Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Last day

Well sort of. I graduate tomorrow from beauty school. I have six more hours I have to complete, so I'll be going in next week to finish up. But technically today was my last full day. Which is amazing. It's been only four months since I started. I'm finally beginning to appreciate what our director of the program means when she goes off on how short the United States Esthetics educational experience is. Too short. Four months. Really? That's all I need and now I'm going to be loosed upon the world? I'm feeling good about the basics. I've definitely got the basics down, plus safety and sanitation. So I won't hurt anyone with my facials and waxing.

But I understand why there is such a high turnover rate in the industry. They give woman just a couple of months of training and then expect them to figure out how to make it out there. It's a tough business where you have to hustle and market and network just to make a couple of bucks. There should be advanced academies that have whole curriculum devoted to selling yourself as a beauty expert.

Even though it's my official last day, I've definitely signed up for a lifetime of learning. That's why I love this industry. I'll be taking classes until the day I retire. I love studying and learning new things. I can't wait to apply to a scholarship for Dermalogica to get 100 hours free education. I can't wait to go to the Vegas show now that I know 1000% more than I did last summer when I went to the Vegas show. I can't wait to search out even more advanced education opportunities.

Monday, November 23, 2009

Something sweet from James

I remember the day in February pretty clearly. James was coloring my hair, trying to fix what some other stylists color had done to my base color. He was talking about his new salon, Matthew Ray Salon, and what it was like to be an owner. He sounded so happy and excited about the possibilities of life outside of the corporate world. So I decided to confide in him. Don't we always to our hairdressers? But James was different. He worked with me at a corporate job that wouldn't be too happy with what I was about to confide in James.

"I'm thinking about leaving my job. You know I haven't been happy since the acquisition. Okay forget that. Miserable is more like it. So I'm looking for other jobs. One of the things I'm thinking about doing is getting my esthetics license."

James looked surprised but in one quick second he shot out "That sounds cool. How about you come work here at the salon? We've even got a room for you."

We continued to talk about my dreams, about how I'm writing a novel and working in the corporate world wasn't very emotionally supportive to my writing. James told me a story about how as a hairdresser, he typically works multiple jobs, behind the chair, on set, at photoshoots, writing articles, educating. Working behind the chair is all about multi-tasking and finding time for jobs that you love. It was his positive attitude and excitement about his multi-faceted career that ultimately convinced me that I could be a skin therapist and a writer at the same time.

I decided to go to school in July. After a few short months, I was a senior and I invited James to come check me out. He was brave enough to get his eyebrows waxed and then a facial. The main reason I went to school was for waxing, but James gave me some nice compliments on my facial technique, enough that he's convinced me to pursue jobs that allow me to give facials and also wax clients. He even posted those sweet words on his blog for all the world to see! 

I'm about to graduate on Wednesday with a Certificate in Skin Therapy. In a couple of weeks I'll take my State Board exam, pass (knock on wood, I don't want to jink it) and then start working my career as a Skin Therapist. I checked out that room at his salon that he mentioned back in February this past Sunday and it still looks like an awesome place for facials and waxing.

Testimonials

"Ilana did a fabulous job waxing my very coarse and stubborn chin hairs and reshaping my eyebrows.  She was focused and super attentive and made sure every last hair was removed.  When she finished I felt it was the best waxing job I had ever had.  Often after a waxing I have to go home and tweeze some hairs that were missed.  Not this time!" -- Carole T.

"Ilana's waxing technique was so quick and pain-free that I felt like I could wax on a regular basis, not just twice a year." -- Deborah C.

"I refuse to ever shave again! Now I always wait to wax instead, no matter how much complaining my boyfriend does." -- Lacey P.

"Ilana took her time and made sure that every hair was gone. My boyfriend was very happy." -- Tati B.

"Her facial was fabulous. My skin felt so soft right after the facial and it was noticeably soft for days. Plus it was so relaxing because she has a very intuitive and comfortable touch. What I enjoyed most about my facial was that she was able to diagnose my skin care needs and recommend appropriate treatment." -- James J.

