Esthetics Course
The skincare industry has been a growing market for many years now. The primary reason behind this is the fact that people are putting more importance and value on taking care of their skin. This is because having healthy-looking and glowing skin improves one’s appearance, which boosts self-confidence.
Due to the health benefits of this self-care activity, both existing and new customers are frequently visiting spas, increasing the demands for estheticians. Different beauty experts share that the beauty industry continues to be a trend despite the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Many people pay more attention to their skincare routines and the products they are using. Skincare treatments with advanced technology are one of the present and future leading markets of the beauty industry.
With the continued market growth for skincare services, it’s only expected that many students will enroll in esthetics courses to get certified and licensed. If you’re one of them, it’s important to understand what to expect from the program. So, to help you get started, let’s discuss the course in detail.
What Is Esthetics?
Esthetics and cosmetology are fields in the beauty industry that work closely together. Esthetics focuses on skincare, which treats and improves the skin for beautification. It typically deals with many skin conditions, such as blemishes, skin pigmentation, wrinkles, and fine lines and provides treatments to solve these issues. You’ll essentially undergo practical training and gain theoretical knowledge for this field.
What Is an Esthetician?
An esthetician is a beauty professional who treats and improves people’s skin in a spa. They have been trained and studied the anatomy of the skin, different skin conditions and appropriate treatments, and even the business aspects of running a skincare clinic.
There are also medical estheticians who help people with specific skin conditions recover, such as burn victims and patients with cancer. They identify the skin issue and give proper treatments best suited for it. Unlike beauty estheticians who work in a spa setup, medical estheticians provide services in clinical settings.
What Do You Learn in an Esthetics Course?
Esthetics courses primarily differ by provider and location, but they share many areas of study, such as:
Anatomy
Courses always start with teaching students the anatomy of the skin to help them understand what each part is and how it works. You’ll also learn about the different skin conditions and disorders and their causes.
Product Ingredients
This area of study is gaining a lot of interest from customers. People pay close attention to the products and ingredients used in spas. They want to make sure that they are getting skin-friendly products and avoid ingredients that can trigger allergies or cause harm to their skin.
In this subject, you’ll learn the most common ingredients used on many skincare products and how each helps improve or treat the skin. You’ll also know the ingredients that may potentially trigger reactions, especially to people with sensitive skin.
Facial Service
You see facial service in many spas, and this is what most of the customers usually request. Facial service includes cleansing, removing whiteheads and blackheads, toning, and massaging. It also gives customers some relaxation as you gently apply light face massage. Beauty face mask applications are also included in this service. This hydrates the skin to make it look glowing and to improve its elasticity.
Makeup Application
In this subject, you won’t only learn about the proper application of makeup but also the ideal look that fits each type of customer or their skin tone. You’ll learn the simple and more colorful makeup types.
Interested in teaching makeup through video tutorials? You might want to utilize social media to provide free makeup tutorials to interested viewers like many YouTubers are doing. You’ll increase your customer base and also earn from the social media channel for the number of views and subscribers you’ll get.
Hair Removal
Although your focus is on the health of the skin, you can also provide hair removal services like waxing. The course will teach you how to properly wax and thread hairs on different parts of the body. You’ll also know the aftercare for hair removal and the products and tools used for this service.
Hygiene and Sterilization
Cleanliness is always a priority for all beauty services. Harmful microorganisms can quickly multiply and spread that can cause skin conditions. In the esthetics program, you’ll know the proper cleaning and sterilization of tools and equipment and the disinfection of the entire spa facility. This subject aims to protect customers from any skin disease infection and to prevent the spread of harmful microbes.
Business Aspects
On top of the skin services and skills you’ll learn from the course, you’ll also understand the business aspects of starting and running your own skincare clinic. The program teaches you the legalities involved in running a business, marketing, client retention, and customer service.
What Are the Different Ways to Study Esthetics?
Studying esthetics can be done in multiple ways. You can enroll in vocational schools and colleges that offer specialty courses like esthetics. Check the schools in your area for available esthetics courses.
You can also study the program under an accredited or licensed provider that offers esthetics classes. These are typically academies or beauty brands that train students about skincare.
Online classes are also available if you can’t commit to on-campus learning. Many providers are offering part- or full-time programs to suit various lifestyles. Just remember to spare time for on-campus visits as the course requires hands-on activities.
Your local government may provide scholarship programs for studying specialized courses like esthetics, so you might want to check them out. Government-supported educational programs aim to give citizens who can’t afford to go to college employment opportunities.
Check out tutorial videos on YouTube as well if you want to learn different skincare treatments and techniques. However, you won’t gain a certificate for watching them and may have requirement issues when you work in spas later on.
What Prerequisites Are There to Study Esthetics?
