What Clients Are Saying

Cosmetologists have absolutely no idea what their clients really think of them. And in an attempt to lift this unnecessary veil of mystery and sacredness, the beauty journalists of the Beauty Insider blog created a survey to find out:

a) how often do you visit a cosmetologist?
b) how did you find them?
c) how many cosmetologists did you try before finding “your” specialist?
d) what do you dislike when you come to a cosmetologist’s office?
e) what small details do you pay attention to — and which of them can ruin your mood and make you never return to that office again?

And here is what clients write about cosmetologists (and not only them):

“For example, I can’t stand it when I’m asked in that pitying tone: ‘What skincare products are you using?’ — with the obvious intention of pointing out the imperfections of my skin and pushing me toward buying the products the salon sells. I’m perfectly aware of both my skin issues and their sales commission. But that pitying tone just makes my skin crawl. And I, like the worst kind of rude person, reply: ‘The kind that’s three times better than yours. And I get it as a gift. So keep working, Maria, keep working, don’t get distracted.’”

“It really drives me crazy when a cosmetologist turns on the heated treatment table without asking whether I even want that. What if I have PMS and I’m already sweating? What if I have a fibroid and I’m not supposed to warm up at all? What if I simply don’t tolerate heat well? (The truth is, I tolerate heat just fine — what I don’t tolerate is when no one cares what I don’t tolerate :)”

“The question about skincare — oh yes, yes, yes!!! Grrrrrr…

Once they didn’t even ask me a question — they just said thoughtfully, when I had already been lying on the treatment bed for an hour with the tenth layer of a mask: ‘But your skin is good as it is, why do you even need a cleansing?’ Excuse me, what?! Then why am I lying here and paying you? Couldn’t you have said that right away? And, mind you, I would still have spent money at your salon — but at least you could have offered something else that would actually be useful!”

“I like it when they tell me what they’re applying to my face and what I can expect (unless it’s the tenth peeling procedure within a week).

Music in the treatment room — that’s so important! Or the absence of it, if the client needs silence at that moment. Radio with advertising breaks makes me nauseous. But meditative music, nature sounds — that’s a yes. In general, it’s worth asking the client what should ‘play or not play.’ And that’s exactly why I chose my current cosmetologist, I’ve just realized: the music, the unobtrusive conversation when I initiate it, the tactfulness; and although her hand is a bit heavy, I still keep coming back to this specialist.”

“I’ve almost stopped going to cosmetologists because I still haven’t found a specialist I feel comfortable with. I switched to thorough home care instead.

What puts me off in a practitioner:

• criticizes the condition of the skin without first understanding what actually concerns the client,
• praises themselves and excessively badmouths competitors,
• has poor professional knowledge and can’t clearly explain why a procedure or product is good or bad,
• endlessly chit-chats about their personal life,
• pushes specific cosmetic brands too aggressively,
• imposes additional services without mentioning that they cost extra,
• is disloyal to their employer and openly criticizes the salon’s policies,
• doesn’t care about the client’s comfort during the procedure,
• has bad breath.

In general, it’s very easy to push away people as sensitive as us :)”

“Does their job poorly or even causes noticeable harm. Criticizes the skincare products I use (‘so you just don’t love yourself, do you?’).”

“About five years ago, I stopped going to a cosmetologist for all these reasons combined, because my skin isn’t particularly problematic — so why endure all that? (I think the bad breath was what finally finished me off.)

And she would even throw jars around when she found out I wasn’t using at home what she had sold me. Saying things like: ‘I put so much heart and effort into you, and you undo everything at home.’”

“My experience with cosmetologists isn’t very extensive, but I still have a few remarks.

I agree with others regarding criticism of the skincare products I use. It’s extremely off-putting. And they criticize everything in a row without explaining why. Just a dismissive ‘ugh’.

I’ve also come across cosmetologists who feel it’s their duty to show excessive care for my skin and for me personally — the ‘auntie-advisor’ type. I don’t really know how to explain it, but I don’t like that kind of personalized approach. I want to be perceived simply as a client.

I don’t like unrelated conversations during the procedure. When they explain what they’re doing — great, but I don’t want to talk about “life.” I really dislike familiarity.”

“Any music in the treatment room annoys me, especially pop radio.

Pointing out my neglected skin issues just to sell me every possible salon service. Facial cleansing that is far too painful.”

“Once, I stopped seeing a wonderful cosmetologist simply because her treatment room was unkempt. The thing is, she used to work in an expensive salon (you know — sterile room, white coat, soft slippers), and then, as it often happens, she decided to go freelance. I somehow managed to find her, came to her, even kept going for about a year. But eventually, the cosmetology room tucked away in the back of a shopping center, the constant mess (people coming in and out, her phone ringing non-stop because she worked alone without an administrator), and her being wrapped in a shawl because it was freezing and drafty there, with no white coat in sight — all of that slowly pushed me away. Though her hands were golden.”

“I like it when I come to a cosmetologist and they carefully examine my face under a special lamp before choosing a procedure, describing the current condition of the skin — ‘dehydrated, inflamed, a few breakouts’ — and then select the treatment accordingly. And besides that, they remove any pimples, a stray hair…, and as a bonus, apply cream to my hands or even elbows…

It’s nice when there are discounts and bonuses for regular clients and on birthdays.

What’s unpleasant:

• when they rub the skin excessively with sponges while removing cosmetics or applying cream, or perform the massage roughly — it feels like I’ll leave with more wrinkles than I had before!!!
• when water or lotion flows beyond the edges of the disposable cap — and you’ve just had a fresh salon blowout that you hoped would last a couple more days;
• when they don’t apply care to the décolleté area, and the absolute nightmare — when the mask is applied only to the face — what about the neck? what about the décolleté?
• when you have to hide that you also visit another specialist — for example, for mesotherapy (because it’s perceived almost like cheating!)
• when services, cosmetics or extras are pushed aggressively!”

“I don’t go very often — about once a quarter, mainly to cleanse my face or get a treatment for the skin around my eyes. The cosmetologist works in the same salon where I get my nails and hair done, so I ended up with her purely by chance. I keep going to this cosmetologist because she explains what she’s doing, what the applied product does, because she always plays unobtrusive instrumental music, because she never criticizes her colleagues or clients, speaks softly and kindly (and not too much! and in a girly way!), and occasionally checks whether I’m warm enough. Basically, it turned out that I go there mostly to relax))) And of course, I’m happy with her work — that goes without saying.”

