Today we’d like to introduce you to Michaela Bridges.
Hi Michaela, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I always had a love for makeup in high school. I would wake up so early every day and get super creative. Eventually, I realized that skincare was so important to receive optimal results with my makeup. My love evolved into taking care of my skin, and seeing the results of professional products and receiving professional treatments made me want to show others how life-changing good skincare could be. In 2018, I attended The Aveda Institute of Austin. There I realized how much I loved waxing in addition to skincare. When I graduated, I got a lot of experience working with family members and expanding my education. Eventually, I got my first job which involved something I didn’t learn in school- sugaring. I got hands-on training in this and airbrush spray tanning, lash lifts, and brow laminations. So that paved the way for my career. I had one other job that offered the same services but was much more skincare oriented, and I loved that. In 2022, I became pregnant with my second baby and eventually left my job to go on leave. I didn’t know if I would return since I had a 2-year-old and a newborn. I had always wanted to start my own business. I had experience, knew what services I wanted to provide, and knew the best products for those services. With two children and tight money, I needed to start working, but childcare was expensive. The only thing that made sense was going for my dream, starting my business, and making my hours. Within a month, I made it happen. I am so happy with my space and thankful for every client who walks through my door. So now, to humble brag, at the end of 2022, I had another baby, opened a business, and finished my first semester at ACC with a 4.0- all while taking care of a toddler. I am so proud of myself. The month of January has been amazing despite being known to be a notoriously slow month for this industry after the holidays. Now I look forward to 2023, meeting new clients, and continuing to grow and learn. My dream one day is to expand and have a MedSpa with my mother, a CRNA. She’s my biggest fan and best friend; almost everything I have done wouldn’t have been possible without her. I would love for us to have our building and have a family-run business with a plentiful, happy clientele!
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?
There have been challenges. Starting a business with zero clientele in one of the slowest months of the year for the industry was so scary. You must do a lot of legal stuff and work on the back end to operate properly. Plus, you run the whole show as a solo business owner. You set up; you operate; you market, you advertise; you clean up; you research- you do it all, and if you don’t, it still needs to be done.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Violet’s Aesthetics?
I started Violet Aesthetics in December 2023, named after my 4-month-old daughter, Violet. I specialize in full-body waxing, Brazilian sugaring, and results-driven facial treatments. I also offer brow lamination, lash lifts, and intimate bleaching. I have multiple programs to help people get the most out of their treatments. I have multiple waxing programs that help my clients achieve their desired results at an affordable price. I love to do giveaways and monthly specials. I treat each client as if they were going to the doctor. Everyone gets an intake form, so I can be aware of any allergies, medications, or anything that may contraindicate my services. The forms also give them a chance to talk about their wants and needs so I can tailor my treatments to them, which is so important.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those just starting.
There’s always a right time to start. Do lots of research. Join Facebook groups with people in your industry. Find what works best for you. Set a budget. Offer what you want and create boundaries for yourself. It’s your business, and you can run it on your terms. Starting for me was a lot of trial and error. I would read everyone loved this one type of wax, so I’d buy a huge bag of it instead of a sample bag that I could test out. I hated it, and it just wasn’t for me. But I get to figure out what works for me, which is one of the greatest benefits of being a business owner.
Contact Info:
- Website: violetaesthetics.glossgenius.com
- Instagram: violetaesthetics_atx
