Ole Henriksen opened his first clinic in LA in the early 70's. Since then he's gone on to build a huge empire including his own eponymous brand and has a huge following - including me.
I sat down with Ole and asked him for his top tips for any facialist/student aesthetician trying to build their experience/break into the industry.
I asked for five tips - being Ole he delivered - and then some!
- have a passion - this is number one - always
- find the best school that you can afford
- apply yourself - aim to be the best
- success in life is all about discipline
- read everything you can - books, magazines, blogs - everything related to the industry
- aim to graduate with honours or distinction
- do your research and apply to the best spa or clinic in your area
- go out and sell yourself
Trade test...
- offer to audition if necessary (trade test)
- plan well head of time
- arrive 30 minutes early - for your trade test and for the job when you get it
- set up your room the way you like it
- show off your skills - this is no time to be shy
- execute a beautiful, fluid treatment
When you get the job...
- apply yourself wholeheartedly
- be early, presentable and ready - every single day
- make an impression and build a following
During treatments...
- ask your client about their concerns
- engage them
- be brilliant at skin analysis
- educate your client
- treatments should be indulgent and pampering but effective.
- split your treatments into 3 parts:
opening - prep and skin analysis
middle - cleansing/steam/extractions
end - massage, soothe, pamper - do not hard sell
- talk to them about their diet and lifestyle
Post-treatment...
- call them in between visits to see how they are getting on and how their skin reacted to the treatment
Branch out on your own...
- build a big following - you are there to serve your clients
- always remember - Success is a gift
- never go through the motions during your treatments
- customize your treatments
And having so many of my own - I asked Ole for his pet peeves when it comes to treatments
- noisy treatments - be organised - your client doesn't want to hear you clanging bottles all over the place
- never leave your client unattended - so unprofessional
- being too heavy-handed - you need your treatment to have fluid of movement
- long fingernails - so uncomfortable for the client and so unhygienic
- an unprepared, messy treatment room - no excuse
- being unengaged - which brings us back to number one - show your passion to every client - and if you lose your passion, change jobs - it's not fair to people who pay good money for an expert treatment
The brilliant Ole Henriksen launches on QVC UK on Wednesday 4th June at 6pm for a full hour.
He has further shows through the week:
June 4th @11pm
June 5th @8pm
June 6th @ 9pm
Huge thanks to Ole for his help - and if you haven't seen him in action you must catch him on QVC - you won't be disappointed.
