Latest / Honest Esthetician Education / Licensed Esthetician Shares Her Path | Madisen Humphrey ( Cloud Towels)

Transcript

Licensed Esthetician Shares Her Path | Madisen Humphrey ( Cloud Towels) · Honest Esthetician Education

• 0:00
  Hi guys, I'm with Madison Humphrey.
• 0:01
  She is a amazing licensed esthetician, the owner of Cloud Towels, and also a registered nurse.
• 0:07
  And I'm so excited to have her on the podcast today.
• 0:10
  She is one of our amazing Founders Lounge girlies.
• 0:13
  And I'm so excited to spend the weekend with you, have our dinner, and have an amazing weekend together.
• 0:19
  But I am so excited again to have you on today.
• 0:22
  But I want to hear all about your story and how you started in the aesthetics industry.
• 0:26
  First of all, I'm so excited to be here too.
• 0:29
  So I'm so thankful I was able to come today.
• 0:31
  I have been an esthetician for five years now and I just got my nursing license last year.
• 0:38
  So still new to that and learning how to combine the two together.
• 0:43
  I actually was in nursing school first and found out about aesthetic nursing quickly into it.
• 0:48
  I didn't really have anything set on what I wanted to do with that.
• 0:52
  So it sounded good to me.
• 0:53
  I was 20 years old.
• 0:54
  Like that's what I
• 0:55
  to do.
• 0:57
  And so I got a reception job at a med spa and I was like following around with the nurses a lot and just watching a lot what they do.
• 1:05
  And at that same time, like months after I started there, I started experiencing acne for the first time in my life.
• 1:12
  And so that's when I really was like,
• 1:15
  I need to figure this out and really started diving deep into skincare.
• 1:19
  And then I started following the esthetician that was at the med spa a little bit more and seeing what she did.
• 1:25
  And I was like, I think I like this a little bit more.
• 1:29
  So then COVID happened.
• 1:30
  Like, I don't remember how many months.
• 1:32
  It was like four months after we opened.
• 1:35
  And so it was...
• 1:36
  kind of a shock, obviously.
• 1:38
  So I had to put everything on pause.
• 1:41
  And my sister asked me when things open back up, do you want to go to aesthetic school with me?
• 1:46
  And I was like, sure, why not?
• 1:49
  I was really deep into skincare, which is why she asked me.
• 1:51
  And she wanted to do lashes.
• 1:53
  And so it was kind of like perfect timing for both of us.
• 1:56
  So I put nursing school on hold.
• 1:58
  It was just my prerequisites that I was finishing up with.
• 2:02
  And I went to aesthetic school in 2020.
• 2:05
  And then I got my license like January 2021.
• 2:07
  Yeah.
• 2:08
  And I just started off right away as a solo esthetician.
• 2:14
  I knew that I wanted to work for myself.
• 2:16
  I wanted to bring on the brands that I wanted to try and carry.
• 2:19
  And I wanted to specialize in skin at this point.
• 2:22
  So that's where I started.
• 2:24
  And I really just like kept going with skincare.
• 2:29
  I was like, do I even want to be a nurse anymore?
• 2:31
  Uh-huh.
• 2:31
  I know.
• 2:31
  Once you fall in love with aesthetics, there's no turning back.
• 2:35
  And I think that's the beauty of this industry is once you know, you know.
• 2:39
  And I love that story.
• 2:41
  And I actually started at a med spa.
• 2:43
  That was my first job as an esthetician solely focused on more like treatment-based services.
• 2:49
  So I can totally relate to that.
• 2:51
  When you were going through your acne journey, were you going through it at the time and then you figured out how to – I know that you said you fell in love with Avant, which is kind of what we talked about a little bit before.
• 3:03
  But how was your journey with your skin at that time?
• 3:08
  So I had no good routine when I first came into this.
• 3:13
  Like I did not have a good routine.
• 3:15
  I didn't like use products regularly and nothing was customized for me.
• 3:20
  I would buy whatever I saw looked good and fun to try and,
• 3:23
  And I never had skin issues growing up.
• 3:26
  So when I started getting acne, it was like a big shock to me.
• 3:30
  And with it being like one to two months after I started this new job, I was like, I feel embarrassed.
• 3:34
  Like I'm the face of this business.
• 3:36
  The first thing that people see when they walk in here and I have a face full of acne and it won't go away.
• 3:42
  So I kept trying facials and products there.
• 3:44
  And the owner was actually a nurse practitioner and she was like, it's probably all the supplements you're taking.
• 3:50
  And I was like, no, it's not like,
• 3:52
  It's not my supplements.
• 3:53
  Oh, my gosh.
• 3:54
  And I was like, these are good for your skin, okay?
• 3:56
  Wait, what was it?
• 3:58
  Do you remember?
• 3:58
  To be honest, I have no idea.
• 4:00
  It was a whole bunch of literally nothing.
• 4:01
  I forget the famous one at that time, but yeah.
• 4:03
  Yeah.
• 4:04
  So I was like, you don't know what you're talking about.
• 4:06
  I'm good.
• 4:07
  Kept taking them.
• 4:08
  And then one day I was like, you know what?
• 4:09
  Maybe it is a supplement.
• 4:11
  Yeah.
• 4:11
  And I stopped and...
• 4:12
  It started clearing up.
• 4:13
  That was not the only thing.
• 4:14
  But was it Biotin B12?
• 4:18
  Yes, 100%.
• 4:19
  Yeah.
• 4:20
  It was just loaded up.
• 4:21
  And I was also taking things that weren't needed for me in my body.
• 4:26
  So that was the other thing.
• 4:28
  But...
• 4:29
  Other than like cutting that out, I was still dealing with the scarring and the pigmentation and the random flare ups.
• 4:35
  And so I really started diving deep into like holistic skin health and focusing on healing the skin from the inside out.
• 4:42
  Yeah.
• 4:43
  And that's when I found Noi Skin Care, Donna Omari.
• 4:46
  She was like my intro into aesthetics.
• 4:48
  I know.
• 4:50
  RIP my angel.
• 4:51
  I know.
• 4:51
  Seriously, such a huge, huge impact on this industry.
• 4:56
  For real.
• 4:57
  Absolutely.
• 4:57
  I agree.
• 4:58
  But yeah.
