What you’ll need before you get started: all links

• Furniture you’ll need to get started

• The essential equipment you’ll need

• The Trolley—Part 1
  

• The Trolley—Part 2

• Odds & ends you’ll need

• A few more additions you’ll need

A few more additions you’ll need

SOOTHING MUSIC is one of the most essential ingredients to have in your facial. Music helps to create a relaxing environment for your client. I have very specific preferences on the music I use in my facials.  I look for a monotone (“a voice or other sound unchanging in pitch; without intonation or expressiveness”), hypnotic sound. I will list a few of my favorites. Most of these are easy to come by on Amazon or other music source. 

• Steven Roach/Quiet Music I, II, III
• Stephen Halpern/Spectrum Suite,.and others
• William Aura/Aurasound l, ll
• Brian Eno/Music for Airports
• Iasos/Angelic Music

To play this soothing music, you’ll need a CD player or perhaps an iPod. I have always used CD players (and tape players in the ’80s!), but whichever device you prefer to use—play music! Silence, unless the client requests it, is deafening. Be sure your CD player has a repeat feature so you don’t have to mess with hitting replay during the facial. For a full list from my facial music library, see Don’t keep silent in a facial—music-wise (link below).

I have had facials where the aesthetician was playing the radio, set on a “quiet music” station, but it’s the radio, nonetheless, and I don’t recommend it. Nowadays many practitioners (massage, facial, and even therapists) utilize Pandora, a free online “radio” station that plays music you choose.

SHEETS. Flannel sheets are a welcome covering to any body. They are not only warm but they just plain feel good! Keeping your client warm is of great importance. No one can truly relax if they are feeling cool or worse—cold. I have both flannel as well as 100% cotton sheets. I am actually a stickler with full cotton. Poly/cotton blends or plain polyester sheets just don’t feel good to me. And if they don’t feel good to me, they probably won’t feel good for my clients who are lying on them. It doesn’t cost that much more to go the extra mile and get 100% cotton and/or soft, flannel sheets.

BLANKETS. Along with your flannel or cotton sheets, a warm cotton blanket is essential. Be prepared for the cold blooded. Have several blankets on hand in case your client needs them. Everyone’s comfort zones are different and some people (I am one of them) cannot keep warm easily while lying still. I have 3 blankets on my facial bed (one is over the entire area; one is folded in half; the 3rd on is for the feet area). I also have 3 spare blankets on hand for anyone who gets cold.

This looks like a facial bed I want to get into!

HEATED BLANKETS. I do use an electric blanket on the very bottom of my table. The bottom sheet goes over it, so in essence the client is laying on the heated blanket. You can purchase an expensive heated pad or blanket from a beauty supply or massage store. I have found in my years in business that a simple, twin-sized electric blanket from Target does a great job and is usually at least half the price.

My heated blanket has a range of heat from 1-10. When I am making up the bed for a client, I put the blanket heat on 5. Once the client is in the bed, I tell them the range and ask them if they want me to adjust the heat. Most people are fine starting out then ask me to raise the heat to 7, 8 or even 10 by the time I have the clay mask on them toward the end of the facial.

Even in the summertime, due to air conditioning in the office and the fact that clients aren’t wearing a lot of clothing (just a smock and socks), the heated blanket is a wonderful option for your clients. You may be surprised that you use the heat 365.  

SMOCKS. I think smocks are essential. I have gotten facials where there was not a smock for me to wear. Although the aesthetician left the room for me to undress and get (naked) in to her facial bed, I still don't like the feeling of having nothing on under the bedding.

All of these decisions are going to be up to you based on what you like and what you want to do. I usually base my decisions on my personal likes and dislikes. Since I dislike getting naked for a facial, I always provide a smock for all clients.

I have two different smocks available. One is a simple elastic top, the other has a Velcro closing. Why have 2 types? Thinner or less busty clients are fine slipping on the elastic smock. But for women who are very full busted or are overweight, they need something that allows for this. 

When I have a brand new client coming in, I usually put both on the bed. When I am explaining about putting the smock on, I grab the one they should use and inconspicuously remove the other one. I doubt my clients ever see this slide of hand. And having both smocks avoids any uncomfortable moments. You would never want to say something like, “You won’t fit into this, so I’ll get you a bigger smock.” Please don’t do this! Be prepared and please be discreet. I have heard horror stories of how other aestheticians have handled basic client procedures like this.

SOCKS. I tend to be cold-natured. Therefore I am sensitive to the needs of people who come to my salon who also may run on the cold side. I have always supplied warm, comfy socks for my clients to wear during their facial treatment. I would say only half of those offered actually wear the socks, but for those that do, the socks are a little extra that are always appreciated. I purchase super soft, thick socks that are easy to find. Don’t skip this small, seemingly incidental extra.

