There comes a time in every solopreneur’s experience where help is needed. Because solopreneurship is so all-encompassing in its scope, solo business owners likely face all manner of tasks in their day-to-day bustle. Some duties will be intuitive, like caring for a client, scheduling their next appointment, and so on. Other tasks might be a bit more outside the normal expectations for the job. Building a website, establishing application programming interface (API) connections, choosing software, finding a location for the business, selecting a skin care line (or lines) to carry, and many more are responsibilities the business owner may need help with if they are not naturally inclined to solve them on their own. How does a small solo business owner find help? The internet is full of information and there is plenty of aesthetics information out there. From collaborations to consultants, vetting information to getting started, this space has the solo business owner covered. 

Nichelle Mosley’s passion for aesthetics was born out of a desire to help others after failing to find help for her own acne as a young adult. Licensed in 2015, she has worked in clinics, plastic surgery practices, dermatologists’ offices, and with family practitioners. She then opened her own clinic in 2017, Queen City Beauty Group + Wellness. She focuses on integrative aesthetics and holistic solutions for clients’ skin concerns. As a member of the International Association for Applied Corneotherapy, Mosley seeks whole-person solutions while delivering results for clients. She is also the 2019 Skin Games Age Management Champion and 2018 Skin Games Acne Finalist. 

On the verge of being well into my 30s, age-prevention modalities and gizmos are becoming increasingly of interest – naturally. Coming into this age group in 2023 gives me and other millennials an edge not quite seen before. We are old enough to remember when getting older often meant letting go but young enough to witness the cosmetic and wellness boom responsible for giving antiaging facial injections and procedures mainstream status. As with anything that becomes common practice, the options become more and more refined – with popularity, comes ingenuity. 

Not only can age management start earlier and earlier; it can continue with no pain or downtime! Gone are the days when the only hope for age prevention is injectable neurotoxins and fillers. (I find this especially true as my primary concern is nasolabial folds, which I feel are not deep enough for injection intervention.) How is this possible? EMFACE. EMFACE is the first therapy that works on the framework of your face from the inside out by applying patented combination of synchronized radiofrequency (RF) and high-intensity focused electromagnetic facial muscle stimulation (HIFESTM). Synchronized RF heats the dermis to stimulate collagen and elastin production, while HIFESTM selectively contracts facial muscles.

That’s all fine and well, but how exactly does a full-face workout feel like? In so many words? Like a reverse sit-up for your face. Let’s start at the top!

THE EXPERIENCE

I sat on the table with a clean face ready for my closeup. The practitioner fastened three electrodes backed with a sticky adhesive onto my forehead and each cheek, along with a grounding patch on my back. I would describe the treatment sensation as if someone was gently squeezing and releasing my face at its center repeatedly for about 20 minutes. This is caused by the muscles contracting as they are scrunched and released. The most work I had to do was to sit back and relax – a breeze compared to the facial exercises I’m used to doing. 

I personally experienced no discomfort or overexertion. The patches warmed gradually during the treatment due to the radiofrequency. When everything was said and done, I did notice an improvement in my face’s overall volume, but I was told this would be temporary, similar to a workout pump. My full results would take six to 12 weeks. 

I write this at the four-week mark, and I am impressed. The concerns I had about my nasolabial folds have diminished, and it will only go up from here. And based on publish-pending nine clinical trials, where patients saw an increase of 30% in muscle tone, 37% in wrinkle reduction, 23% in lifting effect, 26% in collagen, 200% in elastin, 92.8% in volume, 92.5% in skin evenness, I am a part of the overall 92.3% patient satisfaction rate. EMFACE can act as a tool or a bridge and everything in between for those concerned with aging and getting older. It’s amazing what 20 minutes can do. 

Looking to elevate the client experience of the spa? Having a dream team of professionals that embody the spa’s values, live the mission, and strive to make the vision a reality is the path. The key to building a successful spa team is hiring and training the right people. But how do you ensure that each team member aligns with the spa’s values, vision, and mission? Being clear on who to look for will aid in finding the best fit for the spa’s culture, discovering how to train them, and knowing how to motivate them to achieve great results. 

Melissa Allen has lived many lives as a dance teacher, biologist, and marketing director before becoming a successful aesthetician and spa owner. All of these former positions helped to color her opinions, actions, and style. Allen’s career in aesthetics has also been far-reaching; she has been an aesthetician in the back of a salon, a solo aesthetician, a spa owner with several employees, and a global brand consultant. Allen has experienced many of the paths of aesthetics and is open, honest, and willing to share her adventures. As her time in the treatment room comes to an end, she is focused on mentoring and guiding the next generation of thinking skin care professionals and spa owners.

When it comes to true client results, proper homecare is an absolute must. After all, on average, 80% of your client’s skin health is based off their homecare. Skin care professionals love to see clients regularly, whether it’s weekly or monthly, but the truth is we are only providing limited results.  

