We’re More Than Just The Service We Provide

Hello and welcome back to Beyond The Tweezers ❤️

In today’s solo episode, I’m talking about something I genuinely don’t think gets spoken about enough in the beauty industry… the emotional side of working with clients.

This Episode is Sponsored By Lash Oasis. want to try their new Hybrid Korean Lash Lift Products? Try their sample range for FREE. Use code: KARIS 

https://lashoasis.co.uk/products/the-one-portion-system-sample-pack-3pcs?variant=47502539456738

As beauty professionals, we are so much more than just the service we provide.

We become the therapist, the agony aunt, the safe space, the shoulder to cry on, the confidence boost, the person our clients feel comfortable enough to open up to.

And while that side of this industry is incredibly special, it can also feel emotionally heavy at times too.

In this episode, I open up about:

✨ The emotional bond we build with clients

✨ Absorbing other people’s energy and emotions

✨ Feeling emotionally drained without even realising

✨ The conversations and situations nobody prepares you for in this industry

✨ Protecting your energy and creating healthy boundaries with clients

✨ Why it’s okay to care deeply without carrying everybody else’s problems as your own

I also share some personal experiences from my own career and why I truly believe this industry prepares us for the treatment… but not always the emotional side of working so closely with people.

If you’ve ever left work still thinking about a client, felt emotionally drained after appointments, or struggled with carrying the heaviness of conversations home with you… this episode is for you.

And if you’re listening thinking “I thought it was just me”… I promise, it isn’t ❤️

If you enjoy this episode, don’t forget to follow/subscribe so you never miss an episode of Beyond The Tweezers.

This Episode is Sponsored By Lash Oasis. want to try their new Hybrid Korean Lash Lift Products? Try their sample range for FREE. Use code: KARIS 

https://lashoasis.co.uk/products/the-one-portion-system-sample-pack-3pcs?variant=47502539456738

Thank you for pressing play and joining me! If you would love to connect - follow and DM me. I would love to hear your stories.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beyondthetweezers?igsh=MmN1dTVlYTA3N2Zo&utm_source=qr