TOWELS. You will need towels, lots and lots of towels. I don’t think you can have too many towels. I prefer to have two towels resting on my lap. One fully spread out and the second folded in half the long way. The second, top towel is “hand towel” size and is what I wipe my hands on. The larger one is a “bath towel” and stays underneath the hand towel to protect my clothes. I don’t wipe anything on this larger, underneath protective towel. Otherwise my clothes could get product on them. When I worked at a fancy spa in Dallas, I wore very dressy clothing. My friends were always surprised I didn’t ruin them giving facials. Other than being careful and relatively neat, without the lap towels, it would be a disaster.

You also want a hand towel under the client’s head to catch the dead cells during gommage or any other exfoliation you may do in your treatment. It is best if it reaches to her shoulders without being too far under, so when it is removed, all you have to do is gently lift her head and her shoulders don’t have to lift up as well. That’s a minor detail, but the details count when it comes to your client’s comfort and ability to relax.

Finally, you may have a client who needs a rolled up towel placed under her neck. Some people have back and/or neck problems, so yo will no doubt run into people who need something under their heads. Sometimes rolling a hand towel does the trick; others need a flat, folded towel under their head to lift it up a bit.

Having extra towels on hand for cleanup is also a good idea. I like to have washcloths under a few of my products (that are not on my working trolley) to keep the drip from ruining whatever table or trolley.

MACHINES. Although I don’t think you necessarily need machines, I am still including a few words about them here.

I use no machines in my facials. I never have (except in my first two jobs) and I never will. This is my personal preference based on having used just about every machine available back in the 80s and not liking the feel of them in general and specifically not seeing results or not liking the results from using them.

Just about every aesthetician uses at least steam, if not other machinery. In Machines used in facials—are they necessary? on my layperson site (see link below), I discuss the different machines that a client may come across in a facial treatment. Obviously, I also explain my opinion(s) about the machinery too.  Here I will not go into the various machines you might use in your facials. I will leave that research and experimentation to you.

I think I have covered just about everything I use in my treatments and salon, from odds and ends to major pieces of equipment. You may find more articles with things I forgot, but for sure these posts are a good start for anyone!

For more information, see:

• Machines used in facials—are they necessary?
• Don’t keep silent in a facial—music-wise
• What you’ll need before you get started: all links

Odds & ends you’ll need

There are many miscellaneous items that you will want to have at the ready in your facial room. Below I have listed those things I have in my treatment room, and perhaps you will want to have as well. Some are obvious while others may be news to you.

Lucite tissue holder
If you do extractions, you will need tissue on hand. And if you give Yonka-Paris facials, you will definitely need a lot of tissue for the compress that goes over the clay mask. I like this Lucite holder because it is virtually invisible yet it securely holds the tissue. I don’t use the top with the hole in it, I just have the tissue sitting in there ready to grab.

Kleenex tissue
Along with the holder, you will obviously need tissue! I prefer the rougher type Kleenex, which nowadays is a bit harder to find. I get them in 3-packs and always have extra on hand so I don’t run out. This is an integral part of each and every facial in my salon. The reason I prefer a rougher-type tissue is because the softer type doesn’t hold the toner mixture well due to the coating the manufacturer puts on these types of tissue to keep them soft. I also don’t like these treated tissues for doing extractions. They are too thick and I can’t maneuver as well during this intricate procedure. I do have a box of the soft-type Kleenex on my office desk for clients (and me), but for my facial treatments, I always opt for the inexpensive, rougher-type tissue.
 

Canisters for both round & square cotton
I keep these two containers on the bottom shelf of my working trolley. I use one for round cotton, one for square cotton. Why do I use two different shapes? The square cotton is less expensive. I use this to remove eye makeup and cleansers. The round cotton I use for the toner application, which happens many times throughout the facial. The square cotton has edges, which for me—for the client—can be more awkward to manage across a face. Round cotton doesn’t have that issue. I also use round cotton pads as eye pads during the clay mask application. Here, square cotton is again awkward due to the edges. I purchased these either at Bed Bath & Beyond or the Container Store.

Bio-hazard container 
This is a mandatory piece of equipment if you use lancets in your facial treatment. You simply cannot just toss the used lancet needle into your trash. It has to be put in a bio-hazard container, like the one pictured here. You want a small container. One quart is the smallest that is made. You also want the sturdy, plastic type vs. the plastic bag type. Obviously you are depositing used needle points so a bag is not sturdy enough to hold these sharp objects. You cannot just throw these needles away into your regular trash. These containers are easy to find at any medical supply store or on Amazon. 
 

Q-tips & Q-tip container 
I recommend having a Q-tip holder that has a lid. During the time you are away from the salon, you want to keep dust off of these cotton swabs. These containers are easy to find at many different stores.