There is nothing wrong with holding clients accountable and letting them know the 80-20 rule; sometimes, this is what it takes for clients to understand that they need to take matters into their own hands, with your guidance and support of course. You will have several clients that will tell you they do have a homecare routine but still see no results, or at least not what they are hoping for. The question is whether they have the right products and are using them in the correct way.

Andrea Gregaydis is a licensed aesthetician and international CIDESCO diplomat. She holds multiple additional licenses as a New York state instructor and nail technician, as well as a certified laser technician. Gregaydis is the lead instructor at the Aesthetic Science Institute and has over 10 years of experience as a practitioner, team coordinator, and role model for hundreds of future skin care professionals. She is contributing author to top industry trade magazines, as well as a speaker at various aesthetics conferences across the United States. She is also a CIDESCO International Examiner. 

Continuing education is essential in any industry, and aesthetics is no exception. Many aestheticians leave school feeling lost, inadequately trained, and ill-prepared to face the busy treatment room. Practice and repetition go a long way in improving skills and perfecting treatments, but for new professionals hoping to go the distance and provide outstanding treatments and service to their clients, continuing education is vital. Knowing where to start can be overwhelming with many brand choices, new technologies, and medical options. Deciphering needs from wants in terms of what education to pursue can leave a feeling of overwhelm.

Reference 

1. Bay Atlantic University. (2022, December 23). 8 types of learning styles: The definitive guide. Bay Atlantic University - Washington, D.C. https://bau.edu/blog/types-of-learning-styles/ 

Kirsten Sheridan has a higher national diploma in beauty therapy from the United Kingdom and is a licensed aesthetician. She has 20 years of experience as an aesthetician and educator, holds a teaching qualification through City and Guilds London, and is a CIDESCO diplomat. Sheridan’s other qualifications include massage therapy, aromatherapy, reflexology, and electrology. She has a personal training qualification through the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM), although not in active practice. In addition, she is the owner and founder of knowskin.com, an online learning hub for aestheticians. Sheridan has taught for Dermalogica, International Dermal Institute, San Francisco Institute of Esthetics and Cosmetology, San Jose City College, and The Dermal Sciences Institute. 

The ideal skin complexion is not determined by skin tone or color but rather, the state of skin. When given its adequate necessities, such as hydration, lipids, cellular renewal, and a healthy pH, the complexion is radiant, indifferent of skin tone or color. The role of skin care professionals is to help optimize skin health while mitigating factors that compromise the integrity of skin, and thus, the complexion. 

SKIN DEEP

There is more to skin complexion than meets the eye, with both external and internal factors impacting it. Internal factors go much deeper than what is visible on the surface; complexion goes DNA deep. Unpacking the uniqueness of one’s DNA can be like finding a needle in a haystack, but gaining a more comprehensive view of intrinsic factors is not impossible. It simply takes time, education, and professional intention. To understand what unlocks skin’s brilliance, one must first learn about one significantly important cell to skin complexion: the melanocyte. 

Resource

1. Cooper, C. R. (2022). The No Compromise Black Skin Care Guide: The Gender And Teen Equity Edition. Charmaine Cooper

C.R. Cooper is a connective, knowledgeable, and compassionate educator who has been a skin enthusiast for over 24 years. As the education manager and master educator for a renowned global institute of learning in the skin health industry, Cooper values organizational and individual industry standards, professional and personal brand integrity, and, most importantly, the inherent worth in every skin care professional.

It is essential for skin care professionals to understand the unique intricacies that different Fitzpatrick skin types present so that they can confidently treat all clients who walk in the door. The United States Census Bureau projects that by 2044, 50% of the United States population will be of nonwhite descent.1 As the country continues to become more diverse, it is imperative to provide specialized care for conditions unique to their ethnic backgrounds.  

While nearly every single client has unique skin challenges, understanding the challenges of ethnic skin on a broader scale helps professionals solve some of the most common conditions and concerns confidently when treating skin of color.  

SKIN COLOR 

Skin color is a composite made up of four compounds. Hemoglobin (oxygenated blood cells), hemoglobin with non-oxygenated red blood cells, carotenoids (yellow pigment), and melanin (brown to black pigment). The melanocyte, which produces melanin, is directly responsible for skin pigment.  

A melanocyte has a mighty job; it is responsible for making melanin. The melanocyte takes the amino acid tyrosine, and through the action of an enzyme called tyrosinase, it converts to a new compound which is then made into melanin by the action of more enzymes.  

Once the melanin has been produced, the cell must form little packets called melanosomes. Melanosomes are the melanin granules that get transferred to the keratinocytes to be utilized for sun protection. Melanosomes act like little umbrellas that try to shield the body from sun exposure by producing dark spots, or pigmentation.  