• 4:59
  So I like loved what she was doing in her.
• 5:02
  treatments and how she was combining facials with acupuncture with her mom.
• 5:06
  And I was like, this is the coolest thing I've ever seen.
• 5:09
  So I saw that she was healing acne with facials and acupuncture.
• 5:13
  So I was like, I want to try that.
• 5:16
  And so I started really cleaning up my skincare routine and like figuring out what worked for me.
• 5:23
  And then I was like,
• 5:24
  I went to my acupuncturist and I was like, can you do my face and help get rid of my acne?
• 5:29
  And he was like, I've literally never had anybody ask me this before.
• 5:33
  And I was like, well, there's a first for everything.
• 5:36
  So let's just try it.
• 5:37
  I mean, the science makes sense.
• 5:39
  So he's like, I agree.
• 5:40
  And literally within a few weeks, like inflammation gone, pigmentation starting to get better texture, like
• 5:47
  back to normal.
• 5:49
  And I was really struggling with non-inflamed acne the most and then random like inflamed acne patches.
• 5:55
  So it was really a combination of the two.
• 5:56
  Oh my gosh, wait, so how does that work?
• 5:58
  How does acupuncture with the skin work?
• 6:01
  So every acupuncturist is probably different.
• 6:04
  Yeah.
• 6:05
  And the person that I go to, it doesn't actually specialize in skin.
• 6:08
  So I
• 6:08
  I was kind of just like telling him my input and going off of what his education is and combining the two thoughts together.
• 6:15
  But he obviously is trained and knows like what to do for specific areas.
• 6:21
  And so he would kind of go around like if I had like a cystic acne spot over here, he would go around it.
• 6:28
  But really, like even if you do, there's energy channels throughout the entire body.
• 6:32
  So if you did something on your feet, that could help something with your face.
• 6:34
  Wow.
• 6:34
  Just an example.
• 6:36
  Um, so all the energy channels are connected, but he would do like specific points on my face as well.
• 6:43
  And, um, I actually saw from noise skincare as well.
• 6:47
  It was like a natural lip filler.
• 6:49
  And so I like made him plump my lips up as well.
• 6:52
  He thought it was crazy.
• 6:53
  Give me everything.
• 6:54
  You have beautiful skin, by the way.
• 6:55
  So he definitely was like, I have never had anybody like you come in here, but, um, it works.
• 6:57
  And I, um, I, um, I, um, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I
• 7:04
  I've just been sending my clients there as well for like people who are like hard to clear or just need that little extra or they just want to get their results quicker.
• 7:13
  Yeah.
• 7:13
  Go see Daniel.
• 7:14
  He'll really help.
• 7:15
  Do you still go see him?
• 7:16
  Oh, I do all the time.
• 7:17
  I recommend people to him all the time.
• 7:19
  All the time.
• 7:20
  Oh, my gosh.
• 7:20
  That's so nice to have, like, a referral base in your business.
• 7:23
  I feel like that's so valid.
• 7:25
  Do you have any other referral or is it mostly just him?
• 7:28
  Oh, I refer everybody to everything I love.
• 7:30
  Yeah.
• 7:30
  I love acupuncture, Reiki, and, like, massage therapy and lymphatic drainage.
• 7:35
  Yeah.
• 7:36
  So all four of those are, like, my go-to.
• 7:38
  Mm-hmm.
• 7:38
  If you have something going on, one of these people can help you for sure.
• 7:42
  And I love that.
• 7:42
  I think that positioning yourself as an expert in whatever niche that you are and like very corrective, also holistic.
• 7:49
  Like when you think of holistic, like how do you explain that to people who are looking to book your services?
• 7:55
  Like what does holistic mean to you?
• 7:57
  So really just taking a full body approach from whatever your main concern is, like figuring out what the root of that is.
• 8:05
  And I'm not saying I'm going to be the one figuring out every single step of the way, but helping you figure that out with other specialists as well.
• 8:12
  Yeah.
• 8:13
  And then also like comparing it to like medical aesthetics versus like holistic aesthetics.
• 8:18
  I feel like medical aesthetics is more like protocol based.
• 8:21
  And you kind of feel like if you go to a med spa, like you feel a little rushed in the service or like it's in and out like a doctor's office type of vibe.
• 8:29
  And I like to take my time with clients.
• 8:31
  Like every time they come in, my like shortest facial is probably an hour and a half.
• 8:35
  Yeah.
• 8:37
  I can relate.
• 8:37
  I'm like all about pouring into.
• 8:39
  Yeah.
• 8:39
  Yeah.
• 8:40
  I would say, like, I go, like, two hours with my clients just to really get to know them, catch up with them, get to know their skin, and allow the products to do their time instead of leaving a mask on for five minutes because what's that doing?
• 8:53
  Yeah, I know.
• 8:54
  No, it's so true.
• 8:55
  I feel like there's a big part of the industry and the aesthetics industry where –
• 8:59
  You have your corrective side, like you said, that's in and out within that hour.
• 9:03
  And like you don't really get to know a person.
• 9:05
  And I think that's the beauty of owning your own business is you get to have this different approach with your clients where like you can spend an hour and a half to two hours to like find the root cause of what's causing your acne or like.
• 9:16
  explaining with your clients what is triggering their acne or how to help them manage their acne.
• 9:23
  So I love that you take a holistic approach.
• 9:25
  And I think it's such an awesome thing that you do in this industry is take that holistic approach with your clients and help them become like
• 9:36
  to better themselves.
• 9:37
  And how long did it take for your skin to clear when you started?
• 9:41
  Were you doing a mixture of products and acupuncture?
• 9:44
  It was definitely a mixture.
• 9:46
  And I would say after a trial and error of like what routine worked best for me, definitely within six months, I was like fully back to my skin and healthier because I never really had a healthy skin barrier.
• 10:01
  It was probably non-existent.
• 10:02
  I just, I didn't have acne.
• 10:04
  So I thought I had
• 10:05
  perfect skin like before.
• 10:06
  You're like, what was I missing all these months?
• 10:10
  My friend always laughs because she's actually an esthetician too.
• 10:13
  And we've been friends since high school and she would always wash her face before bed when we'd have sleepovers.
• 10:18
  And I'm like, what are you doing?
• 10:19
  Going to sleep in my makeup, judging her for washing her face before bed.