“What annoys me the most is unprofessionalism and the attempt to squeeze more money out of the client. This includes recommending facial cleanings every two weeks when the skin is completely normal, and peels, and whatever else they can suggest. I remember how, in late spring — almost summer — I was offered to use a dermaroller on my face to ‘get rid of couperose.’ The interior matters a lot, as do the smell, the music, the appearance of the specialist, and how and what they talk about.

A suitable cosmetologist was never found.”

“I visit a cosmetologist every 1.5–2 months, so far only for mechanical facial cleansing, and in winter — for a course of superficial peels (usually 3 sessions).

I found my cosmetologist through word of mouth. The current one is about the fifth in a row, but still not ‘my’ specialist ))

I don’t like an untidy treatment room, an untidy cosmetologist, background noise when one room is shared between two clients, pointless chatter, attempts at being overly familiar (though I’m quite a grump, so that doesn’t work with me)), ignorance (how come I’ve known about the hyped Clarisonic for 2–3 years and the cosmetologist hasn’t??), laziness and indifference (well, a cleansing is a cleansing, a peel is a peel).”

“Oh, may I praise someone? I adore my cosmetologist!) We live in a small town and, fortunately, before I found her, I had been to only three. The first girl I didn’t like at all — only manual cleansing, only hardcore, and my reactive skin would take a month to heal afterward. The second proudly declared that La Mer is an anti-aging brand and I’m too young to use it (27 years old, insane workload). She didn’t try to push her own products, but she trashed everything I used (which was unpleasant).

Eventually, following a friend’s recommendation, I went to the third one. And we chatted almost the entire session. She is simply my person! Plus — she has a PhD, and her main job is at an oncology center, dermatology department, so I trust her completely. She is the goddess of pimple-removal — everything heals very quickly and without red inflammation. During my pregnancy she was incredibly attentive, raised the couch so my back wouldn’t go numb, avoided certain procedures that, in her opinion, could be harmful (device-based treatments), and most importantly, she achieved great results with her hands alone. Basically, I don’t care what music she has there, what cosmetic brands she uses — the main thing is that two months after giving birth I leave her looking like a goddess, and no one can even imagine I’m not sleeping)). Probably the most important thing is to find a specialist you trust, whose room you can relax in, without having to control every movement! Nelka, just so you know — I adore you!”

“I don’t like it when they push their products on me, especially when I haven’t shown the slightest interest or hinted that I might want something like that)))”

“If I had ‘my own’ cosmetologist, I’d go more often. For now, I visit only when necessary.

I left my previous one because she was far too pushy with services I didn’t need. I had been going to her for skincare treatments and mesotherapy for quite a long time. She loved studying and expanding her skillset — which theoretically should be good, but in practice it turned into the opposite. One day she took an eyelash extension course — and then I spent two months fighting off her attempts to put lash extensions on me, even though I absolutely did not need them. I have my own long, black lashes; I barely even use mascara except on holidays — they’re perfectly visible on their own. But she was desperate to try her new skills on me. Then the same story happened with permanent makeup — she took a course and started insisting that I should get lip-contour and eyeliner tattooing. I got terribly tired of fighting this off.

Now I’ve found another cosmetologist — a man — and he seems great: neat, pleasant, not pushy. But he also managed to ‘kill’ me. Before New Year’s, I decided to ask him what could be done about a small pit left after chickenpox my son brought home. It’s barely noticeable, I just wanted to know the options. His answer shocked me: apparently, I urgently needed to inject Perlane into the cheekbone area! I have no idea how that was supposed to be related, but he immediately named a large sum and tried to book me for a session. I, of course, didn’t go — but then he even called my home afterwards, insisting I should come because the price of Perlane would increase after New Year.

So now I’m searching again.

Honestly, very often instead of offering proper skincare, they immediately suggest injections — because massage and other manual techniques are considered ‘the last century’.”

“How wonderful that someone is interested in the topic ‘me and my cosmetologist’. I’ve had three so far.

The first one was indifferent: I asked her, ‘Maybe we should do this?’ She: ‘We can.’ Me: ‘Or maybe this?’ She: ‘We can do that too.’ She worked well, but to continue seeing her I would’ve needed another university degree — and to make all the treatment decisions myself.

The second cosmetologist was great in every way except for one annoying detail: she didn’t take me on time. And I’m not talking about 10–15 minutes, but 40–60. The fourth time, after waiting 45 minutes, I left the clinic. My time is worth more.

The third: talked endlessly about her personal life, other clients, and everything sounded… not very positive).

So I’m actively searching for “my” cosmetologist. What I expect: lifelong cooperation, professionalism, and care for my beauty.”

“I’ve only been to one cosmetologist so far — in my favorite salon where I do absolutely everything. And from the very first visit she couldn’t tell me how many procedures I would need to remove the red spots left from old pimples. As a result, I spent almost my entire bonus, the promises didn’t come true, and all that ‘beauty’ stayed with me. Very unpleasant.

And what’s also strange is that they didn’t give me any recommendations for at-home care — but for any inflammation they immediately urge me to come in for microdermabrasion.

It’s upsetting, and I’m searching again.”

“I try to visit cosmetologists once a year. I still haven’t found “my” specialist. I went randomly to places in the city center that are considered good; I didn’t research reviews on purpose. My experience is still small, but I already have a few observations.

What puts me off:

• When the practitioner wants me to chat about life, as if I’m there to be their background noise.
• A TV turned on during the procedure.
• A tiny, cramped room without windows (I’m not claustrophobic, but it’s unpleasant, and I don’t want to sit in a storage-like closet).
• Untidy appearance of the practitioner (mostly the hands).
• When they push services that are clearly unnecessary.
• When I refuse some procedures because they don’t suit me, but they keep insisting, praising how wonderful those treatments are (usually this is done not by the practitioner but by administrators — still very off-putting).
• When I ask about a specific procedure/product, but the practitioner gets carried away and starts listing absolutely everything they have. If you listen, it takes forever; if you interrupt — they get offended.
• Allergic reaction to the brand they use. Not the practitioner’s fault, it's individual, but of course I won’t return after a negative reaction on my face.
• When you book a specific procedure, come in — and the practitioner says they don’t know how to perform it. Why is it on the service list then? (but thanks for honesty).
• When the previous client is late, and instead of telling me how long I need to wait and apologizing, they start listing what procedures they’re now doing for the late client.

