Return to Blog PageArticle by Emily Morgan - Membership Program Manager - Associated Skin Care Professionals (ASCP)
This is a question often posed to estheticians on a daily basis by their clients and believe it or not, the answer is not always “every 4 weeks”. Setting aside time for a routine facial should be a staple of everyone’s skincare regimen, of course, but there are a few key factors to consider before advising your client of when they should book their next appointment.
Age is one of the most important factors to consider when determining how often your client should be receiving a facial. Your client’s age directly correlates with the length of their skin rejuvenation cycle and if you are targeting specific conditions in your treatments such as acne or signs of aging, this is especially important because you want to ensure that you are treating each new skin cycle to yield the best results. As we age, our cellular turnover starts to slow down so it would make sense that a teenager whose turnover cycle is between 2-3 weeks would be recommended to come in more frequently than a middle-aged client whose turnover cycle is between 6-8 weeks. A good rule of thumb to determine your client’s turnover cycle is to look at what 10-year age bracket they are in (20-30? 40-50?) and the higher number is how many days they should wait before returning for their next facial (ex: if your client was 37, they would fall into the 30-40 years-old age bracket, so recommend a routine facial every 40 days/5-6 weeks).
The condition of the skin is another incredibly important factor when determining how often your client should come in to see you. If your client is experiencing frequent breakouts and acne flare-ups, it will be important for them to come in more often to soothe, calm, and clear their skin. If you allow too much time to pass in between facial treatments for a client with acneic skin, it leaves the skin prone to re-building a surplus of excess oil and debris which can be counter-productive. On the flip side, it is possible to have too much of a good thing. Clients with highly sensitive or sensitized skin types do not always benefit from facials booked closely together and over stimulation can actually cause adverse reactions and breakouts.
Your client’s goal for their skin and what they hope to achieve will also help in creating a treatment plan for them. Some clients have a very normal skin-type, great at-home care, and are only interested in coming in occasionally for routine maintenance. These types of clients would really benefit from seasonal appointments. During the hot, summer months, clients may have excess oil build-up and need a clearing treatment, or maybe they got a little sun damage and need a hydrating and calming treatment. During the cold, winter months, clients may struggle with the harsh, dry air and would benefit from extra moisturizing and hydrating facials to balance their skin out.
Whatever the case is, each and every client is different and should be treated as such. As the esthetician, it is our duty to analyze and consider each unique set of factors that every client brings to us to determine the best facial schedule for them. Your client will love the thoughtful attention you bring, and you will both love the results!
Article by Emily Morgan - Membership Program Manager - Associated Skin Care Professionals (ASCP)