Omaha’s Aesthetics Academy offers clear path to successful career in beauty industry

Everyone wants it, but not everyone knows how to get it.

At The Aesthetics Academy, the path to success — not to mention the skin — is clear.

The newly opened esthetics school and skincare clinic in Rockbrook Village offers more than just training on keeping skin healthy, says owner and instructor Courtney "Coco" Vacanti Birnstihl. It's a gateway to opportunity, she says.

"I wanted to focus on the students," Birnstihl says. "We offer the best education in the Midwest. We are the only school in the area offering esthetics-only training. Beauty is our passion; education is our mission."

Birnstihl obtained her cosmetology license in 1995 and has been involved in the industry ever since. She opened The Aesthetics Academy to fill an instructional gap in the Omaha metro area, aiming to teach advanced esthetics skills and promote future success in the industry.

"We are very invested in the future of every student. We want them to feel like they're making a difference."

In recent years, many young adults have begun to explore more affordable alternatives to college, while those already in high-pressure fields — especially nurses and teachers — are burning out at high rates.

The beauty industry offers a bounty of opportunities, Birnstihl says.

"It's a billion-dollar industry — it's almost recession-proof," she says. "People want to feel good about themselves, especially during hard times."

In the past, choosing a beauty school instead of a four-year university held a negative connotation, but that has changed, she says. Reputable trade schools can pave the path to a respectable career without going deep into debt.

"Using your hands is a gift. We learned during the pandemic how important self-care is. There's nothing like a healing touch."

The curriculum takes 600 hours (about 18 weeks or 4.5 months), or 300 hours for the esthetics instructor course, to complete. Applicants must be 17 years or older with a high school diploma or GED. The school's instructors — Mary Grace Cherney, Maggie Gegzna and Birnstihl — have a combined 50 years of experience in the industry.

Students learn the basics of anatomy, physiology, nutrition, disease and skin analysis, as well as advanced training on facials, body treatments, hair removal, exfoliation and more.

The Aesthetics Academy also serves as a clinic, offering high-end, luxury services to the public at a lesser rate.

"Everything that you would expect in a luxury spa, we have," Birnstihl says.

Supervised by instructors, students provide services and skin treatments including wet/dry microdermabrasion, facial/body waxing, body contouring, dermaplaning, face masks/peels along with many other services.

After receiving a skin analysis, students will recommend a tailored treatment, which could include the Glo2Facial by Geneo, "a phenomenal machine" that can target specific skincare concerns with customizations like hydrate, detox, balance, illuminate, revive and glam. "When you leave, you'll glow."

The skills, experience and certifications students obtain at The Aesthetics Academy can be used to launch a career on a variety of paths, including spas, luxury resorts and cruise lines, with career opportunities such as beauty consultant or brand ambassador, just to name a few.

"There are boundless possibilities," Birnstihl says. "Bring your determination and passion, and we'll take care of the rest."

The instruction also includes life skills, character skills and business development. "We're teaching them all of our secrets."

The holistic approach to skin health has grown in popularity in recent years, Birnstihl says. And the services and products at The Aesthetics Academy are not just for women.

"Everybody has skin," she says, and maintaining healthy skin means using the right products. "Gen Z is getting it. Start using eye cream today, ladies and gentleman. It's a different ball game now."

The Aesthetics Academy offers skincare lines — CXC Skincare, CXC Cosmetics and CXC SunCeuticals SPF — researched and developed by Birnstihl in partnership with various chemists and labs around the world. "The ingredients chosen in our skincare lines are sourced from all over the globe and are clinically proven," she says. "They're premium, clean ingredients."

Products include cleansers, moisturizers, masks, peels and elixirs (which are as magical as they sound, she says). There are also specialized lines for sensitive skin, acne treatments and anti-aging, as well as a sunscreen line.

"We have put together the best of the best, as far as I'm concerned."

Products are available in-store and on the school's website, skinschoolomaha.com.