What I like:

• When they warn me before doing something.
• They explain what product they apply and what it does.
• When I see real results, when my skin looks better and my issues are addressed (for example, I lacked hydration — they fixed it).
• A good facial massage technique (rare, but incredibly pleasant).”

“A week ago I had a facial cleansing, and I kept silently wondering how, with such a high service price, the practitioner could behave so off-puttingly. It started with a harmless attempt to determine the cause of inflammation based on its location (cheeks — stomach, chin — some other body part). Then came the assumption: ‘maybe you just don’t have a toner?’))) Right, I thought, I’ve been struggling for six years — of course the toner is to blame. Then she gave me a diagnosis: ‘normal slightly problematic skin.’ That’s when I experienced this exotic feeling when it hurts, but you still want to laugh). After that came 101 suggestions to do a preventive peel, a mask, or at least something… until it became clear that I was unshakeable. Then the cosmetologist simply said: ‘Looks like you don’t need anything… I’ll finish applying the cream and you’re free to go.’”

“What puts me off in cosmetologists is the lack of proper education. I like it when cosmetologists behave like doctors, truly understand that they are healthcare professionals, and approach their clients psychologically the way doctors do. Only that kind of communication can be beneficial for both sides. If someone was originally hired just to tweeze eyebrows, then later taught to apply masks and handed jars they must sell — you can spot that instantly.”

“I visit a cosmetologist quite often because of my skin type (oily and problematic). One situation stayed with me for a long time. Before my wedding, I had a yellow (retinoic? retinol?) peel. Before the procedure was scheduled, I clearly warned that I was planning to get pregnant soon. No one told me that after a yellow peel it is not recommended to try to conceive for some time. I found this out by accident, and I had to postpone my plans. At the same time, I have no complaints about the procedure itself or the result. The clinic, by the way, is one of the best in the city. Why they didn’t warn me — I still don’t understand.”

“I visit my cosmetologist once a month — it may seem frequent to someone, but for me it’s an investment in the future, plus I have quite problematic, reactive skin. We alternate treatments from Babor and Biologique Recherche. My practitioner is a golden master, practically a friend, and the salon is perfect — with an administrator, a white coat, and pleasant music. I found her three years ago (at age 20) and I’m not planning to change her. She has never tried to ‘push’ anything on me; sometimes she even talks me out of buying a mask, knowing how many I already have. I go to her as if it’s a celebration, and I really hope she won’t change salons or leave to work independently.”

“I still haven’t found a good cosmetologist of my own. After my last visit, my skin still hasn’t healed 🙂 When I recover emotionally, I’ll start searching through acquaintances and reviews.

I like:

• The practitioner’s education.
• The ability to explain the essence of the procedure and why it’s needed.
• Assessment of the skin’s condition and tailoring the procedure to the situation.
• When they listen to me and take into account what I say (especially when I explain that my skin is sensitive and heals poorly).
• A good massage.
• Knowledge of new technologies (technologies in general), their use or at least the ability to explain why they are or aren’t used.

I don’t like:

• Music in the room.
• Very loud noise from the street.
• An untidy practitioner.
• A practitioner who claims that nobody has invented anything better than the blue Nivea cream and that she doesn’t use anything else (so why am I lying here in a pricey mask then?).
• When they praise my skin and then criticize the cosmetics I use and my skincare routine.
• When my face is treated so roughly during cleansing that I’ve been unable to get rid of the marks for 3 months (I warned them that my skin is reactive, delicate and heals very, very slowly).
• Manicure — long gel nails or unfiled nails that scratch.
• When it becomes clear that I also know quite a bit about ingredients and formulations, yet they keep explaining to me what hyaluronic acid is.
• Too much pointless chatter.
• Too little chatter 🙂 Meaning when they say nothing at all about my skin condition, the products they use, or the procedures.”

“There was a time when I went to the cosmetologist once a week or once every two weeks. Now I don’t go at all. I found my cosmetologist through acquaintances. But I still haven’t found “my” cosmetologist.

I don’t like:

• When they start talking way too much about their personal life. My last cosmetologist told me how Meladze was flirting with her at some event — it was incredibly disgusting. I understand that both the client and the cosmetologist can get bored, but it’s worth checking whether the client is willing to chat about unrelated topics.
• When they announce procedures as a done deal. “I’ll order you a cream,” and then it turns out it costs 50 euros per jar — at 21 that was expensive for me — and they didn’t even ask if I wanted it. “You’ll come for mesotherapy later,” and they already made the appointment. But I don’t want mesotherapy anymore because after it my face broke out worse than ever in my life, which was completely ignored.
• Diagnosing by userpic. “You need proper nutrition and to check your GI tract and women’s health” at first glance at my face. I’ve already checked everything a hundred times. Then begins a long story about chronic diagnoses, and the cosmetologist quickly deflates. Indignant: “even a piece of pizza once a week is still forbidden!” Sorry, but the skin needs to be treated if it inflames from a weekly slice of pizza or chocolate (though it’s obvious that pizza isn’t the issue here).
• When a cosmetologist doesn’t know what micellar water is (in general lacks basic knowledge).
• When you realize during cleansing that the cosmetologist skips all the deep under-skin elements because she’s too lazy to pierce them and clean properly.
• When you say that the recommended cosmetics don’t feel good on your skin (my face starts to shine quickly, it doesn’t moisturize, it tightens, or causes other reactions), and they respond: “well, it’s a good product, just keep applying it.”
• Obvious lack of professional knowledge, noticeable even to me, and attempts to cover it with vague statements.
• Not sure if it’s a small thing, but there are hygiene issues. For example, one cosmetologist placed the extraction needle not back into its cap but on the tray during work — and then used it on my face again.
• Arrogance/patronizing tone, especially if the specialist is much older than me. I expect the behavior of a professional doctor from a cosmetologist.
• I don’t like when I can’t calmly get dressed and tidy up after the procedure.
• A definite no if someone comes into the room during the procedure for non-urgent matters (at most an administrator or nurse if something important).”

