Exploring Life & Business with Tyeisha Burnett Ward of Vain Galore Salon & Spa

Today we’d like to introduce you to Tyeisha Burnett Ward.

Hi Tyeisha, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I’m originally from Far Rockaway, New York where as a small girl, I absolutely loved painting nails and putting on press ons. As a middle school girl, I first began to practice beauty services on my friends and others in my area. It started with braids, simple styles and manicures with nail art. As I grew and matured so did my skills and my passion for beauty. By the age of 16, I relocated to Newport News Virginia, where my mom turned our garage into my own mini salon where I performed hair and nail services on my peers and even some of their parents. I eventually came across a local nail shop where I was given an opportunity to unleash my self-taught nail, brow and lash skills as well as learn new skills and master the trade.

After graduating high school and leaving the nail shop, one of my loyal clients introduced me to a local spa owner by the name of Kathy King. While working with her she insisted I complete cosmetology school and began to teach me what it meant to give quality services to my clients. She also taught me to make my own natural products for my services, giving my clients a more exclusive experience. All that I learned there stayed with me and played a big part in how I operate my business today. By the age of 21, I relocated to Georgia, where I really began to flourish. I worked in a few local shops and in the surrounding areas where I performed both nail and natural hair service, creating a buzz about my unique nail art. After having my daughter, at age 25, my vision became clearer and I then realized I wanted more. I wanted to create a place to express my own interpretation of what beauty means to me. Taking and leaving little bits of the places I had worked throughout the years, I would make a place that was the perfect combination of beauty’ and relaxation. This place had to be a combination of all the the things I loved. Hair, nails and esthetics.

My goal was to create a relaxing, friendly environment where the experience was both intimate and personal that made people from all walks of life feel comfortable. At the age of 27, that place manifested Into what is now known as Vain Galore Salon and spa. It started in a small suite in an office condo and within a year grew to be I it’s own little quaint building. Vain Galore clients can expect to receive great quality services, natural handmade products, the soothing sensation of smooth jazz and aromatherapy and even a glass of wine or cup of tea. We have different services areas to give each service it’s own personality. I plan to continue to expand and open multiple locations offering more services and even better experiences. If your ever in the Austell area feel free to stop by our one-stop shop for a day of pampering.

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?
There were so many obstacles along the way. The first obstacle I came across was finding the funds to get all the equipment and supplies I needed for all of the services I wanted to offer. Starting out, I bought quite a few things used and put a creative touch on them, other things I bought new but cheap. In some cases, I had to do without and slowly build up until I had all that I needed. Another big obstacle was finding good employees, I struggle to this day with that one. One of the hardest obstacles for me was proving I was just as worthy of my customer’s business as the next shop. There were not a lot of black-owned nail shops and not that I think everyone is racist or anything, I think just seeing something so different had a lot of people hesitant at first. I’m so grateful for those who gave us a chance. It was the loyal customers that tried us and loved us that put us out there thru word of mouth. Today I’m proud to say we have a variety of beautiful people that patronize the business, both men and woman and all types of nationalities and personalities.

Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Vain Galore Salon & Spa?
Vain Galore offers hair, nails and esthetic services. Some of our services include: manicures, pedicures, facials, body waxing, body wraps and treatments, hair care.

We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
Taking risk can sometimes mean the difference between your growth and your downfall. For that reason alone, a lot of people are afraid to walk out on faith. I’ve taken risk and invested into products that I’d hear my clients ask about that I didn’t have. These were not $5/$10 products, were talking $1600 for one collection. Knowing I wasn’t getting any business loans and everything was coming out of my pockets, my first thoughts were, can I even afford to have this right now? Eventually, that thought shifted to, can I afford not to have this right now? In real life, I’m one for budgeting and never living above my means but as a business owner and an entrepreneur, I know that for every little bit you put in, you have the potential to gain that back 10x’s over. So I took that leap of faith and I’m so glad I did. It went from people coming in sometimes looking around and leaving as if I didn’t have enough to offer them to people constantly complementing me on my variety and telling me how much they love my selection and how I made it so hard for them to choose. I think when it comes to taking risk, you have to sometimes step out of the now and see the long-term pros and cons if the pros don’t measure up, take your time and build up to it. When you know in your heart, there’s something that can possibly take you to the next level, go for it!

Contact Info:

• Website: VainGalore.Salon
• Instagram: Vain_Galore
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VainGalore/