• 10:24
  And she's like, you're not sleeping in my bed without washing your face.
• 10:27
  So it's really funny how like the tables have turned up.
• 10:30
  Like that's my specialty now.
• 10:31
  And it's so funny.
• 10:32
  That's so – I love that though.
• 10:34
  That's like full circle moment with your friend.
• 10:36
  For sure.
• 10:37
  Oh, my gosh.
• 10:37
  So the products that you used with your skin during that time, like what were the main products that you used?
• 10:42
  So I forget where and how I found out about Vivant.
• 10:48
  I really can't remember the first person or like –
• 10:51
  like how I saw it marketed.
• 10:52
  The MedSpot didn't carry it?
• 10:54
  Oh, no.
• 10:54
  No.
• 10:55
  Oh, my gosh.
• 10:55
  I had to do my own research because the products there were not helping me.
• 10:59
  Okay.
• 11:00
  Was it Zio?
• 11:01
  No.
• 11:01
  There was, like, no name brand.
• 11:02
  Okay.
• 11:03
  To be honest.
• 11:03
  It was – it's not – Just whatever.
• 11:05
  Not the vibe.
• 11:06
  Yeah.
• 11:06
  So I had to go and search my own stuff, and I found Vivant, and –
• 11:12
  I hadn't started trying them until I went to ICSC the first time and they were there.
• 11:18
  And I was like, I want to carry your line.
• 11:21
  I want to try your products.
• 11:22
  I've seen amazing results online and I want to try it.
• 11:25
  And they were like, well, you have to have a medical director to carry us.
• 11:29
  And oh, you have to have a medical director.
• 11:31
  Yeah.
• 11:31
  Yeah.
• 11:32
  And you had to have like a storefront and a website.
• 11:36
  And I actually, I didn't even mention this.
• 11:39
  I started working from home from the beginning.
• 11:43
  So right when I graduated aesthetic school, I knew I was going back to nursing school.
• 11:48
  that was in January.
• 11:49
  I was starting again in August.
• 11:51
  And I was like, I don't have time to go find a spa and pay rent.
• 11:54
  And I don't know what nursing school is going to look like once I got into the program.
• 11:58
  So I was like, I'm just going to work from home.
• 12:00
  And I did that for two and a half years until I had Zayden.
• 12:04
  And then I had to use that room for his bedroom.
• 12:07
  So I was like, well, I guess it's time to move out of here.
• 12:11
  You're like, it's my time.
• 12:12
  Yeah.
• 12:13
  So then I moved to a spa and I was like, let me reach out to Vivant again because now I feel like I could have this on my shelves.
• 12:19
  And then the rules changed even more and I still couldn't get them.
• 12:24
  Wait, can you explain the rules?
• 12:26
  Do you know the rules?
• 12:26
  I don't know every single one.
• 12:28
  And from my understanding, it does change like...
• 12:32
  Every time somebody kind of reaches out.
• 12:33
  Okay.
• 12:34
  I don't know if it's based on reps or what the deal is there, but I think you have to have a medical director.
• 12:39
  You have to have a website and a storefront now.
• 12:42
  And they're saying, like, you can't work in a salon suite.
• 12:45
  Like, it has to be, like, an actual storefront, which.
• 12:48
  Okay.
• 12:49
  I'm not sure the reasoning.
• 12:50
  Yeah, that's very interesting.
• 12:51
  Yeah.
• 12:52
  Because, and it just seems like it's kind of different for everyone, which really does suck because the product line is amazing.
• 12:59
  Yeah.
• 12:59
  I mean, I've stuck with it for this long because it treats, it heals.
• 13:03
  Yeah.
• 13:03
  It's so good for acne prone skin, but also aging as well.
• 13:07
  Yeah.
• 13:07
  So it's really great for pigmentation and it's what got me clear in the beginning.
• 13:11
  And also my fiance, he has struggled with acne since he was in high school and, um,
• 13:19
  For the whole 12 plus years that we have known each other, like he really was struggling with his skin.
• 13:25
  And he was like the one person I couldn't clear until I found Vivant at the ICSC convention.
• 13:32
  And so actually I asked one of their reps like, hey, can you help me put a skincare routine together with your products for him?
• 13:38
  And within months he was clear.
• 13:40
  And that was in 2022.
• 13:42
  Yeah.
• 13:44
  Uh-huh.
• 13:45
  Or one.
• 13:46
  I can't remember.
• 13:47
  Yeah.
• 13:47
  It was one of the 20, one of the, yeah.
• 13:49
  Sometime in that frame, but, um, he has not had like active breakouts since then.
• 13:56
  So, yeah.
• 13:57
  So safe to say that it's an amazing line, but maybe the support isn't all the way there yet, which is, which is sad when brands do that because you're closing off like the potential for so many people
• 14:06
  knowing your brand and helping people at the end of the day.
• 14:10
  That's the goal.
• 14:11
  Yes.
• 14:11
  Like if it's helping people clear their skin, why not give access to estheticians, any esthetician to, uh, be able to carry your brand.
• 14:19
  And that's why I like, I don't know if you've heard of Mixi skincare, but like, that's like why I use the,
• 14:23
  Yes.
• 14:24
  Like I really just respect the the like accessibility.
• 14:28
  Yes.
• 14:29
  Yeah.
• 14:30
  That's like my main go to for clients actually a lot now is I love the price point.
• 14:35
  I love how easily accessible it is not only for you, the esthetician, but also like the education that they support because that is not from all brands.
• 14:44
  Yeah.
• 14:44
  You just don't get that.
• 14:45
  No.
• 14:45
  And I think that just like speaks to an esthetician running a business because they understand what it's like.
• 14:51
  And they're like, wow, if I put myself in the esthetician shoes, like what would I do with my brand?
• 14:56
  That's why I just really respect that aspect.
• 14:59
  Do you have any other lines that you carry within your business?
• 15:02
  I mean, I'm sure you do, but what other lines do you carry?
• 15:05
  So my newest line is Environ and I have been loving their stuff.
• 15:09
  I actually just got my first product from, or my first shipment from them.
• 15:12
  Like
• 15:14
  I would say like two weeks ago.
• 15:15
  So I'm still very new to like learning what I love most from them.
• 15:19
  But I got them for their peels, their cool peels.
