Behind the Glow

When people think of becoming an esthetician, they picture glowing skin, relaxing facials, fast money that’s sustainable, and a career that looks just as aesthetic as their Instagram feed.

And to be fair…. some days really do look like that.

But there’s a side of this industry that no one really prepares you for.

The quiet parts.

The in-between moments.

The “am I doing this right?” thoughts that sneak in when no one’s watching.

And if I’m being honest…. this is the part I wish more people talked about

The Slow Start No One Warns You About

When you first enter this industry, it can feel like everyone else already has it figured out.

Full books. Loyal clients. Confidence in every service they perform.

Meanwhile, you might be:

• Waiting for your first client
• Second guessing everything you learned
• Checking your schedule…and it’s still empty
• Waiting on a job to take a chance on you fresh out of school
• Anticipating when you’ll start making a profit

And no one really tells you that this part is normal and that everyone has been there. Even me.

While I was in school to be an esthetician, towards the end of my program I remember hearing all my classmates with a plan. Some were starting their own she shed, others had a job opportunity lined up, and a few were just like me. Waiting.

Of course I was proud of my classmates, we were a tight nit class. It was just hard for me due to my own personal goals. In my mind I felt like if I didn’t have a job a year after I graduated in the industry, I wasted my time. Booth rental wasn’t an option due to me cutting my hours at my job in order to focus on school, and my ideal spa only need an esthetician for lash extensions. At the time my school didn’t offer a lash extensions training, so I was limited.

There was a 5-month period I was without an esthetics job. I felt sad and disappointed but becoming an esthetician and actively using my licenses was my drive. A huge motivator for me was my boyfriend who always helped me stay positive and believed in me at times I may not have believed in myself.

It’s been 3-4 years since then and here I am. Actively in the industry and I’m still growing. I have future passions that involve esthetics and with each passing month I am optimistic for the future.

Building clientele will take time.

Building confidence takes time.

Building a career takes time.

But when you’re in it, it can feel like you’re the only one not moving fast enough .

Always stay optimistic, have someone in your corner supporting you even if it’s just one person. Although I may not personally know you just know I’ll be in your corner.

Imposter Syndrome Is Real

Even after finishing school, passing boards, and earning your license…you might still feel like:

“Do I actually know enough?”

“What if I mess something up?”

“Am I even ready for this?”

And another honest truth is…. Almost every esthetician even the ones you look up to or have seen on social media has felt this at some point.

One big reason I pursued becoming an instructor was to know more also due to the fact, I felt unprepared. Now my school was good and prepared me for state boards extremely well, however something I want to stress, and this is not just one single cosmetology school this is all of them in every state.

Cosmetology school is to show you the basics and help you pass state boards but the instructors you have and the school you pick will go into how prepared state board wise you are. My school was excellent in that department. Exactly what we practiced and learned at school was on my tests. Now anything extra, you learn is up to program duration, your instructor’s willingness, and if they’re corporate owned. My school also does well with what time the program allows to provide extra learning or certification’s.

This industry is so vast and there is always new technology, ingredients, or more than one way to do a technique or service. And because of that fact I felt unprepared and wanted to go back to learn more and grow more on the education side.

You can study skin inside and out, memorize ingredients, and still feel unsure when it’s time to apply it in real life.

Confidence doesn’t always come from knowing everything. It comes from showing up anyway and putting in time, effort, and giving it your all.

The Pressure to “Figure It Out”

There’s also this unspoken pressure to immediately know your path.

• Spa?
• Med Spa?
• Solo Suite?
• Education?
• Advanced Treatments?

And if you don’t know right away, it can feel like you’re doing something wrong or that you’re falling behind/wasting your time.

But the truth is……

Most people in this industry don’t have a straight path.

They explore.

They pivot.

They grow into what feels right overtime.

And that is totally acceptable and normal.

It is extremely rare that someone’s first job or path in the industry is their dream job or final destination. People get burnt out, move, or maybe their aspirations and goals get bigger. Starting school I wanted to own my own spa. Midway through school I wanted to work under someone instead of owning a spa. After finishing school and working for someone I fell in love with the education side of the beauty industry since knowledge is power and decided I wanted to teach. Now my current goal is to work up to brand education.

There is no right or wrong way of life. Changing your path isn’t a bad thing. It shows growth.

It’s Not Always Glamorous.(And That’s Okay)

There are days where:

• You are tired.
• You’re still learning.
• You made a mistake.
• You’re not where you thought you’d be yet.

Something I heavily believe in, and I tell my students a lot is that your tongue has a lot of power in it. If you change the way you speak you change your mindset. And a positive mindset will get you far in life.

Now it’s okay if you’re tired or exhausted but believe your hard work will pay off one way or another.

It’s okay to still be learning. In this industry you’re a lifelong learner.

You made a mistake, so what we are human we ALL make mistakes. The only thing that matter is how you respond to that mistake, learn and grow from it.

Lastly, for the days you think of how you aren’t where you should be remember you’re further than you were last year or even a few years before that. Where you are now someone else is wishing they were at that point. So, although you aren’t where you want to be yet just know you will get there even if it takes time and life tries you.

You never choose the wrong path; you’re in the process. Everything happens for a reason and consider this point in life a steppingstone to your next goal.

The Part That Is Worth It

Even with everything I stated…. there’s something really special about this industry.

Helping someone feel good about themselves or helping others feel confident in their skin. Learning something new and actually understanding it.

Watching yourself grow from where you started.

Those moments make all the hard parts worth it.

The Takeaway

If you’re in this stage right now, feeling unsure, overwhelmed, or like you’re behind…..

You’re not.

You’re just early in your journey.

And every industry professional or esthetician you look up to?

They were once exactly where you are.

So, if you’re in the middle of it right now…. keep going.

You’re not behind, you’re just building something real.

Join The Conversation

What’s something you wish someone had told you before you started?

And as always if you made it this far…. welcome to the club!

Don’t forget to like and subscribe down below, because we’re all just out here trying to glow (and figure it out) together.

Comment below or email me!

I’d genuinely love to hear your experiences!

behindtheglowstudio@gmail.com