Issue link: https://www.ascpskindeepdigital.com/i/78523
Don't leave the room during the steaming or mask-setting portions of a facial. This is when you have time to bring the client into further relaxation. Choose from your repertoire of relaxation modalities (see the sidebar on page 19 for some useful time fillers) and help build your relationship through the power of touch. Know the Right Temperature Your hands should be warm whenever you touch a client. As a person relaxes, they become cooler. Use a heat source, like a hot water bottle, to warm your hands before touching a client's skin. Heat is soothing, relaxing, and promotes peace. During the transitions, you can slowly and gently place a number of things over the client's treatment sheet, like warm stones, warm water pillows, or warm towels. Softly ask the client whether the temperature is comfortable. Use a warm or heated blanket and slowly press into it and tuck the client in. This is especially welcomed on the extremities, such as after foot treatments. Limit Interruptions It should be standard practice that other staff members never interrupt your session once started, and it should go without saying that you should not take any phone calls during a service. Merely placing your phone on vibrate is not acceptable: turn it off or don't even have it in the room. You should not be thinking about calls or texts. Just as you're asking your client to focus and be present, you must practice what you preach. You must be in the giving mode, and your intent should be shifted to the client. Transitions are all about layering. The sum of all the things you bring into each session is what creates your signature style. The whole concept of developing smooth moves is that you're creating a service that isn't just good—it's great. If you fuse a sense of fluidity into your everyday techniques, you will evolve into a master of your trade. Being the best does not happen by accident—it takes practice, lots of practice. Lynn Parentini is a respected author, educator, esthetician, massage therapist, product development expert, former makeup and skin care salon owner, and supporter of Dress for Success. She is a member of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society and the National Cosmetology Association, has worked for major manufacturers, is an advisor for Capri Institute, and is the author of The Joy of Healthy Skin (Prentice Hall, 1995), as well as Stone Journey (Esthetic Alternatives Inc., 2000), a guide to stone treatments. Email her at lparentini@ymail.com.