• 15:22
  That's like what I felt like was missing in my back bar and like just needed something extra.
• 15:27
  Yeah.
• 15:27
  So I'm loving that.
• 15:29
  And I have actually started the process of bringing another brand on too.
• 15:33
  I haven't gotten like an order for clients yet, but I've been trying it since December.
• 15:39
  And so going on three months now and it's called Ourself and it has changed my skin.
• 15:45
  I've heard a lot of good stuff about it.
• 15:47
  Yeah.
• 15:47
  I was like, I've just been putting it off, like placing the order for no good reason because I've just been using the products that they gave me to test and they're so good.
• 15:57
  They have a good hyaluronic, right?
• 15:58
  Yes.
• 15:59
  They have.
• 16:00
  I mean, the science behind their technology is just so cool.
• 16:04
  They have a patented like tiered vesicle release.
• 16:07
  And so that's like what sets them apart from other brands.
• 16:11
  And I mean, you can tell a difference within your skin within...
• 16:14
  actual days.
• 16:15
  And then like two to four weeks out, it's like visible changes for real.
• 16:20
  Well, your skin's again, glowing.
• 16:22
  So I'm like, I know it's so funny.
• 16:25
  I have a really good, uh, I have a physician friend that like told me about this brand three months ago.
• 16:31
  And now I'm like, Oh my gosh.
• 16:33
  Uh, there's this one girl that I know also that like,
• 16:35
  started carrying this brand and she stopped becoming an advisor for another brand to like carry this line.
• 16:41
  And I'm like, it must be good.
• 16:43
  It's really good.
• 16:43
  It must be like, yeah, I know.
• 16:45
  I need to try it.
• 16:46
  It's on my list for sure.
• 16:48
  Maybe once this event is over and I'm like, I could finally like what I was waiting for too.
• 16:52
  Just like finding, I like to, I don't want to bring too many things on at one time.
• 16:56
  I like to take my time with brands.
• 16:58
  And so I really was going back and forth like environment.
• 17:01
  Yeah.
• 17:02
  Like who's first.
• 17:03
  But for me, I chose Environ first because I needed more back bar products at the moment, whereas ourself I'm going to use for home care majority of it.
• 17:12
  Yeah.
• 17:13
  And so that's how I kind of like made my decision on which one was first.
• 17:16
  Absolutely.
• 17:17
  And that's so smart to invest in.
• 17:20
  You don't have to do everything at once.
• 17:22
  You can take baby steps in your business and bring on one thing at a time because otherwise it does become overwhelming and you're having this abundance of skincare where you're like, oh my gosh, I bought on three lines at once.
• 17:33
  And everyone's like, whoa, whoa, whoa.
• 17:35
  But your clients have to learn all of that too.
• 17:37
  So I don't want to switch everyone's routine like, hey, try this, try this, try this all at the same time.
• 17:43
  And I think that's where a
• 17:45
  like a regular esthetician that's working their business, like me, I'm like – I'm like – I can't just bring on like three products line at once.
• 17:52
  Like I need to introduce my clients to these products.
• 17:55
  Most of my clients, like if we're getting them on a routine, I'm not like getting them like a 10-step routine.
• 18:01
  So I'm like – we're kind of like – I cherry pick with my clients.
• 18:04
  And so like that's the beauty of customization is like –
• 18:07
  I'm not this huge storefront location that can just bring on like five different product lines at once.
• 18:12
  And it's like, I think that's one of the smartest things that you could do is not overwhelm yourself with bringing on too much at once or else you're like going to go crazy.
• 18:21
  Yes.
• 18:21
  You and your clients for sure will.
• 18:23
  Yeah, no, absolutely.
• 18:24
  Um,
• 18:25
  Okay.
• 18:26
  So that's amazing.
• 18:28
  I want to talk about something that I think is like one of the coolest parts about your brand is that you own another company, which I have her towels and she owns a
• 18:40
  face, sorry, she owns the cloud towel company.
• 18:43
  And these towels are, they actually feel like a cloud on your face.
• 18:47
  And I'm not just saying that.
• 18:48
  And I have so many people who are like, oh my gosh, that I need that towel.
• 18:52
  Where did you get that towel from?
• 18:54
  So I want to hear about your company and how it started because I love the story.
• 18:57
  And I think it's very like impactful.
• 19:00
  So, like you said, I own the CloudTel and my co-owner is actually my grandma, which is like the best part to my business.
• 19:07
  I love that.
• 19:08
  It would not be possible without her whatsoever.
• 19:11
  So, she's really like the mastermind behind everything.
• 19:14
  I like to say I'm just like the face of the business.
• 19:16
  Yeah.
• 19:16
  And do what little marketing we do for it.
• 19:19
  Yeah.
• 19:21
  How it came about was, I think I was telling you, I bought my first facial towels from a barbershop supply store because I was buying Barberside.
• 19:32
  And I just saw these towels and I was like, oh, I need some of these.
• 19:35
  And I was using them and I finally gave myself a facial with them and realized how hard and scratchy and...
• 19:42
  Ouch.
• 19:43
  Yeah, it did not feel good going on my face.
• 19:46
  Like you said, microdermabrasion.
• 19:48
  Yeah, it was like handheld microdermabrasion.
• 19:51
  And I'm like, oh, look at this hot towel.
• 19:53
  No, it was actually so bad.
• 19:55
  So I was like, I need to do something about this.
• 19:59
  And I kept like buying towels on Amazon and from different places.
• 20:03
  And I couldn't find one that like fit all the needs I had.
• 20:07
  I wanted something to stay hot.
• 20:08
  I wanted something that wouldn't stain the first time I used it.
• 20:12
  And I also wanted something that was going to be like soft on the person's face.
• 20:16
  Yeah.
• 20:17
  And so I was just talking to my grandma about this, not expecting her to have a solution whatsoever.
• 20:23
  I was just venting.
• 20:24
  Yeah.
• 20:25
  And she was like, oh, like, what do you need?
• 20:26
  Send me ideas.
• 20:27
  Like, I could make something for you.
• 20:29
  And I was like, do not have to make me a towel.
• 20:31
  Like, it's fine.
• 20:31
  I can find one online.
• 20:33
  She's like, oh, just send me your ideas.
• 20:35
  And so I did.
• 20:36
  And then I forget about it.
