The Ultimate Guide for Microblading Artists: Mastering Pre-Procedure Consultations
Typically, artists view pre-procedure consultations as a mere formality—clients ask a few questions, and the artist provides answers. However, this is far from the truth.
Did you know that clients will either fall in love with you during a consultation or walk away? This is your chance not only to inform the client but also to convince them that choosing you was the right decision.
The pre-procedure consultation is the linchpin that holds the client-artist relationship together. It’s the moment to manage expectations, answer questions, build rapport, and prepare the client for what’s to come.
Set Your Consultation Goals
There are several universal goals for any client consultation. After each pre-procedure talk, you should:
1. Be Familiar with Their Health Issues and Allergies
Understanding their health history is crucial for recommending the appropriate aftercare treatments and products.
2. Get to Know the Skin Type and Tone
Knowing the client’s skin type and tone determines the pigment you use and the aftercare products you recommend. For instance, oily skin can cause microblading strokes to fade or blur more quickly. Choosing the right pigment involves matching it not only with the client’s hair color but also with their skin tones, undertones, and eye color.
3. Break Your Clients’ Misconceptions
Many clients have misconceptions about microblading and permanent makeup. Your task is to educate them, correct any misunderstandings, and ensure they have accurate information. We previously wrote about common microblading myths, such as the misconception that microblading is the same as tattooing or that it is painful. Learn how to debunk these myths with your clients by reading our article: Microblading: Myths vs. Facts.
4. Earn Your Client’s Trust
By answering their questions and addressing their concerns, you ensure your client’s comfort, safety, and satisfaction with the process.
Pro Tip: Enhance Your Skills with Herstory Academy
Herstory Academy offers microblading courses with modules dedicated to artist-client relationships, providing actionable steps for conducting efficient pre-procedure consultations. These courses also cover skin and colour theory, helping you understand how to treat each skin type appropriately.
Test Your Listening Skills: Are You an Active Listener?
To achieve your goals, you need to be an active listener. Being an active listener means not just hearing your clients, but truly understanding them and reading between the lines.
Did you know that only about 25% of people remember what was said after a conversation? This means only 25% of us are active listeners, and many of us overestimate our listening abilities.
Here’s a self-assessment to help you determine if you fall into this 25% of active listeners. After each question, choose the answer (a, b, or c) that most accurately reflects your usual behavior.
Question 1: When someone is talking to you about an issue they are facing, you:
a. Give advice or solutions before they’ve finished speaking.
b. Let them finish, but think of your response while they’re speaking.
c. Wait until they’ve fully expressed their thoughts and feelings, then ask clarifying questions.
Question 2: If someone is talking to you while your phone vibrates, you:
a. Check the notification immediately.
b. Wait until they finish speaking, then check your phone.
c. Ignore the vibration until the conversation is over.
Question 3: When involved in a conversation, you:
a. Often think of other things while the other person is speaking.
b. Focus on the conversation, but your mind occasionally wanders.
c. Concentrate fully on the speaker, letting go of other thoughts.
Question 4: When someone is speaking to you, you:
a. Occasionally interrupt to get your point across.
b. Wait for your turn but sometimes get impatient.
c. Listen patiently without interrupting, giving them all the time they need.
Question 5: During a conversation, you:
a. Primarily pay attention to the words being said.
b. Try to notice the speaker’s body language but sometimes forget.
c. Carefully observe the speaker’s body language and tone of voice, as well as their words.
Question 6: When someone shares a different perspective, you:
a. Immediately start crafting counter-arguments in your head.
b. Consider their viewpoint, but are mostly convinced by your own.
c. Try to understand their perspective and consider its merits before responding.
Scoring Scheme
For each question, give yourself:
- 1 point for each (a) answer
- 2 points for each (b) answer
- 3 points for each (c) answer
Results
- 6-9: You may need to work on your active listening skills. Try to be more patient, open-minded, and focused during conversations.
- 10-14: You have some good active listening habits, but there’s room for improvement. Keep working on focusing your attention and withholding judgment.
- 15-18: Excellent! You’re a great active listener. Continue honing your skills and setting a positive example for others.
Tips for Improving Your Active Listening Skills
Be fully present. Give the speaker your undivided attention. This means putting away your phone, closing your laptop, and focusing on the speaker. Avoid multitasking during a conversation.
Nod your head. Non-verbal communication has a great effect on your pre-procedure talk. Make sure that you are nodding your head and non-verbally showing that you are listening.
Wait to respond. Don’t craft a response in your head while your client is speaking. Wait for them to finish and then start thinking about your response.
Empathize. Try to understand your client’s feelings, emotions, and perspective. Respond with empathy, showing you understand their point of view, even if you disagree with it.
Practice patience. Good listening takes time. It’s about being patient and giving the client ample time to express themselves without feeling rushed.
The Crucial Role of Pre-Procedure Consultations in Microblading
Pre-procedure consultations are an integral part of the microblading treatment.
This is a unique chance for you to build rapport and trust with your clients while preparing a personalized approach tailored to their needs. Once you master the skill of active listening and achieve your goals with every pre-procedure consultation, your expertise and the waiting line of clients will undoubtedly grow.
Additional Tips for Effective Microblading Consultations
1. Establish a Comfortable Environment Create a welcoming and relaxing atmosphere for your clients. This helps them feel at ease and open up about their expectations and concerns.
2. Use Visual Aids Show examples of your previous work and have a portfolio ready. Visual aids can help clients understand the process and set realistic expectations.
3. Be Transparent Clearly explain the procedure, potential risks, and the expected outcomes. Transparency builds trust and helps manage client expectations.
4. Follow-Up Communication After the consultation, follow up with your clients to answer any additional questions they might have. This shows that you care about their experience and are committed to their satisfaction.
5. Personalized Aftercare Instructions: Provide detailed, personalized aftercare instructions based on the client’s skin type and lifestyle. This ensures optimal results and enhances client satisfaction.