The esthetician is a professional whose main goal is to care for the body, face, and health of people. The profession can be learned through either technical or higher education courses, each with its own specifics. The main working methods of an esthetician are massage, skin cleansing, makeup application, as well as alternative therapies that aim for the client’s well-being.

High Demand for Estheticians

More and more people are seeking the services of an esthetician for the results these professionals can provide, both for beauty and for general well-being. It’s no surprise that Brazil is the third largest consumer of beauty products, only behind the United States and China. The demand for an esthetician’s work comes from both men and women and has been growing even during times of crisis.

Women in the Aesthetics Market

The esthetician profession is, in general, considered a female profession. And it is no wonder this perception persists in the collective consciousness, since the presence of men in esthetician courses does not reach 10%, although it has increased significantly in recent years, also due to the overall growth of the sector.

So it’s easy to imagine that the aesthetics market is very welcoming for women, both because they make up the majority in this field and because of the growth of the aesthetics market in Brazil. This means that pursuing a career in this area can be a good opportunity for women in the country.

What Is the Profile of an Esthetician?

First and foremost, an esthetician should have good interpersonal skills. This is because much of the work in this field involves dealing with clients on a daily basis. Another important and rarely mentioned point is that students in aesthetics courses should be interested in subjects like chemistry and biology, as they will deal directly with products that cause different reactions on people’s skin and bodies. Organization is another common trait among professionals in aesthetics, in addition to being alert to the technological innovations emerging in the field.

Interest in the Health Area

Although aesthetics courses focus on beauty and well-being, an esthetician cannot ignore the health factor, which is very important for professionals in this area. Health is directly linked to the work carried out by estheticians, and for this reason, those who want to work in the field should also be interested in health-related matters.

What Does an Esthetician Do?

The esthetician deals with all questions related to people’s physical and mental well-being. For this, the esthetician must be able to assess, select, and recommend the right treatment for each client. This involves the various functions that can be pursued within the different branches of the field. Some of the most prominent are:

  • Podiatry
  • Development of Hair Cosmetics
  • Stretch Mark Aesthetic Treatment
  • Aromatherapy

Podiatry

The podiatry professional is responsible for studying and treating the feet, conducting exams, proposing and following up on treatments for their clients. A professional specialized in the aesthetic health of feet can work with clients of any age, performing different functions such as:

  • Diagnosing foot diseases
  • Cleaning broken or ingrown toenails
  • Removing calluses
  • Treating problems with the sole of the foot
  • Analyzing the patient’s footwear to check for wear in any area

Podiatry is one of the areas of aesthetics most closely related to patient health and works directly with doctors, whether by referring patients for surgery or more intensive treatments, or by receiving patients referred by doctors.

It is common for people to confuse the work of podiatrists and pedicurists, but these two professions have a fundamental difference. While the podiatrist aims to identify and treat diseases and problems, thereby improving the health of the feet, the pedicurist focuses only on beautifying the client’s feet.

There are technical courses and even bachelor’s degrees in podiatry. Each professional chooses what to pursue according to their goals in the field.

Development of Hair Cosmetics

It is an area that is not widely explored by professionals in the field but is also growing rapidly in Brazil. The esthetician who works in developing hair cosmetics conducts tests with new products and evaluates their results, both in terms of aesthetics and health.

Cosmetics such as hair dye, straighteners, split-end repair agents, shampoos, conditioners, and leave-in creams are all within the scope of an esthetician’s work in this area.

Particularly here, it is important for the professional to have a good familiarity with chemistry and biology, as they will constantly deal with products that cause reactions in the body, skin, and hair of clients.

Stretch Mark Aesthetic Treatment

An esthetician who specializes in this area finds a market full of potential clients. Stretch marks are a concern for many women and men as well, and are often the reason someone visits an aesthetics clinic.

Stretch marks are scar-like lines that form on the skin when elastic fibers are damaged due to skin stretching. Some of the main aesthetic treatments for stretch marks are:

  • Peeling
  • Subcision
  • Dermabrasion
  • Mesotherapy

Some treatments, like peeling, for example, involve the application of acids to the skin to make stretch marks disappear or at least diminish. Subcision, on the other hand, uses needles for treatment and is also used for cellulite removal, as it promotes cell reorganization at the treatment site.

Dermabrasion is a specific type of abrasive tool for removing stretch marks, and mesotherapy involves injecting substances that cause reactions in the body, recommended only for the most severe cases.

Aromatherapy

Aromatherapy is a type of aesthetic treatment using essential oils. Each oil is chosen according to the client’s needs and preferences, after physical and psychological assessments. These oils can be applied through massages, baths, and even inhalation. Professionals who wish to work with aromatherapy may find jobs in beauty clinics or in clinics specializing in this type of treatment.

What Training Is Required to Be an Esthetician?

