Today we’d like to introduce you to Alyssa Terry.
Hi Alyssa, so excited to have you on the platform. So, before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Well, I began braiding at 11 years old. I can remember my aunt showing me the technique of adding hair to braids by using a dinner napkin. Oddly enough, I understood by watching her and soon began taking adult clients from the neighborhood. I wasn’t really charging people then; I was simply doing it for the fun of it until my mom joked that she was going to start charging people to come in the door! That didn’t seem fair to me, so I started charging a fee for my services, And I continued doing hair through the years as a side hustle.
While in college, I picked up the skill of doing makeup and would provide services for friends and for fashion shows on campus, looking back, I wasn’t very good, but makeup was much different back then, but that’s where my love for all things beauty began to extend beyond hair.
After graduating college, I wasn’t working in my degree field (Sociology) and I was still very interested in following my passions of doing hair and makeup. Social Media was beginning to grow, and I felt like so many people were watching YouTube and calling themselves makeup artists, I wanted to show that I was serious, so I moved to Charlotte, NC in 2014, where I had family, to attend Aveda Institute for esthetics. I’ve now been licensed for 6 years.
Being an esthetician has allowed me the opportunity to work in body waxing centers, spas and freelance for weddings and special events. However, it wasn’t until the pandemic where I began taking it seriously full-time. Pre-pandemic I was working dual roles for a spa and as an executive assistant, however, I still wasn’t able to serve in the full capacity of my abilities. Due to the pandemic, spas and salons were state-mandated to close until further notice. In this time, I was able to grow my in-home salon and spa, Timeless Beauty Wellness Spa where we enhance beauty through makeup, protective styling, and full body waxing.
Though the pandemic brought devastating pain for a lot of people, it allowed me time to discover what was inside of me all along. In my first year of entrepreneurship, I’m learning the ebbs and flows of business, and it has been the most rewarding experience.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
Beginning my business wasn’t the hard part, thankfully I have had a strong support system in clientele and word of mouth and social media have played a major role in my success.
But, going from side hustle to full time is scary! I’ve never HAD to rely on my income from my clients and now I had to.
Some of the struggles have been consistency! I once read a meme that said ” I didn’t want to work a 9-5 so I started my own business and now I work 24/7″ lol it’s kind of true. While you have the freedom to create your own schedule and vacation as much as you want. In my case, starting off, I didn’t have built-in PTO, if I didn’t work, I didn’t get paid!
Also learning your busy and slow seasons and making sure everything can still be taken care of when you’re slow has been a learning curve.
It’s been important to stay creative by creating eye-catching content to stay relevant with current and potential clients
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
At Timeless Beauty Wellness and Spa, we strive to enhance beauty that never fades. Whether it be through Makeup, Protective Styling, or Waxing, our hope is to gain your trust as our guest by making you feel more beautiful than when you came!
Timeless Beauty is a one-stop shop for all beauty needs! It takes a lot of courage to allow someone to touch your hair, your face especially when it comes to waxing! Really every service we offer is a very intimate experience. I pride myself on building rapport with my clients. I’ve been fortunate to journey through life with many of my clients, Doing makeup for their weddings, baby showers and anniversaries has truly been an honor! Excitingly, one of my “braided brides” ( a coined phrase I like to use when referencing brides who take braids beyond protective styling and into their momentous occasions) was featured in ESSENCE’s online magazine article which was a really cool opportunity for my business, especially being so new!
With that said, I believe what sets me apart is my warmth and kindness. I love for my clients to feel like they are in a peaceful environment while they are being serviced, I don’t take that lightly, my clients may come as strangers, but they leave feeling like family.
Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
I would like to encourage everyone reading to not be afraid to try new things, the beauty industry has come such a long way in finding new ways to be all-inclusive, so there is something for just about everyone!
If you’re thinking of trying a new braid style, eyelashes, or waxing, be sure to book a consultation to see what the best thing for you might be to get started! It’s important to communicate some of your concerns or even some things you’ve experienced.
At Timeless Beauty, we want to make sure you have the absolute best experience from start to finish, and leave feeling like your best self!
Contact Info:
- Email: info@timelessbeautyspa.
care - Website: https://www.
timelessbeautyspa.care - Instagram: https://www.
instagram.com/ timelessbeautywellnessspa/ - Facebook: https://www.
facebook.com/ timelessbeautywellnessspa/
Image Credits
Models: Roscoe McKnight, Ashley Richelle, A’Kasha Jenkins Photographers: Todd Youngblood, Breann White, Hilary Koon
