Hotelier Spa Forum highlights need for education

Posted by: Linda Harding-Bond
22 Mar 2013
A large part of the "mismatch" between customer knowledge and therapist skills is that what is offered in most schools with regard to esthetics no longer meets the needs of a rapidly changing demographic. In the U.S., Asians, Hispanics and bi-racial are emerging as lucrative revenue streams but only if the spa/therapist is properly prepared to meet their unique needs. The majority of skin care schools, U.S and abroad operate from a curriculum founded in European skin which only comprises twenty percent of the world's population and effectively omits ethnic skin. Unfortunately for the spa industry which for the most part has remained steadfast in viewing the world from a Eurocentric perspective the rubber is starting to meet the road. As a spa consultant who teaches ethnic skin and retail sales I have found that many therapists are not experts and knowledgeable with their own skin and that is where the passion and expertise must begin. Self respect is key, understanding one's own skin is fundamental and provides the proper foundation that all other training is built upon. A comprehensive training program which includes understanding diverse skin types and customer engagement will begin to fix the problem.