress, and the increasing tendency for men to seek out services which once used primarily women. For all these reasons, the outlook for skin care specialist/estheticians is particularly good in the immediate future.

Training, Qualifications, and Advancement

In order to become an esthetician, you must graduate high school or have a GED, graduate from an approved estheticians program, and pass a state licensing exam. Requirements for licensing vary from state to state, but most training programs take anywhere from a few months to a year to complete. These training programs include classroom study in such topics as sanitation and hygiene, anatomy, and skin diseases and conditions. Students also participate in skin care demonstrations and practical work with instruments. In Missouri a student must graduate from a school with no less than 750 hours of training. Cosmetology Concepts Institute's esthetician program is 1200 hours; we feel the additional 450 hours of training above the state requirement is necessary to allow for proper training in all the subject material needed to become a well trained esthetician. Applicants to the state board upon graduation are required to pass a written and practical test, passing scores for each phase of the examination is 75%.

Some states have reciprocity agreements that allow licensed estheticians to practice in a different state without additional formal training. If you want to apply to a state to become licensed in their state through the reciprocity process you have only to contact their state board or information on the requirements to do so. The addresses of all boards in the United States of America can be obtained from the school office of Cosmetology Concepts Institute upon request. If you want to write to any state for additional information please feel free to consult our book of information.

At the high school level, courses in anatomy, biology, and general health will provide a good foundation for those interested in becoming an esthetician. Like other careers in cosmetology, skin care specialists are in the people business, so classes in speech, psychology, and communications may also prove helpful.