Conversations with Shemika Alfred

Today we’d like to introduce you to Shemika Alfred.

Hi Shemika, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
You can call me Mikki and I’ve been a Licensed Esthetician for the past seven years. I started out in Esthetics as a Makeup Artist and really counted on that being my main interest and career path. Over time, I began to explore other parts of the industry and stumbled upon a love for full body waxing services and advanced skincare knowledge. I’ve been practicing full body waxing ever since I graduated from Esthetics school, and I’ve had the great opportunity to work for many different franchises. I’ve learned different techniques, tips, tricks and methods on how to give the best, most comfortable wax possible, no matter what type of wax I was using. Now, with all of those years of training and practice, I can say that I’m an experienced waxing expert. Thankfully, I was consistently producing great numbers at work, I had found techniques that worked best for me, and I was getting amazing feedback from my clients. Everything seemed to be working out “perfectly”. Just when I thought things were going great in my career, the pandemic hit us out of nowhere. During quarantine, I had a lot of time to think about who I was as a career woman, what life I wanted to create for my family, and where I wanted to go from that point on. Out of those thoughts, that’s when It’s Your Skin LLC was born.

I realized that I had to make a major pivot in my career and in my life because at any point, life can shake things up for you. Being out of work for two months made me realize that no matter how well you may think life is going, things can always take a turn for the worst. I quickly decided that it was time to make a change, and with the extra money that we were receiving from unemployment benefits, it seemed wise to invest that into something that could grow for me long-term. Once I crunched some numbers and decided on a business name, a niche, and an approach to this idea brewing in my head, I put myself into action asap! That’s when I signed a lease for a salon suite, purchased decor, equipment, products, and everything else I would need to start out. I created a booking site, started getting the word out to everyone I knew would be interested in getting a service from me, and just committed 100% to this new business venture that God put on my heart. Now, a whole year later, I’ve transitioned to a location better suited for my treatment room, I’ve grown my clientele more than I ever thought I would in the 1st year, I’ve added new services and I am continuously working hard everyday to make It’s Your Skin LLC a zenful, comfortable place for everyone in the Raleigh and surrounding areas to receive Skincare and Waxing services that promote a feeling of vibrancy, confidence, and an overall sense of improved health and wellness!

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The first suite that I signed a lease for, I was sharing it with one of my best friends, who’s a cosmetologist. We thought that it would be a good idea to save some money while still both being able to navigate the space around each other’s schedules. Unfortunately, we quickly realized that the space was just not suited for both of us to be as functional as we could be. At that point, I decided to sign a second lease at a different location that I ended up falling in love with (Image Studios of North Raleigh). This caused a bit of a financial setback, on top of having to open the salon three months later than expected, but it ended up working itself out.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I specialize in corrective skincare and full body waxing services (mainly intimate waxing) for all types of skin, especially environmentally challenged skin that experiences inflammation, acne (no matter the grade), and hyperpigmentation/discoloration. I would consider myself a skincare coach because over the years, I’ve really put knowledge and education at the forefront of building my career, where I can now walk anyone through the best way to care for their skin no matter what hurdles they may be trying to overcome. I would say I’m best known for being informative with my clients without overloading them with too much information at once. It’s important that clients really understand how to treat their skin on the most basic level, that way they maintain a consistent, easy regimen at home and receive their routine, heavy-duty treatments from me. I’m most proud of not allowing a drastic change in world events to bring me down but instead inspire me to get out and do things better than I’ve ever done before.

All of these things I’ve just described is what I feel sets me apart from others because anyone can do a facial, anyone can do a wax, but what value are we providing for our clients at the end of the day? Customer service is key and making clients feel comfortable is extremely important in this line of work, so I always strive to exude those qualities.

What’s next?
One of my biggest plans is to eventually have a storefront where I can really display the full vision I see for It’s Your Skin LLC. My goal is to enhance the quality of my services and offerings to the highest value so that I’m consistently giving my clients the absolute best. I’m not sure if employees are in my future, but I definitely want to have the freedom to step outside of the treatment room and enjoy time with my family, creating memories and watching my kids grow in life.

Pricing:

• Brazilian Wax-$55
• Brazilian (Tight) Wax-$45
• Bikini Wax-$32
• Correct Your Skin Facial-$150
• Restore Your Skin Facial-$225

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: http://Itsyourskinllc.square.site
• Instagram: @itsyourskincoaching
• Facebook: @itsyourskincoaching