You’ve graduated from esthetician or cosmetology school. You have worked for a local day spa or medical spa to gain experience and now you’re ready – ready to open your own business!
How exciting, you’re going to be your own boss!
You have picked your location, double checked the foot traffic for your area, checked available transportation to your location, researched the local competition, secured your funding and insurance, along with dozens of other details, and now you need to purchase the essential esthetician equipment and supplies you will need to set up your facial room or spa.
In this blog post, we’re going to focus on the must-have equipment & supplies every esthetician needs. And at the end we have some special equipment package deals for you!
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Your equipment can make or break your business.
Equipment is one of the most important purchases every esthetician will make and quality is very important. You will need all of your equipment to last. It is a big investment and one that can make or break your success.
There are two mentalities when it comes to purchasing esthetician equipment. Should you try to save the most money or should you get the best quality? We take both these into consideration in this blog by giving you different options, and also by identifying for you the equipment and supplies every esthetician needs.
Learn From Our Mistakes
Trust me. We made a lot of mistakes over the years, but I think the worst mistakes we made were in sacrificing quality to save a buck. After buying a piece of equipment one year, only to have it break the next, we finally learned what really saves a spa money – and that’s buying smart. Here are some tips that can save you money in time, trouble, and actual dollars and cents. As you read each one, you can probably imagine the problems we encountered, and why they are in this list.
- First, choose an equipment manufacturer and distributor that has been in business for at least 10 years and offers a warranty. See #4 below.
- Make sure the manufacturer offers replacement parts and will continue to offer replacement parts even if the equipment is discontinued.
- Know which country your equipment is manufactured in. You will find better equipment that is manufactured outside of Asia.
- Make sure you purchase from a company you can count on, that offers excellent customer service and will be there for you if your equipment would break down. Fly by night companies that are here today and gone tomorrow won’t be around if your equipment breaks down. And then you may be stuck with expensive repairs or replacement.
- Choose a company to invest in that will invest in you, one that goes above and beyond with both product development and equipment safety. Look at their history. Study the company. Read their reviews. It should be obvious.
The equipment you purchase will influence the treatments you will be able to offer and also affect the comfort of your clients. You want your clients to feel relaxed, safe, secure and impressed with the facial equipment you have. So choose carefully.
But you’re probably wondering, how does one choose the best esthetician equipment for their business – those essential must-haves that deliver the absolute best experience for their clientele?
Well, that’s exactly why we are writing this blog. Read on. ,
Start with the Basics
Before you actually go shopping, start with two checklists: one for your must-have esthetician equipment, another for supplies. These are the items that you absolutely need to do business. This can be different depending on unique situations, but a generalized list is a must.
We rely on the basics. You will always need these items. They are not trendy but have been proven for years. So let’s not change a winning solution because basics work, especially when you are starting out.
So here we go – the essential equipment & supplies CSS feels every esthetician needs.
Esthetician Equipment Must-Haves Checklist
Depending on budget you will choose a pneumatic, hydraulic or an electric bed. See our blog Which Facial Bed Is Right for Estheticians to learn more about these options.
Standing for 8-10 hours a day is not an option for most estheticians, so you’ll need a stool (or chair). Choose one that has silent castors so you can move freely without undue noise. Make sure the height is adjustable. I like an ergonomic designed cushion to help improve blood circulation.
Choose a good sturdy model with a minimum 5x diopter that uses LED technology. Then you will never have to change the bulb. Some mag lamps will offer a dimmer light intensity control for clients who have sensitivity to light. A model that has a glass lens will last without the lens becoming opaque or scratching. A magnifying lamp that has a fully open metal arm will end the chance of plastic covers breaking over the years. Magnifying lamps can attach to a wall, sit in your cart, or sit in a magnifying base. Where and how you decide to mount your mag lamp will depend on your space. You do have to know how much arm extension your mag lamp will need to have depending on the lamp’s location. Arm reach varies per mag lamp model so make sure to double check and know your room design.
You may need more than one auxiliary table depending on your treatment room. Do you need an auxiliary table to hold equipment, to hold product, both? Do you need your table to have a drawer or multiple drawers to hold supplies? There are many different auxiliary tables to choose from, once again choose a trusted manufacture and distributor, again choose a sturdy model and one that can hold 100 lbs. I like carts that offer silent castors so they can move quietly, carts that offer electric power bars and that can hold a magnifier and double bowl holder. These auxiliary tables will save space and ultimately time having your products and equipment within reach.
