Beauty Technology Demystified for Salon Owners

When it comes to beauty technology, choices are widening daily. If you attend any of the beauty shows, it’s hard not to be charmed by the incredible claims and the impressive science.

Have you already made an investment in technology? Do your customers love it? Are you happy with what you have in your salon right now? Or is it time for you to splurge on something more on-trend?

With the financial options available to make purchase easy, it’s far too simple to find yourself lumbered with something that isn’t necessarily fit for purpose.

Since beauty technology is all we do, we thought we’d step in and share some thoughts. Yes, we’re biased but, we don’t make everything and we definitely have a view on all technologies out there (we’re researchers and scientists after all). For us, key considerations are always functionality, safety and commercial viability. We can only manufacture things that work a treat and deliver you a healthy profit. Happy customers mean more business for us. That’s also why our products take a long time to get right.

So, here’s a no-holds barred opinion piece from us. We thought it would be useful to take things back to basics and discuss seven of the popular technologies available to salons right now. Some machines combine the technologies, giving you the ability to treat a wide range of skin concerns with one unit. Just as well, as they are often your salon’s biggest investment.

We think information is power and we’d rather you ask lots of questions. So perhaps sit back and test your knowledge now!

1. Microdermabrasion

This is a common treatment offering deep mechanical exfoliation involving crystals, diamonds and suction and is a salon winner with no downtime and great results. In the hands of an experienced aesthetician or therapist, there’s no doubt of the immediate positive effect of this tool.

Key benefits include reduction in the appearance of fine lines as well as increasing the production of collagen and elastin in the skin combating premature ageing and leaving a long term textural improvement. Polishing away dead skin equals instant luminance by inducing micro-trauma which leads to rapid cellular-level results.

However, a poorly controlled device could make skin more sun sensitive or break capillaries at best.

Our Diamond Elite^® microdermabrasion system offers a unique programme of treatments that measure and adapts to your unique skin type and condition. We chose genuine diamond wands because they deliver an exceptional result. The alternative is sterile crystals that are passed over the skin surface, removing dead skin as they travel.

2. Laser

Lasers have incredible multifunctional value for every salon owner. Whilst a big investment, they can be a salon workhorse offering multi-purpose functionality removing hair and tattoos and a range of skin rejuvenation therapies. Choosing your laser will be one of the hardest decisions you make, but you will have a magnetic product that brings clients back again and again so it is critical to choose carefully.

Our Zeolight^® system uses the combined energy technology of bi-polar radio frequency (RF) with intense pulsed light (IPL). Its broad spectrum increases selectivity and allows for deeper dermal penetration. Less optical energy is required, when combined with bi-polar RF. The benefit to this is in improving the safety factor even for the most sensitive of skin types. With the combination of RF with IPL you will be able to manage hair reduction with better results and it will be less painful for customers.

At home beauty lasers claim to be as effective as a professional treatment, however the technology involved varies enormously and most are the result of clever marketing. The idea is that they work on smaller areas of skin so are considered relatively safe. However, pinpricks, stinging and warming are to be expected and overuse could involve welts or blisters. In the hands of an amateur these could be a disaster.

3. LED light

NASA discovered that light targets water layers in the skin and can kick-start wrinkle repair as well as address scarring and redness. Different wavelengths and colours of light are suitable for different conditions and there are some excellent technologies out there – we particularly rate Dermalux. Celebrities like Kate Hudson have shared their love affair with LED on Instagram. It’s too early to know the risks of long term impact – oxidation or free radical activity could be bad news for the skin.

4. Micro-current

This technology has been around since the 1980s. As the name implies a tiny current is delivered to facial muscles to stimulate them and the tissue around them. The idea is to improve production of elastin and collagen and to encourage ‘muscle memory’ addressing sagging skin. But if you are not sure where the muscles are (and there are over 40) and how to correctly engage them, effectiveness will be severely compromised.

5. Nano-current

This is the basis of the technology in our A-Lift^® device and is, effectively, a new-generation micro-current. This is a revolution in age-reversal. Imagine having all the benefits of having a facelift, but with no surgery, no needles, no Botox, no fillers, no chemicals and absolutely no pain. It is powerful, yet gentle; perfect for a range of treatments, from improving the appearance of wrinkles and improving muscle tone, as a subtle lift giving a confidence boost before a ‘red carpet’ event, or as a comprehensive programme of cell regeneration and healing when recovering from facial surgery or even paralysis.

6. Ultrasonic

High frequency waves in ultrasonic technology cause skin tissue vibration and disrupt collagen. The associated temperature rise increases oxygen and waste removal. Effectively, your ultrasonic device aims to injure the skin to cause a cellular repair response and deliver lifting and firming.

7. Radio frequency

The bad news is that this delivers heat and pain. The upside is that this also offers the potential gain of collagen fibre contraction. Again, this is bringing more skin trauma to stimulate lifting and firming.

What do you think?

There are some incredible technologies out there giving great results and delivering fantastic salon profits. Equally, it’s not difficult to end up with inferior products that will do more harm than good. So, make sure you ask a lot of questions before you sign any paperwork! For example:

1. We strongly advise you to educate yourself about what you are considering buying, its functionality, application and safety data.
2. We suggest you think carefully about the needs of your customers – perhaps talk to them about what they’re interested in and what is trending in their world.
3. Also, it’s key to explore the training options with your distributor. There should be generous training and support available to you as part of any purchase package. They should also be able to help you package the services and ensure you get the ROI you expect.

Feel free to get in touch with us if you’d like to canvas an opinion. Yes, we’re biased, but we’re always happy to give you a genuine view.