First Rubric/Practical on Basic Facial and Breaking Contact HELP!!
We are having a first practical Tuesday I am a bit stressed....
***disclosure: clients are really my fellow classmate since we are not working on paying clients yet****
We are not supposed to break contact with the client and keep a hand on the client at all times, we were so busy listening and concerned that if we break contact that the teacher will fail us (and we only get two chances to pass this) that we didn't confirm with the teacher when it was save to break contact with the client.
Our products are setup for us, so that we can use a palette to put our products in and set up our own little stations (setup our brush, cotton rounds, tips, bowls and sponges).
Although I don't have documentation we are following Dermalogica's procedures:
**I have two cotton rounds that I dampen with water spritz some UltraCalming toner to place the cottons rounds over closed eyes if there is no eye makeup.
1) Pre-cleanse & Cleanse:
2) Exfoliate: I have found this bit of a pain, even if I only use a little but it is hard to really sponge off, as we are not using the steamer yet and the air dries it out quick and I wet my fingers (one hand because I am scared to break contact and wet both at the same time) a bit in the mixing bowl to get a bit of slip but I am scare I will drip down someones neck and towel a bit off. 2-3 passes with the exfoliator seems a bit much without a steamer.
3)Massage: While I have one hand on the client I dip my brush in the massage cream to spread, and while I still have one hand on the client I place the brush down. Do the massage and we do not wipe off the massage cream (the mask goes on top).
4) Mask: While I have one hand on the client, I get another brush to apply the mask, and while my hand is still on one client place the brush down, tell the client to relax while the mask is doing its thing and I advise I am releasing my touch. I now break contact to get fresh bowls in my water.
5) Steam Towels: I informed the client I am getting the towels, one for the chest and one for the face, gently pressure, after I unwrap the last towel, I keep my hand on the client again.
6) Toner: While I have one hand on the client, I reached for the cotton rounds that I had sprayed on the cotton round, gently wiped the face and neck around. While one hand is on the client, I place the cotton rounds for trashing.
7) Serum: While I have one hand on the client I get some serum from my palette and with the other hand, and then switch hands to get more and the dab on the serum.
8) Moisturizer: While I have one hand on the client, get some moisturizer from my palette and with the other hand, and then switch hands to get more. Apply moisturizer.
9) Eye cream: While I have one hand on the client, the other hand gets the eye cream and switch up for the other hand and them dab on.
10) Massage Arms & Hands: I break contact to get the moisturizer, and start working the first hand and arm, and while not breaking contact, get moisturizer for the next hand and arm, then I slowly assist the client to a sitting position and while not breaking contact get a bit of moisturizer to massage the upper neck and shoulder.
AM I doing something wrong, overthinking things, etc!!
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Sonia C. on
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I will leave this post till Sunday and if I do not see any input. I will just remove it. I was hoping someone would provide guidance to a student.
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Permalink Reply by Roberta Gilbert on
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Hi Sonia,
Congratulations on getting started. Don't be overly anxious. Everyone gets a little nervous before they touch live people. I also went to a Dermalogica partnership school and your right they do make a big deal out of continuous contact, but you may be overthinking it just a little. It really depends on your instructor, but basically you want the client to be reassured knowing that you are there and you don't want to startle them the next time you touch them. If you need both of your hands to do something make body contact. When setting up your station with you in the seated position have your table at a height where your clients head rests about mid abdomen for you. That way your boobs aren't on top of their head and you can lean in keeping contact with them, but leaving your hands free for use. It takes a little bit of practice but contact can be made in lots of ways. So as not to soil my hands sometimes I will rest my wrist on their clean headband while using my fingers to do other things.
Specifically step by step see if this helps
*Step 2 exfoliation- Take both of your sponges in one hand and squeeze them out. Bring your free hand that has the sponges over the clients decollate (Never over the face in case of drips) and transfer the 2nd sponge to your contact hand. If your table setup has a towel under the clients head with elbows on the table close to the head, give your sponges a quick tap and you are ready to roll. Im not sure which exfoliator your using or but 2-3 passes is excessive but almost all Dermalogica products are water soluble. They will emulsify if you continue adding water.
*Step 3 massage- If its alright with your instructor keep your massage cream on the top of your hand. Retrieval is much easier than out of a container with a brush. I get a good glob of it and that stuff is pretty thick so it won't move. By the time you do your third spread you have more than enough massage cream to work and you won't have broken contact.
