Today we’d like to introduce you to Chanté Robinson.
Hi Chanté, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
The beautiful creation of Earth & Ash has been a Soul-led venture amid a global pandemic.
I was working downtown in Seattle as an esthetician at Dermaspace, and my fifth anniversary with the company had passed. 2018 was coming to a close, and with 2019 on the horizon, I could feel the time was undoubtedly here for me to pivot and manifest my dream esthetics practice that would marry my love for skincare and spiritual practices that will allow me to offer a complete healing space for the mind, body, and soul.
Unbeknownst to me, a pandemic would hit shortly after the New Year, and by March, we were going to be shut down until further notice.
Life quickly changed to no longer going into the office downtown, and I was now a stay-at-home single mother and finding my new role as a teacher.
Not only was I homeschooling alongside my sons’ teachers, but I was online studying endlessly and researching skincare lines, sound healing workshops, and various energy healing modalities. I felt I better utilize this time to the best of my ability and maintain a peace-of-mind to separate myself from the collective energy of fear that was so palpable even with being in a lockdown.
I began to shop for little things to practice facials and energy work; I converted my dining room to a makeshift spa and started to do facials and energy work on my son, his father, my mother, and my friend who lives in my apartment building.
By mid-April, I started to get text messages from clients wondering when we’d return to
the Seattle office or if I was offering facials somewhere else. People were itching for a sense of normalcy, a cure for the new alignment we now know as “maskne,” connection, a good laugh, and a break from looking at the four walls of their living quarters.
These text messages from clients and the loud and unwavering intuitive guidance within me that kept saying, “follow these feelings of joy and inspiration, build your business, now!” I couldn’t deny anything that was transpiring in my mind or with clients, it pushed me to figure out how to open a business despite the current global circumstances.
It lit a fire within me.
From April 2020 to November 2020, I worked endlessly on bringing my vision through. Everything worked out seamlessly, while I managed many days and nights of crying, massive self-doubt and a well of insecurity that came up every time I needed to make a big decision.
I created my website on my own and used everything I learned at FIDM of Los Angeles when I studied fashion and every photoshop tutorial that inspired me in the Computer Arts magazines I used to buy in the mid-two-thousands to guide me through the Wix platform; and by December 4, 2020, I opened Earth & Ash in Seattle.
Before the conception of Earth & Ash, I always knew I wanted to expand my business into Los Angeles. I lived in California from 2000 to 2008, and it’s held a very special place in my heart, and it’s like my second home. I thought my career would be in fashion, and that’s what would keep me there; little did I know my life’s work and my personal journey would turn into a career/business that would offer more freedom, flexibility, 1:1 work with people assisting their skincare needs and soul nourishment through sound and energy healing!!! I loved fashion, but it didn’t give me the deeper soul-drenched connection I desired and the purpose-driven life vibes I was after. However, I’d be remiss if I didn’t give my time in the fashion industry credit for preparing me for what I’m doing today.
By May 11, 2021, I took a trip to Los Angeles with my son; I felt this would be the perfect time to cast the net of Earth & Ash out to California to my friends and their friends. Before my trip, I posted IG stories about my soon vacation and that my books were open to anyone interested in 1:1 sound and energy sessions. Since I’m not yet licensed in California to do skincare, so offering healing work will kick off Earth & Ash!
This initial trip started something beautiful for Earth & Ash in California! I didn’t book any clients that trip, but I planted the seeds for my following trip in November.
By November, I booked an event with Gabby Ortega of ŌM Therapy Coaching to do a group sound bath at her Ignite Retreat in Palm Springs. I then booked three more clients for sound and energy work in Venice! My son and I stay at the Mystic Manor, where Karen and Brandon, who host, were super accommodating to let me hold space for clients there.
Co-creating with the universe and taking one moment at a time has been nothing short of amazing.
I’m still working on building clientele in California and looking for a studio to call home that I can work out of. I’ll be getting licensed in California this year, so I can begin practicing skincare! Many clients who used to see me in Seattle relocated to Los Angeles and are ready to book once I have a space. Lastly, one of my more extensive plans for California is to host retreats in Joshua Tree centered around visualization-meditation, energy + sound healing, and mindful movement.
Earth & Ash is still unfolding, and I’m so excited to be on this journey!
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
I worked two jobs until I could branch off and be full-time at my business. I balanced my job with Dermaspace and Earth & Ash for seven months. That was incredibly stressful. Sometimes working two weeks straight and being a mother to my son and two dogs. There was so much on my plate my hair started to fall out and sleep was nonexistent.
Some of the other struggles are dealing with insecurities, friends and family not supporting the vision, coworkers beginning to act cold and distant, being bombarded with endless creative ideas and some of these ideas feeling bigger than me and not feeling worthy to carry it out.
It takes courage to trust yourself and to trust the process.
We’ve been impressed with Earth & Ash, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I’m an Esthetician, energy, and sound healer.
The feedback I receive the most from clients is everything from walking into my studio to the service, and checking out is an experience; an experience that leaves them relaxed, seen, heard, accepted, and a retreat from their life and the joy they have in being able to talk about anything and everything. They’re always saying, “This is more than just a facial.”
I’m incredibly proud of my aesthetic for Earth & Ash and how I’ve merged skincare and spiritual practices into excellent results-driven services for mind, body and soul.
I’m working on offering sound and energy services virtually/remotely! So much is unfolding.
My skincare offerings are on the holistic side of skincare; I’m not big on chemical peels; I use Osmosis, Oxygeneo, Procell, and LED therapy in my treatments. I like to work with the skin in a slow and methodical way. I love powerful ingredients that aren’t going to disrupt the skin and cause unnecessary inflammation. Most of my clients deal with acne, and I love working with this skin condition. I had a period in my mid-twenties where I was dealing with acne, so I have personal experience in this arena, from doing super harsh facials and drying my skin out to finding organic, less abrasive products to heal my skin.
As of now, Earth & Ash Ritual is the only 1:1 service I offer for sound and energy work.
I’ll be offering group sound baths in my studio and will be open to travel.
I have so much planned for Earth & Ash and I am excited to share this sweetness with everyone! Full spectrum wellness in the making!!
Pricing:
- Earth & Ash Ritual $188
- LED therapy $150
- Osmosis Facial Infusion $190
- Classic Oxygeneo $160
- Ultimate Oxygeneo $225
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.earthandashstudios.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/earth.and.ash.studios/
- Yelp: https://m.yelp.com/biz/earth-and-ash-studios-seattle
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@earth.and.ash
