Six Hallmarks of Effective Entry-Level Esthetics Education

How Does Your School Rank?

By Jimmy Gialelis

As an educator, I have been fortunate to teach in both entry-level and continuing education settings. Observing graduates of varying programs nationwide, it becomes quickly evident who attended an effective and comprehensive entry-level program and who did not. Here are six hallmark traits of effective entry-level education programming. How does your skin care program stack up?

1. Finding the Balance Between Solopreneur and Employee Emphasis
Skin care professionals need some business acumen to successfully operate a solo practice. Understanding business practices involving client care, finances, budgeting wants versus needs, communication skills, licenses of all types for a region (city, county, state, etc.), and client management are all elements of running a solo business that should be discussed in your school’s programming.

Yet, it is equally important to recognize not all students will be ready for a solo practice upon graduation. Therefore, presenting skills to help esties work effectively within an employee setting will also be key within program curriculum. Time management, elements of working in team settings, pay expectations, and hands-on and ethical skills will be key to employment success.

2. Continued Teacher Training and Support
Teachers of entry-level education need training in pedagogy (the method and practice of teaching dependent learners) and andragogy (the art or science of teaching adult learners). Being an effective esthetician does not necessarily equate to being an effective teacher of esthetics. Very few estheticians have earned an education degree; that’s why support from schools that hire them to teach is so critical.

The transition from the treatment room to the classroom can seem daunting for the teacher new to the classroom setting. Topics to include in teacher training include classroom management, communication skills, best practices with content presentation, familiarity of audio-visual-online equipment, and teaching to varying learning levels and styles.

3. Focus on Fundamentals of an Esthetics Practice
Ensuring students receive a solid foundation and comprehension of the fundamental skills of esthetics is essential for graduate success. Foundational skills include sanitation and disinfection, skin analysis, conducting a client consultation, ingredient knowledge, and retailing.

The therapeutic relationship becomes the basis of the client-esthetician interaction. Helping students understand elements of this relationship will help graduates navigate through ethical dilemmas pertaining to issues of dual relationship, informed consent, right of refusal, and scope of practice.

4. Presenting Self-Care Practices
Self-care is an essential element for the successful esthetician. Career longevity is a concern in a profession where burnout is common. Some teachers have chosen to include self-care practice within their curriculum on a daily basis, either at the beginning or end of class sessions. Other teachers have facilitated entire courses devoted to presenting ideas esties can employ for self-care.

This concept can be easily incorporated as we remind students of transference and countertransference, setting boundaries, and that when therapists touch clients there is a literal connection formed between the two individuals that allows energy transfer. “Centering” practices are key to include in self-care lessons.

5. Connections Within Local Esthetics Communities
As entry-level students become licensed estheticians, opportunities for placement and business-building will become key. When entry-level schools create professional connections and relationships with local members of the skin care community, the camaraderie and assistance offered provides further education for the newly graduated therapist. Graduates will witness the profound depth of the esthetics field as more opportunities flourish within the general public at large.

6. Repetition of Fundamentals Throughout Advanced Courses
Finally, it is wise to ensure fundamental skin care practices are reiterated throughout an entire program. Students can easily forget the fundamentals after having advanced content presented. Since repetition is the mother of learning, effective programing revisits fundamentals taught early on, and builds on them.

Entry-level programs that foster these hallmark traits within curricula and student involvement will provide their graduates with a solid foundation from which to practice; helping graduates gain an appreciation of the noble nature of the work augments this foundation.