A career as an esthetician opens many doors to amazing professional opportunities and lasting client-turned-friend relationships. At The Color Room, our estheticians help their clients feel comfortable and in love with their skin. 

If you’ve recently graduated from esthetician school, we congratulate you and want to provide you with the best information to set you up for a lucrative career in the skin care industry. Consider this post your ultimate guide for landing your first esthetician job to excelling beyond your wildest dreams in this growing field. 

For those reading this post who are seriously considering embarking on a rewarding career as an esthetician, we answer all the questions you’re thinking about but haven’t asked yet. 

So, let’s start at the beginning. 

What to Expect from Esthetician School

Esthetics training dives deep into the advanced science of skincare. Students learn the science behind skincare treatments, exfoliation, and chemical peels. You learn the latest body treatments, spa facials, and waxing treatments. The esthetics curriculum also teaches you how to engage with your clients and give them highly customized attention. It’s a curriculum that includes classroom training and a ton of hands-on training, so you’re prepared to work in a premium salon and spa setting. 

How long is esthetician school?

The average time to complete esthetician school depends on your pace. If you have the desire to finish quickly, a full-time esthetician program can get you ready to take your State of Missouri Esthetician Examinations in as little as six months. Most esthetician school students finish between six and nine months. 

No matter how long it takes to finish your training, you must abide by certain state requirements before taking your exams. Missouri requires esthetician students to complete a theory and practical examination. To take these exams, you must meet one of the following requirements:

• Attend a board-approved school of cosmetology program and complete a 750-hour course of instruction 

• Complete a board-approved apprenticeship program where the course of instruction is no less than 1500 hours

How much does an esthetician school cost?

The exact cost of an esthetician school depends on the program you choose. For example, a student attending The Salon Professional Academy St. Louis would pay approximately $16,000 - 23,000. Financial aid could lower the out-of-pocket costs for qualifying students.

How much can an esthetician make?

The base entry-level esthetician salary in Missouri, according to Indeed, is $30.14. However, we’re pretty sure you want your investment to pay off more than the average entry-level salary. Here’s some good news.

Top-rated, highly skilled estheticians can earn six figures!

How do you achieve this milestone? First, you want to land a job with a premier skin center like The Color Room in Wentzville. We designed our Skin Center Associate program to continue the learning experience. Our Skin Center Associates deepen their knowledge about skin care treatments and learn in-demand specialty services.

Highly specialized six-figure estheticians provide their clients with top-tier services like microneedling, hydraneedling, laser hair removal, skin resurfacing, Hydrafacial, and more! They also earn commissions on retail sales for skincare products.  

Star estheticians deliver superior customer service, making the guest experience their #1 priority to retain business. They also continuously market themselves to gain new clients and build their book of business. 

Estheticians vs. Cosmetologists: What’s the Difference?

Beauty schools offer training for estheticians and cosmetologists, but the two practices aren’t the same. Esthetician programs focus on the advanced science of skin and skin care techniques. Cosmetologists receive training to perform a variety of beauty services, but the training focuses heavily on cutting, coloring, and other hairstyle techniques.

Preparing for Your First Interview

You don’t have to wait until you’re finished with esthetician school before looking for employment. The sooner you start, the more opportunities you’ll have. Here are some pointers for preparing for your first interview. 

Make an esthetician portfolio.

Potential employers not only want to hear about your skills, they want to see them. As a newly graduated esthetician, you don’t have an established clientele, but that doesn’t mean you can’t create a compelling portfolio. A stunning portfolio is one of the best ways to land an esthetician job with no experience. Here’s what you need to know about putting together your first portfolio:

• Recruit friends or family members to be your first clients. 

• Take photos of the treatments you do for them

• Include before and after pictures

• Use good lighting 

• Arrange the photos in a professional binder

• Separate the binder into sections based on service type (chemical peels, facials, make-up applications, etc.)

Update your portfolio as you learn new skills as your clientele grows to keep your portfolio fresh.

What to wear to an interview as an esthetician

An interview is about putting your best self forward. First impressions matter, and as the saying goes, you only get one shot to make one. So, when it’s time to interview for that coveted esthetician job at your dream salon, you want to dress for success. 

The same advice that we gave for the salon interview outfit applies here too:

• Keep your clothes classy and professional.

• Stick with a natural, clean look from head to toe. 

• Avoid anything too trendy, but try to gear your look to match the salon’s vibe.

• When in doubt, stick with a conservative style. 

But don’t forget to show off your skin — and by that, we mean your face! Everyone has skin concerns. No one’s perfect. However, if you’re applying for an esthetician job, you want to show up with your skin looking its best. Clients (and potential employers) want to feel confident that you give care and attention to your skin, too. 

Our Skin Center Associate’s Program Helps You Excel

High-level estheticians can soar to unbelievable heights in their careers — and we want to help you do that! The Color Room in Wentzville is the top-rated salon and spa in Western St. Charles County because our talent is exceptional. Our one-of-a-kind Skin Center Associate’s Program offers newly graduated estheticians the chance to strengthen their skills, grow their clientele, and work their way toward earning that coveted six-figure salary. 

Our program builds on the skills you learned in esthetician school and fills in the gaps. We pay you to grow your skin care skills and business-building skills. If you want to be part of an A+ team of individuals who support your dream, we want to meet you!

If you’re a recent esthetician school graduate, check out our program here and apply today. Better days always start at The Color Room!

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