“I visit my cosmetologist every 2–3 weeks. Usually, I start exploring a salon with a manicure, and then gradually collect information about which cosmetologist the salon staff go to themselves, and I also pay attention to how the clients of that cosmetologist look. I’ve been visiting cosmetologists for about 15 years, so I have a lot of experience, and I’ve been seeing my current one for 5 years.

Small things can spoil the impression, such as: a draft from the window in the treatment room, uncomfortable conditions for undressing (for example, no coat hanger), the same dull music playing all the time; the room being not warm enough when a body treatment is planned.

I can’t stand the smell of tobacco, so a smoking cosmetologist whose hands smell of cigarettes is an absolute no for me; pushing procedures without explaining the reasons (“you absolutely must do a course of 10 procedures twice a week”); categorical statements — for example, once I stopped seeing a cosmetologist after the phrase: “nothing can be done with your eyebrows, just live with it!” ))

What I like:

• a cosmetologist having medical education;
• excellent mastery of massage techniques;
• an individual approach (when they remember the specifics of your skin, the effect of previous procedures, your health situation, etc., and take all that into account);
• continuing education (the cosmetologist attends seminars, training, expands their knowledge);
• kindness, warm attitude, and the ability to relax (to be honest, it’s important to me that the person I see quite often and who performs massages and procedures is pleasant to me energetically — though of course this is a very subjective factor).”

“Many people mention lack of grooming, but I’m also put off by over-grooming — when a cosmetologist clearly has tattooed makeup, fillers, etc., and to me it looks excessive. It feels risky to undergo serious procedures with a specialist whose idea of beauty or vulgarity differs significantly from mine. Of course, if the cosmetologist is a true professional, they will follow the client’s wishes — but what if not? I’m not ready to take that risk.”

“I go to a cosmetologist for cleanings about once every one and a half to two months, sometimes less often. For moisturizing and other treatments — more frequently. I found my cosmetologist on a colleague’s recommendation. I found “my” cosmetologist on the third attempt.

What I don’t like:

• when they start groveling, almost bowing and scraping — it irritates me;
• an overly arrogant attitude from the practitioner: ‘I know everything, I’m smarter than everyone, especially you’;
• when they question the treatments I explicitly came for. For example, I know I have a long flight tomorrow, so I came for a deep hydration treatment, and they tell me: why would I need that, the skin is hydrated, it’s unnecessary — and I end up wasting energy explaining things that shouldn’t concern them at all. Or: ‘Why do you need a peel or a plastifying massage, you’re only…’ — and then they name my age. This really annoys me — such a formal, passport-number–based approach to skincare. Everyone has different genetics, different skin; I know better what suits me right now, and in general the best anti-age is its prevention. I really dislike when my requests or preferences for procedures are questioned not politely but categorically. This alone could make me get up from the chair and leave;
• when the treatment room is small, stuffy, too hot, or when the sun is shining directly in and no one bothered to close the curtains (I can’t stand direct sunlight);
• when hot towels or pads are placed and tucked under all parts of the body: Ugh! I’m not cold, I’m not freezing, I’m indoors…, yet they keep stuffing them in like logs into a stove 🙁
• when they persistently try to “push” the skincare they work with. Suggest it once — fine. But sometimes it becomes annoyingly insistent;
• manicure — I can’t stand cosmetologists with long painted nails. That’s my quirk. When I enter the room, I need it to feel sterile to the point of ringing. And such nails, especially extensions, just don’t fit into that. It won’t make me leave, but it’s unpleasant. Heavy makeup on the face — same category.”

“I went to my current cosmetologist on a whim, although I had heard good reviews about her a few years earlier. But she simply happened to be the closest to my home. As a result, I ended up with a specialist who has never tried to upsell me even by a single penny. Sometimes she even takes me for free… She never prescribes unnecessary procedures (although my hands are itching to do something to my face).

Before that, I mostly had negative experiences with cosmetologists and dermatologists: incorrect — and sometimes even deliberately wrong — diagnoses, money extraction, and not just the lack of results, but even significant worsening of my skin condition after their “treatment.”

What do I dislike the most? When they can't achieve any results and blame everything on nonexistent problems. For example, I once had a cosmetologist who asked me every time what I’d eaten the day before (and I went to her three times a week!). And when she found out that I had an orange or, God forbid, a little bit of curd spread — which at that time wasn’t even as fatty or sweet as now — she triumphantly declared: “See! I told you not to eat sweets! Models come to me — they eat fat-free cottage cheese, and they have results!”

It irritates me when they try to push something on you; when the specialist can’t sustain even a minimal conversation about ingredients or the true properties of skincare products, and can only preach about the “prestige” or “superiority” of the brand they offer. And especially when they criticize your choices and your way of choosing (“Oh, what do they write on the internet… Don’t read that… Listen to me!”) — again, with zero arguments…”

“It bothers me when I’m told that I look very good and that it’s clear I’ve been following my home skincare routine and that it’s working. And yes, that’s probably true: I did follow it and it seems to work, but I still don’t like what I see in the mirror — my face looks tired, and I can’t find an answer on how to fix it. If something more radical is needed, then at least tell me about such options. I understand that I don’t look older than my age, but everyone wants to look younger. The ‘do no harm’ principle is wonderful, but I really want to know what possibilities exist specifically in my case — and not from questionable sources, but from a specialist.

Having a medical degree is, in my opinion, mandatory for a cosmetologist.”

“I don’t like it when you have to name all the problems you want to fix yourself. What if I don’t even realize that something is a problem?

Or, if a client clearly has a pigment spot on their cheek — why wait for them to ask how it can be removed? It’s obvious it doesn’t make them look better. The real question is whether they want to fix it or not.”

“For me, professionalism is important. When my cosmetologist started seeing clients at home, even though the conditions were less comfortable, I followed her. She does everything very well. I also like when recommendations are given to the point, without naming brands.