• 20:38
  And like a few weeks later or the next week, I get a towel in the mail.
• 20:41
  And I was like, what is this?
• 20:43
  This is the best thing I've ever seen.
• 20:45
  So we did go through like a few trials of like what exact style, length, sizes, colors that we were going to bring on first and like what the actual...
• 20:57
  So we have like multiple different products.
• 20:59
  So we started out with the original, the cloud towel.
• 21:02
  And then shortly after that, I was like, we also need, I use towels for under the patient's or the client's head.
• 21:09
  They're the best.
• 21:09
  And I'm like, I can't have these ratty little scratchy towels under their head that doesn't match the vibe in the videos.
• 21:17
  So I was like, maybe we can make one for the bed too.
• 21:19
  So it's like all in like uniform.
• 21:21
  They're my favorite.
• 21:22
  They're my favorite.
• 21:23
  Yes.
• 21:23
  I was just really, I, they're my favorite too.
• 21:26
  Yeah.
• 21:26
  Yeah.
• 21:27
  And so after she sent them to me and we kind of like tweaked some things, I just like kept it to myself and I had no intention on selling them because my grandma was making them by hand.
• 21:38
  I didn't think this would be like an actual business opportunity.
• 21:42
  Yeah.
• 21:42
  And then one of my esthetician friends like saw it and was like, what is this?
• 21:46
  Like you're gatekeeping from the entire community.
• 21:48
  You need to make this a business.
• 21:51
  And so she bought 20 of them and I thought she was crazy.
• 21:55
  And then I realized like –
• 21:57
  okay, wait, there is kind of a gap for this.
• 22:00
  And, um, as she was posting it, other friends were like, where did you get these?
• 22:04
  I need these.
• 22:05
  And then it just kind of stumbled upon that.
• 22:07
  So I was literally, and I can like vividly remember the first day that I posted about it.
• 22:13
  I was, um,
• 22:14
  I think it was like I posted it at night of just like a facial using it.
• 22:19
  And then my friend like shared her doing it as well.
• 22:23
  I went to sleep.
• 22:24
  I woke up.
• 22:25
  I went to school.
• 22:26
  And then I look at my phone like in the middle of class.
• 22:28
  It's blowing up with like people wanting to buy towels.
• 22:31
  And I was like –
• 22:32
  I'm just in pharmacology trying to learn these medications.
• 22:36
  And I have like hundreds of people asking me for towels.
• 22:40
  Like, I don't know how we're going to make this work.
• 22:41
  But I just literally, on the other side of my notebook, started writing down pre-orders and sent a picture to my grandma like, do you think we can do this?
• 22:49
  And she's like, yeah, we can.
• 22:50
  Oh, my gosh.
• 22:51
  So she actually lived in Kentucky at the time, and I'm from Ohio.
• 22:55
  And so –
• 22:56
  I'm like, I think you're going to have to move here.
• 22:58
  Yeah.
• 22:58
  Like, I've been asking you for years, but I think you actually have to this time because how can we run a business together seven hours apart?
• 23:06
  So she made the move and now we live a lot closer to each other and are able to do the orders together and, like, make everything work.
• 23:15
  Oh, my gosh.
• 23:16
  That's amazing.
• 23:17
  And I love, like, how organically – I feel like the most –
• 23:21
  beautiful stories that I hear are the most organic.
• 23:24
  And that is so awesome.
• 23:26
  Like, I can't believe that you were in school getting pre-orders for your towels.
• 23:30
  And like, I'm not kidding.
• 23:33
  I will specifically put your towels over.
• 23:37
  And whenever I run out of your towels, like for the day, I'm like,
• 23:41
  I don't know what I'm going to do.
• 23:42
  It's just like, because it's so true.
• 23:44
  It's that experience that your clients feel the moment that they laid down on your table and your towels are a part of that experience for my clients because it feels so soft.
• 23:54
  I mean, we try to create the most comfortable experiences for our clients.
• 23:57
  It really does set the mood.
• 23:58
  Yes.
• 23:59
  Especially if you put like some essential oils in the hot towel warmer.
• 24:02
  So good.
• 24:03
  It's the first like,
• 24:04
  fresh start to a facial.
• 24:06
  Do you have any favorite scents for your hot towels?
• 24:09
  So I actually don't know the name of it or what's in the blend, but there's a crystal shop not far from my house, which I have been shopping at for years.
• 24:17
  I love them.
• 24:18
  And she like custom blends facial oils.
• 24:21
  And I just like love one of the ones from her.
• 24:23
  I actually don't know the name of it.
• 24:25
  Oh no, you're totally fine.
• 24:26
  I haven't even branched out.
• 24:27
  I do like lavender and eucalyptus as well.
• 24:34
  I don't know what the blend is.
• 24:36
  Anything that feels fresh, like, it's just so nice when you're laying there and it just, like, elevates the experience.
• 24:41
  I truly believe that scents are, like, a huge part of your brand.
• 24:45
  Like, it's how you make people feel and when they're laying there, it's so nice.
• 24:49
  And, yeah, it just, like, adds the best touches.
• 24:53
  So you do a lot of combo therapy.
• 24:54
  You do – I know that we were talking a little bit about DMK and how you like to combo that with treatments.
• 25:01
  What are your go-to combo treatments as an esthetician?
• 25:04
  So my go-to treatments for like experienced clients, not for somebody first coming in, but is like DMK with dermaplaning or DMK with –
• 25:19
  the sculpt and lift i just really think that that's a great combination if you're looking for lymphatic drainage and like really sculpting and deep puffing is that gua sha so i use hands and gua sha okay i have like a whole bunch of different tools that i kind of go throughout yeah so um i have like a face yoga ball that i like to use i actually got that from um the idea from face gym i don't know if you've ever heard of them but they're from like new york and la and i think like in london too
• 25:48
  I think I've seen videos, but I don't know specifically.
• 25:50
  Yeah, it's like a workout place for your face.
• 25:52
  Yes.
• 25:52
  So they have this ball, and I actually got a treatment done by them.
• 25:55
  I was like, oh, I need that.
• 25:56
  You're like, absolutely.
• 25:57
  It's like a really good fascia release, and it's like slow.
• 26:01
  And I like to do that before because it's really like some yoga for your face and loosening everything up before we get into the deep tension massage and releasing anything.
