Time to Think Pink

It's October... Time to Think Pink!!

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness month. It's a great time to share information, get involved or offer a fund-raising Think Pink waxing day.

The National Breast Cancer Awareness website has some great ways you can help. They also have a free download you can print out and share with your clients.

Every woman needs to know about breast cancer and what they can do to protect themselves. Breast cancer doesn't care about your age. It can happen in your 30s , 50s or 70s. Or anywhere between or beyond.

Schedule a Think Pink waxing day!

• Decorate the clinic with a pink theme.
• Serve some pink frosted cookies, cupcakes or candy.
• Have fun and feature one of Cirepil's pink waxes.
• Have a pink decorated jar and collect client donations to help the cause.
• Contact your local American Cancer Society. Ask if they have handouts you can give clients.
• Let them know you will be donating a percentage of waxing services that day.
• Send an eblast out to your clients asking for their help, generate excitement.
• Start scheduling appointments.
• Get the word out on social media! Post on your Facebook page and add it to your website.
• Don't forget Pinterist and Instagram!
• Post the event on free local online event calendars!
• Send a message to your local paper, radio stations and TV --- you are a local business trying to help others.

There are some great YouTube videos on the Breast Cancer Awareness website. Include a link to one in your marketing and social media. It helps clients connect with the stories and the women struggling to survive.

They also have both Facebook and Twitter pages you can share.

The day of your event don't forget to take pictures of all the fun you're having. They are great to post on social media.

People like to support businesses that help others. Have fun and show off the caring side of your business. You never know what will happen when educating and sharing. You might be saving a life.

What are you doing for Breast Cancer Awareness month?  Send us a message, we'd love to hear.

Wax like a boss part 4

A Client Etiquette Guide can build your waxing success.  

	Happy waxing

We are the professionals and our clients depend on us for guidance. Many waxing Divas have found these tips speed up the service, create better client experiences and prevent treatment room surprises.  You may want to make a guest handout that covers the following so the client will know what to expect.

1) Remind them to hydrate  

 When we are hydrated, the skin is more plumped and hair removal is easier. You might want to consider mini-bottles of water. Or set up a cooler with water, ice and sliced fruit for a refreshing summer treat. If this is on their Etiquette Guide, they can prepare ahead and drink more water.

2) Cleansing wipes for every bikini/brazilian client

We can't control what the client has been doing before they came in for their wax. Nor can we control what they may not have thought of.  But we can solve the issue by having individual personal wipe packets that can be discretely handed to every intimate waxing client upon check in. Invite them to use the restroom and freshen up. This will speed up the service as you won't have to stand and wait for them to take care of this on their way back to your room.

3) Remind them not to shave between services. 

This will cause more breakage or hairs that are too short for removal and a less successful treatment. If it is obvious that they didn't follow this guide, be sure to gently remind them of the probable issues.

4) Try to schedule visits for immediately following their period.

This is the most comfortable time for waxing. The current guidelines are if a client does come in for waxing but is on their period it's okay to wax them.  It may be a little more uncomfortable but for busy waxers, it really can mess wit the work schedule.  They may have to wait two weeks or more to get back in.  On the etiquette sheet include instructions to please insert a fresh tampon prior to waxing and to be sure the technician knows so they can avoid catching the string.

5) Remind client to avoid pools or hot tubs for 24 hours.  

This reduces the risk for any bacteria entering the freshly waxed skin. Note: this should include rivers and lakes or public water sources.

6) Exfoliate regularly at home

Regular exfoliation helps prevent ingrown hair problems.  If clients are prone to ingrown hairs suggest they purchase an ingrown hair treatment product.

May these secrets add to your personal success. Go wax like a Diva!!!

Wax like a boss Part 1

4 Tips to avoid waxing reactions

Waxing like a boss is about choosing great products, offering more than the client expects, lots of practice and building the confidence to stay in control of whatever happens in the treatment room.

In this issue, let's talk about treatment room control of skin reactions.

When winter mellows, spring reaches out with bright promises and lovely blooms.

If your clients are anything like mine... spring also seems to bring on more skin sensitivities.  

• Redness
• Itching
• Burning sensations or "hot" skin

All can be symptoms of spring pollen allergies. Allergies can show up at any time.  Most often we develop them over a long period of time. Clients who never had any sensitivities can suddenly react unexpectedly.

Milder temperatures have the forsythia blooming, trees blossoming and unseen pollens lurking in the air.  Just going for a walk or a bike ride can be enough to make the skin more reactive.  Maybe the client noted itchy eyes or a runny nose and started taking an antihistamine.  They don't think to mention this to us. Then they react differently to a wax that normally gives them no problem at all.

Here are four tips to help avoid a surprise reaction.

1. If the skin looks inflamed in the area to be waxed - reschedule.  Never wax over inflammation. Clients may fuss but be that boss waxer and do what you know is best for the client. Have them seek medical advice and get the problem under control before waxing.

