Find Your Career in Beauty Therapy
with Jessica Peris

A career in beauty therapy can take you places you may not have considered before. From a career in the traditional spa to a career educating future beauty therapists, there are incredible opportunities available in the beauty industry.
This week on the “A Career in Beauty Therapy” series, we catch up with Jessica Peris – the owner of The Beautique by Jessica Peris in Canberra.
The Beautique by Jessica Peris is not your typical nail or beauty salon. It’s a space that promotes creativity, empowerment and all-round good vibes. A space where you’ll feel happy the moment you walk through the door, right up until your next visit. The team at The Beautique is made up of specialists who only do the services they love.
Tell us a little about you and The Beautique
I started by completing a Cert II in Makeup, and shortly after a course in Nail Technology. Beauty was always an interest of mine, but mainly because I loved how providing treatments and services made people feel, and the power I had to lift them up. After studying nails and makeup and working in the industry as a ‘side job’, I went back to complete my Diploma in Beauty Therapy.
During my studies, I renovated a tiny corner in my parent’s garage where I did nails. It was about the size of a small bathroom. I took a step back from makeup at that time, as it became quite overwhelming to me, and I didn’t have space with enough natural light to do trials. I focused on nail art and wanted to make it a big thing in Canberra, so practiced any chance I could and advertised free nail art at one point to get good images for my portfolio.
I eventually bought a home in Harrison where I had a dedicated front room and powder room separate from the house, and I started to focus on bridal makeup again. After a year there I took the plunge to full-time. After 3 years I hired my first staff member, and after 5 years I opened up The Beautique in Franklin. There were a lot of late nights, blood, sweat and tears!

What separates The Beautique from other beauty salons?
Every salon has it’s unique points and feel, but I think what separates us is the fact that I never wanted to open a “salon”. I actually never even worked in a commercial salon. I wanted to create a space that provided a great service, that was warm and inviting, with specialists dedicated to their chosen field. My staff all specialise in their own area of interest because I believe if they love what they do, it will show in their work. Most traditional salons expect staff to be able to do everything, from nails to Brazilian waxing, and I knew I didn’t want my space to be like that.

What is your approach to achieving healthy looking skin?
My approach is that every person is different, everyone’s skin is different, and everyone’s results need to be achieved using different methods that work best for the individual. I think of it like being on a health and fitness journey – you can’t prescribe everyone the same workout, and you have to factor in their diet and lifestyle. “Diet” is also the most important factor – you can work out as much as you like, but if you’re diet (and in the case of skin, home-care) isn’t on point, you won’t achieve the results you want. You need to be feeding your skin the right nutrients it needs, and when you couple this with additional services such as needling, hydro or microdermabrasion or whatever treatments are best for you, you’ll see the results you’re hoping for.

What is your favourite treatment to perform?
My area of expertise is in makeup and nails, but when it comes to beauty – I love a good eyebrow shaping! I guess because you can see instant results. I also loved doing facials at beauty school. I don’t do them now, but I loved being able to take the client ‘away’ from life for a moment, feeling them zone out and feel refreshed and relaxed after the treatment.
What advice would you give to someone considering a career in beauty?
You can do and be anything you wish as long as you’re willing to work hard, practice a lot, and know that there is always room to get better. It’s an industry that’s always evolving, and it’s important to stay open to new advancements, including trends, and keep your finger on the pulse. There are times you will feel stuck, where you need to try and remember why you like the industry in the first place and understand that when working with people, it can get really hard, but the good clients make it worth while. Learn from others in the industry and also, take your time when learning new services. Don’t put pressure on yourself to be quick in the beginning – this is a huge one for me, which can be hard when working in a salon. Clients will appreciate when you take your time, so when you’re studying make sure you practice on people who will let you take your time to perfect your skills.
You’ve created a hub of luxury and modernism within the beauty industry in Canberra. Tell us about your salon.
I want to make sure that when clients walk in they feel welcome and relaxed. When designing my space, I wanted to make sure I could create the right atmosphere. Our space has it’s own personality. Every detail makes a difference – from the music, candles, the tea we serve. If your business focuses on intention to detail, then your space needs to reflect that. I always think about restaurants, and how you can always sense the vibe when you walk into a restaurant, and when the quality of the food and service matches the atmosphere, you’ll usually enjoy your meal have a great time!

To find out more about The Beautique by Jessica Peris you can visit www.the-beautique.com.au/
We are so incredibly grateful to Jessica for sharing her experience in the beauty industry.
For more guidance about your future career in beauty therapy, chat to the expert team at ACTI at 02 6176 3411.