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:00

Nobody really prepares you for the emotional role you end up playing in people's lives. Maybe it's everything you've been carrying without even realizing. You just know something isn't right. You are allowed to protect your energy. They will break down crying. Sometimes you hear something that feels heavy. Oh my god, am I safe? Hello and welcome back to Beyond the Tweezers. If you haven't done it already, please press that follow, subscribe, or whatever button is in front of you so you never miss an episode. It also helps this podcast grow more than you ever know. So today I want to talk to you about something I believe doesn't really get spoken about enough in the beauty industry. And that is the emotional side of working with clients because, yes, we learn the treatment, we learn the technique, we learn all about retention, styling, mapping, all of that. But nobody really prepares you for the emotional role you end up playing in people's lives. And I think unless you work in this industry, it's hard to explain just how close you become to your clients. I generally see my clients more than I see my own friends. Every three to four weeks, they are in your space. You watch their lives change, you watch them go through breakups, engagements, babies, grief, stress, new jobs, confidence issues, absolutely everything. And I actually love that part of the job. I love that my clients feel safe enough to open up to me. I love that they trust me. I love that I've celebrated huge milestones and moments with them. And honestly, there's even been times where I've cried with my clients too. Because after years of seeing somebody, even though it's professional, there is friendship there. And we always joke that beauty therapists are basically therapists anyway, don't we? It's like that passing comment. People come in, sit on the bed or the chair, unload their entire life and leave feeling lighter afterwards. I swear sometimes clients sit down and within five minutes I know absolutely everything that's happened in their week. Before I've even isolated the first lash, we're already talking about relationships, work drama, family life, absolutely everything. And sometimes clients will even say to me, I don't even know why I'm telling you all this. But I think when people feel safe and relaxed, they naturally open up. And usually I'm actually really good at detaching emotionally. I'm really good at listening without taking their problems home with me. I don't normally absorb their issues as my own, but sometimes you hear something that feels heavy and it catches you off guard because you don't expect it to affect you the way it does. I've had moments where I can instantly feel somebody's energy the second they walk through the door. Like you just know something isn't right, and sometimes I literally ask, Are you okay? And they will break down crying. I am that type of person that can walk into a space or a room and I can tell when someone's energy fills off. I mean, I don't know if you're into like all the universe and spiritual, but I really connect with energy and I can pick someone out in a room and know that there's something wrong. I don't know, I don't know how. Maybe I'm just a good judge of character, or I just have that ability to read a room. I don't know, but I've always had that in me. When I've had this happen with a client, we sit there, we talk things through, and by the end of the appointment, they leave laughing and feeling so much better. And moments like that really remind me that we offer people so much more, so much deeper than just a treatment. Sometimes you may hear something that really does stay with you. You leave work still thinking about them, you're wondering if they're okay, you replay the conversation over and over in your head, you feel emotionally drained and don't even realise why. Sometimes I'll still be thinking about something a client told me while I'm cooking dinner or laying in bed trying to get to sleep. Because when you see somebody truly hurting or feeling lost, what they can, what they say can really sit with you. And that's sometimes why I'll even reach out the next day just to check if they're okay. Because if I can't get them off my mind, I need to reach out and double check. And recently I've heard somebody talking about how our bodies hold on to stress and emotions when we don't have an outlet for them, because it's not our stress or our problem, but our bodies don't know the difference, so it stores it within. And honestly, it made so much sense to me. Because sometimes you have one of those days where the tiniest thing pushes you over the edge, like burning a piece of toast, and you think, Why am I this emotional today? But actually, maybe it isn't that little thing, maybe it's everything you've been carrying without even realizing all the conversations, all the energy, all the heaviness you've absorbed over time. And don't forget, we play this role where we are happy all the time. We never really let our clients see us down or upset because we are providing a service, but that also can affect and zap our energy. I know some people would probably describe me as an empath. I do feel deeply for people close to me. That's naturally who I am. But with clients, I'm good at keeping that line professional. That doesn't mean certain things still don't affect me though. There's been times where somebody has told me something and I physically could not stop thinking about them afterwards. Like I've mentioned before, I've messaged clients before just to check they're okay because it stayed on my mind all night when they left. And I think sometimes we forget how much we actually offer to people in our treatment rooms. It's not just lashes or brows or nails. We offer safety, a non-judgment space, relaxation, escapism, and comfort. Sometimes it's the only hour in someone's month where they actually can switch off. And I think that's really, really powerful. And another thing that's really beautiful in this industry, and I love is seeing somebody transform emotionally in front of you. You can have an older client come in with really, really low self-esteem, barely making eye contact with you, not feeling comfortable or confident in themselves, and then you give them their treatment and they literally leave feeling a hundred dollars. They're checking themselves out in the mirror, they're smiling more, feeling good again. And honestly, that feeling never gets old, and that's one of the reasons I do this job. But also, I know there'll be people listening to this who maybe don't naturally feel comfortable hearing heavy conversations all day. And I really want to talk about that because I don't think enough people do. Just because I personally can get I can detach quite well doesn't mean everybody can. Some people generally feel emotionally consumed by client conversations, some people feel uncomfortable, some people feel drained, some people don't know how to stop certain conversations without feeling rude. And I need you to know boundaries are allowed. You are allowed to protect your energy. If somebody is talking about something that feels deeply triggering or uncomfortable for you, you do not have to sit there and absorb it. There are always ways to redirect conversations kindly. You could literally say something along the lines of, I'm so sorry you're going through that, but I actually