Today’s modern beauty salon has changed dramatically, even over the past few years. Technology has given us wonderful new equipment like IPL and LED Light, products are loaded with powerful anti-oxidants, peptides, stem cells, tyrosinase inhibitors, Vitamin A and a myriad of hydration, moisturising, infusion, repair or protective ingredients.

Add to this the fact that our knowledge of how these fabulous products interact with the skin has improved substantially.

At the same time the increased awareness of our clients through a plethora of lifestyle magazines and television shows and it is no surprise that professional aestheticians are under enormous pressure to continuously improve their skills.

There is no doubt that one of the most important sets of skills are those concerned with skin analysis. It is obvious to everyone that professional aestheticians must be adept at reading the skin and recognising conditions before determining the best method of addressing their client’s concerns.

That goes without saying. But the provision of a comprehensive skin consultation also acts as an integral sign of our professionalism.

It has become apparent that with the advanced technology, far more invasive treatments and cosmaceutical product choices are now available, for many salon owners their point of difference isn’t impressive marketing or competitive pricing or even the design or decoration of their salon.

It is clear that today’s clients are looking for real experts in skin and they are attracted to these salons because of the professional approach they have to skin analysis, treatment selection, programming of in-salon treatments and recommendation of home care.

Their perceived expertise is their primary point of difference over other well established opposition.

Yet many salons really don’t take this aspect of their treatment regime seriously enough and are missing out on a great deal of very astute customers as a result.

Skin analysis equipment has advanced greatly from the days of Woods Lamps and Black Light Boxes.

Now there are a new generation of sophisticated photographic skin analysers that are computerised to do everything from capturing multiple images from high quality cameras utilising a variety of light sources to graphical and pictorial analysis of the photographs and the measurement of spots, lines, pores, porphyrin, pigment, redness, dryness, dead skin cells and oil flow.

With astonishing zoom capabilities and the ability to compare side by side before and after photos these new generation skin scanners are an invaluable aid in the correct analysis of your client’s skin conditions and the facts that enable you to provide a comprehensive consultation.

The end result is customers seeing for themselves the “truth” about their skin, placing themselves in a position where the therapist can show off their expertise, knowledge and experience and believing they have been dealt with by a true professional. The storage of before and after shots is “proof” of results where changes in the skin’s condition can be tracked over time ensuring customer satisfaction by reinforcing measurable progress.

Because so many salons are now offering advanced services like IPL, microdermabrasion, peels and needling, the need for preparation of the skin and post treatment homecare becomes vital.

Correctly diagnosing the condition of the skin to ascertain exactly what should be done and when it should be performed can best be done with detailed photographic evidence.

It also allows for far more accurate recommendations of home care requirements to compliment salon treatments and achieve the visible results.

One of the interesting aspects of this whole emphasis on professional skin analysis is that right from the beginning of the process the therapist is taking charge of the treatment.

Instead of just walking a client through to their room and chatting about the weather or what’s happening at the local school, the therapist takes control of the conversation and is able to maintain a professional focus. It is here at the beginning of the treatment that the therapist sells the client their home care and discusses their in-salon programme guaranteeing a rebooking.

This makes perfect sense because it is here that the client is listening to every word their therapist is saying.  

If ever there was a time you had a client’s full attention it would be whilst you are looking at, prodding and feeling their skin. Even for a young therapist it is the perfect opportunity to show off their expertise and win over their client’s respect despite their youth.

Basically the therapist is using the analysis equipment to reinforce their expert advice and recommendations. So many clients shuffle out of the treatment room half asleep, searching for wallets and car keys and checking their watch to see if they are late to pick up kids.

This is not the best time to be talking about products, their ingredients or rebooking for another treatment. They are not as responsive and it is clear that this is a last ditch effort to sell them something.

Discussing products at the front counter with someone who just wants to go home doesn’t lend itself to the same professional dialogue as when clients are hanging on every word and looking at detailed pictures of their own skin.

In short, the skin consultation, especially when it utilises photographic analysis equipment, is the perfect environment to show off the professionalism of the salon. It is the ideal time to sell retail, rebook, up-sell treatments and show off the expertise of the therapist.

