Today we’d like to introduce you to Allison Flaherty.
Allison, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Life has a funny way of putting you in situations you never imagined. If you had told me 10 years ago, I would go to cosmetology school and open a business, I would have laughed and vehemently denied the notion. Here I am though, Esthetics license in hand and self-employed.
Although I wasn’t immediately drawn to the beauty industry, once I entered it I found it to have greater depth than I expected. I realized I could actually boost the confidence of my clients, and from that principle, Wax 22 was born.
I wanted to create a space where clients could feel welcome, feel cared for, and feel beautiful. This has been my goal since I started Wax 22, and it is one I continuously strive for every day.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
If anyone tells you being self-employed is easy, they’re lying. Not only do you need to be excellent at your craft, you also have to navigate all of the business aspects. For me, this means managing a separate bank account, ordering supplies, bookkeeping, scheduling clients, maintaining equipment, and so much more. This last year I have learned exactly how much work goes into operating a business. For a while, I was ready to give up, but I am starting to realize that nothing worth doing is easy.
A few days ago, I came across a quote from Anne Sweeney, a businesswoman who at one time was the President of Disney Channel, but she left to pursue directing. She said, “Define success on your own terms, achieve it by your own rules, and build a life you’re proud to live.” I was having a day of self-doubt, and reading this helped me to step back ask myself why I was comparing my life and business to other people’s lives and businesses. When I set out to create Wax 22, I wasn’t worried about what other people were doing. I wanted to live and conduct business on my own terms. I know this is not the end of my insecurity, but I also know that I at least have a shot at succeeding.
The greatest suggestions I can give to anyone wanting to open a business are as follows: be organized, do a ton of research, and know what you will need help with. It is okay to need help. You can’t do everything on your own. For me, my friends and family have been my biggest collaborators and supporters. And lastly, prepare to not immediately succeed.
What should we know about Wax 22? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Wax 22 is a specialty salon that offers waxing services. My mission is to not only make every client feel confident but also to demystify the waxing process. It’s portrayed in film and television as an uncomfortable, awkward experience, and it doesn’t have to be that way.
I remember when I was a teenager, I was embarrassed to go and get waxed. My mom would take me to a nail salon to get my eyebrows done, and I would cringe the whole time. There was just something so intrinsically humiliating to be a girl and have extra hair. As a service provider, I make my guests feel welcome and normal! At the end of the day, it really is just hair. It doesn’t make you any more or less of a person. Come to get waxed because you want to, not because you feel like you have to.
For good reason, society often focuses more on the problems rather than the opportunities that exist, because the problems need to be solved. However, we’d probably also benefit from looking for and recognizing the opportunities that women are better positioned to capitalize on. Have you discovered such opportunities?
I feel like women in the media are either actively facing a challenge or celebrating a success. Struggles and triumphs are important to see, but how did they get there? I want to see women in the media tell their story. I want to know how they faced challenges and overcame them. I want to hear how they pushed through feeling like they weren’t enough. I want women in the media to help each other.
These Trailblazers articles are so important. I have actually gone through and read a lot of them to prepare to answer these questions, and I have realized that honesty and vulnerability are relatable. More people need to share their story without glossing over the parts where they felt like they couldn’t succeed.
Social media especially is a huge culprit in making people think their lives are sub-par. You don’t post Instagram photos and tell your followers you feel like quitting. You post happy quotes about what a beautiful Monday it is, or you announce cheerfully that you have a few appointments available the next day when in reality, Mondays are terrible, and you have appointments available all day for the next week. Women have the opportunity now to say, “Yes, I struggle, but yes I can overcome… here’s how.” We have the chance to show each other that we are not alone, and we can lift each other up until we can stand on our own. And then, we can celebrate, together.
Contact Info:
- Address: 9300 John Hickman Pkwy Suite 9-3
Frisco, TX 75035 - Website: www.wax22.com
- Phone: (214) 989-4094
- Email: wax22bodywaxing@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wax22yo/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wax22yo/
Image Credit:
Sarah Flaherty
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