• 26:11
  Yeah.
• 26:13
  And I also really love acupressure.
• 26:15
  Like I said, acupuncture has been like a heart of my business and for my clients results as well.
• 26:21
  But I wanted to do something in the treatment that I can also help with.
• 26:25
  So learning acupuncture has also been a big part of my business and making sure like I include that in almost every facial.
• 26:33
  But I love doing that in the sculpt and lift.
• 26:35
  Oh, my gosh.
• 26:36
  Honestly, that's like one of the best feelings when you get out of the facial and you just feel like snatched.
• 26:40
  And you feel like everything, all the fluid.
• 26:43
  When people are like, oh, my God, like I don't know how to draw in an hour.
• 26:46
  Absolutely.
• 26:47
  And there's so much corrective that goes into it.
• 26:49
  But do you truly feel like your clients like get a big relaxation during your treatment?
• 26:53
  Yes.
• 26:54
  They are mostly falling asleep.
• 26:56
  Yeah.
• 26:56
  Yeah.
• 26:57
  And especially when I do the reflexology, they're like, what is that?
• 27:02
  Like, I've never felt anything like this.
• 27:04
  I also really love pairing it with buckle massage, too, because it's a huge tension release.
• 27:11
  And if you have any type of TMJ or...
• 27:13
  jaw pain at all tension in the mouth like it is so good how did you find that did you just get certified like through someone near your city or did you see it on instagram and you had to fly out for somewhere i saw it on instagram and i took a training online uh-huh and i feel really bad i don't remember her name because like she trains a lot of people online um her name is um
• 27:37
  I don't remember her business name, but SD Alex.
• 27:39
  Okay.
• 27:39
  You know her?
• 27:41
  She's from New York.
• 27:41
  Now you're making me feel bad.
• 27:43
  I'm like, I think that's her business.
• 27:45
  Okay.
• 27:45
  Yes.
• 27:46
  But you – Yeah.
• 27:46
  I took her training online.
• 27:47
  You did – Yeah.
• 27:48
  You found her.
• 27:49
  You took her training.
• 27:49
  I was like, I – After I took the training, because it was online and not in person, I did it for –
• 27:55
  at least six to nine months before starting.
• 27:59
  And on actual clients, I would just practice because I wanted to, I didn't want to just put my fingers in someone's mouth and not know what I'm doing.
• 28:07
  So I practice on friends and family a lot beforehand.
• 28:11
  And really finding like learning how to feel tension and like also learning how to see tension before you even touch their face.
• 28:19
  Oh my gosh.
• 28:19
  That's a huge part.
• 28:21
  And something that I just recently like within the past week I was doing this facial on someone and –
• 28:26
  And I was looking at her before and afters and I was like, wow, now that I'm looking at the picture, I can see this part was tense.
• 28:32
  This part was tense.
• 28:33
  It does line up to what I was feeling, but I can kind of see a little bit more.
• 28:37
  Like, so I think I want to start analyzing the pictures before we get into the facial to see like, where do I want to focus on?
• 28:44
  Because it gives you a different viewpoint from when you're standing behind them.
• 28:47
  Yeah.
• 28:48
  And so, yeah, that was my new tip I just learned.
• 28:51
  Wow, that is awesome.
• 28:52
  Because I mean, truthfully, I mean, it's, it's cool to hear different esthetician businesses, because you have your, you have your med spa feel, you have your holistic feel, you have like a mixture of relaxation, slash corrective.
• 29:05
  And I just really admire you for, for having a, like a true holistic approach.
• 29:11
  And I think that's, I've never heard of somebody like seeing somebody's face and like feeling tension and be able to see that before and after.
• 29:19
  And I
• 29:20
  makes you an expert as a buckle massage.
• 29:24
  I said that right.
• 29:24
  Right.
• 29:25
  Yeah.
• 29:25
  I think so.
• 29:26
  Yes.
• 29:26
  I know.
• 29:27
  It's like, I remember the first time I ever said, I think I said buccal.
• 29:30
  That's how I called it for like many years.
• 29:32
  And then I'm like, I don't think that makes sense.
• 29:34
  But how I remember, I think is that I, it's either I said it wrong or right, but I think that's how I remember is it's like buckle massage.
• 29:41
  Like you buckle your shirt, your, uh, your pants up or whatever it is, your belt.
• 29:46
  Uh, but yeah, that's so awesome.
• 29:48
  And like,
• 29:49
  Do you feel the moods in people's like energy shift?
• 29:52
  Yeah.
• 29:53
  So doing holistic work in general, you're going to have some energy exchange.
• 29:57
  Yeah.
• 29:57
  And so even if you realize it or not, you definitely are having an energy exchange.
• 30:03
  So it's really important to like clear yourself before and after too.
• 30:07
  Because if you're coming in and you're rushing and then you're trying to make somebody else calm, but you don't feel calm, that's like the first thing.
• 30:13
  Yeah.
• 30:14
  You're like, I'm scattered.
• 30:15
  Like I can't even relax.
• 30:16
  Your clients will feel that.
• 30:18
  And so also you can feel like you might feel you're holding tension in a spot randomly as you're massaging and like you didn't feel that before.
• 30:28
  That's like the best explanation I can give.
• 30:31
  It's like it's kind of like a feeling that you don't know how to explain.
• 30:35
  And you learn to know what that feeling is as you go.
• 30:39
  Yeah.
• 30:39
  You can kind of feel when.
• 30:41
  Clients need something specific.
• 30:42
  Wow.
• 30:43
  Yeah.
• 30:43
  I know there's so much energy that we pour into our clients.
• 30:46
  It's like crazy how much like emotional – like the emotional aspect of being an esthetician is.
• 30:52
  Like people – I talk to people all the time and they're like, oh, yeah, like you just rubbed faces.
• 30:56
  I'm like, no.
• 30:57
  There's so much that goes into it.
• 30:58
  It's the energy.
• 30:59
  It's the connection.
• 31:00
  It's like that – even if you spend like an hour and a half to two hours with a client, like that's so much energy that you're pouring into clients.
• 31:06
  And I remember when I first got my first buckle massage, like the next day I felt –
• 31:12
  like sore.
• 31:13
  Like I was like, oh my gosh, like I feel so much better.
• 31:16
  And then I'm like, oh my gosh, like that.
