Member highlight: Esthetician to Entrepreneur

The world of nails, lashes, and brows, is dazzling to look at but how is it to work in. The beauty industry is mesmerizing, influential, and filled with hard working people. Countless people go to nail technician but only a few are aware of the journey that it takes to become one. Because TableSpace is filled with all different types of creative entrepreneurs I was able to meet an amazing certified esthetician. Alayna is a fully certified esthetician with 4 years of experience in the industry. 

To begin with those doubting how dependable a career of an esthetician may be. Even though it is not the career of a mechanic, esthetics is still a trade. Alayna emphasized that trades are always reliable,  because there will always be a need that's why they’re a trade! If you go to a college, to specialize in a trade but later decide to do something else you always have something to fall back on unlike some university degrees that promises you absolutely nothing. 

But Alayna, like many, wasn't so certain of her career path when she was young. Coming out of high school Alayna felt a massive pressure to go to university. So she attempted to pursue education but after a year decided it was not for her. 

The best thing she learnt from university and what she recommends others coming out of high school to do, is to give yourself some time after doing 14 years of school. It is important to experience life, to figure out what you like and to experience the workforce. 

Alayna had always been into doing makeup because of her older sister. When realizing what she wanted to do for the rest of her life, her mother encouraged her to follow her passions. With the support of her parents she decided that a full esthetics certification was the way to go. 

The young entrepreneur suggests that for makeup artists it is not necessarily essential for them to have a certification. But for full esthetics it is necessary for them to have their credentials because they deal with a lot more sanitary sensitive work.

Alayna went to MC college where she was welcomed with a supporting environment. Her instructors gave out awards every Tuesday to encourage their students. It was not a hostile or catty environment that the media may sway the beauty industry to be. Alayna recalled becoming friends with everyone in her small class and is still friends with many of them to this day. 

 Everyone shares clients so it's important to keep a professional and friendly relationship with others in the industry. When you’re busy you should be able to refer your client to somebody you trust.

 After 7 months Alayna was ready to start her apprenticeship. In her apprenticeship Alayna got the work experience that she had been waiting for. During this time Alayna learned from her experience and manifested. She perfected her craft to the point that she was able to be appointed to a managerial position after her apprenticeship.

At this time through professionalism and hard work, Alayna had built up a clientele. She was moving towards expanding. When discussing with the business owner of her plans and what she hoped to accomplish they realized that their business paths were headed towards different directions and Alayna ultimately needed to set off on her own journey. 

As Alayna was discussing her pursuit of entrepreneurship to a client, that client happened to be Rachel, the co-founder of TableSpace. TableSpace was soon to open and Alayna was offered a spot in one of their private offices. 

Alayna was completely confident in her abilities but was nervous as to the financial aspect of business. It was through master mind classes at TableSpace that she was able to learn more about her financials. When different speakers came in she enjoyed learning and applying her knowledge to expand her business. Through a lot of trial and error she was able to handle her business better with the help of TableSpace. 

Alayna advises entrepreneurs to figure out everything about your brand, business, and future before you open. But most importantly do what you want to do,because at the end of the day it's your integrity, and your brand image so your business partners and end goals should meet that.  

The smallest things can totally alternate how a person views themselves. Helping someone feel a little more beautiful and more like themselves is the best thing about her job. Alayna’s brand is only growing bigger and at TableSpace we can’t wait to see what she does next!