Today we’d like to introduce you to Candace Ray.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
For as long as I can remember, I’ve loved to write. As a child, I would re-write fairy tales to depict my own version of “happily ever after.” Back then, there weren’t many characters who fit my description or represented my life or family. To me, Rapunzel’s hair was miles of curls and kinks and Snow Whites dwarves were black, brown and every color you could think. As I grew, the love stayed and sharpened as a way with words, transparently telling stories and honing in on representation. When it was time to choose a major for college, naturally, I chose communications with focus in print journalism. My dream was to become the first black editor-in-chief of Cosmopolitan magazine. Although college was a rewarding experience, upon graduating, I was fully educated without a job. So, I started working at a bank to keep money in my pocket but started a blog to keep my skills sharp. I figured if no one was going to open the door for me, I was going to gather the wood and build the door myself.
When my blog “According to Candace Ray” was born, it started as my weekly interpretation on current events. Later, I rebranded because I started to understand my strengths and passions. I’ve always had an eye for fashion, infatuation with skincare and makeup, and knowledge of trends and bargains so my niche became affordable makeup, skincare, and style. Within beauty posts and on social media, I was getting comments from women who desired to achieve certain looks and methods but had no idea where to start or what to buy. My blog and YouTube channel became a home for women at the beginner level of their makeup and skin journey. My audience is made up of those who want to be enhanced but not overdone, maintain healthy, glowing skin and get the most out of a small budget and window of time.
After getting fired from the worst job on earth, I found that blogging could be the key to working for myself. I am happiest creating new content, researching topics for my audience and getting ideas on how to help others with their beauty needs. Honestly yet humbly, I’m too creative, innovative, and self-assured to be stifled furthering someone else’s dream. If I was ever going to be my true, authentic and most impactful self, I had to work for me. As a separate entity of blogging, I was inspired to establish “Arts & Class.” Arts & Class is a BYOB (Bring Your Own Bottle) makeup and skincare class where you get to sip your favorite beverage while learning how to successfully apply makeup or pamper problematic skin. I created Arts & Class to be a place where people didn’t have to learn “how” to be beautiful. I wanted to help women, particularly, count the ways in which they were already beautiful and not where society feels they should be. Ownership of individual beauty is a right and not grounds for exploitation.
Arts & Class took a life of its own and I wanted to be an expert in my industry, so I went to The Beauty Institute of Ambler Pa to get my esthetician’s license. My ultimate goal was to open a place that would encompass my entire idea of beauty and as of November 2021, I was able to do just that. Arts & Class Studio and Spa will be open March 19, 2022 in Philadelphia, Pa. We’ll offer a variety of facials, makeup for any occasion, lash extensions, waxing and, of course, our signature “Slay and Sip” classes. The goal and dream is coming true as we speak.
Alright, 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?
It has not at all been a smooth road to get to opening nor has it been smooth once I got to the moment where I could open. First, covid set me back. I had a timeline of when I wanted to get things done and it was put on hold for well over a year. My license, quitting my job in urgent care, and saving enough money was really hard because of covid. My full-time job was in urgent care and being a health care worker during a pandemic was one of the hardest things I had ever done. It was always challenging but never unbearable and it was starting to get there. In summer 2021, I decided that I was not going to stay there and I wanted to start looking for a space for my spa. I had already started providing services in my home and building a clientele. From there, looking for the space was a challenge because I was a new business owner and commercial properties may not want to take a chance with that. When I found the space that I loved, there was a lot to learn. Triple Net leases, building permits, insurances for the building and personal liability, buildout time, contractors, and literally building the space out with my own hands has become my life over the last four months. I wouldn’t trade anything because it got me where I needed to be.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a licensed esthetician. I specialize in rejuvenating facials and makeup. I am known for my Slay and Sip classes where you get to drink and snack while you learn a makeup look or care for your skin. I’m also known for my story makeup tutorials that I do weekly on my Instagram. I am extremely proud of quitting my job in urgent care and going into business for myself. It wasn’t easy at all but it was extremely worth it. I feel what sets me apart from others is that I include the client in their beauty journey. I let people participate in their skin and beauty journey because ultimately it belongs to them. I want people to be able to get treated or treat themselves. That’s what Arts & Class is all about. Makeup is artistry but class eludes to learning and exploring. Sometimes you just need the room and resources to figure it out.
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
I usually say blessed. I believe in luck but there has to be something higher to describe the streak I’ve been provided. I am extremely blessed to be able to do what I do now. I think having a 9-5 is dope if that’s your journey. It’s not exactly mine but I’m blessed to know that, recognize it and be able to do what I do and live my dream. I put all my own money into opening the spa and that’s the blessing of all blessings (luck) because I don’t owe anyone for how I came into this. I am also blessed (and lucky) to have people who believed in my dream and helped me to create, buildout my space, and market it. I can not thank everyone enough for what they’ve done for me and the spa. It gets me in my feels every time. For people to take time out of their lives because they believe in me and my brand is something I can never express the amount of gratitude I have. It’s overwhelming.
Contact Info:
- Email: info@beautyofac.com
- Website: beautyofac.com
- Instagram: @Candaceraycan @beautyofac
Image Credits:
Bryce Lennon
