What do you specialize in and why?

[RachelLynch]

I've seen a few people say they specialize in certain things.

So I'm just wondering what do you geeks specialize in and why?
xx

 

['chelle]

I specialise in nails and waxing. Primarily because these are treatments I enjoy doing, but also because I think you can make more money in the long run by being a specialist in a smaller number of treatments than trying to please everyone by offering it all.

The girl who rented the room before me was a beauty therapist and offered all the treatments you would expect a beauty therapist to offer, and she was constantly training in new things because she was paranoid about getting a phonecall enquiring about a treatment and having to decline because she wasnt qualified in it. To me though, the phrase "jack of all trades and master of none" always comes to mind. I would much rather learn how to do one or two things really well and gather a local reputation for being good at those things, than offer loads and loads of treatments and not being particularly amazing at any of them.

I do get phonecalls asking about treatments that I dont offer, but it doesnt worry me that I am turning custom away. I'd rather focus on building my nails/waxing skills and eventually having a good client base which is focused on my specialist skills.

 

[Martin Duffy]

I'm not sure a person who offers a range of beauty treatments is necessarily a 'Jack of all trades'. Very few beauty treatments are that complicated that they need 'specialising' in (waxing, tinting or fake-tanning for example), and most skills are transferrable, appearing in multiple treatments, such as massage. I for example have been in the business full-time since the 90's, so it's only natural that as treatments become second nature I seek out something that compliments my current service offerings.

I can understand specialising from the point of view of preffering certain treatments or wanting a business to have a certain focus, such as being known as a medi-spa or holistic centre, but personally I would have chucked the towel in years ago if I had to be doing the same few treatments all day long five days a week. Likewise if offering a wide range of treatments meant being a master of none I suspect I would have gone out of business a long time ago, and wouldn't be operating a diary that's booked solid until the beginning of Septmember!

 

[lwoody]

Hi I agree I have been hairdressing and running my own business for over 20 years, I am qualified in nails, and earpiercing, and other beauty therapy ,,it's good for my business , and I feel keeps me on my toes, instead of doing same as every day, all good for me!!!

 

[alpina]

I agree, in my salon we offer everything from hair to nails and all beauty therapy treatments in between. And we are very good at all of it. I am a beauty therapist and nail technician but currently learning hairdressing as well, and have girls working for me who only do hair.

I do seem to have gained a reputation for waxing and nails though without me actually going out of my way to specialise in anything in particular.

 

[Beautygirl1977]

I do facials, waxing, nails, eye treatments and spray tans. I love everything I do and would hate to do the same thing all day everyday. I would say if there is something I am better at it's facials. I don't offer make up as i don't feel I'm very good at it and I'm not interested in it enough to spend a lot of time and money on it. I do think that the people who just do nails are the best at them. They have so much more time to do different things and the more you do things the better you are. There is a girl in the hair salon I go to and she does hair and beauty. I think she is terrible at both. She has taken far too much on and i believe she would be better concentrating on one at least until she gets up to speed. Personally I would rather be really good at the treatments I do offer. Having said that I've only been in business for a year and I'm sure I'll get to the stage I will want to do new things. X

 

[ttaylor]

I'm not sure a person who offers a range of beauty treatments is necessarily a 'Jack of all trades'. Very few beauty treatments are that complicated that they need 'specialising' in (waxing, tinting or fake-tanning for example), and most skills are transferrable, appearing in multiple treatments, such as massage. I for example have been in the business full-time since the 90's, so it's only natural that as treatments become second nature I seek out something that compliments my current service offerings.

I can understand specialising from the point of view of preffering certain treatments or wanting a business to have a certain focus, such as being known as a medi-spa or holistic centre, but personally I would have chucked the towel in years ago if I had to be doing the same few treatments all day long five days a week. Likewise if offering a wide range of treatments meant being a master of none I suspect I would have gone out of business a long time ago, and wouldn't be operating a diary that's booked solid until the beginning of Septmember!

totally agree, specialising in something is only good if your not going to cause your client to go to another salon For a simple treatment you don't offer but would fit nicely with something you do do just because you didn't enjoy it that much. That client may think its easier to stay with the person that could do it all, personally I do I wouldn't go one place for a wax another for eye lash tinting and another for a spray tan. Especially if it was for a night out.

Saying that I do both hair and some beauty but I started out in just hair and worked in a salon that did beauty treatments so I trained in these as I went along so didn't feel I'd taken on too much at once just that I gained some new skills




T

 

[lynn amber]

totally agree, specialising in something is only good if your not going to cause your client to go to another salon For a simple treatment you don't offer but would fit nicely with something you do do just because you didn't enjoy it that much. That client may think its easier to stay with the person that could do it all, personally I do I wouldn't go one place for a wax another for eye lash tinting and another for a spray tan. Especially if it was for a night out.

