Today we’d like to introduce you to Takneijah Green.
Hi Takneijah, 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?
My name is Takneijah but I go by Tk. I earned my Bachelor of Science in Psychology in 2015. I was on the fence about going to get my master’s degree because I always had dreams of being a marriage and family counselor. However, I decided to enter the corporate world to get more experience and to see if I truly wanted to continue my education. While working in corporate (finance), I was able to learn so much about myself. I was able to learn about credit, savings, how to be more organized, problem-solving, and I was more business savvy. I loved what I did, however, in 2016 while dealing with my own skin concerns, I knew at that time I wanted to enter into the esthetic’s world. It was just a thought because while working in finance I was elevating in my career quite fast (three promotions, winning awards and trips). I was comfortable and afraid of change.
Fast forward to 2020, when the world changed for everyone, I was now working from home and I knew that there was more to me. More than I could offer to the people around me. It was at that time I decided that I was going to finally do something to make me happy and to better myself. I worked full time and went to esthetician school full time. How I did it, I’m not too sure. Six months into my supposed to be nine months program I decided to step out on faith and quit my job, focus on my schooling and to prepare myself mentally to be an esthetician full-time. With my faith in God, support from my family members, & a lot of sleepless and emotional nights, I’m here today to tell my story.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Oh wow, I wish I could lie and say that the road to be an licensed esthetician has been easy. I know there are people with sad stories but I don’t think anyone can top mine.
Before I go into detail, let me say that only person to blame for the things that I’ve gone through thus far is majority my fault.
In December of 2020, I entered into esthetics school. I literally was having a conversation with one of my friends over dinner that I wanted to be an esthetician and a few days later an ad came across my Instagram feed for a black-owned esthetic’s school (I will not mention the name). The school offered advanced facials, full body waxing, body contouring, lashing, makeup, & microblading. Although I wasn’t interested in the majority of the courses being offered, the pricing & the amount of time the program would take is what got me. I called the number on the ad and spoke with the owner. Our initial conversation was great and she asked me to come in to an open house to meet her and to tour the school. I scheduled the tour and that same day, I paid a deposit to start school the following week. The tour was great, the owner was pleasant, and she spoke very highly of up and coming black entrepreneurs and how there weren’t many black owned esthetics schools that offered everything that her school offered. She did an amazing job at selling her school to me and that’s why I went ahead and enrolled into the school.
However, I wish I would have been able to see past all of the glitz and glam because it would have saved me a lot of time, it would have saved me from having anxiety and depression, and it would have saved me a lot of money. The first few months in school were great. I loved it. I even won the very first student of the month. I exceeded in all of my exams making A’s and all of my homework and classwork were turned in on time. My class was small and we all got along great with one another. There were never any complaints. However, we would have run ins with our classmates in a more senior class and they would always have complaints about the school and the owner, her mother who co-owned, and the teachers. It wasn’t until they merged our classes together that it went downhill. In a matter of months I went from student of the month to being disrespected and harassed by the owners. A lot of things weren’t adding up and whenever my classmates and I had questions they would get ignored and we would be treated like we weren’t paying our hard earned money for our education.
After months of harassment and being treated horribly, myself and all of my classmates were expelled & was never returned our money because someone left a comment on the schools Instagram page saying the school was a scam. After six weeks of being depressed searching high and low to get back into school, God gave me a second opportunity at Beaver Beauty Academy. I was able to finally finish my studies and I graduated as Valedictorian & I had perfect attendance. I wish i could say the road was easy but it made me grind even harder to get where I am today.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am an Licensed Esthetician. I specialize in advanced facials (Microdermabrasion, Dermaplane, Hydrofacial, LED therapy, high frequency, & chemical peels), full body waxing, & body treatments (back facials. booty facials, expecting and new mommy belly facials, & vajacials), all things skin related.
I’m most proud of how far I’ve come. Even with every obstacle I faced, I allowed that to motivate me to grind harder and to continue to make the people who support me proud.
What sets me apart from others is just authentically being myself. I’m a southern girl (Savannah, GA) and I pride myself on providing a home like experience where you’re relaxed and comfortable while spending your time unwinding with me.
Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
I currently do not have a mentor. However, I would be open to one. The advice I would have about networking is to not be afraid to let people know what you do. Your business and brand should always be a top priority. You never know who you’ll run into or who is in need of the services you provide. What also has worked for me is providing the best experiences for my clients and word of mouth is everything. I started with 0 clients too. So if I can do it anyone can. I’ve only been in my new location since April and business has been great so far. I can only thank God and my amazing clients for their continued support.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://poisedestheticsco.glossgenius.com/
- Instagram: Instagram.com/poisedestheticsco_
- Other: https://g.co/kgs/STh1CY
Image Credits
@thecamkilla
