Millennials are transforming the traditional definitions of the modern work place and the beauty industry is no different. The term millennial has gotten a bad rap and has been tarnished with a laundry list of stereotypes – stigmas around professionalism, work ethic, and general expertise. I guess I should categorize myself as a millennial, though I really don’t want to. I’ve encountered my share of stigma. As an aesthetician, I would like to feel like my clients look up to me and value my opinion as a licensed professional. Unfortunately, when you have a baby face or look like your client’s niece in college, you might have some hurdles to jump over to establish yourself in a place of authority. Please allow me to share with you some of the obstacles I’ve encountered as a millennial aesthetician and offer some helpful solutions you can use to overcome them.
“HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN DOING THIS FOR?”
My all-time favorite question. If I had a dollar for every time someone has asked me this question, I think I’d be relaxing on a beach somewhere. Some clients ask this question out of general curiosity. Others ask to gauge your knowledge, equating longevity with proficiency. As we all know, time doesn’t always equate knowledge, so it is best to always answer this question truthfully – whether it has been nine years or nine months. Your expertise will become evident when you conduct your consultations and attend to your clients’ needs. If you like, you can also hang any certificates and achievements in your treatment room. It looks impressive and can ease the minds of any worried clients.
THE STRUGGLE FOR CONTROL
Every now and then you may encounter the client that feels they know more than you do or doesn’t trust your professional recommendations. This can be very frustrating for the millennial aesthetician that just wants the best for their clients. Continue to reassure your client that you’re a trained professional and they should trust your recommendations. Also, communicate, communicate, communicate with clients. Inform them of every step in your process. When performing treatments, let clients know about the next steps and ensure they understand what is happening to their skin. After the treatment, communicate with them what they should expect afterward and any post-care they should do at home. When the client hears your knowledge and ability to foresee any unexpected roadblocks, they will grow to trust you in the treatment room.
Unfortunately, there will be times when a power struggle occurs, and you and the client can’t reach and understanding. No matter how you try, you just can’t earn their trust, or they question every decision you make. If this is the case, it is time to protect your energy, as well as your space. I want to let you know here and now that it is unequivocally okay to fire a client. There’s a particular way to go about doing it that is professional. E-mail, phone call, or in-person are the best ways to express to a client that it may be best they pursue services with another professional. Don’t allow yourself to be guilted into changing your mind. You might feel tempted to think you need to hold onto every client, but instead, think of how this client is taking the space of a potential client that will appreciate you and follow you recommendations. Have ownership over your business. By setting these boundaries, clients will take you more seriously.
HIERARCHY AND SENIORITY IN THE WORKPLACE
If you’re the new hire at your spa or office, it can be tough getting noticed when there are more senior professionals that work alongside you. Standing out and establishing yourself doesn’t have to be stressful. Don’t give into the urge to prove yourself. Adhere to the rules, work hard to impress your clients, and remember to take continued education classes to add new skills to your tool-belt. Educating yourself and learning a new specialty will put you on the level with your seasoned counterparts. In addition, if you can find a senior aesthetician that’s willing to take you under their wing, that’s great, as well. Having a mentor to show you the ins and outs and clue you in on common mistakes before you make them can save you from future shortcomings. Finding this relationship can be hard sometimes because aestheticians are notoriously private and territorial. Tread lightly, try not to step on any toes, and always be friendly. Once you find a willing mentor, you’ll have a wealth of knowledge at your fingertips.
“I’D LIKE TO SPEAK TO YOUR MANAGER”
As a millennial, you may or may not struggle with confidence. If you’re new to a leadership role in a management position you can second guess yourself or overcompensate for your role. The testing of boundaries isn’t uncommon from your subordinates and clients. Don’t allow it to get under your skin and never take it personally. You’re here to do a job and produce results for your company. Never raise your voice. I also can’t stress enough the importance of trusting your intuition. Whenever you feel that something isn’t right or that a situation is headed south, listen. Listen to your intuition and plan for the contingencies. Remind yourself you’ve been hired in this position for a reason and it is clear the higher-ups see that you have the ability to do the job well.
BREAKING THE MOLD
For centuries, the aesthetics industry has been, for the most part, unchanging. The standard image has been the professional in the white laboratory coat with the ballerina pulled back bun. Just plain bland. All of these traditions and antiquated ideas of what the spa world should be can feel stifling to the modern day millennial esty. The millennial esty may want to be bold and colorful or just let their own personality shine through more in their practice. I personally have struggled with overcoming the mold that most aestheticians are placed in. Now, I wear my hair in funky colors and come to work dressed in fashions that I feel best represent me, not a stuffy lab coat – and I play modern music in my treatment room, too. Breaking the mold not only applies to appearance, it also applies to groundbreaking practices. Do things that no one would think to do in a spa. Play an interesting podcast for your client instead of whales and windchimes. Explore new technology and apps to wow clients and boost marketing. Borrow from other areas of industry and adapt them to your practice to give yourself a leg up on the competition. These new practices will be the stamp on your brand to really make you stand out from the rest of your colleagues. As Maya Angelou said, “If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude.”
In conclusion, young millennials have a bad reputation. That’s no different for aestheticians. We have to prove ourselves in the workplace to our colleagues, and we have to earn the trust of our clients. Everyone’s experiences with this can be different, but the takeaway is to trust yourself and continue to educate yourself. Learn from your experiences and save them away for future use. These memories will serve you well in your career and build you up to be a confident, experienced, professional aesthetician.
Annastazia Unce is a licensed aesthetician, makeup artist, and author with roots in the beauty industry. She is also the founder of Kimeera Spa, located in the downtown Silver Spring, Florida area. With nine years of experience, she specializes in hair removal and treatment programs designed to transform various skin concerns – specifically in ethnic skin. Unce has an associate degree in audio engineering, a certificate in entrepreneurship from the KauffmanFoundation, and a certificate in aesthetics from Fortis Institute. She has attended advanced education classes at the International Dermal Institute and regularly pursues continued education in subjects such as advanced exfoliation and advanced chemical peels. kimeeraspa.com