Today we’d like to introduce you to Jillian Villescas.
Jillian, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I never said I wanted to be a bikini waxer when I grew up. Librarian, figure skater, and a Veterinarian were on my list- but never “professional hair remover.”
I started beauty school to become the next big makeup artist, turns out I was absolutely awful. I love getting facials, but I hated giving them. Then we got to the good stuff- waxing! It is instant gratification seeing the skin smooth and the hair on the fabric! After graduation, I was hired at a waxing salon, bless those souls that I initially practiced on. Let’s be real… a 45-minute Brazilian bikini wax isn’t fun for anyone! As the years went by, I gained a loyal following of friends and clients while my passion for the craft grew. I started my own waxing suite in the same small community I live in and it was the best business decision I ever made.
News of my little waxing suite opening caught on so quickly I ran out of wax my first week! About 6 months went by and I was getting too many clients to handle by myself. Isn’t that just a great problem to have?! I hired Brandy, who was actually a client of mine and recently received her Esthetician license. I trained Brandy and she took over the majority of my clientele while I was on maternity leave. I hired Becca not long after that, because of her level of expertise in male waxing…. yes, the manzilian! I knew I needed a special person to take care of male clients looking for that service, and she was it!
Since bringing those two amazing and talented ladies to my team, business continues to grow at a rapid pace. Bea’s outgrew the first room I started in just over a year. Last October we upgraded into a larger and more modern space. My goal is to move Bea’s Wax into a brick and mortar store front in the next five years.
Great, 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?
I was extremely naive when I started my business. I didn’t understand why people would ask me “Aren’t you afraid?”. I didn’t realize the majority of new businesses would fail in the first five years. I had no idea of the competitiveness in the beauty industry. When I started, I the only thing I knew was that I had to make this work. I am still constantly learning, improving, changing. I am not afraid to ask my clients what a “good wax” versus a “bad wax” means to them. I’m not too proud to admit that I royally screwed up a couple months and was actually making negative money per wax due to my math error. I was so mad at myself for not catching the mistake and ate pb&j sandwiches for a week until I gained back the money I lost. Needless to say, I am a much better waxer than a math wiz.
Please tell us about Bea’s Wax.
Bea’s Wax is a full body waxing suite specializing in hair removal for men and women.
After working in the industry for years and hearing beautiful women talk about their struggles with insecurities, (whether it be body hair, appearance, weight, freckles, moles, scars, surgeries, etc.) I came to the conclusion that we are all on the same team! One of the most important rules I have is that there is *never* any judgement in my room. I love making clients feel good about themselves. It sounds stupid, right? How can removing body hair change a person’s self esteem? I can’t explain it either, but I’m telling you- every single day, I watch clients walk out of my room with pep in their step.
Most waxes can be done within a 15 min time period, but we do not consider ourselves speed waxers. Instead, our goal is to make the client feel welcomed and appreciated. I couldn’t imagine laying half naked with a near stranger judging me, that sounds terrible and scary! I always use this line “waxing won’t be tea and cookies on a Sunday morning, but it doesn’t have to be awful either!”
I think one thing that most of my clients laugh at is how bluntly honest I can be. Don’t expect to tell me a stranger-than-fiction story and not get follow up questions. It also goes both ways, if you ask me something personal- I am an open book…. be prepared for all my (TMI) details. I think this level of honesty combined with me being wrist deep in a wax creates a friendship bond quicker than having a coffee together. I don’t think many people can offer that kind of experience!
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
I have a lot of simple memories, I didn’t grow up with a whole lot of money. I spent a lot of time with my grandma playing in dirt, making mud pies on the front porch while she smoked and read a cheesy romance novel. We walked to the park nearby, walked to the Mc Donald’s for breakfast, did puzzles together while she drank her coffee. She was a huge part in the beginning of my life raising me. She is the reason I named my business Bea’s Wax. Her middle name was Beatrice, Bea for short. I miss her every day, but I know she would be so happy to see my business named after her.
Pricing:
- Women’s Brazilian Bikini Wax -$50
- Male Brazilian (Manzilian) Wax-$70
Contact Info:
- Address: 14599 Ramona Ave
Chino, CA, 91710
(located inside Elite Salon Suites) - Website: www.beaswaxingsuite.com
- Phone: 714-425-7840
- Email: [email protected]
www.storyintime.com
Image Credit:
A Story in Time photography
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