As more people aim for healthy beautiful skin, the services of aestheticians are becoming highly sought after. If you’re looking for an aesthetician, it’s important to put your skincare in the hands of someone who knows what they’re doing. Just because someone is calling themselves an aesthetician, doesn’t mean that they’re qualified to take care of your skin or give you skincare advice. Here are a few red flags that are sure signs you need to look for someone else.
1. They Can’t Show You Their License
While the exact certifications may vary from one state to the other, all aestheticians must be licensed.
Generally, a license can only be obtained after hundreds of hours of training, a written exam, and hands-on experience. These licenses are awarded by the state board of cosmetology or the department of health so it should be easy to find out if an aesthetician is certified.
Additionally, it’s best to work with someone who is actively advancing their skills and keeping abreast of changing techniques.
For this, they should be a member of the National Coalition of Estheticians Association (NCEA). If none of this is available, this aesthetician is definitely not for you.
2. Their Work Area Isn’t Clean
A visit to the aesthetician’s facility will be very telling. If the environment isn’t clean or you see signs that they’re not taking care of their equipment, stay away.
Cleanliness is paramount when dealing with skincare. The last thing you need after a treatment is a terrible infection.
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3. The Consultation Is Rushed
A consultation is the next step in gauging if an aesthetician is a good fit for you. It’s also a chance for them to get to know you and your expectations. They should be able to answer questions about their practice, their techniques, and how these techniques might be helpful to you. If they can’t answer the questions or worse yet, are not interested in having a conversation, it’s a bad sign.
4. They Don’t Understand Your Skin Condition
Sometimes you’re looking for an aesthetician because you have a specific skin condition. When speaking with an aesthetician, ask them about their experience with your condition and what kind of treatments they would use to alleviate the issues you’re dealing with.
If the information is insufficient or they seem unsure, that may not be the right person for you. Before going that route, though, make sure to find out if seeing one is advisable for your condition. Better yet, see a dermatologist first and get a recommendation.
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5. They’re Obviously Selling Something
It’s certainly not unheard of for aestheticians to have more confidence in certain products and procedures than others.
However, if they’re constantly pushing a particular product or brand, even if there’s no evidence that it’s helpful, it’s usually a bad sign. Don’t be afraid to get a second opinion in cases where you’re not sure about the advice you’ve been given.
Typical Services That Aestheticians Offer
Before you start searching for an aesthetician, it’s a good idea to know what they usually offer. Bear in mind that there are medical aestheticians as well as spa aestheticians. The main difference with the former role is that they’re allowed to do certain non-invasive medical procedures that require further certification.
However, both types of aestheticians can carry out facials, acne treatments, blackhead extractions, microdermabrasion, superficial chemical peels, waxing, hair removal, body wraps, masks, scrubs, makeup application, and airbrush tanning. Of course, a single aesthetician might not offer all these services so make sure to do your research to ensure that they specialize in what you want.
Taking care of your skin is far from a superficial thing. Working with an unqualified aesthetician can cause more problems than you realize, especially if you have an existing skin condition. While nothing beats some good research and detailed consultation, it also helps to get recommendations from others.