• 31:18
  I was holding onto so much stress and tension that I didn't even realize that I was.
• 31:22
  And she told me that too.
• 31:23
  She was like, you're going to feel probably sore because you were holding onto a lot of tension.
• 31:28
  And I mean, I'm excited.
• 31:30
  I mean, it's never the same doing on yourself, but I definitely need a good sculpting before this weekend.
• 31:35
  Yeah.
• 31:36
  Do you do it on yourself?
• 31:37
  I know, girl.
• 31:38
  I do.
• 31:38
  I know.
• 31:39
  I actually – I don't do it on myself, like, as often as I should.
• 31:44
  But when I really start to notice, like, tension building up, I just, like, remind myself to, like, release and stop clenching.
• 31:51
  Exactly.
• 31:52
  And then I just, like, use the back of my knuckles and kind of, like, remind myself and, like, actually massage it.
• 31:58
  And what I try to do mostly is keep my reflexology tool by my bed because I struggle with holding tension in my jaws the most.
• 32:07
  And if I'm like going to bed and realize I'm kind of grinding or clenching my teeth, I'm like, hold on.
• 32:13
  Yeah.
• 32:13
  Just release it.
• 32:14
  And it really helps like instantly.
• 32:16
  Especially with kids.
• 32:17
  We're like, oh, so much tension.
• 32:20
  Sometimes the most frustrating part of the night.
• 32:22
  So it's like, you're like, whoa, I know.
• 32:26
  Speaking of kids, I actually do it on my son too.
• 32:30
  So now that he's getting a little bit older.
• 32:32
  Yeah, he's two.
• 32:33
  Yeah.
• 32:35
  Sometimes he wants it.
• 32:36
  Sometimes he doesn't.
• 32:37
  But there has been multiple times where I was explaining that, like, my son loves reflexology.
• 32:42
  And then I called to, like, just say she could say hi.
• 32:45
  He was literally doing reflexology on himself at home by himself.
• 32:49
  That's so funny.
• 32:50
  Oh, my gosh.
• 32:50
  He's like, leave me alone.
• 32:51
  I need my self-care.
• 32:54
  That's so funny.
• 32:54
  He's so funny.
• 32:56
  Actually, I do reflexology on him if it's with a tool or if it's with my fingers.
• 33:00
  Yeah.
• 33:01
  Just whatever's easiest for the night and when we're going to bed.
• 33:04
  But it puts him to sleep immediately.
• 33:07
  Oh, my gosh.
• 33:07
  Like within 10 minutes for sure.
• 33:09
  It's really calming for the central nervous system.
• 33:12
  And so it's really just helping you relax and relax.
• 33:14
  get into that like meditative state and so you can fall asleep easier but i just have a few little i call them magic spots for him and um he's always like lifting his foot like massage so i have like a few pressure points there that i'll either use the tool or my hands but it's so good teach me for my daughter she needs to relax there's a book on amazon 12 dollars okay what is it called do you remember um
• 33:41
  You can send me it later.
• 33:42
  I'll put it in the description.
• 33:43
  Type in reflexology book.
• 33:45
  It's $12.99 on Amazon.
• 33:47
  And it's like one of the first ones.
• 33:49
  Okay, perfect.
• 33:50
  Got a lot of good information in there.
• 33:51
  How was it starting from like being in your own business, like essentially like a at-home studio versus having a kid like and then having an in-person studio?
• 34:02
  How was that process?
• 34:04
  I, the, my friend, my mom's friend actually owns a spa.
• 34:09
  And so there's multiple rooms in there.
• 34:11
  She, it's like aesthetics and hair and nails.
• 34:14
  And it's kind of like an all inclusive spa.
• 34:16
  And one of the rooms came open in February and I had my son in January.
• 34:21
  So I was like, I'm not ready to come back right away.
• 34:23
  Yeah.
• 34:24
  But can you hold it for me until...
• 34:26
  March.
• 34:26
  And I'll start like March 1st.
• 34:28
  So I went back to work a little bit sooner than I wanted to.
• 34:31
  Freshly two months postpartum.
• 34:34
  So it was a shift because I'm like, how do I learn to become a mom and restarting my business in a way at the same time?
• 34:40
  Yeah.
• 34:42
  It really was like a seamless transition.
• 34:45
  I mean, it was right around the corner from my house.
• 34:47
  My mom's house was right down the street.
• 34:49
  I was breastfeeding at the time.
• 34:51
  So it was like I had to be in a certain amount of distance and could only take a few clients at a time without having to schedule breaks and stuff.
• 34:58
  And so that was like an adjustment period.
• 35:00
  And then...
• 35:02
  it just kind of worked its way out.
• 35:04
  And then once I started school again, so I kind of like redid the beginning of my aesthetics journey because I paused school, nursing school, and then did aesthetics.
• 35:13
  And then this is like the second round that I did that.
• 35:16
  So I was really just like all in on my business and building it to set me up to be able to step out.
• 35:22
  I had
• 35:23
  eight weeks left of nursing school before.
• 35:27
  So I got pregnant my last semester of nursing school and only had two classes left to graduate.
• 35:34
  So I had to postpone those like eight months, which honestly worked out for the best because I was able to dive back into aesthetics and like be a mom and do what I love.
• 35:44
  And so, um,
• 35:46
  When I started back at nursing school, I was, like, kind of restarting again.
• 35:51
  But I had set myself up to the point where, like, I wasn't feeling stressed out or, like, I have to be two places at once.
• 35:57
  And really just made a part-time schedule for here's these days for nursing, here's these days for aesthetics.
• 36:03
  And then I still have, like, two to three off days for the most part a week.
• 36:07
  Wow.
• 36:08
  That's incredible.
• 36:09
  I think that I truly am.
• 36:10
  I'm a firm believer that everything happens in its timing and that it's, like, you –
• 36:15
  whatever you believe in gives you what you need in that moment.
• 36:18
  So you work, do you still work?
• 36:20
  So how many days a week do you work?
• 36:21
  And then how many days do you like focus on the, on the cloud towel business?
• 36:26
  So the cloud towel is kind of just like as orders come in and then my grandma has her system.
• 36:31
  And then whenever I have time in the week, I'll just look like, what days do I have off?
• 36:35
  And then I'll go and help with whatever I can.