"Ilana gives an amazing facial - she is very conscientious throughout the whole process, making you feel incredibly relaxed and at ease.....and at the end, your skin looks phenomenal." -- Tia C.

"Ilana is a consummate professional in all aspects of the word. The facial I received from her was one of my most enjoyable. From my skin diagnosis, product and personal recommendations to the massage every step was delivered with the utmost service. Friends commented that my skin was glowing for a week after my facial. I have had many facials and Ilana truly has the "gift" of touch." -- Annie L.

"Ilana's facial was magical.  She had a soft, confident touch which made the experience both refreshing and relaxing.  She was knowledgeable about skin products and gave me several practical tips on how to take care of my skin.  I felt the soothing effect of the facial for days afterward."  -- Carole T.

Thursday, November 19, 2009

About

Contact info: 
323-804-9197 (text is the best way to get a hold of me!)
weinbean@gmail.com
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About Me:
I've had a love affair with beauty as long as I can remember. My mom would say it started when I was three years old and I insisted on picking out my own outfits. My beauty love affair would develop slowly after my toddler years. In high school I would go to the make-up counters before big events so that I could get a free make-over along with the perfect shade of lipstick. In college, I met my gay best friend Dale who advised me to start shaping the catipillars that were sitting above my eyes. After college, I devoured beauty magazines like Vogue and Allure, trying to learn as much as possible about skin care routines, hair and fashion.

About five years ago, I was lucky enough to get a job working for a Hair Care Manufacturer called Wella Corp. While I was there, I discovered my love for the salon/spa industry. All the stylists that I met were so happy with their choice of career because they were privileged to make people smile all day long. I was starting to realize that those moments of happiness that I had in the salon, after a great haircut or a perfectly shaped eyebrow wax, were moments that I wanted to recreate for my own clients. So I decided to go back to school and get my esthetician license.

Currently I'm looking for work as a skin therapist, doing facials, waxing and make-up. At the same time, I'm working my other passion, writing. I'm developing a reality TV show centered on the beauty industry and a young adult fantasy novel. Beauty is in everything that I do and work on. Beauty on the inside, beauty on the outside, bringing happiness to the world through beautiful things.

My Beauty Philosophy:

When I first started to discuss becoming a skin therapist with my friend Ken Baker, he told me that I had to come up with my beauty philosophy. I hadn't even gone to beauty school yet and already I was being asked to come up with an entire outlook on beauty?

Well I've graduated from school and I think I'm ready to start formulating my philosophy. Here are a couple of my thoughts on beauty and life:


  • Wear sunscreen everyday rain or shine. You never know when those UVA and UVB rays are going to sneak out and attack you. And you should reapply every 3 hours if you are in the sun.
  • Start with a good foundation. For your skin that means great color, smooth texture, even tone and firm elasticity. And yes it could mean a great foundation, although tinted mosturizer works for some people. For your life that means getting a good education and continuing to learn throughout your life, even after you've left school.
  • Less can be more sometimes, although if you want more go for more! Don't feel the need to layer on tons of make-up if you don't feel comfortable wearing tons of make-up. Focus on the areas of your face and your body that you love and want to play up. Same thing goes for life, subtly works best most of the time. Except when you need to shout to be heard because no one is listening. Then feel free to shout.
  • Always work within your budget. If you've got problem skin, spend the money to get your skin to a great foundational state. But if your skin is relatively normal, spend your money on one really awesome product, something that your skin will love you for. Same thing is true for everything else. There's no need to buy a closet full of clothes if you've got a couple of great foundational pieces. And do you really need all that fancy stuff in your house? Unless it's falling apart, the answer is probably no.
I'll be adding to this post as my philosophy shifts and grows. Also feel free to add your own philosophical thoughts on beauty and life in the comments!

My Philosophy

When I first started to discuss becoming a skin therapist with my friend Ken Baker, he told me that I had to come up with my beauty philosophy. I hadn't even gone to beauty school yet and already I was being asked to come up with an entire outlook on beauty?

