At some point this summer, I’m sure you were exposed to some of the sun’s fabulous (yet damaging) rays. If there’s one thing you can do to go out with a bang this summer, it might be to get an end-of-summer facial, especially before all the back-to-school madness! And who better to do your facial than a licensed esthetician?

A facial consists of a few different techniques in order to give you a glowing and healthy-looking complexion. Through the use of steam, exfoliation, and extraction, estheticians really can help you feel and look your best by taking out those unwanted blackheads and creating an outlet for your pores to breathe naturally. At a facial, you can also get some advice and tips from your esthetician regarding your daily regimen and treatment options.

An esthetician is a great go-to person to see even if you’ve never experienced skin problems. Estheticians are experts in skin care, cleansing the skin of impurities. Additionally, estheticians are able to give head and neck massages and even complete makeup applications.

An esthetician program can be found at many cosmetology schools. It is through an esthetician program that a person can become properly licensed to work with individuals in places like spas, doctor’s offices, and other beauty salons. Programs vary in length and price, but it is always important to consider your own needs and desires. An esthetician career is a great one to have, especially according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, who estimates that the field of esthetics will grow by 38 percent due to an increase in demand for people who want to better their skin. This is much faster than the average growth for other occupations.

Summer may be over, but don’t despair. You can go get an end-of-summer facial or perhaps begin a career as an esthetician to be able to give those fabulous treatments to those who seek them.

-Amanda Fornecker

Once you’ve figured out which general spa or beauty field you want to pursue, you can certainly choose to specialize even further. There are so many options in all aspects of your general spa or beauty interest – it’s hard to name them all. For instance, have you ever considered an infant massage career? Who knew that massage existed for individuals of all ages?

Now, you may be asking: why in the world does an infant need a massage?! Well, according to the International Institute of Infant Massage, infant massage promotes emotional health and a nurturing atmosphere. Through infant massage, infants form attachments to their caregivers and continue a feeling of safety and warmth.

With an infant massage certification, you can truly be an integral part in the lives of those just starting their families. And massage therapists are not the only ones who can become certified. In fact, a wide variety of professionals who work with children can obtain their infant massage certification. From occupational therapists and physical therapists to speech pathologists and social workers, infant massage specialists have a variety of backgrounds. However, they all have one thing in common: a love for children and families and a desire to help others learn.

An interest is a key first step to studying infant massage therapy. By researching a little deeper and finding a program that suits your needs (ie, location, tuition, flexibility), you’ll be on your way to achieving your goals. Explore infant massage certification today to get going on your infant massage career!

-Amanda Fornecker

“Back to school, back to school, to prove to Dad that I am not a fool!” So said Adam Sandler in Billy Madison. It’s the attitude around this time every year – the summer is winding down and the anxiety of an impending year is beginning to hit some. And to think that you could actually be in this situation as well is even more exciting.

It’s still early enough that you can begin your quest for knowledge at beauty school or spa school and get started right away. Most beauty school programs have classes that begin every few weeks – all you need is an interest and passion in the material. And, nowadays, it’s even easier to enroll when the very possibility of enrollment is right at your fingertips.

A recent article on KansasCity.com highlighted a local hair salon that has been in operation for 47 years – ever since owner Judy Gaume began her hair styling career. A weekly patron, Patricia Gaunce, put the very essence of a hair stylist perfectly in the article: “It’s like finding a doctor you can trust,” she says. “Once you find a hairdresser you like, you stay with her. Before I met Judy, I had never really gone to the salon. But that changed. I’m not a smoker. I’ve never been a drinker. But I go to the beauty shop.”

I, personally, am always so nervous to find a new hair stylist. And I know I’m not the only nervous nelly. In fact, most of my experiences with hair stylists have come via recommendations of people I trust. It’s a scary thought to imagine that anyone can mess up your daily appearance. And sure, hair grows back, but we want to look our best all the time.

An interest in styling hair would certainly be a must to begin a beauty school program. But, as I mentioned, this is the time to really follow your desires (no matter what your age) and form relationships just as Judy has.

Do your research and apply to beauty school today!

-Amanda Fornecker

A beauty school in Plano, TX, recently found themselves in an unfortunate situation. It seemed like a harmless back-to-school gift to her 12-year-old daughter. Karole Ridley decided to allow her daughter, Mariah, to get the new look she had been wanting: to look like Rihanna. It was then that Karole took Mariah to ITS Beauty School to get a chemical relaxer. After some time, Mariah began to complain that her head was burning and that she couldn’t take the pain. It is reported that at this time, the beauty school officials told Mariah to hang on for a bit longer and that they would soon be done. After all was said and done, Mariah did not leave with the experience she or her mother had desired. She eventually had to go to a children’s hospital, who then referred her to a burn unit for second and third degree burns. Karole and Mariah are seeking legal help.

This is the case of something gone awry. You don’t normally hear things like this happening at beauty school salons. Sure, you walk into a beauty school salon and you know that there are students learning and growing as cosmetologists. And you don’t think anything will happen when the students have supervisors. And most of the time it’s fine. But you should also realize that there is the possibility of something not working out the way it would in an upscale salon and spa – this is exactly why the services are discounted so heavily. Mariah’s relaxer treatment cost $35.75. Salons have been known to charge hundreds of dollars for the same service.

It’s interesting to me that it got as far as it did. One of my closest friends just went to get her hair professionally dyed at a regular salon this past weekend and they did a little test first to see if she was allergic to the dye. It turns out she was because she had a big red splotch show up on her neck and they told her they couldn’t perform the service on her. Maybe Mariah was also allergic to the chemicals they were using in her hair to relax it. But I have to ask – what is a mother doing letting a 12-year-old get her hair chemically relaxed??

For more info on this story, check out the33TV.com.

-Amanda Fornecker