Today we’d like to introduce you to Frances Garcia.
Frances, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Hello! I am a licensed esthetician and am passionate about spreading confidence in one’s natural beauty. I graduated from the University of Houston, Texas with a Business Marketing degree – Go Coogs! I had high hopes of one day being the CEO of my own company, but soon realized after college, it was going to take more than just a dream. I ended up going into sales where I made a decent living, however, the high stress affected my health. I was diagnosed with hyperthyroid disease and made the decision to quit my job in 2016 to focus on my well-being.
During my time off, I struggled to figure out what I wanted to do when I was ready to go back to work. I was having a career crisis and felt hopeless & depressed with no idea what the future would be. Going back to a high-stress sales job was not going to be an option and I was searching for something more fulfilling. I wanted to love what I did and be proud of it. One thing I knew for sure was that I wanted to be my own boss.
At the end of January 2017, I took my first lash extension class. I thought, maybe I could be my own boss if I learned a skill where people came to me for my work. I started doing lashes in the corner of my living room for family & friends to see if it was something I wanted to pursue. If I wanted to open up my own business doing lashes, I knew I’d have to go back to school to get my esthetician’s license.
In March 2017, I took a leap of faith & enrolled at Golden West College in the Esthetics program. At the age of 34, I was considered one of the older students in class, but that didn’t matter to me because I was hungry for knowledge.
I started my journey into esthetics as a lash artist but while in school my passion found me through skincare. It’s a beautiful feeling when passion and dreams work together for a purpose.
In December of 2017, Flawless By Frances was born and I am living my dreams.
Has it been a smooth road?
After school, I did not waste any time and got a job as a receptionist at a medical spa while I waited to take my state board exam. Working as a receptionist was my foot in the door at the medspa. I answered phone calls, scheduled appointments, sold skincare products, organized medical charts, ordered supplies, took inventory, made monthly marketing ads, maintained social media accounts; the list goes on. Once I got licensed, I was ready to transition from receptionist to esthetician. I remember feeling so overwhelmed being in this new industry. Fresh out of school, I was not confident in my skills, but I knew that the more skin I touched, the more I would understand different skin types. In the beginning, I struggled to find new clients. I worked 7 days a week in between the medspa and lashing at home, being available for anyone willing to give me a chance. I doubted myself a lot, unsure if it would ever make sense because it was so much information. I had to learn to be patient with myself and be reminded that this is just the beginning. The experiences & hardships has prepared me to be who I am today.
My advice to other women is that nothing worth having comes easy. There will be struggles and hurdles, but once you overcome them, success is waiting for you. Be patient with yourself, find a mentor, ask tons of questions, and most of all, BELIEVE IN YOURSELF.
What do you do, what do you specialize in, what are you known for, etc. What are you most proud of? What sets you apart from others?
I am a licensed esthetician that specializes in treating the skin through facials, chemical peels, acne treatments, Hydro Facials, LED light therapy, and also offer lash extension services. I am known for transforming the skin by providing effective treatments while educating about the importance of a skincare regimen. I take pride in my work and attend skin care expos regularly to make sure I’m up to date on the newest treatments & products. I also believe knowledge is power and attend skincare workshops to better myself as an esthetician. What sets me apart from others is that I truly care about my clients. To be able to give someone their confidence back is the most rewarding part of my job. I listen to your skin concerns, put together a treatment plan, and ask to trust the process.
There’s a wealth of academic research that suggests that a lack of mentors and networking opportunities for women has materially affected the number of women in leadership roles. Smart organizations and industry leaders are working to change this, but in the meantime, do you have any advice for finding a mentor and building a network?
I was fortunate to have a mentor guide me throughout my esthetics journey. I reached out to a friend, Stephanie Dinh, who is an aesthetics nurse/esthetician. She worked at the medspa when I was considering going to an esthetician school. I wanted to speak to someone in the field who would give me honest feedback. Since then, she has been an essential part of my career. She introduced me to the receptionist position and from there allowed me to shadow & trained me on the basics of skincare. The power of networking! She is also someone I can turn to and ask for advice and still encourages me in my career every step of the way. I am honored and blessed to have her in my life, not only as my friend but also my mentor. I also seeked guidance from family members, old instructors, IG skincare experts, and friends in my field; basically anyone that would talk to me about skin and business!
My advice for finding a mentor is to build relationships with leaders in the industry that you admire. Meet other estheticians in the community to bounce ideas back and forth, share information, and use each other as resources. Attending workshops, talking to product reps, and seeking skincare experts are other ways to network yourself and not limiting yourself to just one mentor. We all started somewhere and we were inspired by others’ successes. Put yourself out there!
Contact Info:
- Address: 10971 Garden Grove Blvd Unit B, Garden Grove, CA 92843
- Website: www.flawlessbyfrances/booking
- Phone: 9099291493
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/flawlessbyfrances
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FlawlessbyFrances
Image Credit:
Photography by Kortney Pham @kortneypham
Retouched, Makeup & Hair by Anha Reid @anhareidphoto
Brows by Nancy Dang @nancyinks
Lashes by Marilyn Nguyen @xbeautybymarilyn
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