I don’t like:

• when they start giving advice without finding out who you are and what you use, just to ‘push’ something;
• when they criticize your skincare routine and the condition of your skin;
• a condescending attitude, as if they’re a pro and I should be grateful they see me at all.

And administrators in salons annoy me as well — most of them have neither education, nor manners, nor basic respect.”

“I can’t stand it when cosmetologists start complaining about life — it doesn’t matter what about: ungrateful clients, public transport, the country, disobedient children, an evil mother-in-law, and so on.

When I go to a cosmetologist, I expect not only a procedure and a good result, but also some relaxation — not whining about how terrible everything is. For that, it’s enough to turn on the TV or open any news website — there’s a full spectrum of that ‘we’re all going to die’ vibe. If a cosmetologist can’t / doesn’t want to / doesn’t know how to bring positive energy, then at least they should simply stay silent.

Because of all this, I stopped going to a very skilled professional, but even for the perfect result I’m not ready to tolerate this atmosphere of constant negativity. I’d rather go to someone who does the job slightly worse, but whose company leaves me smiling — that smile will erase small imperfections from my face.”

“The only thing that really puzzles me: when a cosmetologist does manual cleansing without using an additional light source… How are they supposed to see all my little troublemakers – my pimples – using only the general room lighting?”

“I visit a cosmetologist only when necessary — usually once a year.

I found my cosmetologist online. A blog described a ‘super-cosmetologist’, and indeed, she turned out to be good. Before that, I had tried 4–5 other cosmetologists.

I don’t like:

• I strongly dislike advertising all sorts of nonsense like homeopathy, strange devices, astrology, and so on.
• I don’t like that everyone tries to push me into correcting something I consider a natural feature of my face that can’t be changed. I have a deep and sharp tear-trough — so what, that’s just my face. I believe smoothing it with fillers is ineffective and risky, and no other cosmetic methods exist. Almost all cosmetologists feel compelled to drill into my head about it.
• The saddest thing is that no one can answer important questions. Is Thermage harmful or not? Is it true that hyaluronic acid injections give a slight effect at first, but later suppress the skin’s own hyaluronic acid synthesis? Why is this particular “meso-cocktail” being offered?
• The most important of the small things is a client card with detailed notes about what was done and when. If it doesn’t exist, it will definitely ruin my mood. Everything else is trivial.”

“Maybe it’s not entirely on topic, but it might still be useful. My sadness is that I still haven’t found MY cosmetologist.

What stands in the way of our meeting:

• I have no idea how to choose one. By the salon’s reputation, its location, reviews? (Among people I trust, no one has found THEIR cosmetologist either and no one goes — and the internet is unreliable.) Trying someone at random is scary. I had a negative experience after which I dealt with inflammation for half a year.
• I don’t know what procedures I actually need at 27. When I ask, cosmetologists usually say: “You came for a cleansing — let’s do a cleansing.” And that’s it. But what if I need something else, something more beneficial?

I once met a wonderful cosmetologist, but two months after we met she moved to another city. What won me over was that she did the cleansing and then herself suggested what else should be done point-wise. She didn’t just perform a procedure — she made my face beautiful. When I got home, my family examined my face up close and said, “your skin looks great.” And before that, they had never commented on my skin at all.

Summary: my imaginary ideal cosmetologist is a specialist after whom people tell me that my skin looks beautiful — and who will suggest what needs to be done to achieve that (because I don’t understand these things at all).”

“This applies not only to cosmetologists, but to all consultants-salespeople-service representatives. The phrase — ‘there is this product N, but it’s expensive.’ With a phrase like that they both kill me and make it clear that, judging by my appearance, they’ve decided I don’t have much money. Or you ask for a size S, and they tell you, ‘no! You need an M or even bigger…’ — it feels so hurtful, and in the end you still ask for S.”

“I visit a cosmetologist as needed… Now I try to go once every 1–2 months, previously I would schedule visits for occasions (weddings, birthdays, corporate events, etc.). I’ve changed 5–6 cosmetologists, but I’m still searching for ‘my own’.

I don’t like:

• the many-times-mentioned pushiness, when they ‘force, sell, impose’;
• conversations about ‘life’;
• when a cosmetologist has no idea what Clarisonic or micellar water is — I’ve come across this about three times already;
• when they buy skincare for me without asking, or impose a procedure I’ve already refused five times;
• my last cosmetologist suggested I ‘slightly plump my lips, for beauty’ and remove a mole (I have ‘a mole on my cheek, and an eyebrow shaped like a crescent’))), I actually love it, and my husband considers it my charm), because in her opinion it was also ‘somehow not pretty… pretty is when the face is smooth’. I am not interested in subjective opinions about my beauty if I didn’t ask for them!
• the smell of nicotine from the cosmetologist, and in general any strong smells;
• I don’t trust cosmetologists who themselves look like victims of a bad cosmetologist — with dumpling-like lips, absolutely no expression lines, and eyes somewhere up near the forehead);
• being addressed as ‘sweetie, honey, bunny, baby, cutie’ and similar.”

“Recently, a cosmetologist I ended up with by chance brought me to tears. She didn’t see the point of the procedure (just harmless eyebrow tinting) and was openly rude. One phrase about couperose stuck with me: ‘you have hereditary couperose, it will get worse soon.’ I replied in confusion that I had never noticed anything like that in any of my relatives. She answered in an absolutely peremptory tone: ‘Well, then you will be the founder. Soon everything will bloom on your cheeks and nose, you’ll walk around with a red nose.’ She also commented on my eyebrow tinting, saying that in their salon they have proper colorists, so she personally doesn’t need to tint her brows at all.

I didn’t expect this kind of attitude, so after the visit I cried in the car — it was very unpleasant, I had never encountered anything like that before.”

“I have three cosmetologists — women who are completely different from one another (age, appearance and even nationality). Those who have found their one and only specialist are truly lucky. I feel warmly toward all three, but they have different approaches, different techniques and, accordingly, different products.

I found each of them in different ways: 1) through a friend, observing whom I noticed how well-groomed her face had become; 2) by specifically looking for a specialist who works with a certain cosmetic brand; 3) again, through friends.

I visit each one depending on what I need: if I need a peel — that’s one; if I want a good treatment before an important event — that’s another; and if I want wise advice from a friend-like specialist — then I go to the third.

