Today we’d like to introduce you to Sarah Zamora.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
As a teen, I was always intimidated by the beauty industry. I struggled with acne, redness and a heap of other body image issues. So, when I became an adult, I decided to leave my “normal” job (all while being a single mom) and go to esthetics school. I wanted to know how to fix my skin & also help other people who felt exactly the way I did.
I started my career as an esthetician in 2016. I landed my first job working for a celebrity esthetician & provided online consultations to people all over the country. Though that was fun, I wanted to be more hands on with clients, so I moved on and found myself working for a local spa here in Austin.
Being able to see clients taught me so much more than I anticipated. The exchanging of energy from my hands to their body, the importance of music, smell, temperature, as well as my mood became just as important as the products I was putting on their face. Oh and the stories! The stories that each person tells has taught me that I have so much more in common with them than we are different. People whom which I would never have met outside of the treatment room are now my inspiration. Sometimes they’re my teachers. Sometimes I am their‘s. Sometimes we stay silent and allow ourselves to let the energy flow. Every time, it’s a great experience.
I’ve met so many amazing people being hands on, and have gotten the opportunity to do public speaking, film work, and have just started my journey as a make up artist for a television series!
Before you think I’m this carefree and bold individual, you should know that I have crippling anxiety. There are so many moving parts to my story and a lot of things that I left out. I come from a background of trauma, abuse, depression and an overwhelming sense of fear. If you can relate to any of those things, you know they don’t just go away. They linger. So how did I get over those things? I didn’t. I just have to make the choice every day to use my anxieties and turn them into positive action. If an opportunity seems too big for me, or if I ever ask myself “who TF do you think you are?”, That’s my cue to go for it. It’s not comfortable and it’s not always glamorous, but I am on this earth for a reason just like everyone else and I fully intend to use every gift, talent and skill that I have. Oh and guess what? On the other side of anxiety is a world full of excitement! It’s been worth it so far .
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?
It’s not been a smooth road at all. I put myself through school all while going through a custody battle. At this time of my life, I was on maternity leave after having my second child, so I had no income. We were living off of my small savings and I had to move my kids & I into a small room at my mother’s house. I almost quit. Several times. I felt like such a failure.
That was just the time I was IN school. After getting licensed, I found that making “good” money in this industry is 100% dependent on how much I could hustle. What sort of sacrifices was I willing to make? How was I going to do it? Fast forward to today, I’m on my 6th year in the industry & today, I am proud to say I have gone into business for myself! I am now the proud owner of Austin’s newest spa, Bamboo Aesthetics+ located at 8116 Thomas Springs Rd. in Austin Texas.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a licensed esthetician & I specialize in acne. As a teen & well into my adult years, I’ve struggled with acne and sensitivity. If anyone gets the frustration as well as the process of clearing the skin, it’s me. Acne isn’t the only thing I treat, it’s just the one thing that I study a little bit more. It throws people off when I say this, but I’m actually not passionate about skincare. My passion is helping and serving others. I found that being in this industry allows me to do just that while also connecting with people who I would’ve never spoken to otherwise. The stories I hear. The connections I’ve made. The friendships that I cherish all happened within the treatment room. That’s what keeps me in love with my craft. I am just starting my journey as a makeup artist and I’m finding that it’s really allowing me to stay creative. The pigments, the beautiful canvases, and of course the conversations that I have with every single client is an experience like no other.
I’d like to believe that the reason I’m sought after is because I put transparency, trust, and quality before anything else. Money will never be the most important thing to me. I can go into a whole other conversation about that, but money comes and goes. What matters is how I impact people. I believe with my whole heart that if I just continue to be genuine with people, I’ll always be taken care of.
What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
I’m an Austin native and absolutely love how much art is displayed all over the city. Fun fact: before I delve into the industry of skin and beauty, I thought for sure I’d have a career in the arts. I just love music, colors and being creative, so to see the city painted in local art and to know so many local talents is really cool. What I don’t like is how much of the black and Hispanic culture is being pushed out. It’s no secret how expensive it’s become to even exist in the city, and I myself have even had to leave my south Austin roots.
I know living expenses are only going up, so my hope is that the city will at least preserve as well as add more areas for our native POC creatives to display their art and conduct their businesses.
Contact Info:
- Email: Selfcarexsarah@gmail.com
- Website: sarahzamora.glossgenius.com
- Instagram: www.Instagram.com/bambooaesthetics_plus
- Facebook: www.Facebook.com/selfcarexsarah
- Youtube: https://youtu.be/G18RH_VGf_k
Image Credits
Sidney Joseph Tamara Atwood