• 36:38
  And usually I work like two
• 36:42
  two days at the hospital and then I have like two to three days off.
• 36:46
  It just really depends on – I don't like block my schedule necessarily.
• 36:50
  I just leave what's open.
• 36:52
  Yeah.
• 36:52
  And then like as the week leading up or a few days leading up, I'll like block those days if I want to keep the break there.
• 36:59
  Yeah.
• 36:59
  Wow.
• 36:59
  Well, you're a true hustler.
• 37:01
  Your story is so inspiring.
• 37:03
  And I like – I mean even just us talking off camera and like even just hearing your story even more, it is so inspiring to have you run –
• 37:12
  Being a business owner, running two business owners, also being a nurse, and then also being a mom, that's a lot.
• 37:18
  So it's super inspiring.
• 37:20
  And I just like for anyone listening, it's just like you can truly do anything if you put your mind to it.
• 37:25
  Like we all have a million things to do at once, and we have so many different roles.
• 37:30
  But like it's so possible, and I love your story.
• 37:33
  I'm really excited this weekend is going to feel like a break from all of this.
• 37:36
  Yes, I know.
• 37:37
  Shut off.
• 37:38
  Yes.
• 37:38
  But it's also like I have been so nursing focused since I had to study for the NCLEX and then figuring out if I am going to work in a hospital or not and where I'm going to work.
• 37:50
  And I started a few months ago.
• 37:52
  And so –
• 37:53
  just trying to like learn all of that.
• 37:55
  Cause I mean, I've been so into aesthetics for the past year and, um, I'm like, I am ready to just like kick back into aesthetic mode for a little bit.
• 38:04
  You're bossing them into like a beautiful new chapter.
• 38:07
  Like, I don't know.
• 38:08
  I'm just so excited for you and I can't see, can't wait to see and for you to enjoy this weekend.
• 38:12
  What are you most excited about, about this weekend?
• 38:14
  Learning from everyone.
• 38:16
  And seeing everyone that, like, I've known online for years and, like, never met in person and meeting new people.
• 38:23
  I'm so excited.
• 38:24
  But the main thing is to learn just whatever is to come.
• 38:28
  Yeah, I know.
• 38:29
  We're really excited about this weekend, and we're just so thankful that, like, we –
• 38:34
  you're here today, that you are here and part of this special journey.
• 38:39
  We are so thankful that you are like, that you believed in even us.
• 38:43
  So we're so excited.
• 38:45
  We've been planning this like, we've been planning this for a year now and for it to come to life is truly so surreal.
• 38:50
  And I'm excited for you to be a part of this big impactful day.
• 38:53
  And thank you so much for being here today.
• 38:55
  Thank you for putting this event together.
• 38:57
  I mean, when I saw it, I was like, immediately, yes, I will be there.
• 39:01
  Like the second you posted about it.
• 39:03
  So I actually was like on the website, like as soon as you drop tickets and I was like, oh, a founder's lounge.
• 39:09
  Like I want to do this.
• 39:10
  And then I was like debating and I was trying to like see if it made sense financially and like putting all the prices.
• 39:16
  Like if I don't get this, but just buy the ticket, how much is it going to cost me?
• 39:20
  Vice versa.
• 39:21
  And I was like, I'm going to do it.
• 39:22
  So I go back to the website and they're sold out.
• 39:24
  And I was like, oh no, like you're going to wait too long.
• 39:28
  And then I was like, well...
• 39:31
  I'll buy the regular ticket.
• 39:32
  It's okay.
• 39:33
  And then I was telling my grandma about it again, just venting.
• 39:37
  And I was like, you know what?
• 39:38
  I'm just going to go buy the ticket right now.
• 39:40
  And so I go to buy it.
• 39:41
  And there was one left of the, like, you guys added more.
• 39:44
  And I was like, ah, I have to do it.
• 39:47
  Oh my gosh, that gives me the chills.
• 39:49
  And I was like, ah, I have to.
• 39:51
  And I was like, it's definitely perfect timing.
• 39:54
  And I hit the buy button immediately.
• 39:56
  Well, we are so honored that you are here with us.
• 39:59
  And like that truly, like hearing that story, like I said, gave me chills.
• 40:02
  And it just means so much to us.
• 40:04
  And I feel like a lot of people don't know what the Founders Lounge is.
• 40:06
  So Founders Lounge is essentially a VIP experience where you get to do
• 40:12
  spend the weekend essentially with us together.
• 40:14
  We cover your hotel, your flight, and we have you here for the weekend.
• 40:18
  We do a dinner together, a podcast, and you just get that extra TLC for the whole weekend.
• 40:24
  And again, just in case anybody was confused, because people are probably like, what the heck is the...
• 40:27
  founders lounge, but yeah, you're VIP this weekend and we couldn't be happier to have you here.
• 40:32
  Of course you deserve it and, uh, enjoy this weekend.
• 40:36
  I'm so excited for everybody to connect together and for us to all learn and grow together and just meet so many new friends.
• 40:42
  But, um, if you had one piece of advice, this is my question I asked on every single podcast.
• 40:47
  If you have one piece of advice to give to an esthetician based on your journey, what would it be?
• 40:55
  I would probably say like, don't be afraid to like go after things that seem like unachievable in your head and not setting those like limiting beliefs and not saying no to things because you never know where it could take you.
• 41:07
  Yeah, I absolutely agree with that.
• 41:09
  So true.
• 41:09
  And then where can people find you?
• 41:11
  So my social media is skingales.aesthetics and then the cloud towel on Instagram and TikTok mainly.
• 41:19
  Yeah.
• 41:20
  Awesome.
• 41:20
  Well, we will have all those links below.
• 41:22
  I, you guys will fall in love with her towels and obviously you, you're amazing, but please experience those towels for yourself.
• 41:29
  They're absolutely incredible.
• 41:31
  And please support us small in business.
• 41:34
  That's like the best that we can do in this community.
• 41:36
  But thank you so much for being on this podcast today.
• 41:39
  Again, I'm just so honored and excited for you to be here this weekend.
• 41:43
  And if I'm just,
• 41:46
  I'm just excited.
• 41:46
  But thank you so much for being here today.
• 41:48
  Thank you guys so much.
• 41:50
  Make sure you like, comment, and subscribe.
• 41:52
  And we will see you in the next video.