Posts Tagged ‘salon’

Lately, there’s been much debate over the state of Massachusetts’ film tax credit and the benefits to the local economy.  Well here’s one business owner who felt a direct impact from last year’s local feature filmmaking.

Master Aesthetician and celebrity makeup artist, Maria Lekkakos of the award-winning M. Lekkakos salon, spa, and boutique in Wenham, MA, had the fortune of providing her skincare services to celebrity actors, Brooke Shields, Rosario Dawson, and Salma Hayek, just to name a few, during the filming of Grown Ups , Furry Vengeance and Zookeeper last year.

Raised in Rockport, MA, Maria trained under a top aesthetician in Greece, learning techniques and using products that are different from what is used in the U.S.  While there, she networked herself within the local entertainment industry and started doing makeup on some of the country’s most popular entertainers. Upon returning to the U.S., she was often called upon to do work for them and eventually opened her own spa and salon.  In 2004, Maria was crowned Miss Massachusetts USA and she has since been recognized by celebrities in the U.S. and many others in the beauty and fashion industry.

We met with Maria to hear her story and get a glimpse of her celebrity facial.  Watch it here:

HEC: How did you get started in your career as an aesthetician?

I was really born with a passion for skin care. In school, chemistry was one of my favorite subjects. I was also a beauty product junkie. From a very young age, I would buy different beauty products at the drugstore and mix them in my mom’s kitchen.

HEC: How has your training helped you?

Tremendously. In addition to my formal education, I traveled, which was invaluable. Through my travels, I used a lot of different product lines and many different techniques, learning what works and what doesn’t.

HEC: What professional qualities are important in doing this type of work?

I think attitude and personality are very important. Aestheticians have to not only be confident in their work, but to also click with their clients.

HEC: What are the best and worst parts of being an Aesthetician?

For me, the best parts of being an Aesthetician are being able to show people what’s new, what works and what’s hot. One of the more difficult parts of doing this type of work is helping a client to understand that it takes teamwork. Sometimes clients don’t want to commit to a regimen, which can make our job more difficult.

HEC: What advice do you have for someone trying to get work in this field?

That being successful is about getting as much experience and education as possible, even if it means working for free, so that you can build a clientele. Most new aestheticians don’t realize just how much time, effort, and work it takes to establish oneself.

HEC: What has been your most memorable work experience thus far?

The entire experience of working in Greece on celebrities and working on movie sets has been memorable. Preparing actors for certain scenes and then seeing those scenes on the big screen or stage is very rewarding.