There are several paths to become an esthetician. Technical courses, for example, train professionals to work in various branches of aesthetics, assessing and treating clients. The technical aesthetics course lasts an average of 2 years and can be found in various institutions throughout Brazil.

Subjects Studied in the Course

Some of the main subjects studied in the course include hygiene, makeup techniques, hand and foot care, among others. The technical aesthetics course is recommended for those who want to work in the most hands-on and well-known area, serving clients, evaluating and carrying out necessary treatments.

Another way to become an esthetician is to obtain a bachelor’s degree in aesthetics, which takes about 4 years and often serves as a complementary course to the technical degree, deepening disciplines already studied and introducing new topics for a more comprehensive understanding of the profession.

Main Aesthetics Colleges in Brazil

  • Universidade Anhembi Morumbi – São Paulo (SP)
  • Faculdade Oswaldo Cruz – São Paulo (SP)
  • Centro Universitário Vila Velha – Vila Velha (ES)
  • Universidade do Sul de Santa Catarina – Tubarão (SC)
  • Universidade Paulista – São Paulo (SP)
  • Universidade do Vale do Itajaí – Itajaí (SC)
  • Universidade Estácio de Sá – Rio de Janeiro (RJ)
  • SENAC – São Paulo (SP)
  • Universidade Cruzeiro do Sul – São Paulo (SP)
  • Faculdade Centro Mato-Grossense – Sorriso (MT)

Specializations in Aesthetics

A professional with a university degree in aesthetics can pursue a postgraduate degree and specialize in an area of interest. A postgraduate esthetician expands her job possibilities in the market, in addition to competing for higher positions within institutions. Some of the postgraduate courses estheticians can pursue include:

  • Perfumery
  • Cosmetology
  • Facial and Body Aesthetics

Perfumery

The postgraduate course in perfumery is designed to prepare professionals for various types of markets. One possibility is to enter the world of chemical companies that produce perfumes and require estheticians to assist both with production and quality control.

Another very attractive possibility is the fashion market, as perfume culture is closely tied to fashion culture. Postgraduate estheticians in perfumery can enter markets where major fashion houses operate, becoming major perfume producers. The average duration of the postgraduate course in perfumery is 2 years.

Cosmetology

The postgraduate course in cosmetology, unlike perfumery, prepares students to work in any company that produces cosmetics and not just in a specific area. The course emphasizes subjects involving chemistry and covers everything from the history of cosmetology to workplace ethics, along with many practical classes on product development, including lipstick, aerosols, sunscreens, and more.

Professionals who graduate from this course generally work in the production, quality control, and registration of various products, and can lead teams and coordinate projects. The cosmetology postgraduate program lasts on average 2 years.

Facial and Body Aesthetics

For those seeking a more hands-on specialization, the postgraduate course in facial and body aesthetics may be a good option. This course, which lasts around 2 years, aims to deepen knowledge in health-focused aesthetics, preparing professionals to work in specialized clinics for certain facial and body treatments, serve clients, and also coordinate other professionals.

The postgraduate course in facial and body aesthetics covers subjects such as laser therapy, electrotherapy, integrative therapies, a solid theoretical foundation in biology and chemistry, in addition to classes in marketing, management, and business strategy.

How Much Does an Esthetician Earn?

There are differences in salaries of professionals in aesthetics, whether because of their education or the niche they’ve chosen to pursue. Clearly, the more specialized an esthetician is, the more likely they are to stand out in the market and achieve better positions in clinics or companies. But there are also other individual factors that can influence an esthetician’s salary, such as practical knowledge and experience in the field.

Salaries for esthetics professionals are typically higher in regions where the cost of living is greater and where the market is also broader. States like São Paulo, Paraná, and Rio de Janeiro, for example, have a higher average salary than the rest of the country.

Average Salaries for Estheticians

As the term suggests, average salaries are just averages and can vary by institution or region. However, it’s always good to know what to expect from each job title.

List of average salaries:

  • Waxing Specialist: R$ 950.00
  • Aesthetics Technician: R$ 1,045.00
  • Massage Therapist: R$ 950.00
  • Aesthetics Assistant: R$ 855.00
  • Bachelor’s Degree in Aesthetics: R$ 2,500.00

Self-Employed Professionals

Some estheticians choose to work as self-employed professionals, in which case earnings can vary widely, but a professional with a regular clientele can earn up to R$ 3,000.00, depending on the type of work and services provided. It’s important to remember that self-discipline and management skills are required for those who want to follow a self-employed career path.

Being an esthetician means knowing how to combine health and beauty so your client or patient feels better after treatment. It’s an expanding field, and with Brazil among the largest esthetics markets in the world, it’s a great option for those who want a career change or are looking for something they can identify with.

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Photo: debowscyfoto, Circe Denyer, Sebastian Freire, monicore