Too many salon owners are neglecting this essential aspect of beauty therapy and too many therapists are glossing over the skin analysis protocol in their facials. Instead of being the expert, looking at the skin, asking about the client’s primary concerns and making educated recommendations, therapists are allowing their clients to choose their own treatments despite knowing very little about their own skin.

Being recognised as the local experts in skin care can prove to be a wonderful marketing advantage for salons. Yet so many simply go through the paces of doing a facial without taking full advantage of this terrific opportunity to show off the expertise of their therapists.

By taking advantage of new equipment like photographic skin scanners salons can gain a very real advantage in the public’s perception of their professionalism.

This in turn, drives bookings, rebooking percentages, retail sales, up-selling of treatment plans and referrals. Income grows and profitability inevitably increases.

The DermaPro 3D locally distributed in NZ is fast becoming one of the best ways for salons to impress their clients, increase their income and grow their businesses.

Who feels like it’s Groundhog Day? Every day you’re waking up, watching the news, checking in with your team, obsessively refreshing the same social feeds and making a LOT of cups of tea?

Periods of unexpected downtime can sometimes start to feel like the same day, over and over, as you struggle to create a new routine.

As a business owner and manager, now is a great time to reenergise your staff and set some little projects to keep morale up.

Our friends at Shortcuts have collated a list of things to do that will get your team feeling motivated and valued, even while you’re closed.

What is Brow Lamination?

Brow lamination is designed to straighten the brow hair resulting in an instantly full, lifted and fluffy brow. Many people are mistaking LAMINATION for Microblading, it enhances each natural, individual hair stroke that much!! The process essentially involves straightening eyebrow hairs using Brow Code's LUSTRE Lamination Kit with it's unique step by step treatment guide, so that all hairs stand in the desired direction. This treatment has INSANE results teamed with our Brow Tint or Brow Henna. Preferable teamed with Brow Code's Brow Tint due to the hair being very porous after Lamination.

Will we be providing training?

YES! We will have training available for Brow Lamination - Stay tuned to all social media forums for any updates!! This will be in an online, virtual form. In the meantime - We provide clear and simple, easy to follow instructions on our packaging and having some step by step tutorials on our social media.

Will you have student kits?

Yes, we have many colleges which we will be providing Lamination Kits to, this will be available on the website upon launch.

So, when are we launching Brow Lamination?

Our Brow Lamination will be launching PRE-SALE on the 18/11!!!!! We are working hard to get this to our Brow Code Fam ASAP! Please ALWAYS stay tuned to our social media @_browcode_ for ALL releases.

How does it compare to brow threading, microblading, etc?

Lamination is a very unique treatment - Nothing like any of the above, also nothing like anything else on the market in the brow industry! It can be teamed with all other brow services as an add on. It is an extremely sought after service and one which you won't want to hesitate adding to your salon's menu!!

Who is brow lamination the best for?

EVERYONE and anyone!!!! Brow Lamination will make a thin brow appear full within 30 minutes as-well as a more full brow appear fuller and more fluffy!

What happens in a treatment?

We have our full, thorough instruction guide on every Lamination Kit

Are there are pre/post-procedure things people need to follow? i.e. not wearing makeup, not getting brows wet?

Yes of course, like most brow treatments - Do not wet the brow for 24 hours and avoid going in saunas.

How long does it last? What's the maintenance involved?

It lasts up to 6-8 weeks. Each morning your Laminated brows will require styling by brushing and setting in place. You will also need to apply the Brow Code Brow Growth Oil daily to restore the brow hair.

Customer demands in the aesthetics industry are ever increasing, with tremendous change occurring in the last five years. More and more our clients are requesting results driven treatments. Clients wants less risk, less pain and best prices. Clients also likes change... while they may be prepared to stick with a product or treatment for a period of time to achieve results, they do so with the expectation that the products and equipment they are exposed to in the salon is the best available to them

Your clients are relying on and paying for, your expertise and experience and they expect you to keep abreast of the times. It would be no different if you were a car mechanic or dentist; like the beauty industry, both these industries are continually bombarded with new technology, products and techniques. It is therefore your job to do the research.

