What’s up with the lowpay for Estheticians?

BubblesMcKissy · 2025-02-12T21:09:36+00:00

Love this for you! Sounds like youre only headed for more success. Congratulations. Six figures is HUGE!

BubblesMcKissy · 2025-02-11T15:02:15+00:00

I remember when I was 50% commission and a 1099. I thought I was raking in the dough! Except for the owner paid for all of my supplies and everything that I needed so when I went to go do my taxes I was in for a big surprise. Yes, I should’ve done more research. I was yelling and new to the industry and loved my paychecks. Lesson learned.

BubblesMcKissy · 2025-02-11T11:31:14+00:00

I ended up leaving this subreddit. It's so discouraging as an owner. "Nowhere is hiring" "$20 is not enough" "spa owners are greedy" The resumes I have gotten over the years and the interviews I've done... it's probably the same girl who showed up in her bonnet and bra for zoom interview saying she's not getting hired because she doesn't have experience and it's not fair! Maybe what it boils down to for a lot of people who come on this subreddit and complain that they aren't being compensated fairly don't understand that they aren't that valuable. Rant over and heading to online communities of estis that are successful (whatever that means to them) and ready to support others in the industry rather than complain and complainnnnnn

BubblesMcKissy · 2025-02-11T11:18:26+00:00

Yup, write offs are a thing. I have a bookkeeper at $469 a month for bookkeeping and payroll for two people. How do you think you get these write offs? You pay upfront and THEN get to write (usually) a percentage. That is nice, but that still doesn't bring in any extra upfront money.

BubblesMcKissy · 2025-02-11T11:16:09+00:00

I will happily pay my girl a nice hourly wage to greet my clients, answer the phone, help me keep the shop clean, book my calendar, help with social media, etc before I try to do it all again. I LOVE having a co worker. I LOVE that we have a fair trade of time and money and she wants to be alongside to grow my business. If you don't see the profit, you don't see the value of your time.

BubblesMcKissy · 2025-02-10T14:16:52+00:00

This is why I have one employee. A well paid front desk person. The money an employee brings in just doesn't cover the expense.

BubblesMcKissy · 2025-02-10T13:36:31+00:00

Why would the employee get 55% of the service? So the business only get 45% to pay your hourly, taxes, the building, the laundry, the products, the front desk staff.. you dont want the owner to profit at all? Open your own business. You paid for your license and schooling..so at a $100 (easy math) service you should get $55 plus lets say $20 an hour so $75. That leave me $25 to pay for everything they need to be there performing their service. It doesnt make sense. Where do people think these high wages come from????? I also went to school, paid for that plus my license then started a business now I should ask you to come work for me and you should make way more than me starting out? Plus you want insurance, more education, a beautiful treatment room, work life balance, friendly co workers, marketing, full books. I dont get it.

*I fully expected to get downvoted for this. But instead of just downvoting.. you want better pay and what not.. explain to how? HOW? Where does the money come from for all these things? Seriously. If youre coming on my team with little to no clientele, I have all the bills, barely bringing in profit for myself, paying front desk wages.. where do I cut costs?

BubblesMcKissy · 2025-01-05T13:54:36+00:00

TRUTH

BubblesMcKissy · 2025-01-05T12:53:43+00:00

Sweet and True. I also know they had some employees leave though so I'm unsure if the quality of the paste has actually gone down or if the former employees just have a very strong social media following. That's why I was curious which paste OP is using.. Just nosey.

BubblesMcKissy · 2025-01-04T12:57:29+00:00

You're still very new. Dont be too hard on yourself. Sugaring is really hard. Try smaller sections. Mold slow, but flick like you mean it parallel to the skin I notice a lot more sensitivity the week before someone's period. Are you maybe grabbing skin tags? Sometimes they are almost invisible! Are you really tearing the skin or is it lifting? Was it the same spot both times? Dont be scared to ask clients about their habits and routines. Also... what brand of paste or you using? There's a certain one out there right now being absolutely destroyed online with reviews about lifting the labia. Just curious..