think speaking to somebody professionally may really help support you. Or you could say something like, I hope you don't mind, but I can't really have this conversation because it's making me feel a little bit triggered, and I really want this to be a relaxing experience for you. Even something as simple as like, if you don't mind, would you if you don't mind, let's change the subject. That is okay. For example, imagine somebody talking openly about cheating on their partner. If you've personally experienced being cheated on before, maybe you've been in a really toxic relationship. That conversation might generally upset you and make you feel defensive emotionally. You are human. And if you've been in this industry long enough, trust me, you've probably heard at least one cheating story before. Probably more than one. And that's why boundaries do matter. Not because you don't care, but because you matter to. I also think this industry doesn't prepare you enough for what you may hear or what you may experience emotionally. We are taught the treatment, but not always how to confidently handle people. And I never forget this one moment when I first started in the industry. I must have been about 19 years old. I was working from my mum's house, complete beginner, and I had a one-time client that she did her once and never saw her again. She came in and casually told me her ex-partner stalks her and blew up her car. And she almost was laughing while she was talking about it. And I was sitting there thinking, oh my god, am I safe? Is this person dangerous? Could he know where she is? I remember feeling generally stressed afterwards, and I think that was one of the moments where it really did dawn on me that working alone can make you feel really vulnerable. And honestly, I generally think that experience is why I am now so strong on consultations. Yes, consultations are really good for styling your client, taking photos, insurance purposes, everything like that. But the experience of when I was around 19 and having that client in, I think it made me even stronger on having consultations. Before we dive back into the episode, I just wanted to say a huge thank you to Lash Oasis for sponsoring this episode. And I also wanted to talk about something that I personally find really, really interesting. If you're someone like me who loves to understand the products you're using and how they actually work, you're going to love this. So the Lash Oasis Korean lash lift system is built around systamine, which is what actually breaks down the bonds in the lash so you can reshape it. Now, normally the trade-off with systemine is that it is gentler, but it does take longer to process. Whereas faster systems tend to be a little bit harsher, and a lot of those are based around TGA. What lash oases have done is create more of a hybrid system. So it's still built around systamine, but it also includes etheralamine based ingredients which help open the hair cuticle slightly so the product can penetrate more effectively. That's why it can actually work faster without needing to be more aggressive on the lashes, and it doesn't use traditional TGA, which is what a lot of the quicker systems are relying on. So you're not really having to choose between something that's gentle or something that's quick. You're actually getting a bit of both, and for me, that just makes total sense, especially when you're thinking about long-term lash health, not just the end result. Because it's not just about how the lashes look, it's about what you're actually doing to them during the treatment. If you do want to check it out and try it, I have an exclusive discount just for you. You can purchase the hybrid Korean lash lift sample range for free using the code KARIS. It's available on their website at lashoasis.co.uk, and what I'll do is I'll leave the link in the description notes so you can easily access it. Okay, let's get back into the episode. I like meeting clients first. I like feeling people's energy, I like having that initial interaction before bringing someone fully into my safe place. Because when you work alone, your space really does matter. And then on the other side of it, there are moments with clients that are incredibly emotional in completely different ways. I remember a client years ago getting some really heartbreaking news, and we literally just both stood there in the studio hugging and crying. Because when somebody has been in your life every few weeks for over four years, you really do know them, you know their life, their family, their struggles, their wins. So, yes, emotions are going to happen sometimes, and it's okay. You are not a robot, you are human. I think sometimes beauty professionals forget they're allowed to feel things too. And also, I want to say something that I do think is important. Client confidentiality obviously matters massively. What is said in the treatment room stays in the treatment room. That doesn't mean you can't offload emotionally to someone you trust if something has affected you. You don't need to sit alone carrying that heaviness. Whether that's your partner, your family, or another beauty professional who understands the industry, support matters for you too. It's not like you're gonna be going off to your friends and telling the gossip from what your client's been going through word by word. Because confidentiality really does matter. They have to feel safe in your space, but there's nothing to say that you can't offload to your partner or your mum or your dad. Do you know what I mean? You don't have to say who it is or word by word, but you can say, I got told this today, and it's sitting really heavy. You can then offload the feelings that you're feeling. You're not sharing everything that person's given you because it's a safe place, but you are allowing your emotions to be offloaded and taking away that heaviness. Because we really are so much more than this than service providers. We are the therapist, the agony aren't, the cheerleader, the confidence boost, the safe place. But while we're pouring into everybody else, we have to remember to pour into ourselves too. If you're emotionally drained, you need to take care of yourself. Go outside, rest, be around people who lift you up, do things that make you feel good again. Because yes, it's beautiful being there for your clients. Honestly, it really is. But you have to remember their grief is not your grief, their breakup is not your breakup, their stress is not your stress. You can care deeply without carrying it all. And when you have clients offloading to you, sometimes they don't actually want your advice anyway. Most of the time, they just want somebody to listen. So listen, hold space and just support where you can. And if it does feel too heavy, signpost them towards a professional help and protect your own well-being too. Because I truly don't think this industry prepares us enough for the emotional side of what we have to do. And if you're listening to this thinking, oh my god, I thought it was just me, it's not. Every beauty therapist experiences this. And if you ever struggle with this side of the industry, my inbox is always open for you. Now, this episode is coming towards the end. I really hope you enjoyed it. And if you did, please share this to your Instagram stories and tag beyond the tweezers as I always love to see it. Thank you for tuning in, and I'll see you next week.