As a major supplier of equipment to New Zealand aesthetic industries, Youth Beauty is heavily committed to providing equipment and technology that has been fully researched, ie. - it works, does what is says it does and gives results - and giving you, the therapist, enough education and training to fully exploit the technology. In turn, you must demand the same from your suppliers as your client demands from you. After all, you are at the frontline!

In our field of expertise we have been using LED (light-emitting diode) therapy for a few years it has been part of the industry. However, it is only since 2005 that studies conducted by NASA in respect of light therapy and its effect on plants ( in order to provide a sustainable source of food) and the acceleration of the healing process (where prolonged exposure to microgravity may retard healing in space stations) have been published.

Determining how effective a particular LED therapy system is simple – but only if you know the right questions to ask. Effectiveness is determined by the following factors and will dictate the treatment time and number required per week:

• Number of LEDs in the treatment head (the greater the number the better)
• Total size of the treatment area covered at the same time in either mm or cm2 (again the greater the better)
• Output intensity of the system in W/cm2 (the higher the output intensity the more powerful the system)

So what, if any, is the difference between laser/LPL and LED light therapy rejuvenation?
1) LED therapy offers a more complete coverage for a longer period of time. Treatment head sizes are around 218 cm2 (depending on the system) whereas, typically, the treatment head size of a laser/IPL is around  4cm2.
2) Led therapy stimulates the cell for a longer period of time, typically anywhere from 10 minutes upward, depending on the output intensity of the system, whereas with laser/IPL the cell is only stimulated for a fraction of a second.
3) LED therapy offers completely hands-free operation. Laser/IPL treatments are highly labour-intensive.
4) LED therapy works with the skin, not against it.
5) LED therapy is non-thermal, non-ablative and non-invasive. No ultra-violet light is used and, unlike laser/IPL, offers immediate results with virtually zero post-treatment problems.
6) With most LED systems, staff can be fully trained and operational in four hours. Laser/IPL training is far more intensive and over a longer period of time and unless undertaken prior to delivery, the system is not operational immediately.
7) No licence is required to use LED therapy equipment, neither does a laser safety officer need to be on the premises – because it’s not a laser!

In reading this, you have already begun your research into one aspect of modern-day aesthetic equipment. The rest is up to you.  For further information CLICK HERE or contact ilse@youthbeauty.co.nz

Whether you choose to spend your free time by the beach, surrounded by nature in the middle of a game reserve or beside a pool, fact is, if it is summer and there is sun involved, no matter how careful you are, there is always the risk of sunburn. Despite health warnings about sun damage, many people still subject their skins to the sun's burning rays. Studies show that more than one-third of adults and nearly 70% of children had sunburn within the past year.

DID YOU KNOW:

UV Rays are responsible for about 90% of pre-mature skin ageing?

LET US HELP YOU BE SUN-SAVVY THIS SUMMER

It is said that high SPF values (over 50) are a marketing gimmick as they fool people into thinking they are completely protected from sunburn or the risk of skin damage. On the contrary, they may encourage people to spend more time in the sun, exposing themselves to more ultraviolet rays.

DID YOU KNOW:

Due to certain regulations on active ingredients, SPF 30 and SPF 100 products generally contain

almost exactly the same concentration of ingredient used to reduce UVA exposure.

Melanoma rates are increasing almost 2% a year since 2000. Babies and young children are especially vulnerable to sun damage as a few blistering sunburns early in life can influence babies and children’s risk of developing melanoma later.

Try Our: Sun Defence SPF30

A light, non-greasy CANSA approved formulation that offers both UVA and UVB protection

It is also suitable for toddlers from the age of 3 and up!

How much sunscreen should I apply to different areas of my body?

Each arm:  Just over half a teaspoon (3ml)   

Face/neck: Just over half a teaspoon (3ml)

Each leg: A heaped teaspoon (6ml)  

Front of your torso: A heaped teaspoon (6ml)

Back of your torso:  A heaped teaspoon (6ml)

‘Sometimes, our skin needs saving by a super hero...’

Let’s face it - you lie out in the sun hoping to get a golden tan. We know you never meant to get sunburnt but the company was just so good, you lost track of time or

nodded off and instead find yourself looking a not so attractive fifty shades of pink.

