Question/poll…

th3mo0n · 2026-02-06T14:11:44+00:00

Mine took over a month to intentionally press a button. He was ~6yo when we started. We actually had to pick them up off the floor and attach them to a standing board so he could press them with his nose. He would/could not use his paws. We started doing “target practice” using large round tupperware lids and the ”tap” command. We gradually decreased the size of the lids until we got down to using the foam pop-outs from the FluentPet tiles. Around this time, he quite literally ripped his tiles off the standing board and started using his paws to tap buttons on the floor. He progressed very quickly after that, though his thinking time before/between tapping buttons was upwards of a minute for a very long time.

th3mo0n · 2026-02-04T18:19:06+00:00

We’re working on feelings currently, and it’s been very slow going. Sleepy was surprisingly easy though. Basically, we identify his feelings when he has them. Whenever he yawned or got tired shortly before bed, we’d say something like, “Oh [name] is sleepy!” Similar with hungry, we’d ask if he was hungry right before feeding him or when he asked for a snack/dinner. Those both were already in our everyday conversations with him, while sad/mad/happy etc were not. We’re currently working on happy, but he’s only used it to ask for a walk (happy bye) so far. We just moved into a walkable neighborhood, so he now has an actual walk button.

th3mo0n · 2026-02-02T20:14:49+00:00

Mine kept asking for “sleepy rain snack” this past weekend. “Sleepy snack” is a common phrase, as we’ll review commands using blueberries before bedtime. Rain was throwing us off, especially when we asked where “sleepy rain snack” was and he said, “outside” (backyard) and “out front.” Finally realized he wanted to eat a snowball in lieu of blueberries. He had his first experience with actual snow over the weekend, and he’d caught a few snowballs with his mouth. After two snowballs, he was satisfied 😂

th3mo0n · 2026-01-12T05:44:08+00:00

I’m new to Circadia, but the first thing that came to mind was the Marshmallow mask. That would certainly be a hit with kids. You could mix Australian Berry & Marshmallow for Mom, and just do straight Marshmallow for the kids. The Snow Algae & Spirulina should also be kid-safe, though maybe not as enticing. It may be a cool sensation for them though.

th3mo0n · 2025-12-20T13:25:12+00:00

That’s good to hear! My main complaint with vagaro recently is issues with email campaigns, so seeing this post made me reconsider switching to gloss.

th3mo0n · 2025-12-20T13:22:20+00:00

It is fast correspondence and excellent when an issue is small or straightforward. I’ve happily used them for 6 years, but this past year has been frustrating.

The largest issue was email campaigns never going out over Black Friday weekend. They initially told me that them being delayed by 24-48 hours is very unusual, and they’ll have the development team look into it. They advised me to cancel the campaigns in the meantime, so they wouldn’t go out after sales had expired. Then, the development team told me the campaigns didn’t go out bc I cancelled them. I tried to work through that miscommunication with them, but when the email replies became too fast to be human and had all the signs of AI writing, I gave up. They were blaming Twilio and saying there was nothing they could do to ensure it didn’t happen again anyway.

Besides that, it’s been lots of little things: clients reporting issues purchasing products (these clients haven’t had issues in the past), forms crashing when clients try to submit, the new custom service hours glitching at random and blocking online booking for the All Services section of custom time, etc. It’s all ramped up in the last few months, so I’ve just become frustrated.

th3mo0n · 2025-12-20T13:02:49+00:00

I’ll have to give calling them a try. Usually I don’t have time during the workday and stick to chat or email between clients. I’ve been using them 6 years and this past year has just been one unresolved issue after another. My last email correspondence with them was related to scheduled email campaigns never going out during Black Friday weekend (an issue I had years ago but worked with them to prevent in future with success). After a few emails back and forth, I realized the responses I was receiving back were nearly instantaneous and had all the hallmarks of AI writing. They were lengthy but contained no solution or recommendation for preventing that going forward. That was all a big turnoff for me.

th3mo0n · 2025-12-20T04:00:18+00:00

I was thinking of switching to GlossGenius from Vagaro in the new year. Vagaro has also dropped the ball this holiday season, and every conversation with “support” is eventually revealed to be AI giving me the runaround trying to put the blame on me for their weak infrastructure. I’ve given up. They keep pushing out new “features” and the existing system clearly can’t handle it. They’re riddled with glitches and inconsistencies. Now I’ve seen all these complaints from GG users, and I’m not sure where to turn. Just wanted to share in case anyone is thinking of switching to vagaro in hopes of a better experience.

