"Just a beautician"

[JemmaBeauty]

Last week I had a client and her husband come in for hot stone massage, which they'd never had before. They are actually friends of my parents and I've known them since I was a child (I'm now 31). They started to see me for facials prior to their wedding a few months ago, but thought a massage would be a nice treat now that the wedding is over.

Although I know them well I always act professionally; I complete consultations and treat them like any other clients. During the consultation the husband asked if I could pay some attention to his lower back as it had been achey from driving, to which the wife cut him off and said "she can't help with that she's just a beautician, not a physiotherapist. It's not that type of massage, it's just to relax and a bit of fun!".

A week has now passed and her comment keeps jumping in to my head. I'm not actually bothered when people refer to me as a beautician. It's not a word that offends me. But 'just a beautician' is what hurt.

I sometimes feel that there is a lack of understanding about beauty therapists who perform massage. Ok so I didn't study massage at university and she's right I'm not a physiotherapist, but I do take massage very seriously. I do lots of CPD and I market myself as a 'massage and beauty business'. I currently do approx 60% massage and 40% beauty treatments. I try and help people as much as possible (within my remit) and I see it as so much more than 'just to relax and a bit of fun'.

My passion is massage and facials. It's what I love. But I do find it difficult for some people to take me seriously, when they see a 'beautician' offering massage. Does anyone else feel this way?

 

[Allthingsbeautyx]

I personally hate the word 'beautician' and always correct people and say 'beauty therapist'. It annoys me that people think we studied for 2+years to be a therapist to just paint nails! [emoji21]

 

[AcidPerm]

Two thoughts...

In terms of undermining you, it's their problem, not yours.
Sometimes people like to put others into neatly labelled boxes as it helps them cope with the world and usually boosts their own ego at the expense of someone else. In the above example, the wife might have felt uneasy and wanted to minimise your positive effect on her husband's condition.

'Yes dear, I know it feels much better but she can't possibly have influenced that because she's only a beautician'...

However, if you are bothered by it, you could always consider running some specific marketing events and promote yourself as a Massage Therapist and Aesthetician, (love that word as its so difficult to say!) or any number of labels that takes your fancy.

 

[daydreams01]

I think some people just don't think about what they say and that it could be offensive. In her mind maybe she just didn't want you to feel under pressure to fix his condition but it came out a bit wrong. I guess people think of going to a beauty therapist for a massage is for more of a pamper/ relaxing treatment whereas they would book a Physio to deal with a certain problem they have. I wouldn't take offence, just do an amazing massage which they will both feel the benefit of and will want to rebook with you cos it was so good and sorted out their aches and pains! I would also have all your cpd certs on the wall so that they can see that it's something you are a specialist in!

 

[sanilulu]

Don't let other people perception / views of being a beauty therapist enter your head. You have to laugh it off at times, they have no idea what we study or have had to learn to become a good therapist, Or what you can earn ... !!!,
I have just left a teaching post and opened a salon. (Mainly due to the workload and extra unpaid hrs of planning / marking - when I can earn in those hours, but that's another story...)
But I have had to laugh at other 'teachers' views on our courses and students who no way had the ability to pass their 'academic' courses and were tried to put onto ours instead as it was considered to be an easier option ... Laughable really as if your not able to pass biology / chemistry, then no way are you gonna pass in beauty therapy ... But then we only paint nails and rub a bit of cream on .... Lol ....
Just remember you are good at what you do, clients return because of how they feel during and after their treatment and the benefits they feel ...
I heard a good saying recently ... Other people's opinions are no concern of yours as its their opinion not yours ....