May 8, 2017

Meet Svetlana Sharapova of A-Skin Care Salon

Local Stories

Today we’d like to introduce you to Svetlana Sharapova.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Svetlana. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
My pimples disappeared after a local aesthetician took care of me. I was a 13 years old Soviet kid, and I got so impressed, that becoming a skin healer became my dream. But you could not get into such training without medical background, so, I went to a nursing college. However, even being a nurse didn’t help: you needed a connection… So, I worked as a physiotherapy nurse for years until USSR fail. Then I got admitted for the desired classes. I started my own business straight upon graduation, but kept working as a nurse as well. It helped: I consulted my clients with great specialists to achieve great results. That taught me to analyze every case deeply. I still appreciate the experience.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I live in Boston area for 19 years. In 2003 I opened A-Skin Care Salon in Arlington, MA with my then business partner Anna Karpovsky. She eventually left the business for raising the family and getting her PhD at Bentley, so I had to run the spa all by myself.

I figured then how sad it is to let go of your favorite craft, and to become instead a miserable boss… So, I decided to shrink the practice, and go on my own. For 4.5 years I was subletting some space at Harvard Sq. Then bought a house, and my husband once again helped me to set up the room where I see my lovely clients now.

Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about A-Skin Care Salon – what should we know?
I work with best American labs to create my own brand of products. It takes lots of research and clinical study, but it pays off: irritable skin calms down, breakouts go away, kids learn appropriate hygiene (adults do too)… It’s great fun to learn from professionals at seminars, but it’s priceless to learn trough you own experience!

I immigrated with super-limited English vocabulary. That was the biggest challenge.

We all mature as life progresses. I dreamed large, and now, I want to stay humble. Most of my clients come for facial and especially – for their day to day skin care routine advice. As soon as we together achieve one goal – the regime has to change: the skin now has a different condition, and needs to be addressed differently. When you come for your first facial with me you get a written instruction at the end of it and a bag of products in small sizes, so your healing road begins.

People tell that I’m extremely thorough, which I’m trying to be. They say that my Brazilian bikini waxing is almost not uncomfortable. I hope it is true. What I’m proud of? My grandma taught me to always do my best, my parents tried to raise me truthful, and I never learn how to be proud. Not interested in that…

But instead, what satisfies me is that my clients feel not just being taken care of their skin imperfections, but also relaxed, beautified altogether and ready for new achievements with their best face forward. Sometimes, one client spends in my place almost the entire day, and sometimes they are only in and out, but always happy at the end of the visit. When doing your eyebrows, especially for the first time, I hold my breath. When I offer you a mirror for approval I’m almost ready to faint… until I hear “Incredible!” or just “Perfect as always!”, and that all after 26 years of practice!..

Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
You have to be able to listen and to observe. Processing information using all your knowledge is critical. You need to be meticulous in performing your tasks, but careful at the same time. You also have to forget about the world while concentrating on the person who relies on you, as they would be your own child.

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