Today we’d like to introduce you to Ashley Regan.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
With my mom being a hairdresser, I grew up surrounded by the cosmetic and esthetic industry. From the moment when I was old enough to start using makeup and trying different hairstyles, I was immediately intrigued by it all. We lived up the street from my mom’s hair salon, so whenever I got the chance I would go, sit and watch her do what she loved. My favorite would be to just sit there and take in the atmosphere of an upbeat and fun salon. I always wanted to try new hair colors and hairstyles, the newest makeup and everything in between. I was THAT friend who would invite all her girlfriends over before a night out and do everyone’s hair and makeup. Of course, I would be the last to get ready because I always needed to make sure everyone looked and felt their best.
Once high school was coming to an end, I was still trying to figure out what type of major I wanted to get into. There’s so much pressure when graduating high school… what college are you going to? What major do you want to do? Are you going to live at home or at school? SO much unnecessary pressure to try and go to a “better” school than the next person. I went to college for two years, trying to find what major I was “passionate” about. It took me 3 whole years to stop worrying about what others thought, stop trying to be “better” than the next person, and to only focus on what I want to do. After I had this epiphany, I left the college I was at, moved home and enrolled in esthetics school; Catherine Hinds School of Esthetics. I completed 1200 hours, I became a Licensed Master Esthetician and certified in skin treatments most people are not. Choosing esthetics school was by far, the BEST decision I could have ever made.
After esthetics school, I worked with my mentor Lorraine who is an absolute amazing esthetician AND person! She got me on my feet in the esthetics world and showed me how this industry worked outside of schooling. From there, I moved on to an organic spa on Newbury Street, in Boston. In my eyes, if you are in the cosmetic/ esthetic industry and you are working on Newbury Street… the most “high- end” street in Boston, then you FINALLY “made it!” I was there for a couple of years, met AMAZING people, learned SO much more about aesthetics, but I felt like I was still missing something to my career. To try and find what I was missing, I started doing spray tanning out of my house to make some extra cash. I saved up all the tip money that I made at the spa and bought my own spray tanning machine and solutions… that stuff isn’t cheap! I started spray tanning my family and closest friends to try and to get my name out there. I started out spray tanning people in my garage… how crazy! After a few months passed, I became known as the “spray tan girl” in my small town. I made a cute little salon in my basement and spray tanned everyone I could get my hands on. I got SO busy SO fast, I had to find a better space to do my work. That’s when I found “True Balance Day Spa” in Burlington. They had everything I needed with an amazing spray tanning room.
After trying to find my missing piece to my career, I finally found what I was looking for. I am currently working at “Laser Care center and cosmetics” doing medical facials and laser. At True Balance Day Spa, I am doing waxing and of course spray tanning. Sometimes, you need up and downs through life and your career to REALLY find yourself and what you’re TRULY passionate about. I absolutely LOVE what I do and I could not be more passionate about it!
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
In this type of field that I am in, nothing gets handed to you. You must work very hard to find your “glitch” and what “drives” you. After being in this field for over 5 years, I have realized that you cannot give up even when you feel like you are burnout and have nothing else to give. In my opinion, this type of field Is all about trial and error. If you are constantly doing only services that you are comfortable with (example for me: basic facials and bodywork) then you are never going to go further in your career. Step out of your comfort zone and take that makeup class you always wanted to try, learn how to do a new type of facial, learn about new products. You never know until you TRY. My career has not been easy.
When I was first starting out, I worked at a spa that didn’t even have all the equipment and products that I needed to perform a service that they offered! I was SO nervous and stressed, I literally sat in the room before my client showed up and cried on the phone with my mom. I wanted to give up on this career right then and there, but I was told to NEVER give up no matter how hard it might feel. When I look back now, having that experience made me a better esthetician. My mom and I laugh all the time because I was THAT nervous for the first client that I literally cried! How ridiculous is that?! After I got my first client out of the way (my client loved the facial anyways!) I practiced and continued practicing until I felt like I could do a facial in my sleep. Having that bad first experience showed me what I wanted in a career and what I had to do to get there.
There is always going to be someone who you may think is “better” than you in this field. But no one is “better” than anyone. Yes, they might be extremely good at one thing but you are better at something they aren’t so great at. What I have learned, is stop comparing your work and your talent to others (in my case, estheticians). Everyone is unique in their own kind of way. If you love what you do, then continue to keep striving and keep putting everything you have into excelling in what you are passionate about. Never stop learning. Try new workshops, take more classes, and learn from others because that’s how you expand your career and new opportunities.
Please tell us about @estheticsbyash.
I am a Type 6, Licensed Master Esthetician. I am certified in a wide range of esthetics including: skin tightening techniques, laser hair reduction certified, hydro facial certified, LED lights certified, PCA peel certified, microdermabrasion certified, all types of waxing, basic and medical facials, and everything in between. My specialty is SPRAY TANNING! The second I got certified in spray tanning, I knew I found my favorite service to offer. The reason why I focused on spray tanning, was because of how it makes you feel after receiving one. There is nothing like feeling sun-kissed, “glowy” and confident when you are tan. Because of experiencing those feelings when I am tan, I wanted others to feel that way too… but in a HEALTHY way! With all the information and warning signs about how extremely bad tannings beds are, I wanted to give people an option to get that “tanned” feeling but without any worry! Tanning beds are SO 2005 duh!
The thing that I am most proud of my esthetics page, is how I created it on my own. I want people to see what I can do and what I’m passionate about. I want people to see that I can do a variety of different things, and everything I do is geared toward making my clients feel beautiful and confident! I think what makes my page stand out from others, is that I show my work through pictures that my clients take and send to me. Each spray tan that I do is 100% customizable. I have a variety of different colors to fit each clients skin tone. I can go as dark or as light as my client would like. I feel like my type of posts consists of every day and real-life beauty. A lot of people get nervous to try spray tanning because they have heard horror stories from people, so my goal is to prove to my viewers that spray tanning is not that “crazy looking stereotype spray tanning” that everyone thinks it is. Spray tanning makes you feel confident, beautiful, sexy, glowy, and give you that boost in your mood that you could be missing.
Do you think there are structural or other barriers impeding the emergence of more female leaders?
I believe that the biggest barriers us female leaders face in the esthetics industry are, always getting your work compared to someone else’s work and not getting enough recognition you deserve. This type of industry is extremely competitive. It is hard to trust someone in this field who has your back and supports your business. It is so easy for people to take advantage of you and your work that you put your heart and soul into. Another big barrier today that females face in the esthetic industry, is finding a job after esthetics school. Your goal after school is to get right into the working world to start making people feel great about themselves, but it is extremely hard to find a salon or spa who will hire you with no experience. Not to mention the long hours and not enough pay. You work late nights and every weekend and majority of the time the spa or salon you work at only pay per service you do along with no benefits. To become a successful esthetician, you need to put in the work. It’s easy to get discouraged in the beginning because everyone is fighting for that one job after school, but once you find the right spot it is completely worth it! It is a great field to get into if you are thinking about starting a family, or working more than one job. The days can end up being flexible and eventually you can make your hours!
Pricing:
- Full Body Spray Tan = $38
- Half Body Spray Tan= $18
- Student Spray Tan = $25
Contact Info:
- Phone: (781) 272-0343
- Email: @estheticsbyash
Image Credit:
christianplevaimages.com/
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