Spotlight on: therapist Shane Cooper
Therapist Shane Cooper is making a name for himself by specialising in bespoke machine-based facials with a VIP edge. We find out his secret recipe...
How did you get into beauty?
I work as a practitioner with young people who have mental health and substance issues, so I do a lot of cognitive behavioural therapy. I started doing Caci treatments as a hobby. My mum had a course and loved the results so much that we decided to buy a machine so I could train and then do her treatments at home. I started taking on clients about 18 months ago and because I was getting amazing results – the Caci team said they were some of the best they’d seen – my work got noticed.
There aren’t many mobile therapists who specialise in machines so that gives me a point of difference. I have a base I can work from but a lot of my clients like to have treatments at home, so I pack up the machine and go to them. I have some celebrity clients like Vogue Williams and Brian McFadden.
How did you start working with celebrity clients?
People saw my work and started approaching me. My partner Craig Colton is in the music industry and was on X Factor so I do have some connections, which has helped, but it’s grown because of the quality of my work. I upload before-and-after pictures on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram and these are really important for me. Results can take four or five weeks, so clients forget what they looked like before. Pictures make them appreciate the change. It’s important for my own development too, because everyone’s face is different.
What sets you apart as a therapist?
I make treatments very bespoke. I look at a client’s face and recognise if it needs work in one area more than another. Usually my treatment time is longer than in a salon, because to get the best lift you need to put the time in. As well as Caci, I use the Cryosthetics Cool Lift Gun which is great for pushing hyaluronic acid into the skin. I combine that with the Caci Ultimate (see below) facial for a flawless effect. I’ve taken 10 years off people so they trust me.
My psychology background helps, too. I have a confidentiality agreement as standard, so clients do open up. To me, mental and physical wellbeing comes under one umbrella: if you’re not comfortable with your appearance, it’s going to impact your confidence.
Have you had to overcome hurdles as a male therapist treating mostly women?
Because I’m not in a salon, people source me, so I only meet clients who are comfortable with the idea. Therapists are often very young women, so older women sometimes feel like they’re being compared. That doesn’t happen with a man – and I’m not attracted to women, so they feel safe. Also, this is not a soothing facial, it’s a workout. After treatment the face can look quite red but I’m upfront about that, plus it’s done in a private setting.
What’s next for you and your business?
I’ve managed to build up my Caci business working around a full-time job but I know I could do more if I put more time and effort in so I’m reducing my hours in my other job. I want to add more treatments. I’ve specialised in machines because I like to see results but I wouldn’t rule out skincare.
Image: Before and after one Caci Ultimate treatment, finished off with Cryosthetics Cool Lifting Gun.