Right now I visit often, because I’m actively doing peels before spring/summer. And since I truly love this whole topic — hair, hands, face care — I happily run there at every opportunity. I’m curious, I’m interested, I want to study the subject and run experiments (on myself, of course).

Since I’ve known all three for quite a long time, sometimes it happens that a procedure is prescribed to me in advance, even before listening to my wishes. I trust them — and none of them has ever let me down.

I’ve practically never had situations where something was pushed on me — we always discuss all the details.

I don’t like when they don’t explain the product, the procedure, the pros and cons. It’s important not just to say something generic like ‘we’ll moisturize here and your skin will be smooth and even,’ but to take a professional approach: explain what we have, what results we can 100% achieve, what we can’t — but still, the skin will benefit.

I also don’t like when they start recommending their “own” brands, especially if the doctor has been working with that brand for a long time.

It’s important not only how the cosmetologist looks, but also how ergonomic her workspace is, how many cosmetic lines she works with, what procedures she performs and how they differ.

I will never return if I don’t see the results of my investments :).”

“I’ve been going to the same cosmetologist for 12 years. And you know what I value in her the most? She never stops learning. When we first met, her service list consisted only of cleansing and a couple of basic treatments based on skin type. Now she has certificates for literally everything it’s possible to get certified in. She constantly attends seminars, including international ones, takes part in group and individual trainings, and reads scientific research. With her, you’ll never end up in that awkward situation when the client knows more about cosmetology than the cosmetologist. And I truly doubt she would ever recommend drinking apple-vinegar water in the morning and swear it will “definitely cure acne,” the way one person — who also supposedly works as a cosmetologist somewhere — once recommended to me))).”

“I visit my cosmetologist once every month and a half.

I came to a well-reputed clinic and tried several cosmetologists there before choosing the one I liked most.

I paid attention to how comfortable the procedures felt — the temperature of the hands, the precision of movements, the symmetry of the massage.

Now I’m happy with everything. In other places I was put off by things like cups of tea left on the table, incense sticks, and other stuff that simply should not be present in a medical treatment room.

I don’t like when a cosmetologist wears heavy makeup. Or when they address me informally, on a first-name-basis, and talk about irrelevant topics.”

“I guess I’ve been very lucky with cosmetologists throughout my life. I only change them when either I or the cosmetologist moves to another place. Although, to be honest, I once had to stop going to one because the salon doubled their prices within a year.

I visit a cosmetologist once a month. Usually, I chose cosmetologists based on recommendations from friends or acquaintances. But with my current one it was different: she rents a room in my dental clinic, and my dentist introduced us.

I’ve never had the problem of ‘how many cosmetologists I had to try’ — all of mine were very good. Probably because I found all of them through recommendations.

I pay a lot of attention to cleanliness, the presence of proper sterilization equipment, etc. I’m lucky: my current cosmetologist has a medical background, she’s incredibly smart, everything is perfectly organized, and I’ve been going to her for more than two years. It annoys me when a doctor starts criticizing my skin, eyebrows, or anything else. It’s obvious that a client comes not just for fun but to solve a problem. Why add fuel to the fire? I’ve never encountered aggressive pushing of cosmetics. Usually, I received samples, and if I ever bought something, it was only because I genuinely liked it.”

“I visit a cosmetologist about once a month (with some variations), based on a recommendation from a friend who goes to the same specialist. I must say that both my cosmetologist and my friend have beautiful skin (I even photographed my cosmetologist and saw her skin in macro). Before that, I had a mechanical cleansing once — everything took a week to heal.

I don’t like that they don’t talk to me — I’m a blogger! I want to know everything in detail, especially considering that I write for this salon (I run their social media group). I don’t like that there is no long-term program — what are we fighting, and where are we going? 🙂 I don’t leave because after six months of regular visits, my skin looks much better, and recently I’ve been receiving many compliments about it. I don’t like that there’s no choice of cosmetics (only Academie, and I can’t stand their fragrances). But I really like that they always explain the consequences, give skincare recommendations, and in general are always in touch — after laser treatments, they do a follow-up check.

What would make me leave? For example, my first cosmetologist used cucumber lotion as disinfectant… I probably wouldn’t go to or return to a cosmetologist who isn’t aware of scientific advances and modern developments.”

“I don’t have much experience with cosmetologists, but I’ll share my thoughts.

I visit a cosmetologist once every week or two, roughly once every 10 days.

We were looking for a cosmetologist for my younger sister, and found one through acquaintances who happily got rid of their acne thanks to this woman. We sent my sister first, then my mom joined, and finally it was my turn.

This is my first cosmetologist, and before testing her on relatives I was terrified of ending up in the hands of ‘butterfingers’, but I’m just distrustful, I guess.

What I don’t like in the cosmetologist’s office is the radio.

This didn’t happen at the cosmetologist’s, so maybe it’s off-topic? But I’ll write it anyway. I had booked an eyelash tinting session in advance, but had to wait under loud radio with… ahem… popular songs and loud chatter from idle staff; the master arrived with a hellish suffocating tobacco smell (maybe someone else wouldn’t notice, but I can’t stand tobacco — I wanted to run away immediately). The procedure itself was fine, but those little things turned me off the salon forever after a single visit.

As for the cosmetologist. If I didn’t want so badly to see positive changes in my face, and if I didn’t trust the cosmetologist/result/bright future, the pain during procedures would have scared me away — I’d be out of there in a second. No one else had this issue; my relatives, other clients and even the cosmetologist were surprised, but I was almost climbing the walls — my skin tolerated everything well, but my facial pain threshold turned out to be extremely low.

And if they hadn’t explained what they were applying and why, what would happen and what to expect. Warm/cold/painful/tingling… such things need to be asked about — that’s what attention to the client is, and that’s what everyone expects.”

“I don’t visit a cosmetologist often — I do a course of treatments a couple of times a year. I found my best cosmetologist through a recommendation. Before that, I had been to several specialists (2–3). But after a flare-up of demodex and a painful treatment process, I stopped skincare procedures for a long time — I was afraid.