2. Make sure you have a hypoallergenic wax with anti-inflammatories warm and ready to go. 
Cirepil recommendations: Vegetal, Cristal Ocean, Nacre Blanche, and Cristalline. Intimate 4 has calming agents and anti-irritants but is not labeled hypoallergenic.


3. When clients come in be sure to ask them about any health changes that they are experiencing. I casually ask, "so how you doing with all these pollens out there?"  A simple question like this can tip you off to potential problems. 

 4. Use the Cirepil Blue Lotion before and after every wax. It has a gentle formula. The low alcohol content disinfects without irritation.  Organic cornflower hydrates and soothes the skin. 
After waxing and wiping the area down with Blue lotion apply Cirepil After Wax Refreshing Gel. Enriched with grape leaf extract and honey it imparts a sense of coolness, calms and soothes the skin.

 Here's to happy waxing and great client experiences!  Now go be that boss waxer...

Wax like a boss Part 2

Select the right wax...

Waxing like a boss is about selecting the right wax for each client's needs. It's about offering more than the client expects. It requires lots of practice. And it's about building confidence and professional customer rapport.

Let's talk about wax selection.  Cirepil makes lots of different waxes so you can have the just right one to match with each client's unique needs. But selecting the right wax can get confusing.

Cirepil's waxes form two groups, strip, and non-strip 

or stripless.

Strip waxes:

• Always come in a tin.
• You apply the wax, press a strip on top of it and remove with as low an angle as possible.
• Are great for large areas.

Crystal Ocean is a beautiful pale blue transparent gel formula. It is great for sensitive skin and all hair types. This hypoallergenic formula is good for speed waxing.

Cirepil Ease is the classic original although the formula got an update last year. It's a creamy formula that works well on fine hair and speed waxing.

Cirepil Forte is for tough resistant hair. Forte means "strong" in French. This honey textured wax is designed for large areas.

Nacre Blanche is a pearly white unscented formula. Great for all skins including sensitive. It works particularly well for short coarse hair.

Cirepil Vegetale is a 100% plant based formula. This makes it the perfect choice for "green" salons wanting an all natural product. It works on all skin and hair types.

Stripless waxes:

• Come in beads you can add to your tin as needed.
• Only the blue is available also in a tin.
• Empty tins are available here: http://www.estheticsnw.com/products/empty_wax_tin_400g.htm
• The wax is applied leaving a lip at the pulling edge and removed without a strip.
• Great for faces, underarms, bikini and Brazilian

Cirepil Blue is our most popular stripless wax. It is suitable for all skin and hair types. It is an all around formula that allows you time to work with it.

Cirepil Homme means "man" in French. This deep aquamarine wax is great for chest, back and bikini. Has an ultra-fluid texture and neutral scent. Handles their sensitive skin and resistive hair.

Cirepil Eurose is an unscented wax suitable for all skin and hair types. It's creamy, goes on at a low temperature and gets all the hair.

Cirepil Cristalline is a hypoallergenic wax for sensitive skins. Delicate orange sherbert color it works on fine and all hair types.

Intimate 4 is a pale aqua colored bead. It works for all skin types and formulated for Brazilian waxing. A creamy formula, it has a quick setup time for quicker waxing.

Euroblonde is newer to the US market but the number one wax in Europe. Cirepil recommends it for all areas. Good for heavy legs, bikinis, and large areas. It has a very quick setup and fluid honey like texture. Suitable for speed waxing. Can apply in long strips for large body areas.

Cirepil Cashmere is a brand new stripless wax.  Made of a new patented high-performance material it is hypoallergenic and optimize hair removal. Smooth texture, pearly mauve color, delicate non-allergen powdery scent. Precise removal with reinforced effectiveness. Good for first time waxing, sensitive skins, and young adults.

Wax like a boss - Part 3

Waxing like a boss is about monitoring and increasing your wax service profits.

Waxing services can be a highly profitable segment of your income.And they are especially popular as we move into summer. Everyone wants to look their beach body best... gals and guys.

To help make sure you are maximizing your profits Cirepil created a return on investment chart. It shows you typical cost per area to do the waxing and then based on what you charge, your profitability. 

Did you know that you can get 100 brow waxes out of one 400 gram tin of wax?  And your cost is only $0.67! Low fees for a brow wax run $10.00, moderate $15.00 and higher end $20.00.  Your profits for those 100 brows ranges from $933 to $1933 and it only takes about 10 minutes per client.

Here are 6 tips to maximize your waxing profits...

1)      Larger bags reduce cost per gram.

The MSRP on a 400-gram bag of Blue is $21.50 this comes out to 0.0538/gram. If you buy the 800-gram bag of blue at MSRP $38.80 the price drops to 0.0485/.gram. Or for the 3750-gram bag, the MSRP at $149.00 the price reduces to 0.0397/gram. 

