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I was steaming faces for years before a client's skin told me the truth

For about five years, I always did a good steam before extractions, thinking it was the right way to soften everything up. Then this regular client came in, and her cheeks would stay bright red and tight for days after every facial. I finally put two and two together after her third visit and asked if we could skip the steam. Her skin calmed down almost right away (like, in a week). Turns out her rosacea just couldn't take the heat, and I was making it worse every time. Has anyone else had a go-to step that backfired on certain skin types?
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3 Comments
joelwells
joelwells3d ago
My old boss at the salon was so strict about steaming everyone for a full ten minutes. I mean, I get it for some clogged pores, but I saw it irritate so many people with dry or sensitive skin. It just strips everything. I started asking new clients first and maybe doing a warm towel instead. Feels like a one-size-fits-all step in a lot of places.
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the_james
the_james3d ago
So what's your rule now for deciding who gets steam? @joelwells is right, it's not for everyone.
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ruby450
ruby45019h ago
Read an article that said steam can break down the skin's natural oils too much. I agree with @joelwells about using a warm towel for many clients instead. It's a good reminder to treat each face as its own thing.
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