In my salon I have replaced a $36 jar of ineffective scrub with my own mixture that never fails to get customer comments and cost just under $6.  My clay mask cost roughly about 11 cents per service and unlike the product I was using has immediate noticeable results.  The proper use of essential oils will change the quality of services you are now offering.

Essential Oils Are Not Voodoo

            When you know why a product works and how it works it is easier to use and promote that product.  The same is true about essential oils.  At first glance one thinks of essential oils as something used just to make your salon smell good or the qualities of tea tree oil for cuts and burns.  The truth be known, the   properties of essential oils are numerous and extremely beneficial in the salon setting.  We will be concentrating on just a few of the aspects of essential oils.  The first area is sanitation.  Because essential oils are derived from plants they are naturally antibacterial, antifungal and antiseptic.  Because of the alcohol content on some essential oils, they are also help fight viruses and parasites that may enter into your salon setting. 

All That You Need To Know Can Be Found On The Web

            Though there are literally millions of websites  dealing with essential oils they all basically cover the same information.  This class is designed to break down that information and help you decipher what is applicable for cosmetology and what is interesting but out of your scope of practice as a cosmetologist.  For instance there are a few essential oils that will help you with digestion but since that area is not part of cosmetology we can not use that information in out practice and thus should disregard that information.  There is one section that gives the definitions of properties that are not associated with cosmetology, this was included just so that you have a better understanding of those properties that are applicable.

Rules And Warnings (Click Here)

            Read carefully through these pages   Essential oils used improperly can make a cosmetologist sick or create pain.  This section is just as important to you as the cosmetologist as it is for your customers.  Remember your customers will have the product on them for a short amount of time at very small amounts; you as a cosmetologist, however may be using certain essential oils all day.  The first goal is to make sure that you do not have any adverse reactions to the essential oils you chose to use.

History Origin

            Not all essential oils are the same. Often two identically named oils can be extremely different in price.  The difference is how they are derived and where they are harvested from.  On This page you will see a brief description of how essential oils are derived being Distilled, Effleurage, Maceration, Expression, Compression and Solvents.

Depending on the process used, distillation being the cheapest and expression the most expensive the oils can vary in price.  Essential oils can vary in quality due to the time of year they are harvested and where they were harvested. 

CEU Credit Question #1  According to Rules And Warnings what essential oil should be avoided if you are going out into direct sunlight?                         A. Chamomile   B. Patchouli   C. Bergamot  D. Peppermint