If you take advantage of product specials the price again reduces per gram. Ordering by the case drops the price even more.

2)      Quantity purchases reduce shipping costs.

Esthetics NW ships at a flat rate fee of $8.50. If you buy multiple bags in the same order, you cost per bag including shipping drops.

3)      Evaluate your pricing.

Cirepil uses typical pricing for clinics who charge "low", "moderate" or "high" fees. If you are a moderate or upscale clinic charging what a "budget" facility does - it's time to give yourself a raise. It doesn't take much of a price bump to make a significant difference in your bottom line.

4)      Price based on wax choice.

If you prefer to use a non-strip wax only, keep in mind that larger body areas need to be priced accordingly. It is going to take more time and wax to do legs with a non-strip wax than a strip wax. Charge more. 

This is not a new concept. Back in the 90s, people who were specializing in no-strip waxes for full legs were charging twice as much. It costs more to do the service but those with sensitive skins will love the option to be more comfortable.

Consider using Euroblonde or Cashmere for the larger areas. These two waxes go on more thin and are designed to handle large area waxing.

5)      Schedule the next visit upon checkout.

Pre-scheduling helps you keep the client on track making removal predictable and consistent. It also assures them they will get their preferred time-slot. 

Consider securing all appointments with a credit card to avoid "no-shows".

6)      Value added services are worth more.

Cirepil has protocols and promotes making waxing a happy experience. Adding that extra step or two enhances value in the eyes of the client. Most of us would happily pay a little more if we can make waxing more comfortable and successful.

April is Rosacea Awareness Month

Rosacea is a chronic condition that cannot be cured. But treatments can keep the symptoms under control. It most commonly starts as rosy cheeks and nose. Sometimes there are tiny vesicles that should not be extracted. While it can appear at any point in life, it often first shows up in the 30s.

To know if your rosy cheeks are rosacea, you should have it diagnosed by a doctor. Estheticians can help you keep it under control, but diagnosis is the scope of the physician. Sometimes the doctor will prescribe an oral product. Be sure to let him know of any side effects. Pair this with good professional skin care treatments.

There are several different levels of rosacea. If it is ignored, rosacea can worsen. Rosy flushed cheeks with some tiny vesicles is the mildest form. Papules and nodules along with the redness is more severe. Occasionally, it can affect an eye. The most severe form causes reddening and enlarging of the nose.

Once you know you have rosacea the best way to control it is to learn what your triggers are. Triggers are the things that cause it to flare up. It could be stress, heat, spicy or hot foods and many other things. 

A journal can be your friend. If you note your face feels hotter, redder or breaks out pause. Think about what you have done in the last few hours or previous day. Note this in your journal.

• If you had four cups of coffee instead of your normal two and you are more flushed... that could be a trigger.
• Spent the day on the mountains or at the beach... sun/heat could be a trigger.
• More problems in the summer? Heat could be a trigger.

There are an almost endless list of possible triggers, so learning what yours are can be invaluable.

Scientists are still debating the causes behind rosacea. Bacteria, skin inflammation, vaso-dilation, fair skin and genetics are all contributing factors.

Look for skin care for chronically sensitive skins. Avoid perfumes, harsh stripping ingredients strong chemical peels or abrasive treatments.

Think calm, sooth, heal.

• Anti-inflammatories or anti-redness formulas help reduce the red appearance.
• Calming and soothing ingredients help make your skin more comfortable.
• Anti-bacterial ingredients help those with combination or oilier skins.
•  Studies have shown rosemary helps control the demodex mite.

·         Hot humid climates can worsen the condition. Be sure to have those calming soothing products on hand.

• Treat your skin gently. 
• Avoid extreme heat, showers or saunas. 
• Learn your triggers and avoid them. 
• Learn stress management techniques to keep stress levels down. 
• Work with a skin professional experienced with rosacea to find what works for you. 

It may take a little practice but those symptoms can be kept at bay and your skin look and feel its best.

Hard wax verses soft wax... which is best?

Waxes come in two choices. Hard waxes and soft waxes.

Hard waxes come in tins and pellets or blocks. Apply, allow to set, then peel off. No strip allows you to contour application to the anatomy of the body. This is useful for nooks, crannies and that tricky detail work. 

Hard waxes/ non-strip, generally go on at a lower temperature than a strip wax. This makes them more gentle to sensitive skins and intimate areas.  

Soft waxes come only in tins. Once warmed, apply then lay a strip on top. Press strip into the wax, then remove.  In most cases soft waxes/strip waxes are applied more thin than non-strip.  

Strip waxes are best for speed waxing. Apply the over a large area then remove working from one edge of the wax to the other.  

