Today we’d like to introduce you to Melissa Wilson.
Melissa, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I started out as a cosmetologist, attending Arthur Angelo School of Cosmetology in Providence, RI, and I obtained my cosmetology license in 2005, I knew that I wanted to be confident styling all hair types and textures because as a child growing up in Rhode Island with natural, curly, African textured hair, finding a stylist who really understood and cared for my hair was not an easy thing to do. I worked in two of Providence’s top ethnic salons as both an assistant and a stylist. Then, in 2007, I relocated to New Jersey. I found myself working at the Clinique counter at Macy’s Herald Square in New York City during the busy holiday season. It was there that I discovered my passion for makeup and skin care.
In mid-2008, I moved back to Rhode Island. I decided, at the time, not to work in another salon because my goal was to leave Rhode Island again, so I didn’t want to build a clientele only to leave it. This was during the time when the economy was beginning to fail, and women were changing their shopping habits – instead of shopping at department stores, they were going to drugstores for their beauty products. CVS had just begun their Healthy Skin Care program, so I became a Beauty Advisor, and later, a Beauty Department Manager for the company. Through my experience at CVS, I learned a lot about skin care and ingredients. I was also able to pursue a Marketing Certificate at CCRI while working at CVS. It was also during this time at CVS that I was introduced to the Network Marketing industry through a beauty and wellness company called Arbonne… I became a consultant with Arbonne – selling skin care, cosmetics and nutrition products – and began to build my leadership skills through sponsoring and training other consultants who were starting Arbonne businesses. I continued to harness my passion for beauty and wellness while working full time and servicing my small clientele at their homes after work.
In mid-2011, I felt that it was time for me to get back to the hands-on aspect of my field, and decided to work one day a week in a salon. I quickly realized that I just wanted to be immersed in providing hair and makeup services, and I also wanted the freedom to recommend the products that I was truly passionate about. I knew that all of my passions what I was really good at- hair styling, ethnic hair care, makeup artistry, and product sales – didn’t fully line up with many salons in the area, so I knew that I was going to have to do things on my own terms. I decided to open my studio, M.A.W. Beauty Hair & Makeup Studio, and that came to fruition in November 2011.
At M.A.W.Beauty Hair & Makeup Studio, we specialize in providing bridal beauty services, including on-location and in-studio hair styling and makeup artistry. In the studio, we provide basic styling services such as blowouts, conditioning treatments, trims/cuts, as well as makeup and facial waxing services. We’ve been located in Cumberland, Rhode Island since August, 2016, With our 2016 relocation, we were able to expand our offerings to add boudoir photography to our services that we provide, and I’ve also begun working to create a vintage jewelry collection called Retro. Now, offering my bridal clients one of a kind vintage jewelry for their wedding day and special events. I’ve always worked with a team of artists, and have had the honor of hiring and training hair and makeup artists who have moved forward and started their own successful freelance beauty businesses. I currently have a team of hand picked hair and makeup artists who work with me for larger bridal parties and events, and they take services when I’m unavailable,
Over the years, I’ve had the pleasure of servicing over 600 bridal clients. I’ve provided services for 2016 presidential candidates Sen. Bernie Sanders and Sen. John Kasich, as well as Judith Hill from The Voice on various occasions. My bridal team has been recipients of The Knot’s prestigious Best of Weddings award from 2013 – 2018, and we were inducted into their Hall of Fame in 2017. We’ve also been awarded Wedding Wire’s Couple’s Choice Award in 2013 – 2015 and 2017. I’m truly blessed by the success that I’ve obtained in such a short amount of time, and I thank God that I am able to wake up every day to do what I love and share my gifts and talents with others. My goal is to continue innovating and creating, and continuing to empower women within the beauty and wedding industries, and in entrepreneurship in general. My goal is to grow and I truly believe that the sky is the limit for me.
Has it been a smooth road?
No! I don’t believe that any entrepreneurial endeavor is ever really a smooth road. One of my struggles has always been finding reliable, qualified artists to partner with. There are actually laws surrounding the provision of beauty services, and people are required to hold a license. Not everyone out here working does, and often times, those who do don’t specialize in bridal beauty or have much experience working with ethnic hair or various skin tones. As the owner of the business, my name is the brand, so I have had to be very selective regarding whom I choose to align myself with. My advice for others who are looking to start a bridal team is to hire slow and fire fast. Your reputation is everything.
Overall, while the road has not always been smooth, I have always had a good team of advisors in my corner. I would also advise anyone who wants to pursue entrepreneurship to have a good advisory team including a contract lawyer, accountant, bookkeeper, and people that you trust who you can bounce ideas off of. The Bible says in Proverbs 11:14 “where there is no guidance, people fall, but in abundance of counselors there is victory”, so having close counsel in your business is something that I stand on.
We’d love to hear more about M.A.W.Beauty Hair & Makeup Studio.
I specialize in bridal beauty. My aesthetic is clean, natural beauty. I love enhancing a woman’s natural features and making her look like the absolute best version of herself. I would say that I’m definitely known for providing clean beauty looks – people probably wouldn’t call me for overly dramatized makeup. I’m also well known for being skilled in working with all different hair textures, especially curly and ethnic hair. I think that’s part of what sets me apart from others.
As a brand, I’m really proud of offering my clients affordable luxury. My team and I are truly organized, we pride ourselves on being true professionals and our clients know that they can expect a certain level of service when working with us. My in-studio clients are like family. Most of them have ethnic hair, so they’ve become regular clients who come in to see me every few weeks. My clients always tell me that they love the atmosphere that I’ve created in the studio – I always have great music playing, I offer coffee and tea, everything feels cozy. It feels like home.
Honestly, I just think that the fact that I’ve truly put who I am into my studio is what sets me apart from others.
Which women have inspired you in your life?
Of course, my mother is always an inspiration. As a child, I watched her raise two small children, work, and obtain her Ph.D. She’s a woman of faith, and she has always trusted in God and taken necessary risks to get to where she is. She has instilled strong morals and values in me and my sister. She’s definitely been a catalyst for change in her family, and I admire and appreciate that about her.
I also admire my older sister. We are only 18 months apart in age, but she is just super smart, driven, responsible, and a kind person. She is a great mother to my nephews, a great wife, a hard-working lawyer and she’s also really fun! She somehow finds a way to balance things when she should probably be having a nervous breakdown!
Some of my “famous” inspirations are Kimora Lee Simmons – such a random inspiration, but I love her attitude and ambition. She is such a boss. I also love Carolina Herrera’s class, elegance and work ethic.
Contact Info:
- Address: 30 Martin Street
Cumberland, RI 02864 - Website: http://www.mawbeautystudio.com
- Phone: 401.678.0179
- Email: info@mawbeautystudio.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/mawbeautystudio
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/mawbeautystudio
- Twitter: www.twitter.com/mawbeauty
- Other: http://www.mawbeauty.arbonne.com
Image Credit:
Olivia Gird Photography, Shawon Davis Photography, Eisley Images
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