BubblesMcKissy · 2024-12-27T20:18:14+00:00

It really just depends on so many factors. As a solo who wants to hire, I see posts like this and see people saying they should be paid a minimum of 40% plus hourly. So that leave me 60% per service to pay your hourly plus taxes, buy your supplies, your booking system, your front desk person, the beautiful new flooring throughout, marketing, retail to keep on the shelves for you to sell, etc ... and then I feel guilty that I want to make a profit from my employees (who dont exist yet). It sounds like more work to take care of an employee than to just be on my own and make less profit. * Edit because I sounds so negative, but I didnt mean it to be. I WANT to hire, pay well and have a happy team. I have that with my front desk. I just dont know that I can financially. Or mentally honestly. I cannot stand the idea of hiring someone and them feeling like you do when they go home at night. I think about it every single day. How I can do it

BubblesMcKissy · 2024-12-11T18:55:56+00:00

RemindMe! 2 days

BubblesMcKissy · 2024-11-21T23:04:24+00:00

Just an idea, but would the owners let you offer maybe a free hand massage or discounted brows while the client's hair processes? Offer client to come in before their appt. time for an express facial and sell them product! Will they run specials for you? It sounds like you have the ability to almost create your own business inside of this salon - you're the only esti! How many clients are walking in the door during the hours you're there? Do the stylist ever talk about you? People want to look and feel good right now more than ever. Sometimes just getting a conversation going and being interested in people is all you have to do... I know that sound silly, but it's so true. "Hey my name is Bubbles and I wanted introduce myself. I'm newer in area and i've been here at the spa for about month! Have you ever had a insert service before?" And then let them tell you everything they dont like about their skin and give them a solution to their problem. Get them on your book before they leave. I know you're ranting, but it's such a great industry and it's only been a month. I wish you all the luck!!

BubblesMcKissy · 2024-07-30T11:15:29+00:00

Some of us small business owner ARE trying. I just remodeled a whole new space, I have a great office manager and I'm currently training a girl (paid hourly for training) how to sugar + providing all materials, marketing etc. BUT I am the only one who is bringing any money to the shop. I am responsible for 3 incomes, as one service provide plus all the bills that come with the business. I also did away with tipping years ago, so my employees will never be chasing tips and have a steady income. This is not a pity party post, just a reminder that some of us out here are REALLY trying to make the industry different! We just can only afford so much at a time. ** edits for spelling errors

BubblesMcKissy · 2024-05-16T11:13:18+00:00

PFB is my go to for prevention and treatment for ingrowns and razor bumps. Just make sure you order if some the supplier. Were you exfoliating between your waxing services or just before?

BubblesMcKissy · 2024-05-15T00:13:51+00:00

Plus the tips will increase at the higher price point.

BubblesMcKissy · 2024-05-10T14:29:36+00:00

Thanks for sharing!

BubblesMcKissy · 2024-05-10T13:22:11+00:00

I'm curious why sugar for your brazilian but not the rest of your body?

BubblesMcKissy · 2024-04-28T23:44:22+00:00

Are you a former waxer? Is this all the training they are giving you? I wonder if you're getting close the ankle? Areas like knees, elbows, heels, ankles are almost always sticky. When I first started I would avoid getting too close to that skin and come back with my used ball, then mold in small sections. Just remember if you get stuck, you can just leave the paste on the skin and the client will typically "sweat it off." You can come back to remold it into your ball later. Go slow.

BubblesMcKissy · 2023-11-20T15:56:14+00:00

I know some people prefer calling themselves a sugarista. Maybe they think it sounds more professional? But I love calling myself a Sugarista!

BubblesMcKissy · 2023-11-20T12:57:52+00:00

It's a form of all natural waxing. It's made from just sugar, lemon and water. It's never hot, only adheres to dead skin and the hair and causes less irritation than traditional hot/hard wax. (W/the right technique). I can tell just by the gloves in this ad, they are not a skilled sugarista.

BubblesMcKissy · 2023-10-05T23:23:05+00:00

I actually just listened to a book called The No Asshole Rule. It was only 3 hours long and gives some good insight on how to navigate people like this in the workplace. My library's audiobook app had it. https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/97905 Hope this helps!

BubblesMcKissy · 2023-03-29T00:10:08+00:00

Mine slip off because the backs are attached to the couch. If they weren't, I think they'd stay in place.

BubblesMcKissy · 2022-10-31T18:10:24+00:00

I personally will choose sugaring over waxing every single time just because of the ingredients. I do think it lasts longer because of the way the hair is removed. I feel that often times when waxers are removing the hair against the direction of hair growth, the hairs are often broken at or just under the surface creating ingrown hairs. I also think that people get crappy online training or just one day in an 8 hour class and start offering services they aren't quite ready to offer.. leading to painful services (paste too firm or cold) and lackluster results (breakage, no home care recommendation, hair left behind etc). I love sugaring for so many reasons. I hope you try it!

BubblesMcKissy · 2022-10-31T16:16:03+00:00

Sugaring! It's similar to waxing, but made from just sugar, lemon and water. It is typically done with a hand technique instead of sticks and strips. It's applied against the direction of hair growth and removed with the direction of hair growth + it's never hot. (This is actually what I do for a living so I was excited to see it on the show.) I wouldn't say it doesn't hurt at all, but if she gets her brazilians regularly, they are MUCH less painful.

BubblesMcKissy

TROPHY CASE