The prerequisites for studying esthetics vary in different places. The factors that affect the difference may include program duration and structure, internships, exams, and licensing requirements. But some of the common requirements are:
- Age restrictions (at least 16 or 17 years old)
- Has a diploma for General Educational Development or high school
- Identification cards
- Screening tests
Some places may allow a more lenient set of prerequisites. In the US, for example, some states only require students to complete grade 8 to take the basic esthetics program. However, if you wish to learn advanced skincare techniques, qualifying for the standard requirements might be needed.
What Accreditations Can You Get by Doing Esthetics Courses?
Studying esthetics gives you the privilege to work in an established spa and even put up your own skincare clinic. The accreditations also vary by country. But in most places, after completing the program, you’ll earn a certificate for esthetics. This allows you to proceed to studying advanced courses if you got the beginner’s certificate or to take the licensure exam for an esthetician. If you pass, you’ll get your license.
Some course providers make you a part of their licensed organization for estheticians and skincare experts. You can also apply for a membership for popular certified esthetician groups in your country or internationally. Being a member of these organizations may provide you with benefits like an increase in network connections for employment and business relationship purposes.
What Will All of This Cost?
Again, esthetics courses differ in many places, and the cost follows. Program structure, length, areas of study covered, location, and provider are the major factors of the cost. But generally, the tuition fee ranges from $4,000 to $18,000 (USD). Other expenses may cover registration (and other related fees) and supplies (kits and books).
In knowing the exact amount of the cost, make sure to inquire about the other expenses included aside from the tuition fee. Some providers will only show the tuition fee information without listing the other expected expenses.
What Will You Be Able to Do at the End of an Esthetics Course?
Finishing the program gives you plenty of career advancement opportunities. However, you don’t need to get a job right away. The decision depends on what you want to do next. You have the option to proceed to study other fields of skincare services that are more advanced. This widens your skill set, which is extremely beneficial when you start working.
If taking the licensure exam is your plan, you can already do it after you get certified by the esthetics course. Once you pass the exam, you’ll get your license to start your employment journey or run your own skincare clinic. You can also do home service in your area and cater to the skincare requests of your friends and referrals if you don’t have the funds to start your own business yet.
How Do I Find the Best Esthetics Course?
Finding the best esthetics course has some factors to consider, such as:
Accreditation
An accreditation for providing an esthetics course should be the first thing you need to look for in a provider. The school or organization must comply with the requirements of your local government and should be accredited. This is important to secure because the licensure examination requires this accreditation. Check the provider’s accreditations because they include that in their course ads.
Practical Application
Many providers, especially private organizations, have a working spa that students can use to comply with hands-on activity requirements. Some institutions work with private salons to allow their students there to practise skincare services. Know if the course you’re interested in has this, so you won’t need to look for a spa you can go to for your hands-on activities.
Staff
The working personnel of the course provider matters a lot in the quality of the program. See if they have a smooth enrollment process and how they treat and assist you in completing the prerequisites. Also, it’s crucial to do a background check on the instructors to have an idea of their expertise and academic achievements.
Curriculum
The program’s curriculum should also be a major consideration in looking for the best esthetics course. Does the program offer flexibility with the schedule? This means giving you the option to go full or part time. You should consider enrolling in a course that matches your lifestyle.
Another thing to note is the course’s structure. Is it offering a good balance of lectures and applications? If not, is their structure effective for your learning capabilities? The bottom line here is to get a program that doesn’t put too much stress on you and lets you enjoy learning.
Provider Reputation
Reputation is always an essential factor for a course. If the organization is known for providing quality courses, then most likely, you’ll get an investment-worthy program. The most reliable sources about the program quality are the previous and existing students. Check the program’s customer feedback to know what others say about it.
It’s also helpful to check the provider’s website and see how it feels. You’ll know that they value their reputation and quality when they put effort into making their website look attractive and professional. Check if their site is user-friendly, provides appropriate contact details, and publishes relevant information.
Job Placement Assistance
Some esthetics courses assist you to get employed in established spas as part of the curriculum. They can endorse you to these businesses to get a position as an esthetician or provide you with company options with contact information. They also encourage you to join accredited groups of skincare professionals to increase your network and the chance of getting employed.
After considering all these factors to look for in an esthetics course, it’s time to know your options on where to find the best one. The Internet is the biggest marketplace for checking available courses. Make sure to enroll in a course that’s easily accessible to you despite attending online classes, so you won’t have trouble visiting the institution for hands-on activities.
Choose Your Esthetics Course Today!
Use our guide to find the best esthetics course for you. At this point, you know what to look for in a program and what to expect from it. So, start checking out and reviewing esthetics courses now, and become a skilled esthetics professional successfully!