Lymph & Waxing

We've had a busy week last week. This is a picture of the lymph machine being used on one of my classmates. I had it done to me as well. We did one half of the face and then had a look at the effect. It was amazing how much it lifted my face and smoothed out some wrinkles and puffiness under my eyes. I don't know how well you can see it in this photo, but the machine actually sucks your skin up into that lighted glass cup end. It's just like "cupping", but on a smaller scale.

This is a classmate getting her eyebrows waxed. They waxed mine too. I also had my upper lip and my legs waxed. The woman shown in this photo (the one doing the waxing) had us wax her arm, but after one strip she screamed so bad that we didn't wax anything else on her. And it was the instructor who waxed the arm, so it wasn't like it was done incorrectly.

End of Week One

(My new setup for facials)

I have made it to the end of week one. It has been invigorating and a little exhausting. We've gone through quite a lot in just a few days. So far, I have learned how to do a facial and have even given one to a classmate. We had classroom discussion on the history of cosmetics and esthetics. We have experienced the "singing drums" a couple times. And a lot more.

We had a guest speaker one evening, who told us about her "Creator Cards". They are similar to tarot cards, but you don't lay them out in any sort of pattern. You think of a situation in your life that you want help with or enlightenment. You draw a card and read the question or statement. There is also a small booklet that gives further interpretation or enlightenment. So you read the information and do a little meditation on it.

This same evening a candle maker came by. She was delivering orders for some of the advanced students. She makes soy candles and we are incorporating them into our hand massages. It's very nice.

Then, this weekend, I went shopping for several hours. I purchased the facial setup (shown above) of sushi dishes, paint brushes, and nice towels. I also bought disposables: cotton rounds, 4x4's, gloves, and for tattooing: gloves, paper towels and paper cups. And I visited a tattoo supply store where I bought 40 needles, 20 tubes, stencil paper, and some ink. And finally I checked out a thrift store to see if I could find some nice bowls for the facials or any other items that I could incorporate. I ended up buying only a few shirts for myself at the thrift store.

So, it was a pretty successful and packed week. Today, being Sunday, I plan to spend some time practicing my tattooing. Earlier today I created some flash cards. Later tonight I will give Donna a facial. I've also got to spend some time packing my suitcase. Next weekend we are going to Seattle and I won't have any spare time in the evenings due to my classes.

Say hello to the face

Yesterday was my first day of Esthetics classes. We had an orientation and tour of the place. Then we learned about facials. We practiced and practiced on our little rubber clients. It wasn't too hard. When I came home and told Donna about it, she seemed a little skeptical about receiving a facial. I'll show her. Soon she'll be begging me for a little face massage and facial.

Terms learned last night:

Effleurage – a smooth, gliding stroke, generally used in a Swedish massage, using both hands to relax soft tissue.

Petrissage (also called kneading) – the squeezing, rolling and kneading of the muscles that usually follows effleurage during Swedish massage.

Tapotement – a Swedish massage technique executed with cupped hands, fingers or the edge of the hand with short, alternating taps to the client.

First Tattoo

Well, I did it! I created my first tattoo. It's a tiny one. It's a little primitive. But hey, it was my first try. And I was struggling with trying to remember to breathe. It's a little stressful putting needle to your own skin.

So now I am back to the practice skin to work on the basic skills. I think I am going to have to touchup the legs on my little ladybug after the body heals. The photo I took is high resolution and I was able to get a good look at it blown up and could see that the ink didn't take too well on the legs of it. I've got to get more needles tho.

I am practicing safe procedures even while working on my fake skin and my own leg. I wore gloves, disinfected all surfaces, and wrapped my machine. I figure it's a good idea to start out with good habits.

The tattoo was done yesterday. Today I attend my first Esthy class.