*Step 10 hand and arm massage- This one is virtually impossible to keep hands on 100% of the time since you have to move around the treatment table. This is where I keep contact with the table. The client can feel where you are even if you aren't touching them.
Some things you will learn are slightly impractical, but a good base. As you get more comfortable with giving a facial you will develop your own style and naturally work these techniques in, or out of your routine. For school purposes even if not executed perfectly your instructor will see how much effort you put into getting it down.
Good luck.
Roberta
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OMG Roberta, if I saw you in person I would big you the biggest hug in the world :) ...
I am going to read this carefully and reply back if you don't mind, I might have a questions that would need clarification.
Thank you again!!!!!
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Roberta,
I forget to mention that we use a little palette (the little plastic ones for painting) to put our products in, except for the toners that we spritz onto a cotton round.
For the exfoliators we have Dermalogica microexfoliant and the skin prep scrub.
My mini station is behind me because of the way the beds are setup in one side of the room.
For the microexfoliant we prep up before hand in a jelly cup and use the fan brush to apply and our hands to work with the product, if it is skin prep scrub I place it in my palette, and this is where I have trouble because there is no steamer to provide glide: I keep contact and get some product, and transition some to the other hand and keep contact while I wet my fingers to get some slip. I totally agree that 2-3 passes seem to be a bit much with no steam to work with. I find it hard to make on complete pass because its already drying on the skin. What is the best way to wet the fingers and getting the product to emulsify, if it is needed?
For the massage cream that is also on our palette and is brushed on with the fan. The first time I used too much and the girl looked like I bathed her in oil and had to sponge off some of the product before doing the mask, the second times I felt like I did not have enough for a glide. Is a quarter size portion too much product?
For step 10 hand and massage--I am going to try to position it close to the my station and keep contact with the table like you have suggested.
Thank you.
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So here is the good news. The daily microfoliant when whipped into a foamy frenzy doesn't need a whole lot of manipulation. You'll see how nice that one is to use once you are able to use steam with it. Steam will activate the enzymes and they will act like little pac-mans on the skin helping to soften and dissolve the dead cells. The skin prep scrub has never been a favorite of mine, but I do have a question about it. Are you dispensing the product yourself or is you instructor doling it out? You may not have enough product to work with which might be why its so difficult to spread. Try this before getting your product from your tray dip your hand in your water bowl and gently pat your clients face leave it visibly moist if you need to. You can also do this with your sponges. Then when you grab the exfoliator from your pallet add a little water to your hand and then rub them together making a paste for your application. (Use your elbow as an anchor to keep contact) Sometimes the person we are working on is so dry and dehydrated that their skin literally drinks whatever we put on it. It can be a real challenge to keep slip and glide without making them feel like a gooey mess. ( Keep in mind your instructor knows this and knows the product, she is probably looking for how well you follow the rubric more than your fluency at this point.)
As for the massage cream depending on your clients skin type and if you have the option, you might like the oil free massage better then the massage cream. I always liked to mix them together as i felt it gave me just the consistency I was looking for. If for whatever reason you have used too much product warm steamed towels are the best thing that ever happened to us. If you all only have an exact amount of towels and you risk being marked down for using them at the wrong time utilize your esthetic or gauze wipes. If all you have are your rounds from when you applied toner then I would skip the cleanup as the cotton will stick to the face and give you more trouble then its worth. Remember the client cannot see you and most things we do can be corrected so long as we keep our cool. For me having a little to much for me is better than not having enough. The skin has a point of saturation and will only absorb as much as it needs. The mask that you put on top of it (Colloidal-is a carrier. It takes on the properties of whatever you put under it so its a wonderful hydrator if your client has been overly moisturized. Sebum clearing is meant to draw up impurities and has antibacterial properties. If the face is too "greasy" that one won't do its job, but no big deal. It also won't dry and get hard so you just count down your time and hot towel it off. The multi vitamin recovery mask is full of yummy skin food and while it won't be fully utilized over a coated face the client will still get some benefit.
You are going to be fine. Your classmates and instructor want you to do well and you will. Anyone who cares enough about their clients to prepare this thoroughly deserves to pass.
