Today we’d like to introduce you to Nayamka Roberts-Smith.
Nayamka, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I actually started out as a nail technician. My mom went to cosmetology school when I was five or six. In Cosmotology you learn hair skin and nails, but she was only interested in hair, so she would have me all her nail stuff to play with. That grew into love of nails, nails art, and a passion for details. I was heavy into nail art way before it got Hella trendy, I would do my friends nails for prom, and even had my own nail shop business out of my dorm room called “Nai’s Nails”. I was studying Anthropology and Political Science. The goal was to work for the United Nations, to empower marginalized groups around the world… but I soon realized that wasn’t the right path for me.
After college, I didn’t really know what direction I wanted to go in life, so I decided to get my nail license in the interim while I figured myself out. The nail program I enrolled in was offered by an esthetics school in Upstate New York, and that was my first exposure to professional skincare. Shortly after I was hired as a nail technician in a local day spa, and that’s when I truly saw the transformative power of skincare and wellness. People would come into the spa to celebrate, to learn, to heal, and seeing that was so inspiring. I went back to that same esthetics school to earn my certificate. I decided, that if I was going to pursue skincare instead of a 4-year degree career path, I had to truly go ALL IN on my goals and passions, so I made a plan to move to Los Angeles. Probably the vanist city in the country, but I mean it in the nicest way!! LA is the mecca of skincare, beauty, wellness, fitness, all that. Angelinos really understand the importance of taking care of one’s body, inside and out. Plus, the constantly gorgeous weather is dope encouragement for that as well.
So in July 2016 I packed 2 suitcases and flew one way to LA. I hit the ground running and found a job in 5 days, as a wax specialist and apartment 3 miles away in 10 days. Everything just worked out perfectly. Almost exactly a year later, I was fired from that job as a wax specialist. I think they could sense I had bigger enterpernial goals that working there forever, so they booted me. It’s just how the skincare industry goes. No one wants you to steal their clients so they get rid of you as soon as possible. But that firing was truly a blessing because now I work for myself full time educating women all around the world about skincare.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Moving 3,000 miles to LA, without any friends or family was definitely major for me. Not knowing anyone in a city can be super intimidating, and I struggled with depression and anxiety for a long time. Plus, learning how to adult 3-time zones away from everyone who loves you and could save you from a crisis was like, AHHHH! But I’m learning. Owning your own business as difficult as everyone says it is, but it’s also the most rewarding feeling watching something you built, grow up.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about The Golden Rx – what should we know?
I am a California and New York State licensed esthetician. My business, The Golden Rx offers virtual skin consultations primarily to people of color who do not have access to an esthetician in their area knowledgeable in how to treat their skin conditions. The specific issues of deeper skinned individuals is often overlooked by the greater skincare industry, so I wanted to focus my expertise to this underserved group. My other baby/business The Golden Rx Skin Studio is a treatment center in Beverly-Grove for those to come get their skin issues treated with passion and expertise. I specialize in everything from waxing, ingrown hairs, full body skin treatments, to hyperpigmentation, dehydration and acne.
On top of all this, I’m a social media influencer, and I make YouTube videos to teach anyone who will listen about skincare! I think what really sets me apart from other estheticians is the combination of my holistic & innovative philosophies, but also my genuine love of people. I talk to all my clients like they are my homegirl because they are! Professionally of course. But my approach to teaching skincare isn’t about throwing a bunch of big words around. It’s about breaking down the SCIENCE to EMPOWER and TEACH people about their skin, and I think my passion to empower makes people quick to trust me.
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
I’m not sure how I got so luck in life, but my family and friends have been so extremely supporting with every personal and career decision I’ve made. My mom, of course, is like, my number 1-5 fan. I’m nothing without her. My auntie, my mom’s sister, is also an entrepreneur, a wedding photographer. and her words of wisdom have always inspired my business moves and life decisions. My mom, dad, brother, & auntie all believe in me sooo much, it’s like, impossible for me to not also believe in myself.
My best friends back on the East Coast are like my sisters, and they cheer me on every step of the way via the group chat & facetime. One of my best friends specifically, Lavonda, really goes so hard to support me, she’s so bomb.
My boyfriend, Chris (ChrisPaulThompson.com) sacrifices a lot of his time to teach me marketing strategies and do a lot of the technical work, as I’m not so good with computers. He takes most of my pictures, too, since he’s a photographer. I’m sure he gets annoyed sometimes, haha, but he never says no when I need him, so he deserves lots of credit too. And of course all the strangers who follow and support me on YouTube, Instagram and Twitter mean so much! They send me words of encouragement, telling me how I’ve inspired their skincare careers and its truly amazing how people you’ve never met can lift you up like that.
Pricing:
- $99 Skincare Consultation + Skincare Regimen
- $85 V-kini Vajacial
- $105 Custom Facial
Contact Info:
- Address: 224 S Robertson Blvd, Beverly Hills, Los Angeles
- Website: LABeautyologist.com
- Phone: 5183340693
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: instagram.com/LABeautyologist
- Facebook: Facebook.com/TheGoldenRx
- Twitter: Twitter.com/LABeautyologist
- Other: Instagram.com/The.GoldenRx
Getting in touch: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