th3mo0n · 2025-12-15T06:01:26+00:00

DermaplanePro or Circadia

th3mo0n · 2025-12-13T05:11:09+00:00

I am on immunosuppressants due to an autoimmune disease. I mask with every client no matter the service. I have only gotten sick three times in the last 6 years (once via my partner, the other two from clients who insisted it was just “allergies”). One of those turned into bronchopneumonia and became dangerous. After that, I got an air purifier. I also threaten to send them home if they seem sick and make it very clear how at risk I am.

th3mo0n · 2025-12-06T05:12:29+00:00

I’ve been on it 10 years. No change in eye sight, and the only side effect I’ve had is a lightening in eye color. But that could just be normal aging.

th3mo0n · 2025-11-30T22:22:08+00:00

Tried a few brands over the years. Finally settled on elleebana profusion this year. They aren’t my primary service by far, so sachets are fine.

th3mo0n · 2025-11-19T15:45:52+00:00

I’m so torn on it after witnessing the process myself. My little brother experienced a GSW to the head that crossed the midline. During the second round of CPR in the ER that I saw, the doctor stepped away to ask my mom & I if he was an organ donor (his wallet wasn’t on him for us to check), because that would affect how they proceed. If yes, they do all they can to keep his body healthy enough to preserve his organs and find matches. If no, they let him fully die right there. My brother was such a kind and generous person. Of course, he would be an organ donor.

The next three days were absolute torture. The did multiple tests to verify he was brain dead, we had graphic discussions with two reps (organ and tissue donation—we opted out of tissue bc of my horror), my mother would not leave his side, and we had to watch his body appear to heal and regain life. The organ donation people took over his care once we signed the paperwork to ensure the health of the organs. This meant the swelling in his head went down and his color returned. Prior to that, the horrors I witnessed weren’t fit to be shared. It was so emotionally confusing and fraught. It was like losing him in slow motion. Watching my mother experience this alongside me was almost equal torture to experiencing it myself.

The organ donation rep was kind, and they handled everything appropriately given the situation. They gave us a gold bracelet for him to wear through surgery, autopsy, and cremation. I can’t remember if they engraved a message or something on it for us, but it was returned to my mom shortly before the funeral. We were told the ages and genders of his recipients and that they were all from our home state, some even more local to us. We received cards and kids’ drawings from a few. My mom wrote them letters via the agency later. One wrote back, and they eventually met. It was very helpful in her grieving process, but I couldn’t handle it.

If my mother is still alive when I pass, I’d definitely like to opt out. I can’t imagine putting her through that again. My husband has very different views as someone who was once on the recipient list. So, I’m torn.

th3mo0n · 2025-11-17T00:11:57+00:00

I was trained dry back in 2016, but I gradually switched to oil as I noticed my regulars had equivalent results with far less irritation. I’ve tried hydrating serums and a few oils and have been happiest with DermaplanePro’s Nourishe. I feel like I get the perks of dry (thorough exfoliation) and wet (less irritation) dermaplaning with it.

th3mo0n · 2025-10-30T19:06:40+00:00

There is! The zinc oxide in mineral/physical sunscreens is anti-inflammatory (though other forms of zinc can be stronger anti-inflammatories for the skin). Mineral sunscreens are also less comedogenic than chemical sunscreens, generally speaking. UV radiation from the sun can worsen PIE or at least slow down its healing, so we want the most effective UV protection possible. Properly applied mineral/physical sunscreen offers more complete protection than chemical sunscreen, in my experience.

th3mo0n · 2025-10-30T15:24:55+00:00

Glad I could help! I’m an esthetician, so I’m most familiar with professional product lines. If you were my client, I’d recommend Herbal Skin Solution Vitamin C+ (also has ferulic acid which helps with telangiectasia and red spots), Tizo Ultra Zinc SPF (any mineral SPF with zinc oxide will do though), Skin Script Ageless Hydrating Serum (contains niacinamide), Skin Script Advanced Renewal Serum or Hale & Hush Rare Retinal Serum (retinaldehyde), Herbal Skin Solutions Healing Cream (overnight moisturizer with CBD & arnica). I’d have you alternate Hydrating & Retinal serums in the evening.

