I think most of us have fallen into this category at some time or another, where we give our all as therapists, and neglect ourselves.
With neglecting ourselves I don’t mean physically. As therapists we are very good at keeping to our beauty routines, cleansing, exfoliating, plucking, and slapping (on products) on a regular basis. We are after all, walking advertisements for what beauty therapy is all about. We portray a perfectly groomed goddess, a healthy glowing face, a hair free smooth skin, a perfectly plucked eyebrow and a natural glowing face.
BUT ...... internally we are stressed out individuals who could well do with some of this pampering that we are installing into our clients.
Most working therapists run on adrenaline, eat on the run, drop into bed exhausted and then have interrupted sleep wondering how on earth they are going to find time in the week to keep up with bookwork. Or, feel frustrated at working hard but never having either enough money or time to socialise. THAT’S ON A GOOD WEEK – a week that we are fully booked, making money, and where the salon is buzzing. This is probably the week where your stress levels are the lowest as you are after all actually doing what you are supposed to be doing. Imagine what is happening inside your nervous system when your books aren’t full, and the worry and frustration of why you have time to sit and do paperwork and ponder on how to get more clients in the door!
BE CALM MY FELLOW THERAPISTS FOR I HAVE A QUICK FIX (Actually a few)
With the festive season behind us and with yourselves hopefully having had time to take a nice relaxing break now is the perfect time to plan how to keep yourselves and employees in this nice stress free state right throughout the year. As salons start returning to normality, and the books pick up again, plan ahead ways to keep the salon and therapists running smoothly. You will be surprised how easy this can be with the simple art of incorporating the right essential oils into the salon environment.
Environmental fragrance working for therapists and clients
Do you burn essential oils in your salon?
Ask yourself these simple questions – What oils do I burn? Are they simply a few drops of lavender (because I have heard this is relaxing) and/or a few drops of orange (as I know this is uplifting) But do these oils actually create the atmosphere I want in my salon, and do they keep me, and all the other therapists uplifted and calm?
If you don’t know the answer to this question then the oils that you are burning probably aren’t what you need. They are not making an impact (whether subtly or not) and are not creating the atmosphere that is keeping therapists and clients feeling good and stress free.
Burn energising, uplifting oils and synergies in reception, oils that will create an impact when the client (and therapists) first walk in. This way you are making everyone feel uplifted and alive as they enter reception, and when they come out of the treatment room all chilled out (sometimes too much and probably shouldn’t drive home straight away) these oils will uplift them and give them a spring in their step.
Here are some suggestions for a average size reception. Use up to 20 drops in a bigger area and top up the oils every 3-4 hours. Alternate synergies every day.
Reception oils:
- Peppermint 3 drops, Orange 6 drops, Vetiver 1 drop.
- Ginger 2 drops, Palmarosa 3 drops, Bergamot 5 drops.
- Blackpepper 3 drops, Tangerine 6 drops, Sandalwood 2 drops.
- Rosemary 4 drops, Cedarwood 2 drops, May Chung 4 drops
- Lemongrass 3 drops, Lime 6 drops, Myrrh 1 drop.
Pre-mixed Aroma Vera synergies: add 10-20 drops into vapouriser at reception
- Clear Mind: ginger, rosemary, peppermint
- Energy: peppermint, rosemary, thyme
- Respiration: eucalyptus, fir, pine
- Ambiance: orange, geranium, ylang ylang
- Feminine Energy: clary sage, fennel, mugwort
- Hidden Waterfall: Blue Chamomile, peppermint, lavender
- Perfect Sunset: Orange, ginger, cinnamon
- Wild Wild West: Sandalwood, rosewood, cinnamon leaf
Remember, just because a synergy is designed for a specific condition e.g. clear mind, doesn’t mean it can’t be used as an uplifting fragrance.
Alternatively to uplift therapists and clients you can use spritzers and air sprays for a quicker fix.
Using oils in treatments
The same method can be applied in treatments as the reception area, but obviously in the treatment rooms a more relaxed, calming blend of oils is called for. Remember to use the olfactory test (where you choose a number of synergies for your clients specific treatment and they smell which one they prefer) – if you aren’t sure on how or what to mix for your client it is best to use the pre-mixed synergies as this way you just have to put them under your clients nose. If the smell gets to you don’t use this blend on your client. Instead go for a similar mix of oils but one that you like the smell of as well. This way you will also relax and unwind into the treatment making it a more pleasurable experience for your client. Whilst keeping you de-stressed and feeling good.
Treatment room synergies:
add up to 10 drops into a vapouriser and one drop into water for a compress towel
- Sandalwood 2 drops, Mandarin 5 drops, Rosewood 3 drops.
- Cedarwood 2 drops, Bergamot 5 drops, Lavender 3 drops.
- Vetiver 1 drop, Mandarin 5 drops, 3 drops Lavender.
- Rosewood 5 drops, Chamomile blue 1 drop, Tangerine 4 drops.
- Cinnamon 2 drops, Sandalwood 2 drops, Orange 5 drops.
- Geranium 3 drops, Sandalwood 2 drops, Bergamot 5 drops.
Pre-mixed Aroma vera Synergies
- Day dream: lavindin, marjoram, sage
- First date: rose absolute, rosewood, geranium, jasmine
- Perfect with Wine: bergamot, palmarose, tangerine
- Sunday Morning: vanilla, lavender, roman chamomile, nutmeg
- Summer Bliss: Tangerine, pettigrain, neroli
Remember these are just recommendations and caution and contra indications have to be considered with each individual. Aromatherapy can be used on more of a personalised way in each treatment but depending on what other products you are using it is best to start off just using the oils as recommended above.
With these synergies you will not only enliven and de-stress yourself and your therapists and the atmosphere, you will be giving your clients that little bit extra making them feel fantastic. It is this easy to create a salon and work environment to maintain a stress free, laidback, chilled out atmosphere. Where the therapists are leaving their stresses at the door and are giving treatments with meaning rather then going through routine movements with no meaning. Naturally the clients will experience the difference, telling everyone wherever they go about your salon. All the difference between a nice treatment and a treatment that makes the client feel so good, they know they have to come back on a regular basis.
Warning though: Nothing will stress you. Clients and therapists will start to wonder at your magical powers – how you and your salon environment has this atmosphere.
I have been labelled in such wonder and have even been told that if I lived thousands of years ago I would have been classified as a witch and maybe even burnt at the stake! Oh well I suppose at least I would have been a chilled out, laid back burnt witch- and maybe if I escaped the fire I could have used lavender oil to heal my burns. After all there is an oil for everything!
This Article was written for Salon Owners but applies to all business people who need to take care of themselves.