Try Our: Aftersun Rescue Gel – with Grape Stem Cells

“Although there is no undoing the damage that the sun caused, you can help your skin recover sooner. As is the case with our Aftersun Rescue Gel, after-sun products assists with the repair process as they help to rehydrate and soothe the skin while sealing moisture in the skin,” says CEO and product developer Lisa Smit.

With our Aftersun Rescue Gel, the name says it all – your own ambulance in a tube, coming to your skin’s rescue. What makes the TheraVine™ Aftersun Rescue Gel significantly more advanced than similar products available on the market, is that we took skin repair to the next level by adding Grape Stem Cells to replenish dying cells and to regenerate damaged tissue.

Take CARE to ensure you are sun smart:

Cosmetics: Apply a broad spectrum sun screen daily.

- Apply sunscreen about 30 minutes before you go outside.

- Use sunscreen even on overcast days because UV rays can penetrate clouds.

- Reapply sunscreen every two hours or more often if you perspire heavily or are swimming.

Avoid direct sun exposure between 10h00 and 16h00.

Right clothing such as a wide-rimmed hat, light long sleeved clothing and sun glasses.

Examine your skin for changes regularly.

Whether you choose to spend your free time by the beach, surrounded by nature in the middle of a game reserve or beside a pool, fact is, if it is summer and there is sun involved, no matter how careful you are, there is always the risk of sunburn. Despite health warnings about sun damage, many people still subject their skins to the sun's burning rays. Studies show that more than one-third of adults and nearly 70% of children had sunburn within the past year.

DID YOU KNOW:

UV Rays are responsible for about 90% of pre-mature skin ageing?

LET US HELP YOU BE SUN-SAVVY THIS SUMMER

It is said that high SPF values (over 50) are a marketing gimmick as they fool people into thinking they are completely protected from sunburn or the risk of skin damage. On the contrary, they may encourage people to spend more time in the sun, exposing themselves to more ultraviolet rays.

DID YOU KNOW:

Due to certain regulations on active ingredients, SPF 30 and SPF 100 products generally contain

almost exactly the same concentration of ingredient used to reduce UVA exposure.

Melanoma rates are increasing almost 2% a year since 2000. Babies and young children are especially vulnerable to sun damage as a few blistering sunburns early in life can influence babies and children’s risk of developing melanoma later.

Try Our: Sun Defence SPF30

A light, non-greasy CANSA approved formulation that offers both UVA and UVB protection

It is also suitable for toddlers from the age of 3 and up!

How much sunscreen should I apply to different areas of my body?

Each arm:  Just over half a teaspoon (3ml)   

Face/neck: Just over half a teaspoon (3ml)

Each leg: A heaped teaspoon (6ml)  

Front of your torso: A heaped teaspoon (6ml)

Back of your torso:  A heaped teaspoon (6ml)

‘Sometimes, our skin needs saving by a super hero...’

Let’s face it - you lie out in the sun hoping to get a golden tan. We know you never meant to get sunburnt but the company was just so good, you lost track of time or

nodded off and instead find yourself looking a not so attractive fifty shades of pink.

Try Our: Aftersun Rescue Gel – with Grape Stem Cells

“Although there is no undoing the damage that the sun caused, you can help your skin recover sooner. As is the case with our Aftersun Rescue Gel, after-sun products assists with the repair process as they help to rehydrate and soothe the skin while sealing moisture in the skin,” says CEO and product developer Lisa Smit.

With our Aftersun Rescue Gel, the name says it all – your own ambulance in a tube, coming to your skin’s rescue. What makes the TheraVine™ Aftersun Rescue Gel significantly more advanced than similar products available on the market, is that we took skin repair to the next level by adding Grape Stem Cells to replenish dying cells and to regenerate damaged tissue.

Take CARE to ensure you are sun smart:

Cosmetics: Apply a broad spectrum sun screen daily.

- Apply sunscreen about 30 minutes before you go outside.

- Use sunscreen even on overcast days because UV rays can penetrate clouds.

- Reapply sunscreen every two hours or more often if you perspire heavily or are swimming.

Avoid direct sun exposure between 10h00 and 16h00.

Right clothing such as a wide-rimmed hat, light long sleeved clothing and sun glasses.

Examine your skin for changes regularly.

DID YOU KNOW:

UV Rays are responsible for about 90% of pre-mature skin ageing?