Exploring Life & Business with Ariele Burgess of Leaf Waxing

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ariele Burgess. 

Hi Ariele, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
As an esthetician and waxer, I’ve been in the industry for about 8 years now and wanted to create an experience everyone could be a part of. Leaf Waxing is an all-inclusive body waxing company that also offers training classes. It started with an idea from watching an anime show (Naruto) and turned into a full-blown company. I went to esthetics school and graduated in 2016; I immediately went and worked for a major wax company. I used to be a wax specialist and trainer for 7 years and loved every bit of it, however, it was time to move on and start a company that valued the people. Not just its workers but also its clients as well. Working for major companies comes with the pressures and drama behind the scenes. It’s not about how much you need to spend or what contract to force you into, but more so should be about your skincare needs. Waxing is considered a luxury, but for some, it’s a necessity for their skin needs; which is why we have dedicated our time and efforts to make sure everyone has an opportunity to experience what waxing offers. The road to greatness has its ups and downs but starting a company with nothing but understanding and principles is how Leaf Waxing came to be. I started and worked my way up through my old company with nothing but my own values, skincare knowledge, and work ethics, who’s to say I can’t do that for a company of my own. Starting a business isn’t exactly easy, however, nothing in life comes easy, how many times did it take to learn how to tie your shoes? But now you can tie them if you need to while holding a phone and a dog leash that’s wrapped around your arm with ease. Being a small business owner is just like learning to tie your shoe. Once you have all the right knowledge and tools, you’ll be able to do great things. I’m very thankful for all the business knowledge that has been presented to me, along with the experience I’ve been able to have in management positions for other large waxing companies. So, I took a chance, and here we are! A Waxing company that puts skincare needs above all, inclusive services so everyone feels welcome and not turned away, but more importantly amazing services at affordable prices. Luxury doesn’t mean only one group of people get to experience it; everyone deserves to experience luxury services. Leaf Waxing provides all of that! I know how it feels not to be able to be a part of something because of finances and wanted to make sure people don’t feel the way that I have in the past. Everyone deserves great skincare! 

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?
As much as we would like to all say everything is super easy, indeed, it is not. If I’m being perfectly honest some of the main struggles with starting a business is finances. I sank everything I had into this business so struggling to pay personal bills is a thing, however, you have to spend money to make money. Every great company has its own back story and I’m sure the major CEOs had to start somewhere. If I can keep my lights on or a roof over my head, I’m grateful! This is the real world, real struggles, starting a business isn’t easy at first, without the proper finances it does pose a bit of a roadblock. Every story has that great OH WOW LOOK BACK WHEN moment and soon that day will come for us as well. I believe that if you truly love what you do, no matter how great the struggle is at first, it will all turn out the way it suppose to. 

We’ve been impressed with Leaf Waxing, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Leaf Waxing is an inclusive full-body waxing company. We specialize in Male Brazilians and full body services for everyone. We like to focus on your skincare needs, yes waxing comes first but most people aren’t educated in what needs to be done after the waxing process is over to maintain healthy skin. We like to match your skincare needs with hand-picked products that we ourselves use; we’re not just going to recommend something we wouldn’t put on our own skin. Waxing can sometimes have a negative stigma from previous bad experiences. Here at Leaf Waxing, we make sure everyone is okay throughout the process. We pride ourselves in a clean and minimalist atmosphere with happy/peaceful vibes. We’ve spent countless hours finding the best waxes to use and are proud of the choices we have made for you all! We also offer training classes to any licensed or temp licensed professionals. We want the next generation of waxers to be the best! We cover the basics and techniques to set you up for the future to become the best you could possibly be! We don’t treat people like a number, and our motto is and will always be Quality over Quantity! 

Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
The beauty industry is always changing, one-minute skinny brows are out, and thick brows are in and then ten minutes later it’s the opposite where thin brows are in, and thick brows are out. It’s just all about going with the flow. I’m sure someone will create the next big thing, and everyone will want to do that. When change happens, you assess and adapt! That doesn’t mean we’re going to conform to everything, who knows we might create the next big thing for our industry. That would be cool. However, vanity will never go away, as wild as that sounds people are always going to be interested in the way that they present themselves. I myself am one of those people. Should the beauty industry start to fade over the next 5-10 years, I might be ok with that. I’m still going to wax don’t get me wrong, it’s part of my skincare routine. 

Pricing:

• Brazilians $50
• Underarms $20
• Brows $20
• Full Leg $80
• Full Back $60

Contact Info:

• Website: www.leafwaxing.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leafwaxingnc
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/leafwaxingnc