ASK THE Experts

Our beauty experts answer your questions about every aspect of running a salon or spa business

How do I take better before-and-after lash photos?

In the beauty industry, clients buy with their eyes – so showcasing lash results with high-quality photos is essential. A good photo instantly shows professionalism and builds trust. If someone stops scrolling because of your image, that’s a sign your photo has just won you a new client.

Over the years, I’ve found a few key things that make all the difference when capturing before-and-after lash shots. Good lighting on the face is crucial – natural daylight if possible – and always use a clean background. Keeping your angles consistent is also really important. I like using a slight tilt when taking close-ups of the face and eyes, and for lashes, it’s essential to get shots with the eyes both open and closed.

For lighting, I use a ring light – specifically a dimmable elf ring light. I either position it directly over the client’s face or angle it slightly. Natural light is great too, but I avoid direct sunlight because it can create harsh highlights and shadows. If you can combine natural light with your ring light, that can work beautifully, but it’s all about testing what suits your space.

I actually use my smartphone for all my photos. It’s so much easier to edit quickly, stay organised and post on social media. I often go back to old images to repost them or use them in my Instagram Stories, especially if I have a special offer to promote – it’s great having everything right there on my phone.

There are also some affordable tools I’d recommend. A phone holder for a ring light is amazing and super affordable; usually between £20 and £40. It’s compact and easy to travel with. Phone tripods are also great for keeping your hand steady, and if you want really sharp close-ups, clip-on macro lenses make a big difference.

When it comes to angles, my go-to for closed-eye images is the overhead shot. It gives a symmetrical view of the lashes. But my favourite overall is a 45-degree tilt from the side; it really brings out the cheekbones and temples, and clients love how flattering it is when I post on social.

I get clients to lie flat on the bed with their head centred and tilted slightly downward. I adjust my camera to the right angle rather than moving their face, so I’m not capturing the nose and jaw by accident.

I’ll also use gridlines on my phone to frame the eyes the same way every time, and I keep the lighting setup identical for both before and after shots.

Editing is minimal for me; I might brighten a dull image or sharpen it to highlight the lashes, but I never alter the results. If I’m not happy with a photo, I just don’t use it. I won’t add filters or change skin tone because altering an image makes it look low quality and dishonest.

I always get consent before taking and sharing photos. Every client gets a form before their treatment, and if they don’t want their full face shown online, then I’ll crop the image and let them approve it before I post it.

I also try to make them feel at ease by guiding them gently through the process and showing them how beautiful they look.

And finally, when posting on social media, I try to keep a clean, consistent layout. I tell the story behind the look – what the client asked for and how I achieved it. Sharing both before and after photos is key because clients want to see the transformation, not just the end result.

How do I customise massages for individual clients?

For me, customising a massage means stepping away from a rigid protocol and creating something truly tailored to each individual client. While treatment protocols provide a great foundation, the real art lies in adapting to the client’s preferences, history, emotional state and physical needs on the day. It’s about listening, observing and responding in real time.

What I look for in a consultation

Information gathering is key. Medical history is just one part – there’s so much more I like to know. I ask clients about any current and past injuries, previous treatment experiences (good or bad), emotional wellbeing, preferences for pressure or pace, and even what they’ve got planned for the rest of the day. All of this helps me build a complete picture so I can deliver a safe and effective treatment

Adapting technique to each client

Every treatment is guided by the information gathered during consultation and the real-time feedback I receive. My approach is flexible, but always intentional and aligned with the client’s goals. I adapt the treatment by adjusting pressure, technique, pace, body positioning and treatment length. Whether the goal is stress relief or muscle recovery, it’s this layering of elements that makes each treatment

Technique vs body type

Body type can influence my approach to some degree. For example, a muscular client may have denser, less flexible tissue, so I’ll warm up the area before introducing slower, deeper work like myofascial release or trigger point therapy.

A petite client might require moderate pressure and more contouring strokes using effleurage and lymphatic techniques. But ultimately, everything comes back to client preference. That’s why real-time feedback during treatment is so essential.

Pain is another consideration. If a client comes in with an injury, I’ll often start by calming the nervous system to reduce their pain response before addressing the injury itself. Listening is everything – before, during and after the session.

Creating safety and comfort

Before starting deeper or potentially uncomfortable massage work, I always take time to warm up the area and help the client relax. Activating the parasympathetic nervous system is a big part of that – it creates a sense of safety and calm that can also reduce discomfort. Heated tools can be helpful here if the client enjoys them.

Once I begin the deeper massage work, communication becomes crucial. I make sure to check in often and pay close attention to body language. Pain isn’t the goal – release is. If a client shows any signs of anxiety or discomfort, I adjust immediately to ensure they feel safe.

My advice to other therapists

• Treat the consultation as more than a form – it’s the foundation of personalisation.

• Let the client’s goals guide the entire treatment plan.

• Be responsive in the moment, not rigid with your plan.

• Learn to read body language and adjust accordingly

Why customisation matters

Customisation isn’t only about better results or client retention – it’s also about creating a truly therapeutic experience. When we tailor treatments, our clients feel seen, heard and supported. That builds trust and allows deeper emotional and physical healing. In a world where stress and disconnection are common, that personal approach can make a lasting difference, well beyond the treatment room.

How can I incorporate radiofrequency into my salon’s offering?

In recent years, we have witnessed an increasing demand from our clients for energy-based treatments, especially for safe and effective procedures that can be done quickly with minimal downtime.

We decided to expand our treatment offering by bringing radiofrequency (RF) into our clinic and we have witnessed a significant increase in the uptake of the technology as either a standalone treatment or an adjunct to other treatments we offer such as botulinum toxin injections, dermal fillers, platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections, facials and chemical peels.

How we use RF in our clinic

In our clinic, we use RF to treat the face, neck, and body. When used on the face and the neck, we find that RF treatments are very efficient for skin laxity, fine lines, loss of skin elasticity/leathery skin and sagging. RF is also an extremely popular treatment to combine with other services.

Our package combining a facial with RF is one of our top treatments in our therapist division, and we also treat many clients with RF for skin laxity and mild cellulitis on bodily areas such as the abdomen, thighs and buttocks.

These conditions affect women significantly following childbirth or menopause and we are always thrilled to see improvement in our clients’ conditions as well as their confidence with the treatment.

We also combine the treatment with skincare products, including skincare ranges for hormonal or perimenopausal skin, which we use in combination with the energy-based treatments.

Choosing the device you’ll be using during the treatments is a huge commitment, and there are lots of elements to think about when investing in a new machine.

I knew I wanted a non-invasive and completely painless treatment that has zero downtime and gradually brings out excellent skin rejuvenation results.

Choosing your device

My device, the Golden APG, has applicators that are smart-designed so that they can detect real-time skin temperatures to ensure efficient heating and avoid overheating and underheating of the skin, with radiofrequency energy delivered via the applicators, meaning there is no skin barrier damage as there is no needle involved.

The no-needle approach is hugely popular among clients who are pain sensitive or do not want to undergo any invasive treatments with associated downtime – our patients absolutely love the treatment, and so do we.