Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Andrea Stein on December 2, 2011 at 12:21pm

Try looking around your area for Day Spas or Salons looking to hire Estys. Get some experience under your belt and take as many classes and webinars as possible and go to the trade shows. Your enthusiasm is wonderful but it takes time to build a clientel, so while you are building you will also be growing in knowledge and experience and confidence, which will go along way in helping clients put their trust in your expertise. congrats and welcome to a wonderful field!

Permalink Reply by Laura Cooksey on December 2, 2011 at 1:42pm

It can be a tough go getting started.  Is there any part of esthetics that interests you most? What part of it are you passionate about?

Permalink Reply by Tiffany Hendren on December 2, 2011 at 2:19pm

Starting a business from scratch without experience and without a clientele base to draw from is difficult, but not impossible.  It requires a lot of hard work, creativity, and sacrifice.  However, if you are determined to go it alone, you need to be able to budget your time to the minute & your finances to the penny.  You mentioned that you've been working on your friends & family - have them do referrals for you.  Build a client-friendly website (Intuit is pretty easy to use, but remember to hit save to all changes), and publish it to as many free sites as possible (Just being listed on Yelp can drive traffic to your website without paying for their monthly advertising). 

To get clients in, you need to use social media sites (i.e., Facebook is good for exposure) and discount sites to your advantage.  Groupon & Living Social will require you to discount your service by a minimum of 50%, then will take 50% (plus 2.5% credit card processing fees) of the profit, but they will give you instant exposure to their already built clientele base.  By "sacrificing" 75% of your fees, you'll be able to slowly build your own client base. 

Figure out what you love doing & capitalize on it, but also pay attention to what the clients in your area are drawn to and asking for. For instance, I've always loved anti-aging & acne treatments, so they are the corner stone of my practice. However, waxing is huge in my area, but when I first started out, I hated it and actually got sick prior to my first bikini wax client. I was shaking the whole time from nerves and took 35 minutes! Today, it doesn't phase me at all and I can do a complete brazilian in 3-5 minutes start to finish, and my clients love it & refer friends to me.

Good luck!

Permalink Reply by Angela DeNorscia on December 3, 2011 at 8:25am

Where are you from? I'm from Mass. When I 1st started out. I rented a room in a salon for two years, had to do a lot of waitressing during that time as well. In Mass, you graduate school and take your state board exam receiving your Level 7 license. You need to work under a Level 6 Aesthetician or a Cosmetologist Level 1 for two years before you can get a Level 6 license for yourself. After that you can then open your own shop, spa, studio, etc., here in Mass. So depends on where you live. If I was you I would double check your states rules, try to find a small spa and work under an older Aesthetician (one on one is ideal for an Aesthetician) until you can upgrade your license. If you find a good person as your mentor, thats where you'll get your BEST education! Trust me, further education means confidence, and confidence means more clients. Also, you'll develop a relationship with this women and who knows?, if she's overbooked, and you prove that you are a big help, she will give you her walk ins. And when she's close to retiring...you'll be 1st in line to buy her shop!!! Starting out is hard, very hard like I said I had to work a 2nd job in the beginning. In the beginning you just have to show owners that you are helpful, VERY HELPFUL to them and RESPECT there shop. Work your way up as they say, clean the shop, help out with the front desk, offer there clients tea, introduce yourself. You have to "build yourself" before you build a clientele, AND as far as your friends and family go? Work with what you have...ask them to help promote you to THERE friends, family, co workers, etc. Good Luck and I hope this note helps you. -Angie          

Permalink Reply by Dee Dee Jones on December 4, 2011 at 7:03am

Wow thanks for all your help! I appreciate all the great advice. You guys are awesome!

Permalink Reply by Dee Dee Jones on December 4, 2011 at 7:13am

Honestly, I like waxing but absolutely love love makeup. I enjoy doing facials and doing treatments but sometimes when you are not in the know of it all it can be frustrating. So I'm doing my best do learn everything I can. When I was in school all of my classmates felt as though we got jipped. We just felt for the amount of money we paid for school that we did'nt learn a whole lot. I'm trying to take classes as much as I can but it is difficult. I'm actually making a career change. I've been in the dental industry for over 20 years and decided to get into the beauty industry because I love it so much. So I currently still work full time at the dental lab. Needless to say it's hard to take off on Mondays to go to a class for chemical peels or learn more on a particular skin care line. I'm trying though....I will make this work. I'm so glad that I joined this network for skin care. It's very helpful

Permalink Reply by jackie mozingo on December 4, 2011 at 2:02pm

When I first started I worked for a tanning salon that turned salon/spa. My clientele was mainly waxing. Now my number 1 service is brazilians. I am self employed and have been for 13years. You will see clients come and go. Some will stay with you forever, some will not. So you will always need to be on the look out for new clients too but keeping your regulars as happy as a clam. But I do believe you need to start somewhere. Just keep being persistent you will find a place to work. Then go from their.

Permalink Reply by Tamara Townsend on October 14, 2012 at 10:26am

Dee Dee,
As an Esthetician of 7 years, I recommend you find a job in an established spa/ salon. A lot of places will hire new esthy's because they want to mold you, which can be great for you. You will earn very valuable experience, not only with technique, but also dealing with clients and you will learn more about the industry. I feel that new esthy's really are not ready to open their own businesses because you don't have any experience. As other people have mentioned, take lots of classes, learn as much as you can and LISTEN to more experienced estheticians. You need to work full time at a busy place for at least 3 years to really know what you are doing. Good luck and let us know if you have any questions, even if it is just about skin! I wish you the absolute best in this industry:)

Permalink Reply by Dee Dee Jones on December 12, 2011 at 10:54am

Hi Valerie! I went to Paul Mitchell in Austin,Tx. I feel as though we did'nt recieve as much of the knowledge needed to go into the 'esthetic world' for the amount of money we paid. My entire class felt this way. I'm just doing what I can to learn all I can from the experiences esty's on this site and also from books, magazines, shows, etc. etc. I'm so thankful that I found it. Thanks so much for the encouragement and bless you in school and after. Stay in touch

 

 

Permalink Reply by Elizabeth Lee Pasko on January 23, 2012 at 11:14pm

Hi Dee Dee,

If you really love makeup here is an idea........how about offering something to bridal shops, planners, etc. to promote you as the go to girl for makeup? Offer to drive to them on their wedding day (make sure you take this into account when you do your pricing).

Get before and after pics and put them on your website/facebook/ whatever.......

Permalink Reply by Dee Dee Jones on January 24, 2012 at 9:16am

Sounds like a great idea! Thanks so much for your input...really appreciate it!!

Permalink Reply by Linda Gearke on August 9, 2012 at 7:06am

I am a personal care product development consultant with 17+ years of experience helping entrepreneurs bring their skin care, hair care, cosmetic, etc, product concept to market.  If you would like assistance with any aspect of developing or launching your own line as simply and cost effectively as possible, please contact me at strictlypersonal@juno.com