A beauty therapist specialises in beauty treatments for the face and body and is responsible for helping clients make the most of their physical appearance. These treatments help clients feel more confident about themselves and less stressed.
What makes a good beauty therapist?
Being a fantastic beauty therapist involves far more than being able to simply administer beauty treatments and interact with clients. They must be able to portray the following qualities;
- Personal hygiene/grooming. Therapists work in-close proximity with their clients and have to ensure they adopt high standards of personal hygiene and grooming at all times; bathe daily, regular use of deodorant, fresh breath, hair tied back if long, subtle makeup etc
- Warm & open personality. It’s essential that therapists make their clients feel at ease by being polite, friendly and conversational
- Act professionally. It’s essential that beauty therapists maintain a high degree of professionalism at all times, protecting a client’s privacy and giving them their full care and attention.
- Good stamina. Therapists often have busy schedules sometimes involving back to back appointments and spend a lot of time on their feet. It’s essential therefore to have good stamina and follow a healthy lifestyle.
- Excellent time management. Especially in a busy salon with packed out appointments it’s essential that a therapist has excellent time keeping skills. Clients should not be kept waiting
What sort of treatments will a beauty therapist administer?
The range of treatments and services a therapist can provide varies hugely, depending on training and experience. Most common services offered by a beauty therapist are:
- Facials – The facials offered by a therapist are tailored specifically to a client’s needs taking into account their skin type and condition, age and requirements. Therapists normally offer a range of facials using different products and techniques; acne, aromatherapy, bio-lift. Sometimes therapists can gain additional qualifications to offer electro-therapy treatments.
- Massage – Either focusing on part of the body (i.e. head, neck & shoulders) or full body. There are many different types of massage; aromatherapy, hot stone, indian head, or reflexoligy.
- Body treatments – A variety of spa treatments including exfoliations, body wraps and spray tanning.
- Hair removal – Temporary hair removal (depilation) via waxing and sugaring and permanent hair removal through electrolysis or laser treatments
- Nail treatments – Manicures, pedicures, nail extensions and applications of nail art.
- Eyebrow & Eyelash Treatments – These may include eyebrow shaping & tinting and eyelash perming, threading & tinting.
- Make-up – Offered as packages and specialised bridal hair and beauty services.
- Cosmetics and skin products advice. Salons often stock professional products not available on the high street and because therapists are professionally trained in the appliance of cosmetics and in skin diagnosis they frequently give advice and sell skincare products to match a client’s personal needs
- Specialised treatments – These often require additional training to be qualified to carry out. Services could include specialised use of electrolysis to remove red veins and skin tags. Eyelash extension’s, remedial/sports massage.
A therapist has a duty to keep all equipment clean (to maintain high standards of hygiene) and make sure it is in working order (to ensure procedures are successful and prevent injury to staff and clients). They also need to manage stock, replenishing products when necessary. A junior therapist working in a salon might also be required to greet clients, answer the telephone, make bookings, serve tea or coffee and fulfil other reception duties.
If you are creative and like making people look and feel good, then a course in our TSA College of Beauty Therapy in Perth may be for you.
Renee Kelly – Beauty trainer – TrainSmart Australia