I’ve long wanted to share one thought, or rather a question — why are the ceilings in cosmetic rooms so… boring? I lie there and stare at it, there’s nowhere else to look, and it’s just white and flat, and if there are some unremarkable objects on it, like a lamp, it’s even worse. In general, the ceiling in the room is one of my biggest irritants. Bright light is another — you’re lying there like on an operating table. And no music — you start listening to every sound. It’s impossible to relax.

I don’t want to talk about the negative — I don’t have that much experience with cosmetologists to recall all the little things. I want to tell you about my most pleasant experience visiting a cosmetologist. To be fair, she works in a SPA salon, but the way she works can be applied almost anywhere. Everything starts with a robe you change into — yes, not every place has them! Even though the ceiling was the same white and flat one, dimmed light and music did their job! The cosmetologist kept detailed notes about the condition of my skin, procedures performed, products used, and my impressions of them, so I never had to remind her what we’d done before. And before leaving me alone with my masks and peels, she gave me a hand massage!!! Yes, just because, free of charge, absolutely. Then she would silently disappear from the room, and I was guaranteed a peaceful nap despite the burning substance on my face. Another pleasant detail in the salon — you could leave tips in an envelope with the master’s name and drop it into a special mailbox. This spared me, a chronic introvert, from many awkward moments. Oh, and she also gave me samples of the professional cosmetics she used during treatments. Again — free. And the best part — all this at a mid-range price you can find in an average chain salon. I compared.”

“I found my cosmetologist thanks to a review written by Maria Taranenko (beauty section editor of a magazine), who once formulated very clearly everything I wanted to see in a cosmetologist: a skilled specialist, intelligent, attentive, and humane. I consulted this cosmetologist about stretch marks on my abdomen after pregnancy and completed a long course of fractional laser therapy. The result was very, very satisfying. Later, the same cosmetologist performed filler injections for me — again, extremely successfully! I did not turn into a ‘fish-lady.’

A bit about myself: I am a dermatologist–venereologist, PhD, currently working in a pharmaceutical company. So I know the field, and it’s hard to sell me an unnecessary service or product in this area.”

“It doesn’t suit me when a cosmetologist pays little attention to my comments about the specific characteristics of my skin and the reactions I get after certain procedures. I don’t like it when they brush me off with phrases like ‘everything will be perfect after my hands and my treatments,’ and my warnings about my skin’s reactions only make them smile. By the way, my warnings are not baseless — and they always come true. Not a single cosmetologist has worked on me without consequences. I will leave immediately if I don’t see properly sterilized instruments. It also worries me when there is only blue light and no sterilizer. And I try not to book procedures with a cosmetologist who, while working, touches random objects with their hands or gets distracted by phone calls (even short ones).”

“I’ve been visiting a cosmetologist regularly for the past four years. At first, I went only for promotions, and later I began gathering information on local forums and from acquaintances. I always start with a cleansing — and that filters out 90%. The reasons: the salon’s atmosphere (arrogance, chatty staff lounging on sofas), carelessness, cold water, unpleasant smells, the cosmetologist’s unkempt face, lack of confidence, pushing only in-salon cosmetics and procedures, etc. I’m demanding, and there are many reasons I could list. I especially want to note the discussion of service prices — you need to agree “on the shore,” as tactfully as possible.

I found my cosmetologist, but the prices at that medical center are sky-high. I only go there for complex procedures. Knowing the cost price of products, common sense wins. For regular skincare I go to a private office to a young specialist — she won me over with the immaculate cleanliness of her workspace and thorough disinfection. And yes, I really love receiving cosmetic samples to test before buying.”

“I don’t visit a cosmetologist very often — I only do a course of peels, sometimes brow correction, facial massage, and in the past I did facial cleanings. I go either to her home or to the salon (depending on the day and what is convenient). I found her like this: I went to a salon where they had once done wonderful brows for me, but that day there happened to be a different cosmetologist. And I liked her very much. She was planning to quit that salon (many employees had conflicts with the owner), and with all possible precautions))) she gave me her phone number.

Before her, I had changed about four cosmetologists.

The question of what I don’t like when I enter a cosmetologist’s room is very broad. I don’t like silence — I need there to be some background music. A relaxing atmosphere is important too, so that the cosmetologist doesn’t “strain” me, and so I can have a little chat with her. Most of the time, I’ve been lucky with such specialists. It’s very personal — whether you click with a person or not.

Small things rarely spoil my mood — I’m not demanding. But there have been different situations. I remember a cosmetologist in an expensive salon — I urgently needed to fix brows I had ruined myself, and I just dropped in. Not only did she fuss with them for an hour, tinting and trimming — horror — she also tried to push me into booking a facial cleansing, saying: “Your face is so dirty, I don’t even know how to touch it.” Of course, I didn’t go back for that cleansing. By the way, my face was completely normal — just summer, heat, oily skin in the middle of the day, some shine, but nothing terrible! Oh, and I remembered — I don’t like when the specialist talks on the phone, whether it’s a hairdresser or a cosmetologist — I just don’t like it, that’s all. And I don’t like when I’m made to wait because they’re running late with a previous client. I mean regular delays. Then you start thinking that the specialist — and the salon — don’t care about you at all (but that’s another story, about my former nail technician).”

“I used to visit about twice a month, and now — roughly once every six months. I found my cosmetologist through trial and error, going through different salons. I probably tried around a dozen other cosmetologists.

I don’t like:

• when the price suddenly turns out to be higher than in the price list;
• when a cosmetologist behaves arrogantly toward the client and their skincare routine;
• when they push clearly unnecessary procedures (for example, a weekly cleansing) and try to sell their own cosmetics;
• I don’t like ‘diagnosing by userpic,’ and in my experience 9 out of 10 cosmetologists do this (“Oh, you have spider veins on your legs — that’s varicose veins, take this and that”; “Oh, you have a pimple — that means you have gynecological issues, stomach problems, thyroid issues; you need to cleanse your body with bran,” and so on);
• I don’t like when a cosmetologist speaks with obvious mistakes, mispronounces product names;
• I don’t like diminutives addressed to me;
• obviously, I don’t like when the salon is dirty;
• I don’t like when there’s an “esoteric vibe” in the salon — pyramids, wind chimes, and other nonsense;
• sometimes cosmetologists hang on the walls diplomas from clearly third-rate competitions and trainings — also looks quite strange.”