I still love steam and feel it is a piece of equipment that falls into the basic needs category. It is part of the client experience and improves circulation, dilates blood vessels, and softens blackheads making them easier to remove. Choose a model that offers a directional and adjustable head and arm, ozone, adjustable height, integrated system for essential oils, security thermostat, no drip nozzle and a simplified filling and draining system. It’s nice if there is a silent timer, automatic shut off and 3 levels of steam.
Hot towels are a must! Choose a towel warmer that is fully metal and that can hold at least 12 towels, keeps a constant temperature and offers a UV light. As with all electrical equipment, choose a company that certifies all electronics inside the equipment are up to standards, not dangerous and will not catch on fire. Electric certification is so important, yet many equipment imports will not get this certification. So double check that your company has this certification. You will invest so much into building your brand, image and education; you need to invest in quality equipment as well!
I suggest you invest in a double wax warmer. Ultimately most estheticians like to have a lukewarm strip wax and a hard wax ready to go at all times. Once again choose a company with electrical certification. I like double wax warmers that have dual precise thermostats and independent temperature control.
California Skincare Supply has distributed Equipro Esthetic Equipment for 30 years. We have been honored to be their distributor for many reasons, the main reason being quality.
Spa equipment made by Equipro has a 15-to-20-year life expectancy compared to equipment manufactured overseas that come with a 1-to-5-year life expectancy. In fact, 65% of new purchases from Equipro are from customers that have had bad experiences with spa equipment purchased from overseas. This is where it becomes crucial to have a company who you can count on.
Pay a little more but save a lot!
The return on investment with Equipro is what makes Equipro Spa Equipment so valuable. You can easily double the lifetime of your equipment and reduce any problems by at least 50% by paying 5% – 15% more than a similar product imported from overseas.
Equipro is built to last so you’re always up and running.
Equipro’s equipment is better quality, and is not mass produced. They make one piece of equipment at a time and do not rely on other manufactures for parts. Their metal is thicker, their engines are German made, and hydraulics are Italian made. All the electrical components are CSA & UL approved and all equipment is manufactured in Montreal, Canada.
Equipro promises that if a piece of equipment is discontinued, which rarely happens, they will continue to replace parts for up to 20 years. Equipro does not sell on Amazon.
A 24/7 365 emergency hotline! And a loaner should it ever go down!
Equipro offers a two-year warranty (parts and labor) on most of their esthetic equipment, a loaner service, after-sale service and a 24/7, 365 days a year telephone emergency line.
With Equipro’s innovation, design and high technology standards, we are able to achieve our goal to satisfy the needs of our clientele with quality, dependable products.
California Skincare Supply is also always here to assist you with any equipment needs.
So now you have CSS’s must-have equipment checklist for an esthetician startup. Of course, as you grow and stay abreast of current trends, you will continue to add to your equipment offering. High frequency, rotary brush, galvanic, vac & spray, microdermabrasion, auto-clave, Visiderm, Lucas and many more incredible pieces of equipment await your discovery. California Skincare Supply is here for you as you grow and offers all the equipment choices you need to further your career and your treatment options.
For now, though, we put together some equipment package deals to get you started and save you money!
3 Equipment Package Deals to Help You Get Started!
Premium Esthetician Equipment Package Deal
Separately – $5,945
Package Deal – $4,756
Includes 9 Pieces of Equipment
ROYAL ELECTRIC FACIAL BED- All adjustments will be handled easily with a handset allowing for backrest and leg rest to adjust up and down. This bed will lower to a very comfortable height allowing for clients to very easily get on and off this facial bed. It will also raise to a height that will make services like leg waxing, lash extensions and massage much easier on the therapists back. There are 4 cushions for added comfort an adjustable crescent shape headrest as well as a regular headrest and armrest included. Choices of color are also available. Item #EI-501
ERGONOMIC AIR-LIFT STOOL WITH BACKREST- The cushion design on this stool helps improve blood circulation at the thigh level. Adjustable height and ergonomic backrest make this stool a winner. Item #31300
VAPODERM STEAMER WITH BASE- This steamer allows for 3 levels of intensity of steam- so it is fabulous for clients that may be sensitive to steam. It offers ionized vapor, directional and adjustable head and arm, adjustable height, integrated system for essential oils, security thermostat, special no drip nozzle, integrated timer and a 42oz exterior plastic reservoir. It is also very easy to fill and to drain. Item #11100 & 11901
