What to Know before Purchasing an LED Device for your Spa
When it comes to anti-aging treatments, aestheticians today certainly have many choices. From lasers to peels to oxygen facials, spas can offer countless ways for their clients to combat the signs of aging. One popular new option is LED (light-emitting diode) therapy. This treatment involves exposing the skin to specific LED lights, which in turn can stimulate collagen production and reduce the appearance of wrinkles.

While in most states laser and other light-based treatments remain the prerogative of physicians, the growth of medical spas, and the greater consumer awareness about these devices mean that aestheticians, whether working with a physician or at a day spa, will encounter questions about these treatment options. Much has been published in various professional skin care publications about lasers and light-based devices. The following article looks at lasers and light-based devices from a more technical, technological angle. What exactly is a laser? How do lasers work? How do lasers destroy a specific target without injuring the surrounding tissue? These are the types of questions answered in this review.

Since arriving on the scene in the late 1990s, the laser hair removal industry has gone through a metamorphosis. The technology has changed, the accessibility has changed, and in many states, the regulations have changed. While it can be tough to keep up with all of the regulatory changes, emerging laws, statutes and regulations are helping to strengthen our business and improve the overall client experience.
I know this from my own experience in the industry. I opened my first medical spa in 2003 in Scottsdale, Arizona with my business partner Matthew Gould. Immediately we noticed a problem.

As women it may be hard for us to relate to daily shaving of a facial beard but we all know the potential hazards of shaving our legs; be it cuts, nicks, ingrown hairs, or even an angry razor burn, we know the pitfalls associated with the shaving ritual. For men, besides having to deal with daily shaving, consideration for skin condition (i.e. oily or sensitized etc.) and beard type (i.e. coarse, fine etc.) must also be taken into account.

For many salons and professionals, the arrival of summer brings a marked increase in our waxing services. Certainly the traditional bikini wax becomes something that we see more in the summer, but how about the now-famous Brazilian Bikini Wax? What I have found interesting about this service is when it hit our industry about 10 years ago, it hit with a vengeance and is still one of the most attended classes and asked for service. It took about three years to move from exclusively female to now include the men.

Professional body sugaring continues to demonstrate how multi-beneficial it really is when the correct education is provided for technique and theory. And you should have an opportunity to learn even more once you are certified so that you fully comprehend the variety of treatments applications your salon/spa can offer with it… from hair removal treatment options to “skin conditioning treatments” which you guessed it – includes eczema and psoriasis.

“Education is the key.” How many times have you heard that statement? How many times have you either thought it or, if you’re like me, actually smiled and said it nicely to one of your clients? When it pertains to hair reduction with the use of light therapies such as laser and IPL, this is an unbelievably true statement.
Day after day I get the same questions – “How exactly does it work?”, “What’s the difference between IPL and laser?”, Will I ever have to shave or wax again?”, “How many times will I have to come back?”, “Is it really permanent?”, “Will it help prevent or work on my ingrown hair?”, “I have dark skin; can I get laser hair removal?”, and the best “Well, you do laser hair removal – how come you still have hair?”.

When I go to the doctor’s office, it is important for me to see their credentials on the wall of their office or in the hallway. Credentials also set you apart from the rest; it inspires confidence in your clients and colleagues that you have taken that extra step in training.

• As a client, should I be concerned with your academic competency?
• Would I know if you chose the right training course for the procedure that I am requesting?
• What was the duration of the course that you took?
• Was it an academic State approved credentialed physician supervised hands-on training program?
• Was your course over a weekend in a hotel room?
• Were there pertinent laser safety issues that will affect you the user and me the patient taught in your curriculum?
• How often do you practice this procedure?

Most professionals would agree that whether you’re 12 years or 12 months into the skin care industry, one thing is certain – there is no such thing as a simple service. Having advancements in technology, treatments, and skin care products, skin care professionals need to analyze all aspects of their client’s service needs. This is especially true for clients who suffer from hyperpigmentation, sun damage, thinning skin, couperose, hormonal changes, and skin sensitivity. After all, there’s nothing more disappointing than performing an upper lip wax on a client and having an end result of burned skin or hyperpigmentation develop over the waxed areas.

Salons, spas, laser treatment centers, and medical spas all competitively and capably offer a wide variety of professional hair removal services today. These special services are very affordable for clients, highly desired, low cost, and highly profitable for you. However, hair removal services are rarely marketed effectively by most professional salons. When marketed properly, professional hair removal services will quickly make you known as ‘THE BEST’ hair removal specialist in your area. Hair removal really should be one of your most important specialty services promoted aggressively throughout the year for women, men, and teens.