The super thin application of a strip wax makes it more cost effective for large areas. For those working only with non-strip waxes adjust your pricing. Non-strip wax will take more time and use more wax for large areas.

A full leg non-strip wax is typically twice the price of a strip wax for the same service. But, if the client has sensitivities, they are happy to have this option.

Some facilities prefer to use only a strip wax.  This single wax philosophy dates back to the 80s when there weren't the choices that there are today. It makes ordering and stocking simple.  It takes less space in the treatment room.

But today is about offering more than just a service.  It is about offering a custom experience tailored to the client's needs. Today's clients want choices. Offering a diversity of waxes or wax options is key to happy, repeat customers.

Size matters. For example, Cirepil Blue MSRP for 400 grams tins are approximately $5.35 per 100 grams.  If you buy the 800 gram size, the price drops to $4.85 per 100 grams. Purchasing the blue in the 3750 gram size, the price drops to $4.00 per 100 grams.  And of course, with your member discount or buying by the case can save you even more.

If you do a lot of waxing, buying larger sizes will have a definite impact on your bottom line.

Strip waxes don't come in different sizes.  They are sold in the tin as they would not hold their shape and would melt in hot weather. Look for the opportunity to save money when buying multiple tins, or buy a case.  Yes, the case has a lot of tins in it. Store it in a cool, dry place and there is really no expiration. 

Is Your Advertising Working?

At some point in your business you realize it needs promoting.  You  need to expand your customer base. Grow your revenues. Be able to cover anticipated increases in overhead like rent. 

You've worked hard at collecting client emails.  You've got people  liking your business on Facebook, Google or Instagram. But if you spend money to bring more people in, how do you know if it is working?  Much of the time, there is no way.  

Television, newspaper, radio, magazines, local school groups... everyone wants you to advertise with them. It's great to support local, but is it giving you a return on your investment?   Most venues will "increase public awareness", "build brand awareness."  They don't necessarily bring people into the door.  This is general advertising.  

The goal of general advertising is to leave a mental picture of the business in our head. They hope at some time when we might be in the market for an item, we will think of them.  Like a sexy new car, a comfy new sofa, a repair man when something breaks.  We certainly aren't going to call a repairman when everything is working well.  

Think of this as seed advertising.  You plant the seeds and hope they will grow and blossom.  But you never really know how well your dollars are working.

There is another type of advertising you can employ.  Trackable advertising.  A coupon is trackable.  Those codes you enter in to get an online special are trackable.  If no one brings in the coupon, you know that didn't work.  Don't repeat.  Do something different.

If you have an active business Facebook page, you can do trackable marketing there.  Create a unique offer with a code attached to it.  You can set it up to sell it right from Facebook. And you will know exactly how well it is doing.    Trackable return on your investment. 

You could also put an offer on Instagram, Yelp or Google. Make it a little different, or use a different code.  You want to know which venue and which offer your clients responded to.  It may take a little testing and tweaking to find what hits your clients' hot button.  But you will have more than seeds of hope. You will know exactly how well your investment is working. Trackable.

What Makes You Unique?

What Makes You Unique?

This is a question many estheticians and spas can't answer.  But for the success of your business, it's an important thing to figure out.

Your uniqueness makes you a little different from your competition. It is your Unique Selling Point. It is the basis for your brand.  You can use it for all your marketing.  You can build your business around it. You can use it as a tool to build your business quicker and faster. 

So what does make you different?  Start with a blank piece of paper. First make a list of what you see as your strengths and weaknesses. Then take another sheet and make a list down the side of competing businesses near you.  Across the top make some columns: offers, strengths, weaknesses, opportunities.

Visit each business's website and Facebook page.  If they don't have one - that is a weakness. Write no web or no Facebook in the weakness column.  

What services do they offer? Note these on your chart.  What are their strengths?  Do they have long hours?  Do they work evenings, early mornings? How do clients make appointments? Are they service oriented or experience oriented? Who is their target market? Do they even have one? Make lots of notes.

Then go back and look at your business.  How do you compare?  What do, or could you do, that they aren't? These are opportunities. Note possibilities in the opportunity column. 

Is there something no one in your area is offering? Is it something you know clients want? Is it something that could bring them back regularly? You could make this your unique offering.

Sit down with your favorite hot beverage (it is cold outside for most of us). With a fresh piece of paper, think about the service or part of the industry you are most passionate about. Jot this down.  Is it something you can convert to being unique?  Is it something that will attract clients?  Explore possibilities.

What kind of client would it attract?  Who are they? Where do they live? What is their age? Male or female? This is your dream client. Maybe you already have one. Describe them in as much detail as you can.  

How do they find out about you?  Do they read the paper? Facebook? Instagram? Google searches? Are they locals? Visitors? This gives you marketing clues.

Having trouble figuring it out? Email me. Coaching is what I do. judith@jculpcreativecopy.com.