This month we had the privilege of talking to Danielle Gallegos and hearing her story of how she built her career in esthetics. Her journey to become our daytime basic esthetics instructor was challenging at times, but she has grown into a talented member of the Skinworks family!
About Danielle Gallegos
Basic Esthetics Education
Danielle got her start in esthetics not long after she graduated from high school. She enrolled at Salt Lake Community College (SLCC) for their hair program, but discovered halfway through that she didn’t enjoy it! She decided to transfer into the esthetics program and give that a try, and found that she enjoyed esthetics much more. For her, skincare is about helping people feel beautiful through holistic treatments. She finds holistic treatments very personal for each of her clients and finds satisfaction in helping people be their healthiest selves!
Danielle knew she wanted a different experience for her master esthetics program when she completed the basic program at SLCC. She found the Skinworks website while she was still finishing her basic program and arranged a tour of the school. Danielle fell in love right away! She loved the atmosphere and the focus on the student spa. Skinworks feels like a real spa space and was able to give her practical spa experience. Danielle performed more services for clients in her first week at Skinworks than she did in her entire basic esthetics program!
Master Esthetics Education
Danielle encountered a big challenge shortly after beginning master esthetics at Skinworks. She realized that her basic esthetics program had not prepared her with enough understanding of skin science and modern esthetics best practices, so she felt behind in her masters program at Skinworks. With some hard work and support from our current master esthetics instructor, Rachel Reynolds, Danielle was able to overcome her challenge and grow into an outstanding esthetician! This experience helps Danielle as an esthetics instructor because she knows what is important for her students to learn.
Danielle’s Role at Skinworks
Danielle currently works as a basic esthetics instructor for the day program at Skinworks, and she brings a lot to the table. After graduating from the master esthetics program at Skinworks, Danielle started working at a few spas in the area to get experience, including Sanctuary Aveda and Massage Envy. Danielle has brought her experience working with these prestigious names to help our students learn what it takes to become a outstanding esthetician. Her background with these companies allows her to teach students what they need to be successful after graduating from Skinworks.
That personal connection with the students at Skinworks is one of Danielle’s favorite things:
”I love that I get to teach these girls skills that they’ve never learned before, it’s a whole new set of skills they have never tried. I love seeing the excitement in their eyes when they learn something new. I didn’t get that feeling until I enrolled at Skinworks, so to see it that early on is just awesome.”
When she sees students use proper techniques and provide excellent services, it’s extremely satisfying! Her drive to help students be their best selves is a huge reason why Danielle belongs in the Skinworks family!
What Danielle Loves About Skinworks
Danielle loves Skinworks because it feels like a family and support network for her. Just over a year ago in 2017, Danielle had some complications with her pregnancy. Her son was born very prematurely, and it was a difficult time for her and her family while they spent many months in the hospital caring for her newborn son. Natalie Parkin, the owner of Skinworks, was sympathetic to Danielle’s situation and mobilized the Skinworks family to come together and help in her time of need.
Danielle ended up spending six months taking care of her newborn unable to teach at Skinworks. Everyone pitched in to make sure her students and classes were taken care of. Natalie even reserved the teaching position for Danielle for when she could return! After many long months of sleepless nights, her son fully recovered and Danielle was able to return to Skinworks to continue her teaching career at the school. For her, Skinworks isn’t just a school or a place to work, it’s a family and support network she is incredibly grateful for. She shows this gratitude every day by being a shining example, a wonderful instructor, and a reliable member of the Skinworks family.
Advice For New Students
Danielle has excellent advice she shares with people who are considering a career in esthetics:
”I think the biggest piece of advice would be make sure you’re ready to commit to a fast-paced industry. Some students don’t realize how much they have to learn and adapt to succeed in the business. We give them so many key tools that they have the best chance in the entire world to be successful in this industry, so our students need to be ready to hit the ground running!”
Danielle also emphasizes that it is important to strike a balance between work and life when pursuing a career in esthetics:
”I think it’s important to take care of yourself and take time for yourself. It’s easy for you to lose yourself to the work and start having health problems because you aren’t taking time for yourself. It’s important to slow down every once in a while and make sure the tank is full.”
We couldn’t agree more! One of the beauties of working in esthetics is that you have the opportunity to shape your career and schedule around the things that are most important, and that should include taking time for yourself!
Meet Danielle at Skinworks
Skinworks is a home away from home for many of our students and teachers alike. Does learning in a spa environment sound like heaven to you? You can come and meet Danielle for yourself at Skinworks to feel the energy for yourself! Whether you’re interested in basic esthetics or master esthetics, we can help accommodate your needs. Contact us to get started on your journey and schedule a tour with us!