TS-3 DELUXE AUXILIARY TABLE- This cart has 3 shelves. The top shelf is deeper (14 ¼” x 20” other 2 shelves are 12’ x 20”. One ergonomic drawer a magnifier holder on each side, an electric power bar with 6 sockets, and silent castors are all included. Item #51100
HOT CABI TOWEL WARMER- This unit is fully metal, when you shut the door it sounds like a refrigerator- it is sealed very well. This cabi holds 12 facial towels and holds the Electrical Certification. It can heat both wet and dry towels and has a UV Sterilizer and water tray. The electronic thermometer is very constant at 176 degrees Fahrenheit. Item #EI-61101H
DUO-PIL STANDARD WAX HEATER- This unit has the coveted Electrical Certification. This heater has two tanks (4” diameter each) and is great if you want both lukewarm and hard wax heated or just two different cans of wax. The casing is not heat conductive so it stays cool to the touch, the enamel is baked on so will not chip or fade and it’s very easy to clean, this heater offers 2 precise thermostats for indepe, the client will ndent temperature control. The heating coils heat all the way around and to the top keeping your wax uniformly heated. Item #41201US
KFM LED MAGNIFIER 5D- You never have to tighten any knob adjustments on this mag lamp- there are no knobs or screws, the entire system bends and stays in place. The arm movement has been tested over 140,000 cycles. It has an instant start, a hygienic dust and sun protector and the neck movement has been tested over 300,00 cycles. The LED light is dimmable for light sensitive clients. This magnifier has a long reach of 49”. Item #63105
INFRADERM HIGH FREQUENCY- This High Frequency unit has the unique Comfort Touch Technology, offered only by Equipro, as well as the Electrical Certification. The Comfort Touch Technology allows the electrode to touch the skin without having to ground it. In addition, when not touching the electrode to the skin the unit goes idle, and then will gradually increase in intensity. There is absolutely no shock, the client will feel just mild tingling from increased blood circulation and that is because Equipro goes above and beyond. When you are working with moisture and electricity it is important to invest in safety. Item #11300
WOOD’S LAMP- The Wood’s Lamp is the professional way to diagnose underlying skin conditions. The Wood Lamp provides ultraviolet light and a 3X magnifier that will highlight imperfections of your client’s skin. This is an crucial tool for diagnosing skin issues and providing subsequent proper treatment. This is a compact model with 3 diopters magnifying lens and 4 Neon Tubes. Item #64401
Must-Have Esthetician Supplies Checklist
In addition to necessary equipment, Estheticians also need some basic supplies to start out. Here is a convenient checklist of some supplies you will need!
We have put them all into a package deal to make it especially easy and save you some money! And if this isn’t enough, be sure to see all the esthetician supplies we sell!
What supplies does an esthetician need?
- Latex Gloves Box of 100
- Hand Sanitizer 8oz
- Body Drapes Box of 100 sheets
- Hair Bonnets Box of 100
- Esthetic 4×4 Non-Woven Wipes
- Tweezers 1 Pair Slanted
- EPA Grade Disinfectant and Pouch Eco Dioxide E (12 Tablets Per Pack)
- Fan and Mask Brush (set of 6 medium Fan and 3 Medium Mask)
- Tongue Blades Box of 500
- Eye Brow Applicator Sticks Bag of 100
- Sturdy Applicator Sticks Bag of 100
- Sponges (Package of 24)
- Gauze
- Paper Wax Roll
- Amethyst Gua Sha Scraping Tool
- 3 x 100 Non-Woven Wax Roll
- Cotton Tipped Applicators 500 per Box
- Ice Globes (1 Set)
VALUE $284.17 – SUPPLIES PACKAGE DEAL $226.99
SKINCARE TOOLS TO ADD TO YOUR LIST!
As if esthetician equipment and supplies wasn’t enough, now everyone’s asking what skincare tools they should get! So, you spoke (or rather asked), and we answered. Check out our new blog…
7 SKINCARE TOOLS EVERY ESTHETICIAN SHOULD HAVE ON HAND
That’s our recommended equipment and supplies checklists for estheticians. We hope you find them helpful. But don’t go yet! There’s even more helpful content we provide for estheticians. Check out our video and learning center under the education link. And be sure to subscribe to our newsletter below to get notifications when we release more trainings and sales.
If you haven’t yet, register to buy at wholesale in our store. We carry more than 40 of the best brands in skin care, equipment, and supplies for estheticians so you can get them all in one place! The link to sign up is below. It’s quick, easy, and free!
Register to Buy Wholesale Right Here
If you’re a professional esthetician, dermatologist or cosmetologist, we invite you to join our community by registering on our site today. You will get access to over 40 of the best skincare lines, esthetician equipment, and supplies for professional use and resale – all at wholesale prices!
Plus, you’ll get our special CSS product training so you’ll always know how to use and sell skincare products and services like a pro!
And if that’s not enough, get 500 Loyalty Points just for signing up that you can trade for a discount later, as well as a 10% discount coupon to use on your first order!
