ASMR (autonomous sensory meridian response is a feeling of well-being combined with a tingling sensation in the scalp and down the back of the neck, as experienced by some people in response to a specific gentle stimulus, often a particular sound. This feeling can also be accompanied by touch.

These sensations can be triggered by whispers, massage, and other types of gentle stimuli. ASMR is a huge hit these days and, with all of the stresses of everyday life and all that comes with it, it is no wonder that people want something that they can have to calm down and relax. A quick search of ASMR on YouTube shows ASMR artists doing everything from eating pickles into a microphone to tearing paper and whispering. A lot of people use ASMR to fall asleep, meditate, and even as a hypnotic tool. It can also be used for the treatment of pain and depression. The question is, how can we take these techniques and incorporate them in to a spa setting?

APPLYING ASMR

Aestheticians have been ahead of the game for years, as far as ASMR is concerned, even if we do not know it yet. ASMR is a very important part of many of our services, mainly facials and body treatments. Think about it – during a facial, as long as it is a relaxing one and not an aggressive treatment that causes pain or irritation, you are incorporating ASMR into it, such as whisper and massage.

What if aestheticians were to take it a step further than that and focus treatments specifically made for ASMR? Luckily, many aestheticians have done that and we can either attend in-person training, online, or teach ourselves. Some examples of ASMR training aestheticians can use in facials are cleansing, exfoliation, massage, mask application, and extractions. Dermaplaning would be awesome to experience in an ASMR setting, too. Think about the way the scraping sounds against the skin – it would be so satisfying. Do not forget about makeup applications and body treatments. There are so many ways to incorporate it into many different types of treatment. It is up to you, as a professional, to do the research and find out if it would be a good fit in your area of expertise.

THE MARKET

Times today are tough. I would find it hard to believe that people would not want to try it, especially people with illnesses, specifically unseen illnesses. What if you were in a position where you had tried so many treatments and nothing had worked, and you were at a point where you wanted to start alternative treatments? If a client has anxiety or insomnia, I could only imagine they would give anything to be relaxed and take their mind off of their worries for a while. Life is hard and ASMR is a technique that skin care professionals can get paid to do and clients can also practice the technique on themselves. An aesthetician could become so experienced in ASMR that they could start training others how to do it – another stream of income.

As far as materials go, the sky is the limit. When starting new treatments, the skin care professional must see if there would be a demand for their supply. Would it be worth the training if it did not catch on right away? Do you want to stretch yourself more than necessary? On the other hand, it is almost 2020 and we need to keep ourselves educated and up-to-date on the latest trends, especially with the new generations.

Keep in mind, we cannot recommend it medically, but we can study and know the facts about it. We can tell clients the benefits of it and there is really no downside to this treatment. It may not be for everyone and you may experience some naysayers, but everyone has an opinion and the only one that really matters is yours when you are in charge. Do the research for the pricing and demand. Know ASMR inside and out and become an expert on everything you do, so that you can be the best in your field.

I do not see ASMR as a fad that is going anywhere, anytime soon, so now is the time to jump on the bandwagon before everyone else does. Set yourselves apart. Aestheticians need to stay relevant and ASMR is at the forefront.

Maxie Frericks has been a licensed aesthetician for over 13 years. She owns a waxing studio, Maxie’s House of Wax, located in Littleton, Colorado, a suburb of Denver, where she currently resides. She is an article writer for DERMASCOPE and other industry magazines. Frericks also teaches waxing workshops. She is an educator for Face and Body, along with an ASCP Skincare Webinar Ageless Edition. Specializing in waxing, Frericks is a trainer for LYCON Wax and teaches waxing workshops nationally. She was also a judge at the 2019 Skin Games. maxielfrericks.contently.com or maxieshouseofwax.wix.com/waxie