We were lucky to catch up with Asia Carpenter recently and have shared our conversation below.

Asia , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. The first dollar you earn is always exciting – it’s like the start of a new chapter and so we’d love to hear about the first time you sold or generated revenue from your creative work?

I started crafting deodorant, body oils and body wash because I had developed boils from using toxic deodorant. I was fed up with toxic beauty products, and wanted to take my health into my own hands. Once I switched over to nontoxic products after a week or so I had zero boils or pain. My aunt came to visit during this time and used the products during her stay. A few weeks later I started receiving calls; random numbers calling asking to purchase more of the body wash my aunt had already sold them in mini water bottles. Before she left she strongly encouraged me to sell it, I told her it was just for me I wasn’t doing it for money. She responded “if you don’t I will” so she took matters into her own hands and started making mini sales behind my back. It was the greatest gift of betrayal ever. I started doing pop-up shops shortly after, and created my brand in the following years.. She is no longer with me in the physical realm so it’s so special to me that this is what set me on my path to living in my creativity. I am eternally grateful.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My name is Asia Carpenter I was born, raised and currently live in Washington DC. I am a nature lover, henna artist, beauty analyst and wellness consultant. I am currently working as a licensed esthetician specializing in natural skincare and body sculpting. I offer a variety of beauty services and contract with spas globally curating wellness experiences, markets and retreats.

My beauty experience started as a personal decision to cut out all toxins in products I use for myself. This led me on a course of gaining knowledge on skin wellness, holistic health and mindfulness practices. After years of studying and crafting products on my own, I decided to become licensed in esthetics to offer services. Upon completing school, I started taking clients part time while working full-time as a management analyst in the public sector of adjudication. My full time analyst worked help me to refine my research and CRM management skills while I continued education and gained more beauty certifications and found my niche outside of basic skincare. I learned Lash Extensions, Gua Sha facial massage, Brow Threading and Body Sculpting. I began offering these services to develop my portfolio. Once I gained enough practical experience, I begin collaborating with other salons & spas, wellness activist and artist to creatively share my gifts and expertise.

As an artist, I tend to create whatever I’m in the mood for, but I am most known for my Henna Art. During COVID I spent a lot of time alone and decided to explore my love of Henna on a more consistent basis. I ordered a bunch of Henna books and started making Henna paste based on what I learned. It was very nostalgic and comforting for me; as a young girl my mom always took me to get Henna for my birthday so it was something that I always looked forward to. Henna brought me so much joy as a child so it was very comforting during a uncertain time in the world. I was gifted a XL sketchbook not long after I learned how to roll henna cones. I started to pipe designs that popped into my head proudly using the henna paste I blended in the cones I rolled myself on the huge pages. I realized this love would probably take me far beyond the pages on the sketch book because hours felt like minutes when I was piping in my sketchbook. Henna brings me so much peace; the entire process, from the plant growing, the paste making, to the design, to the actual stain evolving on the skin. I love the complexity and the layers of the process. I love how raw and natural the ingredients are. I appreciate the art of adornment because I see bodies as sacred. After just a few weeks I started running low on pages in my book. Eventually I started to practice on my neighbors and friends; it became a way for us to gather when there was not much else to do because outside was officially closed. Once the Covid restrictions lifted, I began offering Henna along with my other esthetics services; traveling and sharing my art at festivals, events and parties. I truly believe art mimics life. I also enjoy dance, pottery, crafting crystal bookmarks and food art. I feel that art is not only therapy, but also one of the highest forms of alchemy. I am grateful to be able to prosper from my Henna love affair.

I think the main thing that sets me apart from everyone else is that I am so authentic. I don’t label myself, or put myself in boxes I can only be who I am, and nothing else outside of that. I stand on that forever.

I am most proud of my clients. They are literally walking testimony of my work, my effort, my energy. As a consultant I help people reach all types of goals, skin, body or wellness. There is nothing on this earth more exciting to me than transformation. Seasons changing, babies transitioning from crawling to walking, plants blooming, stars aligning. All of this comes from energy moving. Once I give my energy to my client and they begin to morph into a different version of themselves, a more elevated version of themselves, loving themselves more, being kinder to themselves, consistently showing up for themselves and vibrating higher. I know I did my job right.

My goal in the beauty industry is to encourage true self-love on the deepest level for everyone I am blessed to work with in this lifetime.

Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?

Although the book is not necessarily related to business, or anything that I do, professionally, “women who run with the wolves”, has definitely inspired me to be true to myself, and honor my connection with Nature. Being the most authentic version of myself allows me to show up and do my job with more compassion with more grace with more precision and this title inspires that for me.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?

You can’t expect a creative to be creative do the work and share everything. A lot of times people are looking for me to post more of what I do when truly it’s an experience that I put so much thought into I dont have enough bandwidth to also get footage all the time because I am tuning into w my client . I can’t do facials and body sculpt all day and share everything I do online. Some of us like to thrive offline and that’s ok!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.GlowByAsia.com
• Instagram: Glow By Asia
• Facebook: Glow Body Care
• Other: Book me at http://www.blackbellaspa.com

Image Credits
Asia Carpenter 2024