Due to increasing demand in beauty treatments, the role of the esthetician has grown significantly in recent years.
An esthetician is a licensed expert who applies skin and body care techniques to clients’ skin. They assist clients with their personal care services such as hair removal, waxing, body treatments, makeup, and facials. Estheticians are employed by spas, salons, dermatologists, hotels, and clinics.
This article aims to offer insight into the esthetician job description, emphasizing esthetician duties and responsibilities, skills, qualifications, and other aspects of this interesting profession.
Also read: Masseuse/Masseurs Job Description (Duties, Skills & Qualifications)
Who Is an Esthetician?
Estheticians are licensed skin care professionals who offer treatments and maintain skin in spas, salons, dermatology clinics and wellness centers. They provide treatments and suggest interventions based upon their observations of each client’s skin condition.
What does an Esthetician do?
Estheticians are skilled professionals who are primarily found in settings like spas and salons, however, some have employment in dermatology clinics where they perform skin care different from medicine.
They offer beautification services that can boost the confidence of the client.
To effectively moisturize and exfoliate the client’s face, an esthetician must understand the condition of a person’s skin prior to making use of moisturizers, ointments, gels, and other specialized treatment products.
If a customer wishes to undergo beauty treatment, estheticians provide relaxation services like facial massages.
They use natural elements, chemicals and specialized machines to perform the treatments, as well as provide aftercare advice and recommendations to the client following the procedure.
Esthetician Responsibilities and Duties
Estheticians use cosmetic training to improve the skincare of their customers. Some of the duties of an esthetician may include the following but are not limited to:
- Assessing the skincare of a customer and provide therapy suggestions relevant to it
- Marketing skincare products to the clients, facial lotions, washing soaps and even moisturizing creams
- Removal of unwanted facial or body hair with waxes and tweezers
- Moisturizing facials combined with cleaning of the skin
- Sharpen, cleanse and other sharpen tools of beauty and skin care
- Conducting skin evaluations: Assessment of a client’s skin in order to find problem areas and suggest a treatment plan.
- Giving skin care treatment: Providing different skin treatment options, including cleansing, moisturizing, skin care, among others
Esthetician Skills and Qualifications
As an esthetician, it is important to successfully blend technical and personal skills for optimal client satisfaction.
Specifically, you need to hone the following skills in particular:Â
- Communication Skills: An esthetician’s role has them working hand in hand with clients which requires strong interpersonal and communication skills. Each client will have their own unique concerns and based on their skills, recommendations must be personalized.
- Knowledge of skincare products and treatments: An esthetician must have proper understanding and knowledge with different products that are skincare related to understand how they work and determine their benefits along with the potential risks associated with them.
- Manual dexterity and attention to detail: To enable an esthetician to accomplish precise tasks, they must possess attention to detail, manual dexterity and the willingness to put care into the treatments they perform.
- Ability to work in a fast-paced environment: Being an esthetician means being in a highly demanding environment which requires employees to juggle several clients and treatments in a busy spa or salon, so time management is essential.Â
- Excellent customer service skills
- Independently and practically being a team player
Education and Training for Esthetician
- Education: Completing a state-approved esthetics program at a beauty school or college.
- Licensing: Passing a state board exam to obtain a license to practice as an esthetician.
- Continuing education: Staying updated on new techniques and technologies through workshops, courses, or certifications.
Like other forms of education, estheticians also need to update their skills through further certifications, courses and workshops which fall under continuing education.
Like any professional, you can belong to an organization such as the National Spa and Esthetics Association (NSEA) if you want to learn the newest trends that shape the industry.
Esthetician Salary and Job Outlook
The median annual wage for estheticians is $32,820. The job outlook for estheticians is good. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that employment in this field will grow by 19% from 2019 to 2029.
Esthetician Career Paths
Estheticians can work in a variety of settings, including:
- Salons
- Spas
- Dermatologists’ offices  Â
- Hotels
- Cruise ships  Â
Some estheticians may also choose to open their own businesses.
Career Advancement Opportunities
As an esthetician, you may further your career by:
Focusing on a certain branch of esthetics such as lash extensions, microblading, or medical esthetics.
- Taking on managerial roles and
- becoming a spa or salon manager with responsibilities over the daily
- running of a spa or salon and a team of estheticians.
- Setting up your own spa, salon or skincare clinic and
- offering a variety of esthetic services makes you the business
- owner.
Esthetician Salary and Benefits
An esthetician’s salary is dependent on their location, the type of establishment they are working at, their level of experience and skill, as well, some rough estimates for estheticians are:
- Entry Level Esthetician: $25,000 – $35,000 annually
- An Experienced Esthetician: $40,000 to $60,000 dollars annually
- Spa or Salon Manager:Â $60,000-$80,000 Annually
In Nigeria, Estheticians are paid between N77,000 to N83,000 monthly according to glassdoor.
Conclusion on Esthetician Job Description
The esthetician job description is ultimately a rewarding and difficult career that requires a strong passion for skincare and beauty, If you are hoping to pursue a career in esthetics, we hope that this article has helped you in developing a fundamental comprehension of the skills, qualifications, and opportunities within this category.