References

1. Burgess, Cheryl, and Olabola Awosika. 2015. “Ethnic and Gender Considerations in the Use of Facial Injectables.” Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery 136 (November): 28S31S. https://doi.org/10.1097/prs.0000000000001813.

1. News. n.d. “Multicultural Dermatology: Treating Skin, Hair and Nail Conditions in People of Color.” News. Accessed August 17, 2023. https://health.ucdavis.edu/news/headlines/multicultural-dermatology-treating-skin-hair-and-nail-conditions-in-people-of-color/2023/02.

1. ‌Love, Porcia B, and Roopal V Kundu. 2016. Clinical Cases in Skin of Color Medical, Oncological and Hair Disorders, and Cosmetic Dermatology. Cham Springer International Publishing.

1. Ludmann, Paula. 2022. “Vitiligo: Diagnosis and Treatment.” Www.aad.org. June 29, 2022. https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/a-z/vitiligo-treatment.

\Michael Q. Pugliese, an informed educator, writer, and asset to the skin care industry, became the third-generation CEO of Circadia by Dr. Pugliese in 2006. His dedication and leadership to the brand has grown to achieve international recognition and distribution worldwide. This global expansion has created a skin care regime for every skin type in the world. Pugliese’s compelling lectures honor the tenets of modern skin science discovered originally by his grandfather. By following in his grandfather’s footsteps, he has been driven to deliver a clear message on skin care to all his clients and fellow educators in the industry. In addition to the success of the skin care line, Circadia also has the first physician-formulated pillowcase formulated to work in harmony with the body’s natural circadian rhythms which protect from environmental damage while focusing on skin repair during evening rest.

 Every working skin care and spa professional knows the importance of keeping current in treatment technique and business skill to stay competitive. It seems that every week there is a new skin care device and product line asking for attention, each promising a more advanced way of producing client-pleasing results. Who wants to risk falling behind when trying to keep up with an ever-expanding field of aesthetics professionals all looking for the same client? 

Consider all the options for information, education, and training: online classes and podcasts, vendor-sponsored seminars, independent trainers, and tradeshows, to name a few. Given that most professionals –whether self-employed or by a spa or salon – have limited time and resources to devote to higher learning. This is especially true when educators require travel and time away from work to participate in programs. Given all this, how do industry trade events rate when choosing how and where to invest precious financial resources? 

IT’S A MONEY THING

The first thing to understand is that tradeshows are typically for-profit businesses, and like any business that hopes to stay viable, it must make money to realize that goal. Therefore, tradeshows always stick to a model that makes sense for them first, not necessarily those who attend them. That means everything attendees might want them to, they may not prove to be. Everyone would love free entry, free classes, educational topics that best reflect their practice interests, and locality to eliminate the need for travel and time taken away from work. Unfortunately, no tradeshow can provide all those things, but, like the tradeshow itself, attendees need to regard the time and money devoted to a trade event as a business investment – one that hopefully, converts into more skill, confidence, and income over time. That calls for a smart strategy for both deciding which shows to participate in and how much time and money to spend there.

SIZING IT UP

Size does not always matter, but it can. Is a bigger tradeshow a better one? That depends on individual expectations and needs. There are several well-established events that attract thousands of attendees, each featuring a large roster of independent and vendor-sponsored classes. They will have a vast exhibit hall populated by industry-related businesses with the latest treatment products and equipment available with a dash of technical demonstrations peppered throughout the floor. There may be an event-related kickoff party where attendees can meet with fellow skin care professionals and make some new friends or valuable contacts. The larger shows are often located in major cities that make an ideal destination for combining a tax-deductible business trip with some fun tourism, such as in Las Vegas, New York City, or Miami Beach.

Smaller trade and educational events have their merits too. While not always scheduled in the most glamorous of areas (often as a way for promoters to shave costs and serve more out-of-the-way markets) they can have their own unique selling points. Frequently organized by trade associations or independent businesses, these compact shows offer a more personal, intimate professional experience in a casual setting. In such programs, it is easier to intermingle with fellow attendees and even some of the guest speakers as they are not as overwhelmed by as big of an admiring post-presentation audience as larger venues. 

Douglas Preston’s career spans over 40 years in professional aesthetics, acne treatment and training, and aesthetician career mentoring. His business articles appear in many of the top trade journals and magazines. Preston’s career growth book, “An Esthetician’s Guide to Growing A Successful Skincare Career,” is a top-seller among ambitious working skin care professionals. In 2022, Preston was inducted into DERMASCOPE Magazine’s acclaimed Academy of Legends, a coveted distinction for spa and skin care professionals who have made exceptional contributions to the growth and excellence of the aesthetics industry. Preston is the creator of the celebrated, Preston Comedone Rxtractor, a special precision tool for the removal of follicular blockages in skin, widely used by professional aestheticians throughout the world. Preston Acne Pros offers congestive acne training and acne therapist certification both online and through in-person classes. prestonacnepros.com.