Rising Stars: Meet Tyenisha Hughes of Charlotte

Today we’d like to introduce you to Tyenisha Hughes.

Thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, how did you get started?
I started my esthetics journey back in 2015, directly after I graduated from college with a Bachelor’s in Child Care and Family Studies. I went on to work at my local primary school as an Early Head Start Teacher and also as an after-school teacher at a nearby daycare center. During that time, I was really into beauty and makeup, especially YouTube tutorials. I was a considerable beauty fanatic; during that time, I even started a YouTube channel to do makeup tutorials. I became so caught up in getting equipment, staying updated on the newest beauty fads, and filming my YouTube tutorials. I realized that childcare could have fulfilled my passion and was taking up much of my time. I wanted to make a career out of something that I love. I put in an application at Sephora and got the job as a seasonal worker; well, actually, I didn’t because my family had a trip planned for New York that year for Thanksgiving; my mom had already bought the tickets and everything. However, I have not heard from anyone after my Sephora interview, so I kept calling and trying to follow up. The manager said, “We didn’t hire you because of your availability.” I planned a trip during Black Friday, the busiest time of year. I reassured her without hesitation that if you hired me, I would be available! I was hired and began training that following week. Also, during that time, I decided to enroll in Esthetician School, Kenneth Shuler Spartanburg. I fell in love with the esthetics program, and it all started from there.

I quit my childcare job to pursue my education in esthetics. I went Full time and could get in and out in 4 months. During my time in my hometown, there were few job opportunities for estheticians, so I decided to move to Charlotte, where there was more demand. I started as a brow artist for Benefit Cosmetics and worked under several people doing lashes, body contouring, facials, makeup, etc. Then, one day, I decided to start my own business, Embodied Beauty Holistic Spa. I found this beautiful location in uptown Charlotte; however, I only had that space for maybe a month because I couldn’t afford it. So I moved my business to my 2 bedroom apartment, where everything started. During that time, I mainly did body contouring and a few facials. I used to have 12 clients days working 12 hours a day all day; I became so booked, and there was a high demand for my services. I knew I had to get a salon suite, so over the years, I’ve been in a salon suite for about 3-4 years. Then, I always knew I wanted to expand and have my spa. I prayed on it, envisioned it, and then, one day, an opportunity presented itself! I signed the lease to my storefront spa, started renovations, built out, and here we are today!

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?
No, it has not been a smooth road. It often becomes a bit overwhelming with the massive amount of skincare orders, juggling social media, being a content creator, coming up with new ideas, and being present. Also, rest used to be my biggest struggle; I hardly ever took days off, and in the long run, that is not good for your mental.

I appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am known for my holistic skincare practices; natural skincare and body healing have been instilled in me since I was young. It only made sense for me to go after my passion for the more holistic skincare route. I promoted my products and services as such, which at the time. There were many African Americans in the esthetics industry doing such. That’s what attracted so much clientele to my business. Even starting with body contouring, at the time, maybe 2 other businesses in Charlotte were doing such. My prices were competitive, and my results were impeccable. Body Contouring was promoted as a natural alternative to surgery and fat loss. I also translated that into starting “Organic Facials.” This was a hit service as well, as my organic facials helped heal a lot of people’s skincare concerns. So, I started calling myself a Holistic Corrective Skincare Esthetician.

So, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you before we go? How can they support you?
I love collaborating with different people; I’m always open to shooting me a genuine email or DM and letting me know more about what you have to present!

Contact Info:

• Website: embodiedbeautispa.as.me
• Instagram: embodiedbeauti_skin

Image Credits
Brandi Hughes, Redd Films & Shoots