One other thing. If you find that you do not have enough product to operate properly respectfully bring it to your instructors attention ahead of your practical. Part of her job is to be parsimonious and not waste the schools resources so I'm guessing she leans toward conservative when dispensing product. Share with her just like you did on this forum exactly the areas you are running into difficulty. She may have some tips to share.
Happy Facialing.....
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Hello Roberta,
Our teacher sets up the products by skin type and them we dispense them to our little palette (http://www.rexart.com/product623.html). She said a little goes a long way, but I try to eyeball the product based on how much I would use at home (for example I know I don't need a pea size of eye cream), I was eyeballing about a nickel size for the face massage cream because the first time I must of doled about about a quarter size or more. My error was that when she was showing us how to do I didn't see that well because I am short.
I feel the same I rather how more than not have enough. I know she may is being a bit conservative with the products because when we practice on each we were supposed to be using Queen Helene (YES you read right and she didn't want us to have breakouts from cheap products, they are phasing out BioElement and Provonia because they school partnered with Dermalogica) the director wanted the Dermalogica reserved for paying clients.
I can't wait to use the steamer, I have told my classmate that we I get exfoliated at a spa there is a steamer running for some slip. The last time I use the Skin prep scrub I used a little bit and wet my finger tips tip get it going, and it was much easier to wipe off than the microexfoliant (I know the steamer would make it easier) and I did not feel any grains.
Do you think for the scrubs less would be better and using some water since we are not yet using the steamers and it would make cleaning it easier? For the mask and scrubs she wants us to sponge them off since the towels are too rough. She has been trying to get the school to get newer towels (its a public state school).
I like the multi vitamin mask but I must be the only person that does not like the smell. I thought when I bought it for myself that I bought I bad one because it reminded me of latex paint lol. I didn't realize the Colloidal was a carrier, I was using it as a hydrating mask one of my classmate because he skin was dry from tanning a few days before and on another one I used it because she has sensitive skin.
I really appreciate all of your feedback, I don't feel as nervous as I did when I first wrote the post. You gave me some really useful suggestions, I am going to definitely try to dip my fingers first before getting the product. Thanks a million!!!!
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I am really sorry that they have you all putting Queen Helene on your faces. That is not a good product. I have worked with both Bio-Elements and Pevonia, I don't care for either. I would shell out a little extra product if I were you. You have to give yourself a little time to learn the products. Once you do you will have no trouble choosing which works best and how much of each you need. Heres a little cheat. Keep a smidge bit of cleanser on your pallet. Do your first and second cleanse, then mix a small bit of cleanser with your mechanical exfoliant (Skin Prep Scrub or Daily Microfoliant.) Add a bit of water and you have what Dermalogica refers to as a power wash. Like what us lazy girls might do in the shower. One other thing may help you. Sometimes as esthies we wash our own hands so much that they are often dry. So dry that our hands suck up the moisture from the product. I wear nitrile gloves through the majority of my service. I am chemical sensitive and don't like to expose myself to most products, but I have found that the product spreads better on the skin when I'm wearing gloves. You totally made me laugh out loud. Im not a fan of the smell of the entire Age Smart line. It gives me immediate thoughts of a very mature woman. To be fair that line is for the aging client, however, it smells horrific. Colloidal mask is wonderful to calm irritated skin. Once you are allowed to use serums you can put the ultra calming beneath it and it yields very nice results. About your classmate who was tanning be careful of exfoliating after someone tans. If its self tanner no worries, but if they went to a tanning bed or played out in the sun within 48hrs of your treatment they are contraindicated for lots of different things. Many people will treat them anyway, but you don't want to be the operator when someone has a bad reaction to product. Be confident. Your going to be a great esthetician....RG
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Luckily we did use Queen Helene on our faces at all, the teacher saw what it did to the girls faces in the morning program and did not want us to have the same fate, especially a girl that works for a skin care company down here and her face cleared up using the products from her company. We haven't used the Pevonia or Bio-Elements, and I get a feeling that we are not going to
What a great idea for the exfoliating stage.
Yes I am not a fan of the Age smart odor, if I went in for a facial the smell would ruin my relaxing experience.
Our teacher had warned us about people that tanned and she noticed two of the girls so I didn't use any exfoliate.
OMG I just said I got a 90% on my anatomy test from last week I thought for sure I was going to scrape by with a low B or high C.
I can't begin to thank you for all your input and kind words.