Saying that I do both hair and some beauty but I started out in just hair and worked in a salon that did beauty treatments so I trained in these as I went along so didn't feel I'd taken on too much at once just that I gained some new skills




T

Totally agree ,im the same iv done hair for 14 years and now also do nails,tanning,waxing but I chose to only do facial waxing and ELT,EBT too but I do enjoy doin all of them :-D

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['chelle]

I'm not sure a person who offers a range of beauty treatments is necessarily a 'Jack of all trades'. Very few beauty treatments are that complicated that they need 'specialising' in (waxing, tinting or fake-tanning for example), and most skills are transferrable, appearing in multiple treatments, such as massage. I for example have been in the business full-time since the 90's, so it's only natural that as treatments become second nature I seek out something that compliments my current service offerings.

I can understand specialising from the point of view of preffering certain treatments or wanting a business to have a certain focus, such as being known as a medi-spa or holistic centre, but personally I would have chucked the towel in years ago if I had to be doing the same few treatments all day long five days a week. Likewise if offering a wide range of treatments meant being a master of none I suspect I would have gone out of business a long time ago, and wouldn't be operating a diary that's booked solid until the beginning of Septmember!

I'm certainly not accusing anyone a jack of all trades!! I was just using that phrase to explain my personal feelings about offering loads of different treatments. If I decided to go and do a training course for every therapy I would be doing it purely for financial reasons, because I have no desire to do any treatments other than nails/waxing. Therefore, going and training in dozens of treatments just for the money would make me a jack of all trades, if I had a genuine desire to learn and pick up other skills that would be a different matter.

 

[MrsHBeauty]

I prefer certain treatments, but offer loads, and will continue to add to the list.

I dont htink ill ever drop treatmetns, the variation keeps it intresting i think.

x

 

[zm85]

I started off with nails but over the years have added waxing, eyelash extensions, tinting and spray tanning to the list which are all popular treatments and I enjoy doing. I would say my main treatment is nails I'm constantly updating my training and like to offer the latest in this area but see myself as good at everything I'm trained in.
I'm looking at expanding my treatment list further but unsure where to go from here my thoughts are hd brows as it seems to fit with what I already offer as opposed to treatments from beauty/holistic side, i have an interest in make up and facials too and would like to offer as many treatments as possible as I do believe it attracts all different types of clients. Also I think those treatments that people don't enjoy giving are the ones that they're not necessarily great at either! If you're enthusiastic about a certain treatment you concentrate more on being better at it

 

[ivozu]

I currently do 'all things beauty' but I'm in the process of leaving my current work place and looking to open my own business. I will focus on nails, tanning and waxing to start off, as over the past 5 years I have found these to be (especially nails) the most popular for me. Whether that be down to me being better at these treatments or just to do with the area im in I'm not sure..... But as a result these are the treatments I've become most passionate about and find the most rewarding and enjoyable. I'm sure I'll add treatments to my list as my business expands (hopefully!!)

 

[jcpark]

I think there are several different scenarios depending on what 'specialising' means to you.

For me, a 'specialist' is someone who has focussed on a particular field and is more highly trained, more knowledgeable and more skilled than standard training will provide. There is, of course, a market for such specialists. Then, there are those who only offer those services that they are trained in or enjoy, I wouldn't refer to them as specialists but there is nothing wrong with operating that way.

specialising in something is only good if your not going to cause your client to go to another salon For a simple treatment you don't offer

Why would you lose a client if they go elsewhere for something you don't offer? If you are good at what you do, then you will retain your clientele even though you cannot offer them everthing. In my experience, a good quality treatment is a much higher priority than having a one stop shop where you can get everything done. Occassionally I have been asked by (mainly new) clients if I provide a beauty related therapy, and have never lost them as a client because I don't.

 

[Martin Duffy]

For me, a 'specialist' is someone who has focussed on a particular field and is more highly trained, more knowledgeable and more skilled than standard training will provide. There is, of course, a market for such specialists.

I concur that is the definition of a specialist, but some treatments simply don't warrant specialising in. An eyelash tint for example is an eyelash tint, and once you are able to do it you can do it, it doesn't require extensive further training. The same to some extent with waxing and so forth.

There are some who specialise in individual treatments because that is what they are known for or want to be known for, but relatively few beauty treatments are that complex that one therapist cannot train in, and proficiently carry out, multiple therapies.