Oregon Careers in Healthcare

What is a beautician? Is it different from a cosmetologist or aesthetician? What do these professionals have in common? In a world where beauty and aesthetics come first, who do we turn to for certain procedures and what can they offer?

Beauty professionals: The similarities

A beautician, cosmetologist, and aesthetician are all beauty specialists. They are professionals in charge of taking care of our hair and skin. They can focus on one aspect of their services or they can offer cosmetic services for both skin and hair.

Beauty professionals: The difference

Though they are all beauty professionals, their expertise differs. For instance, a beautician is the one we see on hair salons doing our hairstyling, manicure/pedicure, and other routine or monthly beauty needs. A cosmetologist is someone who licensed and trained to perform more complicated beauty treatments. She is the one who advises clients on how to solve a beauty problem and what service to use. Their expertise also extends to body therapy, reflexology, aromatherapy, and other relaxation techniques. An aesthetician, on the other hand, focuses mainly on skin treatments and ways on how to maintain or improve the skin. They work with dermatologists in medi-spas, salons, or skincare clinics as beauty technicians. Their services can extend to noninvasive cosmetic surgery but should still be supervised by a licensed doctor or surgeon.

How to choose your beauty specialist?

The answer will depend on your need.

If you need a haircut, hair coloring, hair treatments (rebonding, hot oil treatment, perm, etc.), manicure, then go to your chosen beautician.

If you are unsure if a hair treatment or skin product is compatible with your skin or hair type, you can go visit an established cosmetologist so she can advise you on what to use and what to avoid. She can also perform the treatments for you.

If you want to have skin microdermabrasion, chemical peels, facial massage, laser hair removal, then go to an aesthetician.