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Generations Laser is Courtenay’s first skin lounge/laser studio

Natalee Rhodes combines training in many areas to provide range of services
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Natalee Rhodes has opened Generations Laser in downtown Courtenay. Photo by Mike Chouinard

Natalee Rhodes started working as an esthetician in 2005, but she wanted to expand on what she knew.

As she says on her website, she’s an established medical esthetician and has dedicated the last decade to working in health clinics and resort spas. While working at a spa, she got more interested in the medical esthetics side to allow her to treat more things, such as issues with pigmentation or vascularity. She’d even trained and worked as a resident care-aid.

While she’s been in business on her own for a while, she recently opened the doors on her operation in downtown Courtenay, Destinations Laser, which is described as Courtenay’s first skin lounge and laser studio.

“I realized I wanted to do my own thing,” she says.

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After these other experiences, she put together a business plan and opened an operation in Campbell River in 2015, so she’s operated her own business for a few years, though renting space within another business. Now, she has her own store-front operation in downtown Courtenay at 255-6th St. She says typically her business comes through online booking rather than walk-in traffic. Sessions are by appointment only, which Rhodes says helps clients know they won’t be sitting around waiting once they walk in but instead get her full attention.

“My vision was always to have a space that was inviting … non-intimidating,” she adds. “I wanted to be very personal and welcoming.”

She moved into the site in July and started operating in August. The location is especially handy for people working downtown. She even offers express treatments designed for clients to be able to fit into their busy day.

“It just makes it a little bit more accessible, especially with the online booking,” she says. “You can book in a time, you know you have that time, you come in, you have your service and you can go on your way.”

Services include esthetics for skin health, brows and lashes, and more, as well as laser for a variety of skin conditions and hair removal. A new feature she has added is tattoo removal.

“I have removed a lot of tattoos,” she says. “People want cover-ups.”

Her method uses acoustic energy rather than thermal, so there’s “no blistering, no oozing.”

For younger clients, she can provide preventative services to help them maintain their skin, and she uses a scanner to help with skin care.

“My scanner really helps me see what’s going on underneath somebody’s skin,” she says. “The scans are really important.”

She says she was lucky to be able to apprentice for her training a couple of times, something she sees as the ideal environment in which to learn one’s trade.

“I feel very lucky…. Getting training and having somebody apprentice you is pretty rare nowadays,” she says. “You can’t buy your training, you just can’t.”

To contact Generations Laser, text 250-702-5415 or email generationslaser@gmail.com. For more information, see http://www.generationslaser.ca/



mike.chouinard@comoxvalleyrecord.com

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