Today is the big day and I will keep you post as soon as I find out.
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Hi Roberta,
I wanted to let you know that I passed my Rubric. I was rated very good on my facial massage technique, I was timing myself well, but I noticed one of my classmates was into the hand/arm massage 30 minutes in, and the teacher made an announcement that some of us were going to fast and there is still 20 minutes left and that we better find something to extend our time. We stupid me, I thought I was one of them and forget the toner and eye cream part :( but to be fair towards the end the teacher cut us short a bit when I had just gotten to the second arm, so I didn't get to massage the upper neck and shoulder. The other thing I was told to be firmer on my massage on the décolletage and the back of the neck. I sorta beat myself up because I had practice yesterday afternoon and I did good and committed my steps to memory, but I just was a bit nervous. At least I left no product residue, and I did not break contact when it counted and only broke contact to get my clean water after applying the mask and to get the steam towels and my hands were not cold. I will continue to practice and home and commit the steps to memory. At the end of the month we start taking paying customers at the school. My rating that I got was 6-7 :/ but I guess that was because I forget the eye cream and toner. I am not mad about the rating because if she was paying a lot of money in a real place a business she would be mad. Lesson learned.
Thank you again for your advice and input. You were right I was overthinking things and some of things the teacher said that scared us was directed more at a student that is not truly committed to the profession and possibly may be finally dropped since she did not show up to do her rubric.
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Good for you. Now that you've gotten the first one under your belt and you know what to expect practice will make perfect. Repetition is the mother of retention. At some point in the near future you'll be so good at that facial it will bore you to tears. As to the pressure during the massage that is really a choice best left to the client. I ask during my consultation what pressure they like. Most people already know, but I always say feel free to speak up if you would like me to adjust my pressure at any point. All of us have such different touch, some clients will fall for you because your way was perfect for them. One other thing when you massage apply pressure on the upward stroke be very light on the way down. Don't let that clients are "Paying" intimidate you. Its a school they aren't paying that much, even if you miss a step so long as they are relaxed and glowing at the end you did your job. The one place I agree with your instructor is on timing. It is everything. Getting behind schedule will add an immense amount of stress to the rest of your day. Always finish on time no matter where you are in the process. If your ahead of time in class keep on rubbing. No client is going to ask you to stop the decollate and shoulder massage. Conversely if I need to steal a few minutes I usually borrow them from the massage portion. Remember the mask stays on the face 15-20 minutes. Thats when you do the hand/arm massage, when your mask is dry you are done. And something that I've heard time and again lots of teachers score conservatively in the beginning, So that students are encouraged but still have something to work towards. Thanks for considering everything i've said, its really cool to feel like i've helped. Have a great weekend....RG
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Yes I am practicing. Our teacher is teaching us about not letting "paying" customers trying to intimidate us. One of our classmate that is not practicing at home and is only taking the class because it is something for her to do, disrespectful challenge our teacher, but I will just leave it like this it didn't end well for the teacher.
I know from this first experience I should not ever forget the toner or eye cream, my goodness those are steps I do at home.
I agree with the pressure, I never had a full fledge massage just the neck and shoulder areas and I have ended up sore, so I like light pressure.
By the way are you going to Premiere Orlando? A few of us are going from school and we are getting credit hours for it. I am looking forward to my first trade show even though we cannot purchase the workshops.
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Permalink Reply by Ann Gallagher on
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Hi Sonia,
I agree with Roberta...it is virtually impossible to do an entire facial without breaking contact at certain points. I also went to a Dermalogica partner school and worked briefly in a Dermalogica spa and it was really never a huge issue. As Roberta said, resting the back of your hand on their forehead while you reach for product is a good way to keep contact, but, you will occasionally need to use both hands. aligning the clients head with your abdomen is really a great trick...they "feel" you behind them, but, you are free to use your hands for other things.
In my case, our hot towel cabbie was in a central location in our school clinic, so, we had actually leave the client alone while grabbing the towels. The trick is to never leave or return to the client too abrubtly. Before you leave, rest your hands on their shoulders or temples or even top of their head for a brief moment. I also use to whisper that I would be right back. Then, when you return to them, again, let them know you are there by making subtle contact by touching them lightly before proceeding.
You will do GREAT! I stressed out so much before my practicals and it was really nothing to worry about. It will all be second nature to you before you know it! Good Luck!
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