With thoughtful communication methods, attention, and dedication, you can offer clients unparalleled service, while increasing your salary each step of the way.
When communicating with clients, it is important to exude confidence. Confidence comes when we know our craft and have honed our skills. Confidence is expressed with concise and effective communication. When you take the knowledge you have acquired and condense the information into easily understood verbiage, you can convey your messages clearly every time.
Let's talk about how long waxing has been around. Depending on the sources, it is suggested that waxing originated in Egypt in 1150 B.C. though some say as early as 3000 B.C. I am going to say it is safe to assume that if a process has existed thorough that many centuries, it can be considered a “tried and true method.” Fads will come and go, but waxing is here to last. Let’s talk about why.
METHOD
Waxing is relatively inexpensive and when performed well, it is pain-free. Part of what is necessary to perform waxing services like a professional is to expedite the service. By this I mean not counting to 10 or pulling slowly.
Many think moving slowly equals being gentle, however the most advanced approach is to move swiftly with a delicate touch. This doesn’t leave time for the client to build up anticipation, resulting in their nerves being on high alert. Having said this, I am not condoning jumping into a service without a thorough consultation. It is important to guide the client on the steps you will be taking before you initiate the service. This way they know what to expect.
Moving swiftly and holding the skin will allow the wax to pull out individual hairs and not break hair off at the root – resulting in immediate hair growth at minimum and in worse case scenarios, painful and unsightly ingrown hairs.
This leads to my next topic. Informing clients what to expect both in the service and when they leave the spa is of the utmost importance.
There are three different phases of hair growth. Clients have asked how long it has been since shaving or waxing upon booking in order to achieve longevity. Having enough hair growth equals longer lasting smooth skin. If you book your own appointments the responsibility falls on you. If not, the front desk staff should be well-trained on the appropriate verbiage to use when receiving waxing requests.
Because there are three stages of hair growth, any person looking to get waxed will need a minimum of two weeks hair growth after shaving, ideally three. Three to four weeks growth post-waxing service, in order to have all three stages long enough to be pulled by the hair bulb. The hair bulb sits at the base of the hair follicle. If the hair breaks off at the epidermis because it is too short, the client will feel the prickliness of those pesky hairs immediately.
When a client is well educated, they will understand why you may be making certain timeline requirements and it also becomes very apparent to them that they are in good hands with well-trained and knowledgeable experts.
When clients get a high level of quality in our services, they feel complete trust knowing the results of their service will be achieved with excellence and they will look forward to taking your recommendations seriously.
The recommendations that pair well are always going to be associated to the last service you provided or the next service you will be providing for the client.
For example, say a client comes in for a facial. The natural recommendation will be suggesting an eyebrow shaping. When a person is taking time to take care of their face, they are showing interest in the appearance of their skin and overall look of their face. Besides a well-managed skin care routine with both facials and at-home care, regular eyebrow maintenance is key for improving the overall look of every individuals main focal point.
When you are seeing someone for a bikini wax the obvious next choice is to offer a partial or full Brazilian waxing. We are past the days of receiving these services just for a beach vacation or a romantic partner. These services have been an integral part of what many consider necessary grooming.
Use each service as a building block to the next. With a half leg wax, why not get a full? With any wax, why not try the underarms? You really can’t go wrong. This is a topic where less is more – less hair that is – except with eyebrow shaping. Leave those babies full and your clients will be coming back for that youthful look over and over.
Leah Simon-Clarke is a licensed aesthetician and consultant. In the 20 years Simon-Clarke has spent in the industry, her success has been driven by honing her skills in customer service, service innovation, marketing, and public relations. Find Simon-Clarke through Twitter @LeahSimonClarke or Linkedin by name.