Deidra Neu |
Deidra Neu knows beauty is more than skin deep, but she’s absolutely
certain good skin is the prerequisite. The first aesthetics student
to graduate in West Virginia, Deidra has been practicing her craft
and growing her beauty business for five years. She has developed
the Neu Aesthetic Skin Care Clinic into a multifaceted salon and treatment
center.
The Lincoln County native had intended to enter nursing. “I
was particularly interested in skin care since I suffered severe chronic
acne from about twelve years old. I knew the effect problem skin could
have on confidence and the quality of life. I wanted to do something
to help.”
Deidra worked full time as a legal secretary, going to college part
time and on Saturdays to earn a degree. “After I heard about
the Aesthetician course in Huntington, I was the first one to sign
up. There were only two of us in the class.” It was the perfect
answer to her interests. To become a licensed clinical esthetician,
Deidra learned a variety of skills in 600 hours of class, then passed
a board examination before she was allowed to practice.
She attended Medical Aesthetics School in Killeen, Texas for 80 additional
hours of training, learning techniques for chemical peels, permanent
makeup and advanced skin care treatments from a nurse instructor.
Her degree in Medical Aesthetics set her apart when she returned to
West Virginia, she says. “No one was doing what I did. I benefited
enormously from the personalized instruction and experience in Texas.
I used everything I learned, because there was no one to ask for help.”
Deidra opened her practice in 1998, adjoining a Charleston plastic
surgeons’ office. Business grew quickly and she soon moved to
a bigger space. After two more years, an ever increasing customer
list and her own expanding interests led her to purchase a 5000 sq.
ft. building on Oakwood Road. The clinic has grown to a full service
skin and beauty enterprise that offers treatments and procedures from
microdermabrasion and permanent make up to massage therapy and electrolysis.
Nail technicians and hair stylists occupy the lower level salon area.
Anti aging treatments, intradermal cosmetics and skin treatments for
acne or rosacea, are performed upstairs.
Deidra hasn’t abandoned her original objective. She offers
a special program for teens that includes skin care procedures and
instruction. “When I was a teen, there wasn’t much that
could be done besides Stridex pads. There are many products and techniques
available today. We show kids cleaning methods, teach them how to
take care of their faces, perform light chemical peels, and do extractions
of acne lesions so they don’t get inflamed or infected.”
Adults are just as concerned with how their skin looks and feels.
Deidra offers instruction and specialty skin care products, make up
advice and deep cleansing facials for all ages. She encourages facials
because “They’re so relaxing and it’s good hygiene
for pores.”
Permanent makeup has become a welcome alternative for many women.
Clients from 18 to over 80 have permanent eyeliner, brows and lipstick
applied. Deidra continues her skills training, recently completing
additional instruction in Dallas on permanent blush.
Deidra works with plastic surgeons and dermatologists, with patients
who have had laser or chemical peels or plastic surgery. “Medical
procedures can cause temporary discoloration of the skin. People need
to work, to be in public, without embarrassment. Special make up and
specific techniques provide camouflage until healing is complete.”
Her newest expansion is a satellite location in Dr. Andrew Stewart’s
office. Her newest service is direct air-brush tanning “to save
skin from the sun before summer gets to it!” Although Neu Aesthetics
is open Monday - Saturday, Deidra saves weekends for her husband of
ten years and their eight-year-old son.
But, she never misses an opportunity to promote good skin care. “Cleanser,
toner, and sunscreen everyday, moisturizer each night, exfoliant and
vitamin C serum or cream for skin over 25, once a week. To have good
skin for life, it’s worth the time.” PL
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