Well I've graduated from school and I think I'm ready to start formulating my philosophy. Here are a couple of my thoughts on beauty and life:

  • Wear sunscreen everyday rain or shine. You never know when those UVA and UVB rays are going to sneak out and attack you. And you should reapply every 3 hours if you are in the sun.
  • Start with a good foundation. For your skin that means great color, smooth texture, even tone and firm elasticity. And yes it could mean a great foundation, although tinted mosturizer works for some people. For your life that means getting a good education and continuing to learn throughout your life, even after you've left school.
  • Less can be more sometimes, although if you want more go for more! Don't feel the need to layer on tons of make-up if you don't feel comfortable wearing tons of make-up. Focus on the areas of your face and your body that you love and want to play up. Same thing goes for life, subtly works best most of the time. Except when you need to shout to be heard because no one is listening. Then feel free to shout.
  • Always work within your budget. If you've got problem skin, spend the money to get your skin to a great foundational state. But if your skin is relatively normal, spend your money on one really awesome product, something that your skin will love you for. Same thing is true for everything else. There's no need to buy a closet full of clothes if you've got a couple of great foundational pieces. And do you really need all that fancy stuff in your house? Unless it's falling apart, the answer is probably no.
I'll be adding to this post as my philosophy shifts and grows. Also feel free to add your own philosophical thoughts on beauty and life in the comments!

Contact Me

Ilana Weiner
weinbean@gmail.com
323.804.9197

Inspiring Advice from Jane Wurwand

I made the trip down to Carson last Thursday, Nov 12th, for Undergraduate Student Day at Dermalogica. It was a great day of education where I took classes on hyperpigmentation, back treatments and how to incorporate technology into your practice. But the best part of the day was that Jane Wurwand, the founder of Dermalogica, was there to give us a motivational speech.

I love being motivated. That was my favorite part of working in Corporate America - the motivational speaker that they hired to pump you up during your conferences. I've heard a couple of great ones and one really bad one (to be fair she had to compete with a room full of 600 people eating dinner). Jane is one of the great ones. She's got a cute Cockney accent, a spunky haircut and an attitude to match. She shared a great story about a woman at her daughter's football game who looked down on her when she told the woman that she didn't go to college and instead went to beauty school. I wonder if that woman ever found out that Jane is in charge of one of the most successful skin care lines in the world.

Jane gave the undergraduates in the audience three pieces of advice on how to be successful in the beauty business.
1. Attitude is number 1: you have to like people if you are going to be in this business and you have to like women because 98% of skin therapists are women and 92% of your clients will be women. She also encouraged us to be passionate and positive, two of my favorite traits. So I'm feeling good and excited about my choice to be a skin therapist! (ha passion and positivity all in one sentence!!)
2. Know your stuff: learn your craft, know your product, understand ingredients, knowledge is the arsenal in your weaponry. I liked how she incorporated a metaphor for us going into battle.... kind of aggressive for beauty but she also shared that the industry has a 90% turnover rate two years after graduating. So be aggressive, Jane! She also gave out another interesting factoid that 50% of a skin therapists' revenue comes from retailing. I thought that sounded high since that stat that usually floats around for cosmetologists is 8.5% of their revenue comes from retailing. But I talked with my friend Ken Baker, an industry guru and beauty retailing consultant and he said that sounded about right. Considering that most of the products that skin therapists are retailing have much higher price points than for hair.
3. Ability to be authentic to who you are: She gave a great quote from Oscar Wilde - "Be yourself, everyone else is taken." She encouraged us to make a difference in the industry and be authentic, which will help you connect and be truly present in our craft.

The biggest impact of Jane's speech came from a factoid that she repeated several times: Skin Therapy as a career puts more women in business around the world than any other industry. After leaving Dermalogica, I wanted to go open my own spa, start a chain of skin-only professional beauty supply stores, develop my own brand of professional wax and open up an advanced wax academy. I'm not sure if I'll be able to do all of those things during my career as a skin therapists, but with Jane's voice in my head inspiring me and encouraging me to make a difference, I will definitely find some area to channel my passion for beauty!