Gauze & Container for gauze

This is the gauze I currently use. Prior to a change in Yonka’s Micropeel, I used rolled gauze from a medical supply company. However now that this particular product changed, I needed to change how I removed it from a client’s face. I find this square gauze (I use 2 pieces together) does the trick. I purchase this on Amazon, but I’m sure you can find it in other places.

Facial sponges
I use these rough, yellow sponges (on the left) to remove the clay mask—only. They really are too rough to be used on a client’s skin otherwise. These can be found at many places from Target to a beauty supply company. 

The sponges on the right are from Sally Beauty Supply. These little sponges are so soft, many times my clients remark about them: “They are so soft!” I use these for everything else I need a sponge for, except for the initial removal of the mask. As you will read in another post, I use the rough sponges to take off the bulk of the clay, then use these softer sponges to do the end clay clean up. Like I said, the yellow sponges feel rough on a client’s skin and that is a no-no.

Lancets

Throughout the years, I have purchased lancets at many different places. Now, I opt for the easiest buy: Target. I always get the thinnest lancets available, and these are the lancets I currently use.

Along with the lancets themselves, you’ll want to have a little container for them. I use a small tray from Pottery Barn; you can use anything you prefer. The main thing is to have easy access to them. I keep my tray of lancets on the top of my working trolley.

Small containers for ampoules
I use shot glasses to hold my ampoules. These are the perfect size and height and are easy to clean. Mine are clear glass with no words or images. They serve as the best containers for opened ampoules.




 

Scissors
I keep a pair of scissors on the middle shelf of my working trolley. Once in a while I need to cut a piece of cotton for something or open something I am using in the facial. I used to use scissors to cut rolled gauze, but now I use the pre-cut type mentioned above.
 

Tube wringer
This is an essential tool if you use Yonka products. They are almost all in metal tubes, which need to be squeezed toward the end of their use to get all the product out of it. You many not use Yonka but use products in tubes (metal or plastic) in your treatment. A tube wringer is a must for you, too!
 

Jars for clay mask
I use Yonka’s clay masks in each and every facial. I have never like squeezing the clay out of the tube then applying onto a client’s face. Right away I decided to keep the clay masks in small glass jars. The reason I use glass is because essential oils need to be housed in glass or metal to keep the essential oils safe and potent. Because glass does not conduct heat, the clay is usually cold coming out of the jar. I usually sit the jar in my sponge bowl and add hot water just before I apply the mask so the client doesn’t have a cold mask applied to their skin.

I have two different jars for the two different masks (normal to oily and normal to dry). I keep the normal to oily on the top of my working trolley; the normal to dry on the middle shelf. These jars aren’t marked, but after 30 years of working, I know which is which. In previous years I have put a piece of tape on the bottom and used a Sharpie to mark the name of each clay in each jar.
 

Glass bowls
I like Pyrex bowls. They are thick glass and in 30 years, I have never had one break. I have a large bowl as my working sponge bowl and a smaller bowl for my toner emulsion. I suppose you could use something other than glass, but glass is easy to clean and the clear glass has a cleaner look than plastic would. Glass also stands up to very hot water.
 

Watch with stop watch/timer
This is an essential tool for me. When I leave the client with clay mask on, I can be sure to keep her in there long enough—or not too long—with the ease of having a little watch with a timer. The watch I use was very inexpensive (I purchased at Target), but the main feature is the timer.

Clipboard for client charts
When I begin the facial (with a new client) and every time I leave a client for their clay mask, I have the clipboard with me that has their client chart attached. During the mask, along with my trusty stop watch, I will write on their chart what I did, used, and sometimes what we talked about. Once the client has left the building, I will also write what they purchased that day.

Favorite pens
This may seem incidental, but for me having pens—several different colors—is an essential. If you’ve read my post on chart writing (see link below), you’ll know I use a different color pen each time a client comes in for a facial—or even when she just comes to pick up products. The different colors make a marked difference for each chart entry, which makes it easier for me to navigate visually.

Pencils. I highly recommend never writing appointments in your book in pen—ever. Things change all the time and it will make your book hard to read and a mess.
 

Shower caps (lightweight)
A small thing, but have some around. Some usually older women have hairdos and a headband will crush their hair. A shower cap will keep the hair off their face and out of your way and will keep their hair in tact and well. If you’re ever staying a nice hotel, there will usually be a shower cap in a nice little box that you can commandeer and keep in one of your drawers in the treatment room. One issue with someone wearing a shower cap, even the super thin ones, is the constant crinkling noise. Oh well, their hair will survive the facial much better this way.

This was a long article, but I hope it gives you some ideas and information on what you might consider having available for your facial treatments.

For more information, see:

• Furniture you’ll need to get started
• Essential equipment you’ll need
• The Trolley—Part 1
• The Trolley—Part 2
• Get every last drop of your creams!
• Client Information Charts—Part I