Today we’d like to introduce you to Autum Williams.
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?
I remember as a young teen, I would try and figure out what worked for my skin, some days were better than others. I was always experimenting with different products to the point where I got so consumed in it and I just gave up for a while. Although I loved everything skincare, I also grew to love being on stage in high school, theater was my getaway from everything. Surprisingly I was never the girly girl type when growing up a basic tee, sweats and a messy bun was my go to. Originally from Compton, California but I grew up in a small town called Bucksport, SC where everybody knew you and there was only one way in and one way out that’s how small it was. I can remember being in the bathroom for hours just applying stuff to face completely unaware of what I was doing. I tried the makeup thing for a while in college but it just wasn’t for me and I was also pretty horrible at applying it. While in college, I focused on theater and my passion for skincare grew as well.
In 2017 I gave up on acting so I was everything skincare beauty but I just couldn’t figure out how to make a career out of it until I moved back home to California and my sisters were like, “why don’t you become an esthetician?” I had no idea what that was or even how to spell it, hahaha! During that year, I was struggling pretty bad with my mental health so the idea of becoming an esthetician went out the window for a while. Although I was dealing with my mental health issues, I was still pondering the idea, doing my research, looking at different schools while trying to talk myself into moving forward with the idea. The year 2018 came and with a push from my sister, I applied to The Academy of Beauty, completely and mentally afraid of everything that came my way but I fell in love.
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 wasn’t always sunshine for me, I knew what depression was or I thought I had an idea of what it looked like until I started to experience emotions and “waves”. In 2015, I lost my everything, the glue that held everything together in my life. My grandma passed and I was just completely and utterly in shock everything in life had changed, EVERYTHING! A 23 years old women had to finally grow up and deal with life, I didn’t mourn her or sit with her passing until 2021. While in Esthetics school, I was always doubtful and making excuses but I always wanted to be there and not miss a day. I was working an overnight job at a hotel from 11pm-7am and going to school in the morning from 8am-5pm talk about NO SLEEP!!! That was my life on repeat but I knew something had to give. I needed a break or a shift. I was promoted at my job and began my 9am-5pm position buttttttt that meant some sacrificing at school, I wasn’t going to finish school when everybody else did. It took me a bit longer to graduate because I had to switch to night classes. I felt defeated and embarrassed. I wanted to give up but my momma wouldn’t allow that. I realized how far I had come and I was almost to the finish line, I moved at my own pace and tried to keep the negative thoughts to a minimum.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
While in school, we could bring in friends/family to practice on. I had a good support system so they always came through but I started to realize for most of them, this was their first time getting a facial. For some, it was their first time applying the basic skincare products to their face. That’s when I realized what I would focus on “bringing facials to the hood” to help and educate my community on taking care of their skin while helping them experience self-care. I wanted people to experience what a facial was and how it can help with your mental health, boost confidence and just have fun. Skincare is a necessity not a luxury, it’s important to take care of the largest organ in your body. I specialize in helping my community with basic skin care and facials, I try to help break the idea of black people not needing sunscreen because WE DO! I want people to feel comfortable when they come to get a facial, I’m completely myself just the same girl with a basic tee and messy bun when you meet me. I’m most proud of not changing who I am as a person when it comes to my business. My business name is rooted from the remembrance of my grandma Barnetta Jewel Lewis because I knew she would have loved to get a facial.
Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
The little book of Skincare by Charlotte Cho is probably my favorite book Eternal Sunshine by Londrelle is my favorite app.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: __jewel.esthetics
