“While You’re Down There”: The Unexplored Role of Estheticians in the Health of Their Clients

Figures & data

Table

Parent Code	N = % of interviews that were coded	Definition	Examples
Phone and e-communication	56	Different ways of interacting with clients outside of salon to maintain regular visits, provide general info, and sustain mass communications	Phone calls, texts, e-mails, web-based (Yelp, Groupon, etc.)
Depth of esthetician-client relationship	96	Process of growing closer, evidence of building trust, length of time to develop closeness	Sharing secrets, opening up about personal experiences
Esthetician-client relatability	88	How well esthetician and client can relate on a topic or shared life experience	Divorce, pregnancy, marriage, illness, etc.
Client waxing preferences	88	Type of waxing services that clients tend to prefer	Men often request back waxing, women prefer Brazilian wax
Perceived role	84	How estheticians view themselves in their role	Friend, therapist, compassionate listener, improver of client’s quality of life
Functional role	96	What functional/job specific actions estheticians perform for clients	Professional hair remover, conversation partner, distractor from pain
Professional background	100	What drove them toward this career, years of experience, geographic locations of experience	Inspired to seek out the career after being a client, passionate about skincare, etc.
Client characteristics	100	How does esthetician categorize their client gender, race/ethnicity, SES, age
Esthetician-client relationship/rapport building	100	Esthetician vs. client driven process (ask questions & share about self), openness of each party, gaining familiarity, developing a personal relationship	Ex. esthetician recalls that client is going through a divorce; asks how she’s doing and shares her own recent relationship experiences
Judgment vs. non-judgment	68	Esthetician judgment of client behavior/lifestyle choice (or non-judgment)	Esthetician ensures client she is in a “judgment free zone”, or holding their tongue when client shares something they disagree with
Comfort/discomfort when navigating touchy topics	100	Esthetician’s comfort level with discussing, listening, advising, and following-up on touchy topics. Perceived client’s comfort with sharing, receiving feedback, and following up on advice.	Touchy topic examples: cheating, casual sexual encounters, staying in an unhealthy relationship
Mechanics of the waxing profession	100	Necessary client preparation, duration of waxing process, hygiene, pain and trauma of waxing, getting naked, routine and uniform processes	Laying down fresh paper or towels on the waxing bed, cleaning client’s skin before and after, wearing gloves, using new tools with each client, stepping out of the room while client disrobes, etc.
Sexuality	100	Sex-related behaviors, sexual preferences, sexual identity	Foreplay, oral sex, intercourse, pornography, dressing in drag, prostitution, erotic dancing, LGBTQI
Sexual health	100	Contraception, STDs/STIs, pregnancy and fertility, menstruation, perceived vulvar esthetics, body image, sexual abuse/violence	Experiences on the pill or Depo shot, being diagnosed with HPV, difficulty conceiving, discomfort with vulvar appearance, rape
General health	56	Health issues that are NOT sexual or mental	Skin cancer, lupus, Lyme disease, etc.
Messaging bad news: How, what, when	92	Telling clients when something does not look right (physically) or sound right (in conversation), helping vs. not helping, referring to a doctor, advising vs. diagnosing, telling vs. not telling	Offering advice to a client who is explaining an abusive relationship (or not), seeing a suspicious bump in pubic region and pointing it out to client (or not), suggesting client see a doctor about a mole that has changed
Waxing males	100	Any descriptive experience waxing males (positive, negative, or neutral), feelings/experiences unique to waxing males, perceptions of male clients, esthetician comfort level with male client	Awkwardness or discomfort of female providing pubic waxing to a male, erections, perverts, men don’t tolerate pain as well as women
Waxing culture	100	Trends among those who get waxed	Frequency of regular customer visits, busier times of the week/month/year, reasons people get waxed, popular services
Romantic relationship status	100	The existence, degree, and/or type of romantic relationship	Single, dating, monogamous, polyamorous, engaged, married, divorced, widowed, gay/lesbian/bi couple, etc.
Mental heath	72	A person’s condition with regard to their psychological and emotional well-being	Depression, alcohol or substance abuse, suicide, anxiety, etc.