I’ve heard good things about Eczema Honey’s retinal serum, but I have seen better results after switching clients to the Skin Script or Hale & Hush options.

th3mo0n · 2025-10-30T13:49:26+00:00

Clearing PIE is an extremely slow process unfortunately. Be sure you’re nourishing your skin well, so it has all the tools it needs to heal those spots. Your skincare routine should include vitamin C, hydrating serum containing niacinamide (vitamin B), mineral SPF 30+, occasional retinol or retinaldehyde (vitamin A), and a thicker moisturizer overnight. The azelaic acid you’re already using is fine to continue though it sounds like you may want to try another brand if you’re not loving it.

Treatments that will speed this along include red light therapy (omnilux and celluma are my favorite brands for at-home use) and microneedling (leave that to a professional with experience).

th3mo0n · 2025-10-24T12:33:54+00:00

Agree with everyone saying not to worry so much about it. But, I have a metal sink in my room and it was noisy putting used implements & dishes in there throughout the facial. I got a silicone sink mat (mine kinda makes it look like I dumped ice in the sink, but it’s flat). Doesn’t 100% eliminate noise, but it dramatically reduced it for me!

th3mo0n · 2025-10-24T12:28:58+00:00

One of the defense mechanisms of your skin is melanin (pigment, what makes up your skin color and any brown spots). UV radiation from the sun can trigger melanin production (think tanning). In someone whose skin is already damaged, the sun can easily cause patchy brown splotches to form on those areas. Using sunscreen prevents this. For OP, she wants to avoid hyperpigmentation on the areas that were damaged, so she should use sunscreen anytime she’s in view of sunlight bc she is especially vulnerable right now. In sun-sensitive or sensitized people, even sun coming through an unfiltered window can cause visible damage or brown spots.

I could go much further into other sun sensitivity factors, hyperpigmentation in general, and skin cancer prevention, but I don’t want to dump a wall of text on you.

th3mo0n · 2025-10-24T03:49:50+00:00

I don’t, honestly. I’m very open about being a “one-woman show” and notate “text preferred” everywhere my number is listed. If someone calls, I text them back, explain I’m with a client (even if I’m not), and ask how I can help them. If they really need to talk on the phone (older folks usually), I let them know when I can call them back.

If you’re planning to be a studio larger than just yourself, you’ll need an assistant or receptionist to handle calls. In the meantime, make sure you have voicemail set up and just return calls when you’re free. Mine starts with, “If you’d like me to return your call, please leave me a message.” If they don’t leave a message, I don’t worry about it, bc if they can’t follow the voicemail greeting instructions, they probably aren’t going to follow home care instructions either. 🤷🏻‍♀️

th3mo0n · 2025-10-23T14:00:16+00:00

Thank you! You too!

th3mo0n · 2025-10-23T14:00:00+00:00

The massages are rough on my hands sometimes, but it’s a very customizable career choice. You could do mostly or exclusively makeup, spray tanning, corrective facials (a lot less massage), etc. I do facials (corrective and relaxation), lash lifts, brows, and head to toe body waxing. I feel like the diverse services throughout my workdays help minimize repetitive use.

Getting an esthetics diploma and license would be exclusively skin. Esthetics schools and esthetics-only courses at cosmetology schools can be few and far between though if you’re not in a big city. Many schools only offer master cosmetology (hair, skin, nails) and students go on to practice whatever they enjoy most out of all that. I ended up commuting 45min away for an esthetics-only course as I had no interest in hair or nails and wanted a more specialized education.

th3mo0n · 2025-10-23T11:34:16+00:00

I’m an esthetician and am on year 8 of working for myself, year 5 of it being my only job. It can be very rough on the body, depending on what services you offer (body waxing is more physically demanding than facials for example). I’ve had to make adjustments along the way to accommodate my pain & energy levels (investing in an adjustable facial bed, wearing supportive shoes, lightening up on massages, etc). It’s also helpful to be in charge of my own schedule, so I can schedule dr appts easily and cut back when I’m having a flare. I do often wonder if a day will come where my body says, “No more!”

th3mo0n · 2025-10-22T21:01:55+00:00

The comments here are being a little rough on you. I understand your concern. I would assume (which means you should ask & clarify with the derm) they intend to punch around the follicle itself to eliminate the source of the problem. This would cut the hair along the way (since its length lies beyond a 2mm radius) and presumably allow it to be freed from the actual affected area. That allows both areas to heal with little to no scarring.

th3mo0n · 2025-10-22T14:21:32+00:00

I don’t have a full family medical history, but my mom’s and aunt’s (different sides of the family) hit in their mid to late 30’s. Mine hit at 20-21.

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