“My first visit to a cosmetologist was two years ago, when I was 24. My skin wasn’t perfect, but I didn’t have major issues either.

At first, I read scary posts online about burns after peels, skin worsening after procedures, and how after mechanical cleansing you’re supposedly ashamed to go outside for a week. Then I asked all my acquaintances whether they had contacts of good cosmetologists. My survey brought zero results (even though I still believe recommendations from people you trust are the best way to find quality specialists).

After this failed investigation, I took a desperate step — I wrote to a popular girl on social media with beautiful skin and asked her to share her cosmetologist’s contacts. And, miracle — she replied and gave them to me. I immediately called and booked an appointment. It was love at first sight, despite the fact that the salon is on the opposite end of the city. Now we meet regularly, once a month.

I get mechanical cleansing — an absolutely painless 1.5 hour procedure (with a steamer, lots of masks, liquid nitrogen, etc.), after which my face has minimal redness and I can go out with friends right away. No “horror movie” face, but the pores are truly clean — far better than any home mask can do. In winter, I do a course of peels — also great. I had Botox in my forehead once and was happy with the result.

I can identify a few things that make me look forward to the appointments: above all — the human qualities. You should like your cosmetologist as a person; you should want to talk, share your concerns and wishes, and most importantly — trust them. I’m certain she will never recommend something unnecessary or harmful for my skin. I only do what my skin truly needs.

Even when I lie there during cleansing and ask her about other cosmetic procedures, she explains everything in an interesting way — and then says: “It’s too early for you; you don’t need that yet, it would be a waste of money.” Even though I’ve switched almost completely to the skincare brand she works with, I honestly told her I want to buy those products online because the salon price is higher. She didn’t try to convince me otherwise — just said to choose official stores, and still helps me pick creams, lotions, and masks for home use.

So, the ideal cosmetologist is about personal connection, comfortable prices, a pleasant and safe feeling during the appointment, neatness, trust, results, and the desire to come back again and again — and recommend the specialist to your closest friends.”

“I’m 59 years old. How often I visit my cosmetologist depends on her recommendations — and on my time and financial possibilities. I try to follow her advice, but life happens. Before I found ‘my’ cosmetologist, I had visited two or three others. I’m not overly obsessed with the topic — thanks to nature — so going to a cosmetologist is more of a pleasure for me than a necessity.

The perfect cleanliness and order in my cosmetologist’s office convinced me instantly — this is my place. I cannot stand ‘working’ mess and dust. In my previous cosmetologist’s office there was a display stand with makeup for sale: eyeshadows, blushes, powders. I would shudder every time I walked past it. Nothing could make me try eyeshadows already tested by dozens of people or choose a blush shade from a crumbling box.

What I don’t like:

• Bad breath from the cosmetologist. The person leans over your face, and you can smell it.
• Constant chatter: I’m lying on the couch, I want to relax — give me five minutes of silence. “Ladies’ gossip”: details of some Mary Ivanovna’s divorce are absolutely irrelevant to me. Just like the length of Jennifer Lopez’s dress at the last Oscars. Talk to me about what I find interesting. About George Clooney, for example.”

“I visit my cosmetologist about twice a month. I found her easily — we studied in the same class. I didn’t visit cosmetologists often before, until I started going to her regularly. I didn’t like any other specialists.

What I don’t like:

• It’s boring for me to lie/sit for so long.
• And during massage, when you have to turn over on the couch, it feels like you’re about to fall off — but that’s minor.
• Oh, I remembered: I don’t like when the masseur behind the wall loudly entertains clients with jokes in the style of Lieutenant Rzhevsky and laughs like a horse. I can hear everything.
• Lack of sterility, stuffy air, the use of air fresheners or incense, definitely no TV or radio.
• And one more thing — a cosmetologist should be careful with comments about social or political topics. A treatment room is not the place where I want to hear retellings of TV shows.”

“I visit my cosmetologist about 5–10 times a year.

How did I find my cosmetologist? — I was doing epilation at a salon near my workplace, brow shaping and other small procedures, and I liked her during the process. Plus, she opened a salon near my home.

Before that, I had been to 3–4 cosmetologists.”

“My cosmetologist was recommended to me by a model friend with perfect skin. She told me that long ago her skin was far from perfect (the hard life of a model: constant makeup, sometimes even falling asleep without removing it after shoots). She was advised to see this cosmetologist, and within six months her face became so flawless that she could be photographed without retouching. At that time, I was struggling not just with pimples but with full-blown ACNE — no foundation could hide all my issues, and I couldn’t leave the house without makeup because it was a horror show! I visited cosmetologists for about a year and a half; they all did cleanings (which didn’t help) and insistently recommended buying their “miracle cream” for a lot of money (annoying! I never buy what is pushed on me). I went to the cosmetologist Lyudmila cautiously, afraid that she would also insist on buying her “miracle cream”, but that didn’t happen. From day one, Lyudmila planned out my treatment schedule, advised which doctors I should see, reviewed my diet, suggested taking some pills (I won’t name them), and applying at night a mixture of two inexpensive products sold in any pharmacy. No miracle creams for crazy prices. After just two months the result became visible, and now, a year later, I visit Lyudmila a couple of times a month for pleasant massages and sometimes peels. My skin is almost perfect (sometimes a pimple appears but disappears quickly), and I use much less makeup. On weekends or vacations, I go completely without cosmetics.

What irritates me: the cosmetologist’s talkativeness during procedures, the pushy sale of expensive creams that can only be purchased from this cosmetologist, and the inefficiency of treatments (when a course is planned so that all procedures are as expensive as possible, yet there is no effect — neither immediately nor after several months of regular visits).”

“I am 50 years old. I visit a cosmetologist 2–3 times a month. I found her through a recommendation.

What I don’t like: the cosmetologist’s unkempt appearance, bad breath, conversations about politics, and in general any monologue of an overly talkative person; strong aromatherapy in the room, disorder among the tools, intrusive offers of yet another ‘rejuvenating miracle,’ pushy suggestions of extra services, and most importantly — lack of professionalism! Unfortunately, most cosmetologists are like that!”

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Based on materials from Beauty Insider